UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 20-F

☐    REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Or

☒  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

Or

☐   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Or

☐   SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File No. 333-206723 

P.V. NANO CELL LTD.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 

N/A

(Translation of the Registrant’s name into English)

State of Israel

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

8 Hamasger Street, Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel 2310102

(Address of principal executive offices)

Dr. Fernando de la Vega

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

8 Hamasger Street

Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel 2310102

Tel: 972.4.654.6881

Fax: 972.4.654.6880

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 21,737,263 ordinary shares, nominal value NIS 0.01 per share, as of December 31, 2017.

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

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ☐  No ☒ 

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 a 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 ☒  No ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). Yes ☒  No ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ☐  Accelerated filer  ☐  Non-accelerated filer ☐ Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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 which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing: 

 If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Registrant has elected to follow: Item 17 ☐  Item 18 ☐ 

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐   No ☒ 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS ANNUAL REPORT

All references to “we”, “us”, “our”, “the Company”, “PV Nano”, “our company” and “our Company”, in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, or our annual report, are to P.V. Nano Cell Ltd., unless the context otherwise requires. All references to “shares”, “Ordinary Shares” or “our ordinary shares” are to our ordinary shares, NIS 0.01 nominal par value per share. All references to “Israel” are to the State of Israel. “U.S. GAAP” means the generally accepted accounting principles of the United States. Unless otherwise stated, all of our financial information presented in this annual report has been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Any discrepancies in any table between totals and sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding. Unless otherwise indicated, or the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report to financial and operational data for a particular year refer to the fiscal year of our company ended December 31 of that year.

Our reporting currency and financial currency is in the U.S. dollar. In this annual report, “NIS” means New Israeli Shekel, and “$,” “US$” and “U.S. dollars” mean United States dollars.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this annual report are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

Any forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 20-F reflect our current views with respect to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.

This annual report also contains estimates, projections, and other information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for our products, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research, or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market, and other data from reports, research surveys, studies, and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry and general publications, government data and similar sources.

PART I

ITEM 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers.

Not applicable.

ITEM 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable.

Not applicable.

ITEM 3. Key Information.

A.          Selected Financial Data.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

We prepare our historical consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The selected financial data, set forth in the table below, have been derived from our audited historical financial statements for each of the years from 2013 to 2017. The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the years 2017, 2016 and 2015, and the selected consolidated balance sheets data at December 31, 2017 and 2016, have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements set forth in “Item 18 – Financial Statements.” The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years 2013 and 2014, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, have been derived from our previously published audited consolidated financial statements, which are not included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. These selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, as set forth in Item 18, and are qualified entirely by reference to such consolidated financial statements.

B.          Capitalization and Indebtedness.

Not applicable.

C.          Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds.

Not applicable.

D.          Risk Factors.

Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Capital Requirements

We have a limited operating history on which to assess our business, have incurred significant losses since our inception, and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future.

We have a limited operating history. We have incurred net losses since our inception in 2009, including a net loss of approximately $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $15.1 million. In December 2017, we finalized the purchase of Digiflex Ltd., or Digiflex, an Israeli corporation which develops, manufactures and distributes proprietary printers for the graphic industry and non-conductive polymeric inks. Digiflex generated $603,211 in revenues in 2016 and approximately $400,000 in 2017. We expect minimal revenues from Digiflex this year as we transition it into the Company’s operations, and we anticipate Digiflex will contribute to our Company’s losses. Digiflex also has a history of losses, certain debt obligations, and limited operating history. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity and convertible securities and government grants. The amount of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of our future expenditures, our ability to obtain funding through equity or debt financings, strategic collaborations, or grants and our ability to commercialize our products or technologies. We do not know whether or when we will become profitable. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on an ongoing basis. Our inability to achieve and then maintain profitability would negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our history of net losses has raised substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. If we do not continue as a going concern, investors could lose their entire investment.

We generated extremely limited revenues which are not presently sufficient to sustain our operations. Our total revenues generated from sales were $88,691, $67,678 and $60,740 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We have incurred net losses since our inception in 2009, including a net loss of approximately $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. Digiflex has incurred approximately $21 million of accumulated deficit since inception up to December 3, 2017, the date it was acquired by us.

Our history of net losses has raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, and as a result, our independent registered public accounting firm included an explanatory paragraph in its report on our financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 with respect to this uncertainty. We believe that we will need to raise significant additional funds before we have significant cash flow from operations. Accordingly, our ability to continue as a going concern will require us to seek alternative financing to fund our operations. The substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern could materially limit our ability to raise additional funds through the issuance of new debt or equity securities or otherwise. Future reports on our financial statements may include an explanatory paragraph with respect to our ability to continue as a going concern.

We will need significant additional capital, which we may be unable to obtain.

As of December 31, 2017, we had cash reserves of $450,305. As of May 15, 2018, we had sufficient cash to fund operations for approximately two (2) months if we do not raise additional capital. We will need to raise additional capital to continue our operations beyond such two-month period, or earlier if we change our current strategy or operating plan. There can be no assurance that additional funds will be available when needed from any source or, if available, will be available on terms that are acceptable to us. We may be required to pursue sources of additional capital through various means, including debt or equity financings. Future financings through equity investments are likely to be dilutive to existing stockholders. Furthermore, the terms of securities we may issue in future capital transactions may be more favorable for our new investors. Newly issued securities may include preferences, superior voting rights, the issuance of warrants or other derivative securities, and the issuances of incentive awards under equity employee incentive plans, which may have additional dilutive effects. Further, we may incur substantial costs in pursuing future capital and/or financing, including investment banking fees, legal fees, accounting fees, printing and distribution expenses and other costs. We may also be required to recognize non-cash expenses in connection with certain securities we may issue, such as convertible notes and warrants, which will adversely impact our financial condition. Our ability to obtain needed financing may be impaired by such factors as the capital markets and our history of losses, which could impact the availability or cost of future financings. If the amount of capital we are able to raise from financing activities, together with our revenues from operations, is not sufficient to satisfy our capital needs, even to the extent that we reduce our operations accordingly, we may be required to cease operations.

We have generated only minimal revenue from product sales and may never be profitable.

We have generated only minimal revenue in the past, from limited sales of our Sicrys™ inks. We expect Digiflex will generate only minimal revenue from the sale of printers, inks and foils. While Digiflex has sold approximately 45 printers since inception, its revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017 was limited to inks, foils and maintenance of the printers. Our ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends on our ability to successfully commercialize our Sicrys™ inks and future products and technologies. It will also depend on (i) our ability to modify and bring to market Digiflex printers so that instead of just being able to do low volume printing, we will be able to serve the electronics market and to use our Sicrys inks; and (ii) our ability to adapt Digiflex’s inks to allow for the printing of full printed circuit boards, or PCBs. There is no assurance that we will be successful in any of these endeavors. Our ability to generate future revenue from product sales depends heavily on our success in many areas, including but not limited to:

Risks Related to Our Business

If our conductive inks and Digiflex printers fail to achieve and sustain sufficient market acceptance or if market penetration occurs more slowly than we expect, our future revenue will be adversely affected.

Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to gain market acceptance of our Sicrys™ inks and Digiflex inks as a reliable and cost-saving alternative to existing printing technologies. Compared to some competing technologies, our nano-metric conductive ink technology is relatively new, and most potential customers have limited knowledge of, or experience with, our conductive inks. Potential customers may be reluctant to adopt our conductive inks as an alternative to conventional printing technologies. Such potential customers may have substantial investments and know-how related to their existing printing technologies, and may perceive risks relating to the reliability, quality, usefulness and profitability of adopting our conductive inks when compared to other printing technologies available in the market. Prior to adopting our conductive inks, some potential customers may need to devote significant time and effort to testing and validating our technology. Any failure of our technology to meet these customer benchmarks could result in customers choosing to retain their existing technology or to purchase technologies other than ours. If we fail to achieve market acceptance of our conductive inks or if market penetration is slower than expected, then our opportunities to grow our revenues and reach profitability will be severely limited. In addition, our success depends on our ability to gain market acceptance of Digiflex printers. There is no assurance that we will succeed in any of the foregoing.

As one of our strategies to increase sales, we have acquired one inkjet printer that has been installed at a customer’s site, and intend to acquire additional inkjet printers to also be deployed, free-of-charge, to consumers who agree to purchase a minimum quantity of inks from us, in certain specific fields (e.g. production of printed circuit boards, or PCBs, one layer electronics). There can be no assurance that such printers will be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all, that customers will be willing to make such minimum purchase commitments or that the printers will work as expected in the commercial environment. In addition, it has taken much longer than expected to debug the initial printer and there is no assurance that debugging additional printers will not take longer than expected. In December 2016, we purchased the first beta printer and deployed it to a customer in Israel. We are currently in the debugging process for this printer, and we are developing customized products with this customer for one layer printed electronics. We sold a small amount of ink to this printer in 2017. We intend to eventually enter into an agreement with this printer producer for the sale of our ink and we are currently in negotiations with this printer producer. We are negotiating with additional printer producers to develop and provide us with printers which could ultimately enable us to deploy the printers to customers and to provide ink to customers with such printers. There is no assurance that the printers will be successfully debugged, that customers will accept these printer, that the such customer will order any or significant quantities of our ink, that we will enter into an agreement for the sale of our ink with any customers, or that we will successfully conclude our negotiations with printer producers and develop additional sources of printers. 

In order to expand our capabilities to sell inks and introduce the additive digital conductive printing technologies to the market, in December 2017, we finalized the purchase of Digiflex. We are currently in the process of integrating the operations of the two (2) companies together and will soon start to adapt the Digiflex printers and the polymer inks they have developed so that they are compatible with our inks and have the relevant capability to serve the conductive printing market needs. We hope to have the first conductive printing printers in the market by end of 2018, and to continue to develop the process to produce multi-layer printed PCBs. The Digiflex printers are for low volume printing. There is no assurance that we will be able to adapt the Digiflex printers to our inks, or that they will be able to produce PCBs. Further, there is no assurance that we will be able to adapt the Digiflex printers to our market demands or that they will be accepted by the market and, conversely, there is no assurance that we will be able to keep and or ramp up Digiflex sales in the graphics industry, or that we will be able to adapt their inks to our PCB requirements.

Digiflex developed a small market for its printers for the graphics industry (approximately 45 of which have been sold, although none were sold last year). Digiflex’s annual revenue last year was approximately $400,000, all of which came from the sale of inks and foils, as well as maintenance. There is no assurance that we will be able to expand this market.

Digiflex has two (2) wholly-owned subsidiaries: Digiflex Inc. which was incorporated in the United States with one employee who provides services to installed printers, and Digiflex HK Limited, which was incorporated in Hong-Kong and has been inactive since inception.

If we are not successful in completing the integration of Digiflex into the Company, the benefits of this transaction may not be fully realized and the market price of our ordinary shares may be negatively affected.

Our integration of Digiflex may encounter ongoing difficulties of coordination, which may include:

As a result of these and other factors, we may not successfully complete the integration of Digiflex. Furthermore, we may not realize all of the benefits and synergies of acquiring Digiflex in the timeframe anticipated. It is also possible that such continuing integration and coordination arrangements could lead to the loss of members of management, diversion of the attention of management, or the disruption or interruption of, or the loss of momentum in, our ongoing business, which could adversely affect our business and financial results. The occurrence of such negative results could adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares.

Our ink products may not be compatible with commercially available printers and printer heads.

We have successfully certified our ink with several manufacturers of commercially available printers and printer heads, and are in the process of certifying our ink products with additional manufacturers of commercially available printers and printer heads, as this is critically important to convince potential customers to implement inkjet technology and purchase our inks. We will also need to certify the Digiflex inks with manufacturers of commercially available printers. If we are unable to certify our ink products with a sufficient number of manufacturers of popular printers and printer heads, our ability to widely market our ink products will be impaired and we may be unable to generate significant revenue.

Printer heads generally require compatible inks. An ink may be incompatible for use with a particular printer head for a number of reasons, including, without limitations: because the chemicals used in the ink are not compatible with the materials used in the manufacture of the printer head; or because the physical properties of the ink (e.g., viscosity, surface tension, etc.) are not compatible with the printer head. As a result, there can be no assurance that our inks will be compatible with a sufficient number of printer heads, if any, to support wide scale sales of our inks for digital inkjet printing.

Given our limited resources, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to comply with its contracts.

The Company has recently become a party to one commercial contract with a leading printer manufacturer to supply commercial quantities of dispersions and inks. We are also currently in negotiation with additional customers. There is no assurance that the additional or other contracts will be executed. There is no assurance that we will be able to produce and supply all the ink required to satisfy all orders. There is also no assurance that commercial customers will be able to market their printers and other products with our inks.

We currently have minimal marketing and sales capabilities. If we are unable to establish significant sales and marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our products, we may be unable to generate significant revenue.

Although our employees may have sold other similar products in the past while employed at other companies, we as a company have minimal experience selling and marketing our conductive inks and we currently have a small marketing and sales operation consisting of one full-time employee (Inside Sales Manager). In addition, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer generally devote a portion of their efforts to increasing awareness of, and marketing, our products. To successfully commercialize our Sicrys™ inks and any products that may result from our development programs, we will need to develop these capabilities, either on our own or with others. We intend to collaborate with additional third party distributors and sales agents with established sales and marketing operations and industry experience to market our inks. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into distribution and/or sales agency agreements on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or that such distributors or sales agents will be successful in marketing our inks. If our future distributors or sales agents do not commit sufficient resources to commercialize our products, we will be unable to generate sufficient product revenue to sustain our business. We may be competing with companies that currently have extensive and well-funded marketing and sales operations. Without an internal team or the support of a third party to perform marketing and sales functions, we may be unable to compete successfully against these more established companies. Digiflex also has had minimal experience selling and marketing its printers and will discontinue selling and marketing them in the graphics field in order to focus on printing multi-layer electronics.

Our manufacturing capacity and operations may not be appropriate for future levels of demand.

We manufacture our inks, including Digiflex inks, at our Migdal Ha’Emek facilities. We currently have capacity to produce an estimated two (2) tons of ink per year and intend to upgrade our facilities (estimated at $500,000) to increase production capacity to 20 tons per year, if and when demand for our inks is projected to surpass our production capabilities. If the demand for our conductive inks does not increase, we may have significant excess manufacturing capacity and under-absorption of our fixed costs, which could in turn adversely affect our gross margins. In the event that demand for our conductive inks outgrows our internal manufacturing capacity, we intend to engage third-party manufacturers to produce additional inks. There can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into agreements with qualified manufacturers on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or that, once contracted, such manufacturers will perform as expected.

We are subject to a multitude of manufacturing risks, any of which could substantially increase our costs and limit supply of our products and technologies.

The process of manufacturing our products and technologies is complex and subject to several risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: our ability to scale up our production if and when demand for our inks grows and the quality, availability and prices of the raw materials (including, in particular, silver and copper) necessary for production of our inks. Any adverse developments affecting manufacturing operations for our products and technologies may result in shipment delays, inventory shortages, lot failures, withdrawals or recalls, or other interruptions in the supply of our products and technologies. We may also have to take inventory write-offs and incur other charges and expenses for products and technologies that fail to meet specifications, undertake costly remediation efforts, or seek more costly manufacturing alternatives.

We face intense competition and rapid technological change and the possibility that our competitors may develop products that are similar to, more advanced than, or more effective than ours, which may adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to successfully commercialize our products and technologies.

The digital electronic printing and inkjet conductive ink manufacturing industries are extremely competitive. We are currently aware of various existing products in the market and in development that may compete with our products and technologies. To our knowledge, more than twenty other companies are currently developing silver-based inkjet inks for PE digital electronic inkjet printing applications. Some of these companies are selling conductive inkjet inks for PE applications. Of those, to our knowledge, no other company claims to have metallization inkjet inks for silicon nitride based PV applications.

In addition, silver-based inks are more expensive than copper-based inks. We are aware of at least six (6) companies seeking to develop copper-based inks for inkjet printing, including NovaCentrix, Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd., IntrinsiQ Materials Ltd., Cupro, Promethean Particles and Nanotec-USA. However, to our knowledge, none of our competitors has copper-based inks in mass production and at a commercially viable price and quantity, and some are using copper oxide as a precursor in their inks instead of copper. We have checked samples of some of these and found them to be unsuitable for formulating inkjet inks. Copper precursors are less effective for thick patterns and high throughput. To our knowledge, we are the only company offering as much as a 50% copper inkjet ink, although we are not yet in mass production. As, to our knowledge, no one has proven our strategy to be effective, there is no assurance that we will be successful and the utilization of 50% copper inkjet ink may not prevail.

Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, and other resources, such as larger research and development staff and experienced marketing and manufacturing organizations. Mergers and acquisitions in the conductive ink industry may result in even more resources being concentrated in our competitors. As a result, these companies may be more effective in selling and marketing their products. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large, established companies. Competition may increase further as a result of advances in the commercial applicability of technologies and greater availability of capital for investment in this industry. Our competitors may succeed in developing, acquiring, or licensing on an exclusive basis, products that are more effective or less costly than our current or future products or technologies, or achieve earlier patent protection, product commercialization, and market penetration than we do. Additionally, technologies developed by our competitors may render our potential products and technologies uneconomical or obsolete, and we may not be successful in marketing our products and technologies against competitors.

We may not be successful in our efforts to identify, license, or discover additional products and technologies.

Although we intend to focus a substantial amount of our research and development efforts on the continued development and commercialization of our existing products and technologies, the success of our business also depends upon our ability to identify, license, or discover additional products and technologies. Our research programs or licensing efforts may fail to yield additional products and technologies for development for a number of reasons, including but not limited to the following:

If any of these events occurs, we may be forced to abandon our development efforts for a program or programs, or we may not be able to identify, license, or discover additional products and technologies, which would have a material adverse effect on our business and could potentially cause us to cease operations. Research programs to identify new products and technologies require substantial technical, financial, and human resources. We may focus our efforts and resources on potential programs or products and technologies that ultimately prove to be unsuccessful.

Sustained declines in worldwide oil prices could adversely affect our business.

Worldwide oil prices have recently declined. Oil is used as a fuel for electricity generation in only a small percentage of applications worldwide, compared to natural gas or coal-fired electricity generation and other forms of electricity generation, and accordingly, fluctuations in oil prices generally do not have a significant direct causal effect on prevailing competitive electricity prices, including electricity from solar sources. Nonetheless, sustained decreases in oil prices could result in decreased demand for solar sources of energy, which in turn would materially adversely affect our business, prospects and results of operations.

International expansion of our business exposes us to business, regulatory, political, operational, financial, and economic risks associated with doing business outside of Israel.

Our headquarters are located in Israel. As part of the acquisition of Digiflex, we now have subsidiaries in the United States and Hong Kong that have minimal or no activity. Nevertheless, our business strategy incorporates potentially significant international expansion, particularly in China. Doing business internationally involves a number of risks, including but not limited to:

Any of these factors could significantly harm our future international expansion and operations and, consequently, our results of operations.

If we fail to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs that could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.

We are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements in Israel, including those governing the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into ground, air or water; noise emissions; the generation, storage, use, management and disposal of hazardous waste; the registration of chemicals and in the future also import and export of chemicals; the cleanup of contaminated sites; and the health and safety of our employees. We expect to be subject to similar regulations in any other jurisdictions in which we may establish manufacturing operations in the future. Some of these laws and regulations require us to obtain licenses or permits to conduct our operations. Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent over time. If we violate or fail to comply with these laws, regulations, licenses or permits, we could be fined or otherwise sanctioned by regulators. We cannot predict the impact on our business of new or amended laws or regulations or any changes in the way existing and future laws and regulations are interpreted or enforced, nor can we ensure we will be able to obtain or maintain any required licenses or permits.

The health effects of nanotechnology are unknown.

There is no scientific agreement on the health effects of nanomaterials, but some scientists believe that, in some cases, nanomaterials may be hazardous to an individual’s health or the environment. The science of nanotechnology is based on arranging atoms in such a way as to modify or build materials. Depending on the nanomaterials used, the resulting material may not be found in nature; therefore, the effects are unknown. Our technologies are based on nanometals that are, at most times, dispersed in a liquid minimizing the exposures risks. Moreover, once the metal particles have been printed and sintered they are no longer nanometals, therefore lowering the risks. We take appropriate precautions for employees working with our materials and believe that any health risks related to the nanometals used in potential products can be minimized. Future research into the effects of nanomaterials, in general, on health and environmental issues may have an adverse effect on products using our technology.

Public perceptions of ethical and social issues may discourage the use of nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology has received both positive and negative publicity and is the subject of public discussion and debate. Governments and regulatory bodies may, for social or health purposes, prohibit or regulate the use of nanotechnology. This may restrict our ability to license our technology, or the ability of our future licensees (if any) to sell products.

Our future success depends in part on our ability to retain our Chief Executive Officer and management of Digiflex and to attract, retain, and motivate other qualified personnel.

We are highly dependent on Dr. Fernando de la Vega, our co-founder and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and Digiflex is highly dependent on its management team, and the loss of his services or Digiflex’s management’s services without proper replacements would adversely impact the achievement of our objectives. Under the terms of his services agreement with us, Dr. de la Vega may cease providing services to us at any time by providing 30 days’ prior written notice. Recruiting and retaining other qualified employees, consultants, and advisors for our business, including scientific and technical personnel, will also be critical to our success. Locating and attracting skilled personnel may take time. We may not be able to attract and retain personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous high-technology companies for individuals with similar skill sets. The inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel, or the loss of the services of Dr. de la Vega without proper replacement, may impede the progress of our research, development, and commercialization objectives.

We will need to expand our organization and we may experience difficulties in managing this growth, which could disrupt our operations.

As our development and commercialization plans and strategies develop, we expect to need additional managerial, operational, sales, marketing, financial, legal, and other resources. Our management may need to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from our day-to-day activities and devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities. We may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations, which may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees, and reduced productivity among remaining employees. Our expected growth could require significant capital expenditures and may divert financial resources from other projects, such as the development of additional products and technologies. If our management is unable to effectively manage our growth, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate and/or grow revenue could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our business strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize products and technologies and compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth.

We are dependent on a license for the additives necessary for the metallization of solar cells.

In order for our inks to be suitable for use in silicon nitride based solar cell metallization processes, we use certain additives in our inks. These additives are not readily commercially available, and we have an exclusive license for these additives from the Fraunhofer Institute, IKTS, or IKTS, in Germany, which developed them especially for our inks. Pursuant to the license, IKTS has agreed to manufacture a limited quantity of such additives for us each year. If we require greater quantities, IKTS has agreed to transfer the production file and knowhow to our chosen manufacturer. If IKTS is not able to supply these additives in sufficient quantities or at an acceptable quality, we will need to seek other sources for such additives. However, we are not aware of any other party capable of manufacturing such additives without an orderly transfer by IKTS, as they were specially designed by IKTS for use with our inks. Furthermore, even if we obtain the production file and knowhow for such additives, we may have difficulty in finding other manufacturers with the ability or technical knowledge to utilize such information to produce such additives in our desired quantities and quality, or at all. Any of these events could materially impair our ability to manufacture inks suitable for use in solar cell metallization processes in sufficient quantities or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

We are subject to risks resulting from fluctuations in the price of silver.

The manufacturing process for our silver-based inks utilizes a silver salt, the price of which is linked to the price of silver. The price of silver is affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including inflation, fluctuation of the United States dollar and foreign currencies, global and regional demand, speculative activities by commodities traders and others and the political and economic conditions of major silver producing countries throughout the world. The volatility of mineral prices represents a substantial risk which no amount of planning or technical expertise can fully eliminate. In the event silver prices increase and remain high for prolonged periods of time, we may not be able to produce silver-based inks at a price which is cost effective for manufacturers of solar cells. Furthermore, if the price of silver decreases substantially and remains low for prolonged periods of time, the value proposition that we believe is offered by our copper-based nano-metric ink may be substantially decreased, since a low price of the silver used in their manufacturing processes reduces the incentive for manufacturers of electronic devices to replace silver with another metal, such as copper. Any of the foregoing would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Our U.S. investors may suffer adverse tax consequences if we are characterized as a passive foreign investment company.

Generally, if for any taxable year 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or at least 50% of our assets are held for the production of, or produce, passive income, we would be characterized as a passive foreign investment company, or a PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We have not determined whether we have been a PFIC for 2017 or any previous year, or whether we will be a PFIC in any future year. Because PFIC status is determined annually and is based on our income, assets and activities for the entire taxable year, there can be no assurance that we will not be classified as a PFIC in any year. If we were to be characterized as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any taxable year during which a U.S. Investor, as defined in “Item 10. Additional Information –Taxation — Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”, owns Ordinary Shares, such U.S. Investor could face adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences, including having gains realized on the sale of our Ordinary Shares classified as ordinary income, rather than as capital gain, the loss of the preferential rate applicable to dividends received on our Ordinary Shares by individuals who are U.S. Investors, and having interest charges apply to distributions by us and the proceeds of share sales. A “qualified electing fund” election may alleviate some of the adverse consequences of PFIC status; however, we do not intend to provide the information necessary for U.S. Investors to make qualified electing fund elections if we are classified as a PFIC. See “Item 10. Additional Information – Taxation — Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

As an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements, which could make the Ordinary Shares less attractive to investors.

We qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we are deemed an emerging growth company, we are permitted to and intend to take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other regulatory requirements that are generally unavailable to other public companies, including:

We may take advantage of these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our common equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. However, if certain events occur prior to the end of such five-year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,” our annual gross revenues exceed $1 billion or we issue more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such five-year period.

Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This means that an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We are electing to delay such adoption of new or revised accounting standards. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the public company effective date.

We cannot predict if investors will find the Ordinary Shares less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find the Ordinary Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for the Ordinary Shares and the market price of the Ordinary Shares may be more volatile.

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

If we are unable to obtain and maintain effective patent rights for our products and technologies or any future products and technologies, we may not be able to compete effectively in our markets.

We rely upon a combination of patents, trade secret protection, and confidentiality agreements to protect the intellectual property related to our products and technologies. Our success depends in large part on our and our licensors’ ability to obtain and maintain patent and other intellectual property protection in the United States and in other countries with respect to our proprietary technology and products.

We have sought to protect our proprietary position by filing patent applications in the United States and abroad related to our novel technologies and products that are important to our business. The silver ink-related patent applications have been granted in the USA, China and Russia and are pending in a number of additional countries. The applications for copper ink-related patents are pending in a number of countries. This process is expensive and time consuming, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection.

The patent position of technology companies generally is highly uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions for which legal principles remain unsolved. The patent applications that we own or in-license may fail to result in issued patents with claims that cover our products and technologies in the United States or in other foreign countries. There is no assurance that all potentially relevant prior art relating to our patents and patent applications has been found. The discovery of relevant prior art can invalidate a patent or prevent a patent from issuing from a pending patent application. Even if patents do successfully issue, and even if such patents cover our products and technologies, third parties may challenge their validity, enforceability, or scope, which may result in such patents being narrowed, found unenforceable or invalidated. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not adequately protect our intellectual property, provide exclusivity for our products and technologies, or prevent others from designing around our claims. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third parties, which may have an adverse impact on our business.

We, independently or together with our licensors, have filed several patent applications covering various aspects of our products and technologies. Even though some have already been granted, we cannot provide any assurances about which, if any, additional patents will issue, the breadth of any such patent or whether any issued patents will be found invalid and unenforceable or will be threatened by third parties. Any successful opposition to these patents or any other patents owned by or licensed to us after patent issuance could deprive us of rights necessary for the successful commercialization of any products and technologies that we may develop. Further, if we encounter delays in regulatory approvals, the period of time during which we could market a product under patent protection could be reduced.

If we cannot obtain and maintain effective patent rights for our products and technologies, we may not be able to compete effectively and our business and results of operations would be harmed.

We may not have sufficient patent terms to effectively protect our products and business.

Patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years after it is filed. Although various extensions may be available, the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering our products and technologies are obtained, once the patent life has expired for a product, we may be open to competition.

The patent protection and patent prosecution for some of our products and technologies is dependent on third parties.

While we normally seek and gain the right to fully prosecute the patents relating to our products and technologies, there may be times when patents relating to our products and technologies are controlled by our licensors. In addition, even where we now have the right to control the prosecution of patents and patent applications we have licensed from third parties, we may still be adversely affected or prejudiced by actions or inactions of our licensors and their counsel that took place prior to us assuming control over patent prosecution.

Patent policy and rule changes could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents.

Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our patents or narrow the scope of our patent protection. The laws of foreign countries may not protect our rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, or in some cases not at all. We therefore cannot be certain that we or our licensors were the first to make any invention claimed in our owned and licensed patents or pending applications, or that we or our licensor were the first to file for patent protection of any such invention. Assuming the other requirements for patentability are met, in the United States prior to March 15, 2013, the first to make the claimed invention is entitled to the patent, while outside the United States, the first to file a patent application is entitled to the patent. After March 15, 2013, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the Leahy-Smith Act, enacted on September 16, 2011, the United States has moved to a first to file system. The Leahy-Smith Act also includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and may also affect patent litigation. The effects of these changes are currently unclear as the United States Patent and Trademark office, or the USPTO, must still implement various regulations, the courts have yet to address any of these provisions and the applicability of the act and new regulations on specific patents discussed herein have not been determined and would need to be reviewed. In general, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

If we are unable to maintain effective proprietary rights for our products and technologies or any future products and technologies, we may not be able to compete effectively in our markets.

In addition to the protection afforded by patents, we rely on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect proprietary knowhow that is not patentable or that we elect not to patent, processes for which patents are difficult to enforce and any other elements of our product candidate discovery and development processes that involve proprietary knowhow, information or technology that is not covered by patents. However, trade secrets can be difficult to protect. We seek to protect our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors, and contractors. We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our data and trade secrets by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical security of our information technology systems. While we have confidence in these individuals, organizations and systems, agreements or security measures may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors.

Although we expect all of our employees and consultants to assign their inventions to us, and all of our employees, consultants, advisors, and any third parties who have access to our proprietary knowhow, information, or technology to enter into confidentiality agreements, we cannot provide any assurances that all such agreements have been duly executed or that our trade secrets and other confidential proprietary information will not be disclosed or that competitors will not otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or independently develop substantially equivalent information and techniques. Misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of our trade secrets could impair our competitive position and may have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, if the steps taken to maintain our trade secrets are deemed inadequate, we may have insufficient recourse against third parties for misappropriating the trade secret.

Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our development and commercialization efforts.

Our commercial success depends in part on our avoiding infringement of the patents and proprietary rights of third parties. There have been many lawsuits and other proceedings involving patent and other intellectual property rights in the high-technology industries, including patent infringement lawsuits, interferences, oppositions, and reexamination proceedings before the USPTO and corresponding foreign patent offices. Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications, which are owned by third parties, exist in the fields in which we are developing products and technologies. As the conductive ink industry expands and more patents are issued, the risk increases that our products and technologies may be subject to claims of infringement of the patent rights of third parties.

Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization. There may be third-party patents or patent applications with claims to materials, formulations, or methods of manufacture related to the use or manufacture of our products and technologies. Because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending patent applications that may later result in issued patents that our products and technologies may infringe. In addition, third parties may obtain patents in the future and claim that use of our technologies infringes upon these patents. If any third-party patents were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover the manufacturing process of any of our products and technologies, the holders of any such patents may be able to block our ability to commercialize such product or technology unless we obtained a license under the applicable patents, or until such patents expire or are finally determined to be invalid or unenforceable.

Similarly, if any third-party patents were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover aspects of our formulations, processes for manufacture, or methods of use, the holders of any such patents may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the applicable product or technology unless we obtained a license or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be invalid or unenforceable. In either case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Parties making claims against us may obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop and commercialize one or more of our products and technologies. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages (including treble damages and attorneys’ fees for willful infringement), pay royalties, redesign our infringing products or obtain one or more licenses from third parties, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure.

We may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or the patents of our licensors, which could be expensive, time consuming, and unsuccessful.

Competitors may infringe our patents or the patents of our licensors. If we or one of our licensing partners were to initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering one of our products or technologies, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering our product or technology is invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, obviousness, or non-enablement. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement to the USPTO, during prosecution. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable.

Interference proceedings provoked by third parties or brought by us or declared by the USPTO may be necessary to determine the priority of inventions with respect to our patents or patent applications or those of our licensors. An unfavorable outcome could require us to cease using the related technology or to attempt to license rights to it from the prevailing party. Our business could be harmed if the prevailing party does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms. Our defense of litigation or interference proceedings may fail and, even if successful, may result in substantial costs and distract our management and other employees.

Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. There could also be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions, or other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a material adverse effect on the price of our Ordinary Shares.

We may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants, or independent contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information of third parties or that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.

We employ individuals and engage consultants, including our Chief Executive Officer, who were previously employed at other high-technology companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees, consultants, and independent contractors do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees, consultants, or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any of our employees’ former employers or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel, which could adversely impact our business. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees. 

We may be subject to claims that former or current employees, collaborators or other third parties have an interest in our patents or other intellectual property as an inventor or co-inventor. For example, we may have inventorship disputes arise from conflicting obligations of consultants or others who are involved in developing our products in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership of, or right to use, valuable intellectual property. Such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.

Under the Israeli Patent Law, 5727-1967, or the Patent Law, inventions conceived by an employee during the scope of his or her employment with a company are regarded as “service inventions,” which belong to the employer, absent a specific agreement between the employee and employer giving the employee service invention rights. The Patent Law also provides that if there is no such agreement between an employer and an employee, the Israeli Compensation and Royalties Committee, or the Committee, a body constituted under the Patent Law, shall determine whether the employee is entitled to remuneration for his or her inventions. Recent decisions by the Committee have created uncertainty in this area, as it held that employees may be entitled to remuneration for their service inventions unless they specifically waived their rights under the Patent Law. Further, the Committee has not yet determined the method for calculating this Committee-enforced remuneration or the criteria or circumstances under which an employee’s assignment of all rights and/or waiver of his or her right to remuneration will be disregarded. Although our employees have agreed to assign to us service invention rights, we may face claims demanding remuneration in consideration for assigned inventions. As a consequence of such claims, we could be required to pay additional remuneration or royalties to our current and/or former employees, or be forced to litigate such claims, which could negatively affect our business.

If we fail to comply with our obligations in the agreements under which we license intellectual property and other rights from third parties or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our licensors, we could lose license rights that are important to our business.

We are a party to a number of intellectual property license agreements that are important to our business and may enter into additional license agreements in the future. Our existing license agreements impose, and we expect that future license agreements will impose, various diligence, reporting, royalty, minimum annual license fees, and other obligations on us. If we fail to comply with our obligations under these agreements, or we are subject to a bankruptcy, we may be required to make certain payments to the licensor, we may lose the exclusivity of our license, or the licensor may have the right to terminate the license, in which event we would not be able to develop or market products covered by the license. Additionally, the royalty payments associated with these licenses will make it less profitable for us to develop our products and technologies.

We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights to our products and technologies through acquisitions and in-licenses.

We currently have rights to the intellectual property, through licenses from third parties and under patents that we own, to develop our products and technologies. Because our programs may require the use of proprietary rights held by third parties, the growth of our business will likely depend in part on our ability to acquire, in-license, or use these proprietary rights. In addition, our products and technologies may require specific formulations to work effectively and efficiently and the rights to these formulations may be held by others. We may be unable to acquire or in-license any compositions, methods of use, processes, or other third-party intellectual property rights from third parties that we identify as necessary for our products and technologies. The licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and a number of more established companies are also pursuing strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider attractive. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, cash resources, and greater development and commercialization capabilities. 

In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. We also may be unable to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our investment. If we are unable to successfully obtain rights to required third-party intellectual property rights, we may have to abandon development of that program and our business and financial condition could suffer.

We may not be able to fully enforce covenants not to compete with our key employees, and therefore we may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of such employees.

Our employment agreements with our key employees contain non-compete provisions. These provisions prohibit our key employees, if they cease working for us, from competing directly with us or working for our competitors for a limited period of time. We may be unable to enforce these provisions under applicable laws in Israel where all of our key employees reside. In Israel, the Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation, as interpreted by binding case law, may restrict our ability to enforce non-compete provisions against our employees. If we cannot enforce our non-compete provisions against our employees, we may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of such employees. Even if these provisions are enforceable, they may not adequately protect our interests. As a result, if one or more of our employees leaves our employment and subsequently becomes employed by one of our competitors, our business, results of operations and ability to capitalize on our proprietary information may be materially adversely affected.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

Filing, prosecuting, and defending patents on products and technologies in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States can be less extensive than those in the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States.

Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and may also export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with our products and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.

Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade secrets, and other intellectual property protection, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or marketing of competing products in violation of our proprietary rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions, whether or not successful, could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.

Risks Related to Our Operations in Israel

Our headquarters and other significant operations are located in Israel and, therefore, our results may be adversely affected by political, economic and military instability in Israel.

Our executive offices are located in Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel. In addition, following the acquisition of Digiflex, we have an additional office in Kfar Saba, Israel. In addition, the majority of our officers and directors are residents of Israel. Accordingly, political, economic and military conditions in Israel may directly affect our business. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have taken place between Israel and its neighboring countries and militia groups. Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its trading partners could adversely affect our operations and results of operations. Certain of these conflicts involved missile strikes against civilian targets in various parts of Israel, including the city in which our headquarters are located as well as areas in which our employees and some of our consultants are located, and negatively affected business conditions in Israel. Recently, Israel was involved in a military operation against Hamas militants in Gaza. In connection with this operation, Israel called up a large number of reservists to active duty. Furthermore, Hamas militants in Gaza have fired thousands of rockets at Israel, including Tel Aviv, Israel’s main financial center. Any armed conflicts, terrorist activities or political instability in the region could adversely affect business conditions and could harm our results of operations and could make it more difficult for us to raise capital. Parties with whom we do business may sometimes decline to travel to Israel during periods of heightened unrest or tension, forcing us to make alternative arrangements when necessary in order to meet our business partners face to face. In addition, the political and security situation in Israel may result in parties with whom we have agreements involving performance in Israel claiming that they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions in such agreements. Israel also faces threats from more distant neighbors, in particular, Iran, an ally of Hezbollah and Hamas. There is current unrest in Egypt and a civil war in Syria, both of which are neighboring countries to Israel. 

Several countries, principally in the Middle East, still restrict doing business with Israel and Israeli companies, and additional countries may impose restrictions on doing business with Israel and Israeli companies if hostilities in Israel or political instability in the region continues or increases. These restrictions may limit materially our ability to obtain raw materials from these countries or sell our products to companies or persons in these countries. Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its present trading partners, or significant downturn in the economic or financial condition of Israel, could adversely affect our operations and product development, cause our sales to decrease and, if our securities become publicly traded, adversely affect the share price of our securities.

Our commercial insurance does not cover losses that may occur as a result of an event associated with the security situation in the Middle East. Although the Israeli government is currently committed to covering the reinstatement value of direct damages that are caused by terrorist attacks or acts of war, we cannot assure you that this government coverage will be maintained, or if maintained, will be sufficient to compensate us fully for damages incurred. Any losses or damages incurred by us could have a material adverse effect on our business. Any armed conflicts or political instability in the region would likely negatively affect business conditions generally and could harm our results of operations.

Our operations may be disrupted as a result of the obligation of management or key personnel to perform military service.

Although none of our management or key personnel are presently subject to the following, our male employees and consultants in Israel, including possibly, in the future, members of our senior management may be obligated to perform one month, and, in some cases, longer periods, of annual military reserve duty until they reach the age of 45 (or older, for citizens who hold certain positions in the Israeli armed forces reserves), and, in the event of a military conflict, may be called to active duty. In response to increases in terrorist activity, there have been periods of significant call-ups of military reservists (including during the recent military operation in Gaza, as described above). It is possible that there will be similar large-scale military reserve duty call-ups in the future. Our operations could be disrupted by the absence of a significant number of our officers, directors, employees and consultants. Such disruption could materially adversely affect our business and operations.

The Israeli government grants we have received for research and development expenditures restrict our ability to manufacture products and transfer technologies outside of Israel and require us to satisfy specified conditions. If we fail to satisfy these conditions, we may be required to refund grants previously received together with interest and penalties.

We have received grants from the Israel Innovation Authority, or the Authority (formerly operating as Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Economy of the State of Israel, or the OCS), for research and development programs and intend to apply for further grants in the future. In order to maintain our eligibility for these grants, we must comply with the requirements of the Research Law. Under the Research Law, we are prohibited from manufacturing products developed using these grants outside of the State of Israel without special approvals. As of the date of this annual report, we have not sought to obtain such approvals, as we do not have immediate plans to manufacture outside of Israel. We may not receive the required approvals for any proposed transfer of manufacturing activities. Even if we do receive approval to manufacture products developed with government grants outside of Israel, the royalty rate may be increased and we may be required to pay up to 300% of some or all of the grant amounts requiring repayment plus interest, depending on the manufacturing volume that is performed outside of Israel. This restriction may impair our ability to outsource manufacturing or engage in our own manufacturing operations for those products or technologies. 

Additionally, under the Research Law, we are prohibited from transferring, including by way of license, the Authority financed technologies and related intellectual property rights and knowhow outside of the State of Israel, except under limited circumstances and only with the approval of the Authority Research Committee. As of the date of this annual report, we have not sought to obtain such approvals, as we do not have immediate plans to transfer the Authority financed technologies and related intellectual property rights and knowhow outside of Israel. We may not receive the required approvals for any proposed transfer and, even if received, we may be required to pay the Authority a portion of the consideration that we receive upon any sale of such technology to a non-Israeli entity up to 600% of the grant amounts plus interest. The scope of the support received, the royalties that we have already paid to the Authority, the amount of time that has elapsed between the date on which the knowhow or the related intellectual property rights were transferred and the date on which the Authority grants were received and the sale price and the form of transaction will be taken into account in order to calculate the amount of the payment to the Authority. Approval of the transfer of technology to residents of the State of Israel is required, and may be granted in specific circumstances only if the recipient abides by the provisions of applicable laws, including the restrictions on the transfer of knowhow and the obligation to pay royalties. No assurance can be made that approval to any such transfer, if requested, will be granted.

These restrictions may impair our ability to sell our technology assets or to perform or outsource manufacturing outside of Israel, engage in change of control transactions or otherwise transfer our knowhow outside of Israel and may require us to obtain the approval of the Authority for certain actions and transactions and pay additional royalties and other amounts to the Authority. In addition, any change of control and any change of ownership of our ordinary shares that would make a non-Israeli citizen or resident an “interested party,” as defined in the Research Law, requires prior written notice to the Authority, and our failure to comply with this requirement could result in criminal liability.

These restrictions will continue to apply even after we have repaid the full amount of royalties on the grants. If we fail to satisfy the conditions of the Research Law, we may be required to refund certain grants previously received together with interest and penalties, and may become subject to criminal charges.

The Government of Israel has reduced the grants available under the Authority’s program in recent years, and this program may be discontinued or curtailed in the future. If we do not receive additional grants in the future, we will be required to allocate other funds to product development at the expense of other operational costs.

We have received a grant from the Office of the Authority of the Ministry of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Resources, or the Ministry of Infrastructures, for one of our research and development programs. In order to maintain our eligibility for this grant, we must meet specified conditions, including the payment of royalties with respect to the grant received. If we fail to comply with these conditions in the future, sanctions (such as the cancellation of the grant) might be imposed on us, and we could be required to refund any payments previously received. Even following full repayment of any Ministry of Infrastructures grants, we must nevertheless continue to comply with the requirements of our agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructures. The terms of the Ministry of Infrastructures’ grant require us to obtain the Ministry of Infrastructures’ approval prior to any assignment of knowhow developed under the research and development program funded with its grant. The Ministry of Infrastructures also has a right to receive a nonexclusive royalty free license to the know how developed under any such program to the extent necessary for national needs (as determined by the Minister of Science and Technology, the Minister of Treasury and the Minister of Justice). Pursuant to the terms of the grant, we will be required to notify the Ministry of Infrastructures of any new investment we receive, and any new investor will be required to undertake in writing to the Ministry of Infrastructures to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the Company shall observe the terms of the research and development agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructures and the law governing the grant program of the Ministry of Infrastructures. In addition, in any case where one or more new investors makes an investment with the Company, the Ministry of Infrastructures has a right to negotiate with such investor(s) for the repayment by us of the grant provided to us by the Ministry of Infrastructures. At our request, the Ministry of Infrastructures confirmed our interpretation that the registration of the securities herein will not be deemed as a new investment.

Exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the New Israeli Shekel currencies may negatively affect our earnings.

We incur expenses both in U.S. dollars and New Israeli Shekels, but our financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars. As a result, we are exposed to the risks that the New Israeli Shekel may appreciate relative to the U.S. dollar, or, if the New Israeli Shekel instead devalues relative to the U.S. dollar, that the inflation rate in Israel may exceed such rate of devaluation of the New Israeli Shekel, or that the timing of such devaluation may lag behind inflation in Israel. In any such event, the U.S. dollar cost of our operations in Israel would increase and our U.S. dollar-denominated results of operations would be adversely affected. We cannot predict any future trends in the rate of inflation in Israel or the rate of devaluation (if any) of the New Israeli Shekel against the U.S. dollar.

Provisions of Israeli law and our Fourth Amended Articles of Association, or our Articles of Association, may delay, prevent or make undesirable an acquisition of all or a significant portion of our shares or assets.

Provisions of Israeli law and our Articles of Association could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our Company; may make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire us; may make it more difficult for our shareholders to elect different individuals to our board of directors, even if doing so would be considered to be beneficial by some of our shareholders; and may limit the price that investors may be willing to pay in the future for our Ordinary Shares. Among other things:

On September 24, 2015, we held a general meeting of shareholders at which our shareholders approved, among other things, an amendment to the provisions of our Articles of Association applicable to the election of directors to provide for a board of directors consisting of no less than three (3) and no more than seven (7) directors, with all directors (other than the external directors, whose appointment is required under the Companies Law, as described below) divided into three (3) classes with staggered three-year terms with each class of directors to consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors other than the external directors. This provision may make it more difficult for our shareholders to elect different individuals to our board of directors, even if doing so would be considered to be beneficial by some of our shareholders, may limit the price that investors may be willing to pay in the future for our Ordinary Shares, and may make it more difficult for a potential acquiror to effect a change of control of our Company or may deter potential acquirors from seeking to effect a change of control.

Further, Israeli tax considerations may make potential transactions undesirable to us or to some of our shareholders whose country of residence does not have a tax treaty with Israel granting tax relief to such shareholders from Israeli tax. With respect to mergers, Israeli tax law allows for tax deferral in certain circumstances but makes the deferral contingent on the fulfillment of numerous conditions, including a holding period of two (2) years from the date of the transaction during which certain sales and dispositions of shares of the participating companies are restricted. Moreover, with respect to certain share swap transactions, the tax deferral is limited in time, and when such time expires, the tax becomes payable even if no actual disposition of the shares has occurred. For additional information, see “Description of Share Capital - Mergers and Acquisitions under Israeli Law” in Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on September 22, 2015.

The tax benefits that are available to us as a preferred enterprise require us to continue to meet various conditions and may be terminated or reduced in the future, which could increase our costs and taxes.

We have not yet elected to be treated as a preferred enterprise for Israeli tax purposes, a designation which would allow us to receive certain tax benefits, since we are still not at a stage where we have to pay tax due to carry forward losses. Once we are liable for tax payments, we may be entitled to reduced tax rates and other tax benefits. See “Item 10. Additional Information –Taxation – Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959”. If these tax benefits were reduced or eliminated or if we no longer comply with the various pre-conditions required, the amount of taxes that we pay would consequently be subject to corporate tax at the standard rate, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

It may be difficult to enforce a judgment of a United States court against us and our officers and directors and the Israeli experts named in this annual report located in Israel or the United States, to assert United States securities laws claims in Israel or to serve process on our officers and directors and these experts.

We were incorporated in Israel. Our Chief Executive Officer and substantially all of our directors reside outside of the United States, and all of our assets and most of the assets of these persons are located outside of the United States. Therefore, a judgment obtained against us, 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 for you to effect 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 United States securities laws in Israel. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a claim based on an alleged violation of United States 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 United States law is applicable to the claim. If United States law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable United States law must be proven as a fact by 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 us in Israel, you may not be able to collect any damages awarded by either a United States or foreign court.

Risks Related to Our Securities

Your rights and responsibilities as a shareholder will be governed by Israeli law which differs in some material respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders of U.S. companies.

The rights and responsibilities of our shareholders are governed by Israeli law and our Articles of Association. These rights and responsibilities differ in some material respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in typical U.S.-based corporations. In particular, a shareholder of an Israeli company has a duty to act in good faith and in a customary manner in exercising its rights and performing its obligations towards the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing its power in the company, including, among other things, in voting at general meetings of shareholders on certain matters, such as an amendment to the company’s articles of association, an increase of the company’s authorized share capital, a merger of the company and approval of related party transactions that require shareholder approval. A shareholder also has a general duty to refrain from discriminating against other shareholders. In addition, a controlling shareholder or a shareholder who knows that it possesses the power to determine the outcome of a shareholders’ vote or to appoint or prevent the appointment of an office holder in the company has a duty to act in fairness towards the company. However, Israeli law does not define the substance of this duty of fairness. There is limited case law available to assist us in understanding the nature of this duty or the implications of these provisions. These provisions may be interpreted to impose additional obligations and liabilities on our shareholders that are not typically imposed on shareholders of U.S. corporations.

We do not plan to pay dividends to holders of Ordinary Shares.

We do not anticipate paying cash dividends to the holders of our Ordinary Shares at any time. Moreover, the Companies Law imposes certain restrictions on our ability to declare and pay dividends. For additional information, see “Description of Share Capital — Dividends” in Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1, filed with the SEC on September 22, 2015. Accordingly, investors in our securities must rely upon subsequent sales after price appreciation as the sole method to realize a gain on investment. There are no assurances that the price of Ordinary Shares will ever appreciate in value.

We rely on an outsourced financial consultant to assist in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We believe that our financial consultant has sufficient experience with U.S. GAAP to assist in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, which was gained, among other things, through service as the Chief Financial Officer and other senior accounting positions with several public and private companies that prepared financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and by maintaining subscriptions to accounting resources made available by the “Big Four” accounting firms in Israel, which allows our outsourced financial consultant to obtain accounting and regulatory updates through their distribution lists, including updates with regard to U.S GAAP. Our outsourced financial consultant also has access to disclosure checklists for financial statement preparation compliance purposes and related accounting materials. Our outsourced financial consultant attends training conferences on accounting and regulatory updates, including updates with regard to U.S GAAP. Our historical consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were prepared by our former outsourced financial consultant as well as our former internal Chief Financial Officer, while our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 were prepared by our current outsourced financial consultant. Our Company does not have a full-time Chief Financial Officer and outsources certain matters to a part-time consultant. If there are errors in our consolidated financial statements and/or we are required to restate certain of our consolidated financial statements as a result of our arrangement to outsource certain financial matters, we could be required to implement expensive and time-consuming remedial measures.

Our directors, executive officers and controlling persons as a group have significant voting power and may take actions that may not be in the best interest of shareholders.

Our directors, executive officers and controlling persons as a group beneficially own approximately 38% of our Ordinary Shares. As a result, they will have the ability to exert substantial influence over all matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election and removal of directors and any proposed merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, due to their share ownership, our executive officers and controlling persons could dictate the management of our business and affairs. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control, or impeding a merger or consolidation, takeover or other business combination that could be favorable to you. This significant concentration of share ownership may also adversely affect the trading price for our Ordinary Shares, if a public market further develops for such securities, because investors may perceive disadvantages in owning stock in a company with controlling affiliated shareholders.

We incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.

We are subject to the requirements to file periodic and annual reports under the Exchange Act, and are otherwise subject to laws applicable to public reporting companies in the United States. As a public reporting company, we incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, have imposed various requirements on public companies. Shareholder activism, the current political environment, and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and impact the manner in which we operate our business in ways we cannot currently anticipate. Our management and other personnel need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time consuming and costly.

As an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, we are entitled (and intend) to take advantage of certain temporary exemptions from various reporting requirements including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. When these exemptions cease to apply, we expect to incur additional expenses and devote increased management effort toward ensuring compliance with them. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur as a result of becoming a public reporting company or the timing of such costs.

We are a “foreign private issuer” and have disclosure obligations that are different from those of U.S. domestic reporting companies.

We are a foreign private issuer and are not subject to the same requirements that are imposed upon U.S. domestic issuers by the SEC. Under the Exchange Act, we are subject to reporting obligations that, in certain respects, are less detailed and less frequent than those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. For example, we are not required to issue quarterly reports, proxy statements that comply with the requirements applicable to U.S. domestic reporting companies. Furthermore, although under a recent amendment to the regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, as an Israeli public company listed overseas we are required to disclose the compensation of our five (5) most highly compensated officers on an individual basis (rather than on an aggregate basis, as was previously permitted for Israeli public companies listed overseas prior to such amendment), this disclosure is not as extensive as that required of U.S. domestic reporting companies. We also have four (4) months after the end of each fiscal year to file our annual reports with the SEC and are not required to file current reports as frequently or promptly as U.S. domestic reporting companies. Furthermore, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the requirements to report short-swing profit recovery contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Also, as a “foreign private issuer,” we are also not subject to the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated under the Exchange Act. These exemptions and leniencies will reduce the frequency and scope of information and protections available to you in comparison to those applicable to a U.S. domestic reporting companies.

Offers or availability for sale of a substantial number of our Ordinary Shares may cause the price of our Ordinary Shares to decline.

If our shareholders sell substantial amounts of our Ordinary Shares in the public market (if one develops) or if there is a perception in the market that substantial sales may occur in the future upon the expiration of any statutory holding period, under Rule 144, or upon the exercise of outstanding options or Warrants, the market price of our Ordinary Shares could fall. The occurrence of such substantial sales or the perception that substantial sales of common stock may occur in the future could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate.

The market price of our Ordinary Shares may fluctuate significantly.

If a public trading market further develops for our Ordinary Shares, the market price of the Ordinary Shares may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as:

Further, in recent years, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. Continued or renewed market fluctuations could result in extreme volatility in the price of our Ordinary Shares, which could cause a decline in the value of the Ordinary Shares. Price volatility of our Ordinary Shares might be significant if the trading volume of the Ordinary Shares is low, which often occurs with respect to newly traded securities on the OTCQB.

Because our Ordinary Shares are traded as a “penny stock,” it may be more difficult for investors to sell our Ordinary Shares, and the market price of our Ordinary Shares may be adversely affected.

Our Ordinary Shares are deemed a “penny stock” since, among other things, the stock price is currently trading below $5.00 per share. Broker-dealers who sell penny stocks must provide purchasers of these stocks with a standardized risk-disclosure document prepared by the SEC. This document provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks involved in investing in the penny-stock market. A broker must also give a purchaser, orally or in writing, bid and offer quotations and information regarding broker and salesperson compensation, make a written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and obtain the purchaser’s written agreement to the purchase. Broker-dealers must also provide customers that hold penny stock in their accounts with such broker-dealer a monthly statement containing price and market information relating to the penny stock. If a penny stock is sold to an investor in violation of the penny stock rules, the investor may be able to cancel its purchase and get its money back.

The penny stock rules may make it difficult for investors to sell their Ordinary Shares. Because of the rules and restrictions applicable to a penny stock, there is less trading in penny stocks and the market price of the Ordinary Shares may be adversely affected. Also, many brokers choose not to participate in penny stock transactions. Accordingly, investors may not always be able to resell their Ordinary Shares publicly at times and prices that they feel are appropriate.

Compliance with changing regulations concerning corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses.

There have been changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, new regulations promulgated by the SEC and rules promulgated by the national securities exchanges. These new or changed laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. As a result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards are likely to continue to result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. Our directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer could face an increased risk of personal liability in connection with the performance of their duties. As a result, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified directors and executive officers, which could harm our business. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies, we could be subject to liability under applicable laws or our reputation may be harmed.

Any of the risk factors referred to above could significantly and negatively affect our business, results of operations or financial condition, which may reduce our ability to pay dividends and lower the trading price of our ordinary shares. The risks referred to above are not the only ones that may exist. Additional risks not currently known by us or that we deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

ITEM 4. Information on the Company.

Historical Background and Corporate Structure

P.V. Nano Cell, Ltd. was incorporated in Israel on June 24, 2009 as a private limited liability company. In September 2015, we successfully filed our Registration Statement on Form F-1 in the United States. We have two (2) wholly owned subsidiaries, Nano Size Ltd., or Nano Size, a private company organized under the laws of the state of Israel which we acquired on December 31, 2009, and Digiflex, which we acquired on December 3, 2017. We also own 40% of the outstanding equity securities of Leed PV Nano Science and Technology (Suzhou) Company Ltd., a Chinese joint venture among us, Infinity IP Bank International (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (or IPB), an investor in the Company, and Leed, which is inactive and will automatically dissolve by next year. Additionally, we indirectly own, through Digiflex, two (2) subsidiaries of Digiflex, one in the USA (Digiflex Inc.) and one in Hong Kong (Digiflex HK Limited).

Our Registration Statement on Form F-1 was declared effective by the SEC on September 30, 2015, and a FINRA-registered market maker subsequently filed an application on Form 211 with FINRA to quote the Ordinary Shares on the OTCQB. On March 31, 2016, the application on Form 211 with FINRA to make a market in our Ordinary Shares was approved by FINRA, and on December 15, 2016, our Ordinary Shares began trading on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol “PVNNF”.

Our principal offices are located at 8 Hamasger Street, Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel 2310102. Our telephone number is (972) 4-654-6881. Our website address is http://www.pvnanocell.com. This website address is included in this annual report as an inactive textual reference only. The information and other content appearing on our website are not part of this annual report. The Company does not have a registered agent in the United States. 

Business Overview

We are a conductive ink manufacturing company focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing and commercializing conductive inks for digital conductive printing applications (mainly inkjet and aerosol printing technologies). We have developed the Sicrys™ family of single crystal nano-metric conductive inks, which we believe enables a significantly less costly and less wasteful alternative to current screen printing and, in some cases, photolithography etching processes for PV and PE applications. We also adapt our basic inks to specific customer requirements. We began low volume sales of our Sicrys™ silver-based inks for PV applications in 2010 and are in the process of seeking to expand our sales efforts to include sales of Sicrys™ inks for a wide range of PE applications, including for the printing of circuit boards, mobile phone antennas, 3D printed electronic devices, radio-frequency identification chips, sensors and touchscreens, among other digitally printed electronics. We have also developed what we believe is the first available commercially viable copper-based nano-metric ink for mass-production of printed electronics. We believe that copper inks represent a significant improvement over silver-based inks given copper’s significantly lower cost and nearly identical electrical and conductive properties. We began low volume sales of our copper-based ink for printed electronics applications in the second half of 2014.

Recent Developments

Partnership with Meyer Burger Technology Ltd.

On March 22, 2017, we announced a partnership with Meyer Burger Technology Ltd., or Meyer Burger, a leading global technology company specializing in innovative electronics systems and processes, including inkjet printing technology. Our Sicrys™ silver and copper inks will be used with Meyer Burger’s Pixdro JETx printers for high volume production applications specifically in the fields of semiconductors, packaging, and the metallization of solar cells with additional plans to expand in other segments in the future. We have been collaborating with Meyer Burger on several projects in the fields of solar cells and semiconductors in order to enhance the rate of adoption of additive digital printing of conductive materials in the mass production of electronics.

Loan Agreement

On March 22, 2017, we received a loan for a principal amount of $162,000 from YA II PN, Ltd., or YA II, according to a promissory note executed between the parties. In connection with the loan, commitment fees in the total amount of $12,000 were deducted from the consideration received. The loan bears an interest rate of 12% annually, which must be repaid in five (5) equal monthly installments, commencing on May 31, 2017 and ending on September 30, 2017, subject to any early repayment in accordance with the terms set forth in the promissory note. In addition, pursuant to the loan agreement, YA II received a five-year Warrant to purchase 50,000 Ordinary Shares, at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. The loan was fully repaid by the Company on January 2, 2018.

Convertible Loan Agreements

In August 2017, we entered into several Securities Purchase Agreements with Alpha Capital Anstalt, or Alpha Capital, First Fire Global Opportunities Fund LLC, or First Fire, and additional existing shareholders, whereby we issued and sold to such holders senior secured convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of $905,555 in consideration for an aggregate subscription amount of $815,000 and warrants to purchase 905,555 Ordinary Shares.

The notes include a 10% original issue discount on the consideration paid and bear interest at 6% per annum. Except for the notes of Alpha Capital and First Fire, which mature after 14 months, the notes mature after 24 months and may be converted into shares, subject to the terms of such notes. The initial conversion price of the notes was $1.00 but it was adjusted in January 2018 to $0.50 pursuant to the terms of the notes. In February 2018, Alpha Capital converted $10,313 worth of the notes into 20,626 shares and, in April 2018, Alpha Capital converted $26,025 worth of the notes into 52,050 shares. In April 2018, First Fire converted $8,889 worth of the notes into 17,778 shares. We may require mandatory conversion of the notes in certain circumstances.

The term of the warrants is for five (5) years and the initial exercise price of the warrants was $1.20 per Ordinary Share, subject to adjustment in accordance with their terms. The notes and the warrants include full ratchet anti-dilution purchase price adjustment rights and other mechanisms for adjustment of the purchase price. As a result, following the issuance of warrants to Jet CU at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, the conversion and exercise prices of these notes and warrants was adjusted to $0.50 per share. In February 2018, Alpha converted US $10,313 of its notes into 20,626 shares. In April 2018, Alpha converted US $26,025 of its notes into 52,050 shares and First Fire converted 8,889 of its notes into 17,778 shares.

Share Exchange Agreement with Digiflex

On December 3, 2017, we entered into and closed a Share Exchange Agreement with Digiflex according to which the Digiflex shareholders, representing the entire share capital of Digiflex on a fully diluted basis, sold to and exchanged with us all shares of Digiflex which they held in consideration for our Ordinary Shares, par value NIS 0.01 per share at a conversion rate of 33.698 shares of Digiflex for each share of the Company.

Digiflex offers a number of key printer technologies and inks which we believe may allow us to expand our “Complete Solution Approach” for our customers. As a result, we would have the unique ability to support additive digital printing design, prototyping and mass production of electronic devices, such as PCBs, all in one. We believe this approach will be very attractive to customers, especially when coupling it with our cost-efficient and mass production compatible line of Sicrys™ silver and copper conductive inks. Historically, Digiflex printers have been used for low volume printing. We are in the process of adapting these printers to serve the electronics market and to be compatible with our Sicrys™ inks, as well as adapting the non-conductive polymeric inks developed by Digiflex so that they could be utilized in the printing of full PCBs.

Private Placement

Between November 2014 and December 2017, we completed several closings of a private placement offering of an aggregate of 2,817,512 units (which includes the issuance of 200,000 units under a SEDA agreement (as defined herein)), of which 2,074,140 units were sold at a price of $1.50 per unit and 743,372 units were sold at a price of $1.125 per unit. Each unit consists of (i) one Ordinary Share and (ii) a five-year Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. To date, the Company received aggregate proceeds of $3,947,414 from the sale of such units. The private placement offering has been extended several times and recently expired on March 31, 2018.

Issuance of Shares to Sunrise Securities LLC (Service Provider)

On January 9, 2017, we entered into a Financial Advisory Agreement with Sunrise Securities LLC, or Sunrise, with respect to the transactions with Digiflex and any of its shareholders for the provision of financial advisory and investment services. On December 6, 2017, in connection with the abovementioned placement agent services, Mr. Amnon Mendelbaum was further issued warrants to purchase 675,926 ordinary shares at an exercise price of NIS 0.01 per share. The amount of ordinary shares underlying such warrants is equal to 10% of the aggregate number of fully diluted ordinary shares purchased by Digiflex shareholders. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of seven (7) years.

On February 22, 2017, we entered into a Placement Agent Agreement with Sunrise and Trump Securities LLC, or Trump, whereby Sunrise and Trump would provide us with placement agent services with respect to raising financing from potential investors. In exchange for the aforementioned services and in addition to a retainer fee, Mr. Amnon Mandelbaum, President of Sunrise, was issued warrants to purchase 16,666 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, and warrants to purchase 16,666 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $1.20 per share, and Mr. Steven Zadka, Managing Director of Sunrise, was issued warrants to purchase 16,666 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, and warrants to purchase 16,666 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $1.20 per share. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years. The amount of ordinary shares underlying such warrants is equal to 5% of the aggregate number of warrants and fully diluted ordinary shares deemed to be issuable to Alpha Capital at the closing of the Securities Purchase Agreements.

In February 2017, we issued 60,000 restricted ordinary shares to Haytarr LLC in accordance with the Consulting and Engagement Agreements entered into between us and Haytarr. Furthermore, between March and May 2017, we issued 5,000 restricted ordinary shares to Trident Partners Ltd., 9,000 restricted ordinary shares to John H. Cierski, 9,000 restricted ordinary shares to Anton J. Gerdes and 27,000 restricted ordinary shares to David S. Kaplan, all on behalf of Madison Global Partners, LLC in accordance with the Consulting and Engagement Agreements entered into between us and Madison. Additionally, in December 2017 we issued 75,000 restricted ordinary shares to Tysadco Partners LLC, a service provider of the Company.

Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU P.C.B. Ltd.

On December 27, 2017, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU P.C.B. Ltd., or Jet CU, as supplemented by that certain Supplement to Share Purchase Agreement dated January 3, 2018, pursuant to which we received aggregate gross proceeds of $992,615 from Jet CU in exchange for 992,615 Ordinary Shares and a warrant to purchase 300,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years, i.e. until January 3, 2023.

Jet CU is a company owned by some of the former investors in Digiflex. We have used and intend to use the proceeds of this transaction with Jet CU primarily for the organization and integration of Digiflex into the Company, finalization of the development of our products, payment of accrued debts of Digiflex and the Company and ongoing operations. 

On March 8, 2018, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU, pursuant to which Jet CU provided us with a convertible loan in an aggregate principal amount of $150,000 and received from us warrants to purchase 400,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The loan amount bears interest of 5% per annum. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years, i.e. until March 8, 2023. Jet CU may receive warrants to purchase an additional 200,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, if the price of our shares by the end of December 2018 is lower than $1.00. 

Memorandum of Understanding with Dip-Tech Ltd.

In February 2018, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU with Dip-Tech Ltd. or Dip-Tech, which sets forth the key terms, including the intellectual property rights, of the collaboration between the parties for the development and commercialization of conductive Dip-Tech digital ink for glass digital printers based on our dispersion. The MOU is in effect for a period of twelve (12) months as of the date of its execution. If, within said twelve (12) months, the cooperation is successful, the parties will commence negotiations in regards to the terms of a definitive commercial agreement.

Background

Photovoltaic Cell Metallization

PV cells (commonly known as solar cells) are the building blocks of solar module arrays that convert energy from sunlight into electricity. Multiple PV cells in an integrated group, all oriented in one plane, constitute a solar photovoltaic panel or module, and a group of connected modules make up an array. An array of PV cells is capable of converting solar energy into a usable amount of direct current electricity.

Most modern solar cells are made from either crystalline silicon or thin-film semiconductor material. Crystalline silicon cells (representing an estimated 94% of the PV cell market) are more efficient at converting sunlight to electricity, but generally have higher manufacturing costs. Thin-film materials are typically less efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, but can be cheaper to manufacture.

A key part of the PV crystalline silicon cell manufacturing process is the metallization of the cell – i.e., laying down metal electrodes to collect the electricity generated by the cell when exposed to sunlight. Typically, the metallization process is completed by the application of a silver paste to the front side and aluminum-silver pastes on the rear side of the cell using a screen printing process. This process is one of the main bottlenecks to reducing the costs of the cells and the cost of electricity produced by the cells due to: high usage of metal (expensive silver), loss of paste in the process (some paste stays in the screens), cell breakage in the printing process (contact printing), wide printed patterns (higher shading of cells, less surface exposed to the light) and limited electrical properties of the pastes. As a result, “grid parity” – a term used to refer to the ability to produce electricity through an alternative energy source (such as solar cells) at a cost that is equal to or lower than the price of purchasing power from the electricity grid – remains elusive and many solar PV systems rely on government subsidies and grants in order to lower the costs of production and approach grid parity.

The market for solar power generated by PV arrays worldwide was estimated at 77.3 GW (GW is the method in which the market is measured), with cumulative installation of 320 GW worldwide in 2017.

This represents approximately 1.3% of the worldwide electricity production. For example, prices of PV electricity in Germany (end of 2016) were: Price PV rooftop system ~ 1500 €/kWp End of 2016, PV power plant ~ 8 ct€ / kWh and PV-Tender Price 4.33 ct€ / kWh (Feb. 2018). Spot prices to buy PV cells are as low as 36 cents per watt, or around $1.45 per cell. Photovoltaics is a fast growing market: The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of PV installations was 40% between 2010 to 2016.

Silver demand for photovoltaic applications was estimated at 2700 tons in 2016.

The leading new PV cells needs only one-fifth as much silver as a decade before. The silver now used in new PV cells costs just less than 5 cents at current prices. Silver accounts for 15%-25% of the total manufacturing cost of PV panels, therefore it is a main focus in cost reduction.

We believe that industry changes since 2011, steep price reductions of cells and modules, including steep reductions in silicon pricing (driven in large part by Chinese policies, which may be unsustainable in the long term), and technological improvements such as increased efficiency and reduction in silver usage have brought the PV industry closer to the goal of achieving grid parity, thereby spurring greater interest in technologies that can further lower costs. Given that metallization costs continue to be the highest cost element of PV cell production (due primarily to the high cost of silver), many have focused cost-cutting efforts on improving efficiencies and reducing costs in the metallization process.

We believe that a significant market opportunity exists for a non-contact metallization solution that is significantly cheaper than the traditional screen printing process, does not break silicon cells, permits for thinner PV cell wafers (thus reducing silicon costs, which we believe to be a major obstacle to the wider proliferation of solar cell technologies), increases the active area of the cell by printing narrower conductors, and yields better electrical performance than screen-printed conductors. We believe that the market for inks to be used in inkjet printing for PV applications is a small subset of the market for silver pastes and inks in PV cell production generally, as described above, which we believe has the potential to grow over time given the benefits of inkjet printers and the benefits of our Sycris™ inks, which, among others, apply to a range of printer devices, and present a lower cost and simpler operating procedures when compared to photolithography processes. See “– Our Solutions — Printed Electronics.”

The vast majority of the present crystalline silicon solar cells are made with silver conductors and are not compatible with copper metal. There are a few companies developing copper based solutions (e.g. Sunpower, Sunpreme and others). We are planning to develop copper based inkjet solutions for these solar cells types.

Printed Electronics

Printed electronics is a set of methodologies by which electrical devices are printed onto various substrates (i.e., base material) by depositing electrically functional inks (and possibly other additional functional inks such as insulating materials) on the substrate, creating active or passive devices, such as conductors, thin film transistors or resistors. The use of printed electronics presents an opportunity to facilitate widespread, low cost production of electronics for a variety of applications, including notably for use in circuit boards, radio-frequency identification chips, sensors and touchscreens, among other digitally printed electronics.

The total addressable worldwide market for the sale of inks which the Company is aiming to penetrate is predicted to be in excess of US$75 billion by 2022. The total addressable market could be increased by an increase in the need and future capability to print embedded passive components economically.

The total addressable worldwide market is more specifically projected as set forth below:

Merkle & Sears Market Report 2017 “Global Conductive Inks Market Analysis”

We believe that the current printing methods have inherent limitations when implemented in flexible electronics, 3D (three dimensional) electronics and in customized and small scale printing. Furthermore, these processes currently utilize expensive inks and produce toxic byproducts which must be disposed of, which increases overall production costs. We believe that a significant market opportunity exists for inks, such as ours, that enable digital inkjet conductive printing, enabling printing on flexible substrates, three-dimensional printing and customized and small scale printing at a lower price.

The Market

The analog printed electronics market today is in excess of $65 billion, aiming to exceed $75 billion by 2022. The analog process is very complicated, environmentally unfriendly, and inefficient as it contains many production steps, and is capex expensive and limited in its performance.

Digitally printing electronics present many advantages over the traditional analog method, including:

While there are quite a few companies that have silver conductive inks (which are not compatible with mass production processes), there are very few companies offering copper nano particle dispersions, which, to our knowledge, are not inks. The Company offers silver and copper based inks.

Silver metal is approximately 80 times more expensive than copper metal which may eventually allow us to price copper inks at 2-3 times lower than silver inks and easily compete with analog conductive inks and processes.

Product Development

The Company offers and sells several conductive inks based on either silver or copper. Inks are sold through our web site. Our operations team is well-trained for prompt delivery at a consistently high quality. To date, although we have had limited sales, we have not had any product returns.

Our Research and Development, or R&D, team’s efforts are focused on 3 main goals:

This printer is intended to include all the necessary elements to print electronics in the same tool. These capabilities include the capability to print up to ten inks in parallel with very high accuracy, sintering, drying, and inspection capabilities at an affordable price.

Our Solutions

Photovoltaic Cell Metallization

Our Sicrys™ family of inks are low viscosity, nano-particle inks optimized for inkjet printing. We believe that PV cell metallization via inkjet printing utilizing our Sicrys™ inks results in the following benefits relative to traditional screen printing processes:

Printed Electronics

We currently offer silver-based Sicrys™ inks and our newly developed copper-based Sicrys™ for use in the production of PE utilizing inkjet printers. We believe that inkjet production of PE utilizing our Sicrys™ inks results in the following benefits relative to traditional screen printing and photolithography processes:

Our Strategy

Our goal is to become a leading producer of conductive inks for digital electronic printing applications. Our strategy is to concentrate our efforts on mass production applications opportunities by selling inks to be used in mass production printers with high throughputs and high consumption of inks per year. We are currently developing our “Complete Solution Approach,” in which we will work with equipment producers to supply our customers with equipment, process and inks for their applications. We intend to provide a service to customers by not only selling inks, but also securing equipment suitable for implementation in their production lines, including Digiflex printers, and by working with them to develop the production processes suitable to the relevant applications and their needs (including printing strategy, printing temperature, sintering temperatures and time).

 To date, we have generated limited sales and market our products primarily via our presence on social networking websites and applications (such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook), and through printed electronics exhibitions such as LOPEC and IDTEch. However, we are currently in advanced negotiations with three international companies, for agreements to supply conductive dispersions and inks based on our nano metal particles (Sicrys™ ) that may yield sales of approximately US$600,000 in 2018 based on two signed agreements and a purchase order we are awaiting from a third company

A significant amount of our capital investment will be towards mass production printers that will be commissioned at our customer’s premises against ink purchase commitments. We hope to install 4 printers in 2018, 16 in 2019 and 24 mass printers in 2020, most of which will be purchased from third party printer producers, hopefully for lower up front purchase prices and royalties. We believe that each such printer will consume at least 400 kg of ink per year. In parallel, mass production printer manufacturers will continue their efforts to sell systems through their channels.

In addition, we are continuing our efforts to:  

We have co-founded two (2) development consortiums in the framework of the European Horizon 2020, an R&D support program in the European Community which provides grants for research and development, including to companies in Israel which are a part of the organization. The grants will be used to expand our knowhow and network through research and development that we commit to, the costs of which will be reimbursed in part by European Horizon 2020.

The first development consortium, DIMAP, was founded in October 2015 to develop novel ink materials and processes for 3D polyjet printing. Our main partners in this project are Stratasys (Israel), Profactor (Austria), Borealis (Austria) and Phillips (Netherlands). We have been granted a budget from DIMAP of €259,600 (approximately $312,771 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / 0.83 in effect as of December 31, 2017) to develop these ink materials and processes. The grants received up to December 31, 2017 were €220,656 in the aggregate (approximately $265,851 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / 0.83 in effect as of December 31, 2017). This project is expected to be completed in late 2018.

Our other development consortium, HIPERLAM, which started in November 2016, is aiming to develop novel ink materials and processes for LIFT printing technology. Our main partners in this project are Orbotech (Israel), TNO (Netherlands) and Oxford Lasers Ltd. (U.K.). We have been granted a budget by HIPERLAM of €260,713 (approximately $ 329,452 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / € 0.83 in effect as of December 31, 2017). We received the entire grant through December 31, 2017. This project is expected to be completed in late 2019.

Additional projects have been approved for financing in 2018:

Competition

The digital electronic printing and inkjet conductive ink manufacturing industries are extremely competitive. We are currently aware of various existing products in the market and in development that may compete with our products and technologies. To our knowledge, more than twenty other companies are currently developing silver-based inkjet inks for PE digital electronic inkjet printing applications. Some of these companies already sell conductive inkjet inks for PE applications. Of those, to our knowledge, no other company claims to have metallization inkjet inks for silicon nitride based PV applications. We are aware of at least six (6) companies seeking to develop copper-based inks for inkjet printing, including NovaCentrix, Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd., IntrinsiQ Materials Ltd. Cupro, Promethean Particles, Copprint and Nanotec-USA. However, to our knowledge none of our competitors has copper based inks in mass production and at a commercially viable price and quantity.

We believe that a number of other companies and entities, that we are not completely familiar with, claim to be able to supply nano silver particles, dispersions or inks. These include:

To our knowledge, our competitors’ inks differ substantially from our inks. We believe that our inks have the following competitive advantages, relative to those currently being sold by our competitors, especially when aiming to print on mass production applications and throughputs:

Furthermore, we believe that there is a high barrier to entry for competitors to develop and successfully bring competing inks to market due to the long lead times required to develop particles of an appropriate size to formulate inks compatible with inkjet printing and the difficulty in producing nano-based inks in large-scale quantities. Moreover, in order to be suitable for use in a silicon nitride solar cell metallization process, nano-based inks require the use of additional additives. These additives are not readily commercially available, and we have an exclusive license for these additives from IKTS, which developed them especially for our inks. Pursuant to the license, IKTS has agreed to manufacture for us these ingredients in a limited quantity per year. If we require greater quantities, IKTS has agreed to transfer the production file and knowhow to our chosen manufacturer. We are required to pay royalties of €25 per kg of these ingredients which will not be manufactured by IKTS. In addition, we are obligated to pay a minimum annual royalty amount deductible against royalties due. To date, we have acquired the needed quantities of these ingredients solely from IKTS.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, and other resources, such as larger research and development staff and experienced marketing and manufacturing organizations. Mergers and acquisitions in the conductive ink industry may result in even more resources being concentrated in our competitors. As a result, these companies may be more effective in selling and marketing their products. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large, established companies. Competition may increase further as a result of advances in the commercial applicability of technologies and greater availability of capital for investment in this industry. Our competitors may succeed in developing, acquiring, or licensing on an exclusive basis, products that are more effective or less costly than our current or future products or technologies, or achieve earlier patent protection, product commercialization, and market penetration than we do. Additionally, technologies developed by our competitors may render our potential products and technologies uneconomical or obsolete, and we may not be successful in marketing our products and technologies against competitors.

System Competition to our Digiflex Printer

To our knowledge, most print producers offer printers that can print one or two prints at a time and do not have the additional capabilities that the Digiflex printers include, such as drying, laser sintering and inspection. We note that one of our competitors, Nano Dimension Ltd (NASDAQ: NNDM), focuses on the 3D PCB prototype market, using silver & Dielectric inks to print at very low speeds. We are not aware as to whether they have announced plans for a mass production solution or printing passive components. Nando Dimension sells conductive ink at a much more expensive price than our price (the inks are a licensed technology from the Hebrew University).

Research and Development Agreements, License Agreements and Material Contracts

We are engaged in research and development programs with the Authority, pursuant to the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Law - 1984, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Under the terms of these programs, we are required to pay to a royalty of 3.5% of sales of products resulting from research and development partially financed by the Authority. However, such royalty obligations will not exceed the grant amount received, as linked to the dollar and including accrued interest at the LIBOR rate. No grants were received during the three (3) years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we paid the Authority royalties of $305, $2,109 and $1,621 respectively. As of December 31, 2017, we and Nano Size received from the Authority grants in the amount of $1,009,506 (including interest). Our total contingent liability (including interest) with respect to royalty-bearing participation received, net of royalties paid, amounted to $1,359,216 as of December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, our new subsidiary, Digiflex, received grants for research and development efforts from the Authority in an aggregate amount of approximately $2.2 million, out of which an amount of approximately $0.5 million was repaid by Digiflex and Jet CU and approximately $1.0 million was repaid to the Authority by Jet CU due to a spinoff Jet CU conducted which was authorized by the Authority. The contingent remaining liability was therefore reduced to approximately $0.7 million.

In 2003, Nano Size initiated and co-founded a Nano Functional Material Consortium, or the NFM Consortium, which performed general research on nanotechnology, sponsored by the Authority, as part of the MAGNET program. Between 1997 and 2003, Nano Size received from the Authority, principal funding of $575,336 (to which interest amounting to the LIBOR rate known on the date of the first payment is added), for which royalties are due. Between 2003 and 2008, Nano Size received additional funding in an amount of NIS 2,509,154 (approximately $723,725 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017). No royalties are payable to the Authority with respect to the additional funding; however, the technology related to nano silver developed in the NFM Consortium is subject to the Research Law.

In September 2009, we entered into a Research and License Agreement with Ramot-Tel Aviv University, or Ramot, for a joint research program. The program was approved by the Magneton committee of the Authority, a committee focused on facilitating knowledge transfer between industry and academic institutions. Under the terms of the Magneton program, we received from the Authority an aggregate amount of NIS 1,467,683 ($423,329 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017). No royalties are payable to the Authority with respect to this funding; however, any technology developed in the Magneton program is subject to the Research Law. Pursuant to this agreement, we were required to fund the research and development of the technology during the research period (two (2) years starting September 2009) in a total amount of NIS 1,077,000 ($310,643 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017). In addition, we issued to Ramot Warrants to purchase 117,209 Ordinary Shares (see Note 11e to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual report) at an exercise price equal to their par value, i.e. NIS 0.01 per Ordinary Share. We will be required to pay to Tel Aviv University royalties of between 3.4% and 3.9% on all net sales of any product, component, device or material that is used in the preparation of coated substrates meeting certain specifications, or Licensed Film, and services resulting from the license; royalties of between 2.4% and 3.0% on all net sales of Licensed Film products and services; and a sublicense fee equal to 25% of all sublicense fees that we may receive with respect to the intellectual property developed under such agreement. In addition, license fees in the amount of $20,000 were paid in 2015 and 2014. In January 2016, the parties agreed to terminate the Magneton program and the license agreement. Pursuant to the settlement between us and Ramot, Ramot will maintain the joint patent developed by the parties, which we will jointly own, and will pay us royalties on the joint patent, once it generates income. No amounts were paid to Ramot as part of the settlement. Ramot retained its warrants in the Company.

In November 2009, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with the shareholders of Nano Size pursuant to which we purchased all of the outstanding shares of Nano Size for consideration consisting of a cash purchase price of $120,000, which was paid at closing, plus royalty payments equal to 3% of net revenues from sales of products and services by us that utilize or are based upon Nano Size’s technologies and 10% of any sublicense fees received by us in respect of Nano Size’s intellectual property, up to an aggregate cap for all royalty payments of $1,400,000, of which $60,000 was paid as an advance and will be off set against future royalty payments which will be payable by us from sales of products and services. As of the date hereof, the aggregate amount of royalties off set by us from the advance has not reached $60,000, however we expect the full advance to be offset and additional amounts to be paid if and when we increase commercial sales of our Sicrys™ inks.

In October 2010, we entered into a Convertible Loan Agreement with Israel Electric Corporation Ltd., or IEC, which agreement was amended in April 2012. Pursuant to this agreement, IEC loaned us an aggregate amount of NIS 3,000,000 ($865,301 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) at an interest rate of 8% per annum. In April 2013, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with a new investor pursuant to which the aggregate principal amount of such loan and all accrued but unpaid interest thereon were converted into 172,190 Series B-1 Preferred Shares, which were ultimately converted in the Share Split into 1,278,166 Ordinary Shares. Pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Loan Agreement, IEC is also entitled to royalty payments equal to 2% of net sales of the Company’s products, up to an aggregate of NIS 8,000,000 ($2,307,470 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017). In addition, for a period of 10 years from the date of the first commercial sale of our products, IEC will be entitled to purchase our products, licenses and services, at prices which are at the lowest rate then offered or provided by the Company to any of its other customers for the same products, licenses or services (excluding demonstration units, pilot units, samples, and other customary promotional discounts which are sporadic in nature and do not represent on-going commercial basis prices with respect to the client), given similar quantities and commercial conditions.

On December 15, 2011, we signed a research and development agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructures. Under such agreement, the Ministry of Infrastructures was to pay us up to 62.5% of our expenses related to the project up to a maximum of NIS 625,000 (approximately $180,271 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) in exchange for our agreement to pay royalties of 5% of any revenues generated from the intellectual property generated under the program. The term of the program was 18 months starting January 1, 2012. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we did not receive grants from the Ministry of Infrastructures. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we recorded liabilities in respect of royalties payable under this agreement in the amount of $148 and $281, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, our aggregate contingent liability to the Ministry of Infrastructures was $178,559.

In September 2012, we entered into a Know-How License Agreement with IKTS pursuant to which IKTS agreed to manufacture for us a limited quantity of certain additives required to be included in our inks to make them suitable for use in solar cell metallization processes. If we require greater quantities, IKTS has agreed to transfer the production file and knowhow to our chosen manufacturer. We will be required to pay royalties of €25 ($30 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / € 0.83 in effect as of December 31, 2017) per kg of the ingredients not manufactured by IKTS. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, we have acquired the needed quantities of these ingredients from IKTS and paid IKTS the minimum royalty fees of €2,000 per year (approximately $2,410 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / € 0.83 in effect as of December 31, 2017).

On March 11, 2013, we entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with IPB and Leed, pursuant to which we agreed to establish a joint venture to develop, manufacture, market, distribute and commercialize inkjet solar metallization silver and copper inks in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Our obligation to fund the joint venture was conditioned upon, among other things, receipt of all applicable approvals required by relevant authorities in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan within 180 days of the effective date of the joint venture agreement. The conditions in the agreement were not satisfied prior to the deadline set forth in the Joint Venture Agreement and, as a result, the parties have agreed to dissolve the joint venture. Thereafter, in January 2014, we received a letter from Leed demanding that we reimburse Leed for its expenses associated with the joint venture, in an aggregate amount of $68,426. In March 2014, we received a subsequent letter from Leed in which Leed offered to settle its $68,426 claim for an aggregate of $50,905 if we paid such amount prior to March 30, 2014. We dispute Leed’s claim that they are entitled to be reimbursed by us for their expenses incurred in connection with the joint venture, but have included a reserve of $40,000 for this potential liability in our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017.

In May 2014, we entered into a collaboration agreement with XaarJet Limited, or Xaar, which establishes procedures for the certification of our inks for use with Xaar printer heads. Once the first ink (Silver Nano-Particle Ink) is certified by Xaar, both we and Xaar will refer to the ink as certified to be used with Xaar Printheads. Following such certification, we will be required to pay Xaar a fee for all certified inks sold for use with Xaar print heads as follows: 2% of the certified ink price until the cumulative value of the fees received by Xaar exceeds £50,000 (approximately $67,567 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / £ 0.74 in effect as of December 31, 2017), and thereafter, 1% of the certified ink price. Once the cumulative value of the fees received by Xaar with respect to all products exceeds £1,000,000 (approximately $1,351,351 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / £ 0.74 in effect as of December 31, 2017), we and Xaar have agreed to review the percentage payable in the light of the prevailing business conditions.

On July 9, 2015, we entered into a Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, or the SEDA, with YA Global, pursuant to which we may, at our election and in our sole discretion, issue and sell to YA Global, from time to time after the Effective Date, and YA Global has agreed to purchase (subject to the limitations and contained therein), up to $3,000,000 of Ordinary Shares at a price per share equal to 95% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares for the five (5) consecutive trading days following our election to issue and sell shares to YA Global thereunder. Pursuant to the terms of the SEDA, we paid a structuring and due diligence fee in an amount equal to $15,000 and a commitment fee in an aggregate amount of $150,000, which was paid by the issuance of 100,000 ordinary shares on March 15, 2017. In addition, pursuant to the SEDA, YA Global purchased in October 2015, 100,000 units, at a purchase price of $1.50 per unit. Each unit consists of (i) one Ordinary Share and (ii) a five-year warrant to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share.

Share Exchange Agreement with Digiflex

On December 3, 2017, we entered into a Share Exchange Agreement with Digiflex according to which the Digiflex shareholders, representing the entire share capital of Digiflex on a fully diluted basis, sold to and exchanged with us all shares of Digiflex which they held in consideration for our Ordinary Shares, at a conversion rate of 33.698 shares of Digiflex for each share of the Company.

Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU

On December 27, 2017, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU, as supplemented by that certain Supplement to Share Purchase Agreement dated January 3, 2018, pursuant to which we received aggregate gross proceeds of $992,615 from Jet CU in exchange for 992,615 Ordinary Shares and a warrant to purchase 300,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years, i.e. until January 3, 2023.

Jet CU is a company owned by some of the former investors in Digiflex. We have used and intend to use the proceeds of this transaction with Jet CU primarily for the organization and integration of Digiflex into the Company, finalization of the development of our products, payment of accrued debts of Digiflex and the Company and ongoing operations. 

On March 8, 2018, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU, pursuant to which Jet CU provided us with a convertible loan in an aggregate principal amount of $150,000 and received from us warrants to purchase 400,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The loan amount bears interest of 5% per annum. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years, i.e. until March 8, 2023. Jet CU may receive warrants to purchase an additional 200,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, if the price of our shares by the end of December 2018 is lower than $1.00. 

Convertible Loan Agreements

In August 2017, we entered into several Securities Purchase Agreements with Alpha Capital Anstalt, or Alpha Capital, First Fire Global Opportunities Fund LLC, or First Fire, and additional existing shareholders, whereby we issued and sold to such holders senior secured convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of $905,555 in consideration for an aggregate subscription amount of $815,000 and warrants to purchase 905,555 Ordinary Shares.

The notes include a 10% original issue discount on the consideration paid and bear interest at 6% per annum. Except for the notes of Alpha Capital and First Fire, which mature after 14 months, the notes mature after 24 months and may be converted into shares, subject to the terms of such notes. The initial conversion price of the notes was $1.00 but it was adjusted in January 2018 to $0.50 pursuant to the terms of the notes. In February 2018, Alpha Capital converted $10,313 worth of the notes into 20,626 shares and, in April 2018, Alpha Capital converted $26,025 worth of the notes into 52,050 shares. In April 2018, First Fire converted $8,889 worth of the notes into 17,778 shares. We may require mandatory conversion of the notes in certain circumstances.

The term of the warrants is for five (5) years and the initial exercise price of the warrants was $1.20 per Ordinary Share, subject to adjustment in accordance with their terms. The notes and the warrants include full ratchet anti-dilution purchase price adjustment rights and other mechanisms for adjustment of the purchase price. As a result, following the issuance of warrants to Jet CU at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, the conversion and exercise prices of these notes and warrants was adjusted to $0.50 per share. In February 2018, Alpha converted US $10,313 of its notes into 20,626 shares. In April 2018, Alpha converted US $26,025 of its notes into 52,050 shares and First Fire converted 8,889 of its notes into 17,778 shares.

Memorandum of Understanding with Dip-Tech Ltd.

In February 2018, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU with Dip-Tech Ltd. or Dip-Tech, which sets forth the key terms, including the intellectual property rights, of the collaboration between the parties for the development and commercialization of conductive Dip-Tech digital ink for glass digital printers based on our dispersion. The MOU is in effect for a period of twelve (12) months as of the date of its execution. If, within said twelve (12) months, the cooperation is successful, the parties will commence negotiations in regards to the terms of a definitive commercial agreement.

Term Sheet with Large Chemical Pharmaceutical Company

In April 2018, we entered into a non-binding Term Sheet with a large chemical pharmaceutical company, subject to the execution of a supply agreement, which sets forth the key terms for the supply of nano silver particle dispersions to such company pursuant to purchase orders to be supplied by such company to us. Pursuant to the Term Sheet, the Company will grant such company an exclusive license to use the ink it will purchase in such company’s decorative applications. The Term Sheet is in effect for three (3) years.

Share Purchase Agreement with Slobel NV

On May 8, 2018, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Slobel NV, pursuant to which Slobel provided us with a convertible loan in an aggregate principal amount of $170,000 and received from us warrants to purchase 170,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The loan includes a 10% original issue discount and bears interest of 6% per annum. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years, i.e. until May 7, 2023.

Intellectual Property

An important part of our business and product development strategy is to seek, when appropriate, protection for our products and proprietary technology through the use of various United States and foreign patents. Our patent application covering silver single crystal particle inks and dispersions have been granted in China, Russia, Japan and the USA. We currently have patent applications pending in the European Union, India, Israel, Brazil and South Korea supporting our silver-based inks. We have patent applications based on PCT/IB2015/051536, relating to copper-based ink, filed on March 3, 2015, which have been submitted to national phase. We have an approved joint patent with Ramot for “Conductive Nanowire Films” which Ramot maintains pursuant to the termination settlement of the Magneton Program.

The silver family (granted in USA (9,556,350), Russia (RU 2593311), China (CN 103282969) and Japan (JP 6067573)) main claims are on the concentrated dispersions and inks made of a majority of single crystal Nano silver particles and the method for producing them. The single crystal particles are easy to police. The priority date is December 6, 2010. The silver application has been submitted in Europe, India, Israel, Brazil, Korea and United Kingdom.

The copper family relates to nano-metric copper formulations and stable dispersions containing single-crystal metallic copper particles, and to the method of producing such formulations and dispersions. It is in national phase in the United Kingdon, Europe, Brazil, India, S. Korea, Japan, China, Israel, Russia and the United States. The priority date is March 3, 2015.

In 2013, we submitted a joint patent with Tel Aviv University: Device and process to make transparent conductive coatings based on very high aspect ratio nano-wires which form on the substrate: US 9,373,515 B2 Conductive Nanowires Films.

PVN IP Sicrys^TM inks: PVN owns the trade mark Sicrys™.

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Nano Size, has been granted several patents in the field of ultrasonic manufacturing of nano materials (7,157,058 (US); 7,504,075 (US); 144638 (IL); 149932 (IL)). We do not believe that these patents are material to our business. We intend to continue to seek patent protection for our products that we may develop in the future.

Digiflex has been granted several patents for inks, primers and primer lamination in the field of graphic arts in several countries, including, but not limited to, the United States, European Union, Canada, China, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Germany, India and Israel.

The patenting of technology-related products and processes involves uncertain and complex legal and factual questions. To date, no consistent policy has emerged regarding the breadth of claims of such technology patents. Therefore, there is no assurance that our pending applications will issue, or what scope of protection any issued patents will provide, or whether any such patents ultimately will be upheld as valid by a court of competent jurisdiction in the event of a legal challenge. The costs of such proceedings would be significant and an unfavorable outcome could result in the loss of rights to the invention at issue in the proceedings. If we fail to obtain patents for our technology and are required to rely on unpatented proprietary technology, there is no assurance that we can protect our rights in such unpatented proprietary technology, or that others will not independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary products and techniques, or otherwise gain access to our proprietary technology.

Competitors have filed applications for, or have been issued patents, and may obtain additional patents and proprietary rights relating to products or processes used in, necessary to, competitive with, or otherwise related to, our patents. The scope and validity of these patents, and the extent to which we may be required to obtain licenses under these patents or under other proprietary rights and the cost and availability of licenses is unknown. This may limit our ability to license our technology. Litigation concerning these or other patents could be protracted and expensive. If suit were brought against us for patent infringement, a challenge in the suit by us as to the validity of the other patent would have to overcome a legal presumption of validity. There can be no assurance that the validity of the patent would not be upheld by the court or that, in such event, a license of the patent to us would be available. Moreover, even if a license were available, the payments that would be required are unknown and could materially reduce the value of our interest in the affected products.

We also rely upon unpatented trade secrets. No assurances can be given that others will not independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or disclose such technology or that we can meaningfully protect our rights to our unpatented trade secrets. We require our employees, consultants, advisors, and any third parties who have access to our proprietary know-how, information, or technology to enter into confidentiality agreements with us, which provide that all confidential information developed or made known to the individual during the course of the relationship is to be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties except in specific circumstances. In the case of employees and consultants, the agreements provide that all inventions conceived by the individual will be our exclusive property or will be assigned to us. There is no assurance, however, that these agreements will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets and other confidential proprietary information in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of such information.

Marketing and Sales

We currently have a small marketing and sales operation consisting of one full-time employee (Inside Sales Manager) and one sales representative in Korea who has a representative in Japan. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer who generally devote a portion of their efforts to increasing awareness of, and marketing, our products. We intend to collaborate with additional third party distributors and sales agents with established sales and marketing operations and industry experience to market our inks. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into distribution and/or sales agency agreements on terms acceptable to us or at all, or that such distributors or sales agents will be successful in marketing our inks. We are not currently aiming to expand the Digiflex graphics arts fields, as we transition and integrate its printers into the electronics field. As such. we are not yet marketing these printers.

Seasonality

Our business and operations are generally not affected by seasonal fluctuations or factors.

Raw Materials and Suppliers

We believe that the raw materials that we require to manufacture our inks are readily available in adequate quantities from multiple sources, except that certain additives required to make our inks suitable for use in solar cell metallization processes are not are not readily commercially available, and we have an exclusive license for these additives from IKTS as described above under “—Research and Development Agreements, License Agreements and Material Contracts.” In addition, the manufacturing process for our silver-based inks utilizes a silver salt the price of which is linked to the price of silver. The price of silver is affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including inflation, fluctuation of the United States dollar and foreign currencies, global and regional demand, speculative activities by commodities traders and others and the political and economic conditions of major silver producing countries throughout the world. See “Item 3. Key Information - Risk Factors — we are subject to risks resulting from fluctuations in the price of silver.”

Manufacturing

We manufacture our inks at our Migdal Ha’Emek facilities. We currently have capacity to produce an estimated two (2) tons of ink per year, and intend to upgrade our facilities (at an estimated cost of $500,000) to increase production capacity to 19 tons per year, if and when demand for our inks is projected to surpass our production capabilities and we have sufficient financing to do so. In the event that demand for our inks outgrows our internal manufacturing capacity, we intend to engage third-party manufacturers to produce additional inks. There can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into agreements with qualified manufacturers on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or that, once contracted, such manufacturers will perform as expected.

Government Regulation

We are subject to various environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements, including those governing the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into ground, air or water; noise emissions, the generation, storage, use, management and disposal of hazardous waste; the registration of chemicals and in the future also import and export; the cleanup of contaminated sites; and the health and safety of our employees. Under such laws and regulations, we are required to obtain environmental permits from governmental authorities for certain operations. The manufacture of our products requires storing or using certain hazardous materials. Pursuant to the Israeli Dangerous Substances Law - 1993, we are required to (and did) obtain a toxin permit from the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Our permit is valid until October 2018.

Other than applicable local laws in Israel relating to the handling and disposal of hazardous materials and waste, there are no government regulations that are material to the conduct of our business. If we establish manufacturing operations in other jurisdictions, we expect to become subject to environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements in those jurisdictions, which may be similar to or more onerous than those described above.

Property

We currently lease, through our subsidiary Nano Size, approximately 5,300 square feet of space in Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel for our principal offices and manufacturing facilities at a monthly cost of approximately NIS 10,030 ($2,893 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017). The lease has been renewed and expires on June 30, 2019.

Additionally, we currently lease approximately 2,900 square feet of space at 6 Yad Haruzim, Kfar Saba, Israel for the Digiflex principal office and laboratory at a monthly cost of approximately NIS 12,500 ($3,605 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017). The lease agreement expires on January 31, 2021.

We currently own equipment, housed in our Migdal Ha’Emek facilities, capable of producing up to two (2) tons of ink per year. We intend to upgrade our facilities (at an estimated cost of $500,000) to increase production capacity to 19 tons per year, if and when demand for our inks is projected to surpass our production capabilities.

Legal Proceedings

We are neither party to any legal or arbitration proceedings, including those relating to bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings and those involving any third-party, nor any governmental proceedings pending or known to be contemplated, which may have, or have had in the recent past, significant effects on our financial position or profitability, except as set forth below.

On December 31, 2017, a lawsuit captioned Eshed Consulting and Financial Management Ltd. vs. P.V. Nano Cell Ltd., Claim No. 64342-12-17, was filed in the Magistrate Court in Nazareth in Israel. The complaint alleges that the Company owes Eshed a total amount of NIS 120,000 in fees for professional financial services Eshed allegedly provided to the Company. The Company disputes the debt amount. A hearing is scheduled for June 3, 2018.

On March 11, 2018, a lawsuit captioned Reinhold Cohn & Co. vs. (1) Digiflex Ltd., and (2) P.V. Nano Cell Ltd., Claim No. 21766-03-18, was filed in the Magistrate Court in Kfar Saba in Israel. The complaint alleges that the Company owes Reinhold Cohn NIS 80,298 in fees for various services involving the protection of the Company’s intellectual property rights by way of registration of patents worldwide, including in the United States, Canada and Europe. The Company does not dispute the debt and intends to make full payment thereof.

ITEM 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with “Item 3. Key Information—Selected Financial Data” above and our consolidated financial statements and related notes that appear elsewhere in this annual report. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this annual report, particularly in the sections titled “Item 3. Key Information - Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Overview

We are a conductive ink manufacturing company focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing and commercializing conductive inks for digital inkjet conductive printing applications. We have developed the Sicrys™ family of single crystal nano-metric conductive inks, which we believe enables a significantly less costly and less wasteful alternative to current screen printing and, in some cases, photolithography processes for PV and PE applications. We began low volume sales of our Sicrys™ silver-based inks for PV applications in 2010 and are in the process of seeking to expand our sales efforts to include sales of Sicrys™ inks for a wide range of PE applications, including for the printing of circuit boards, radio-frequency identification chips, sensors and touchscreens, among other digitally printed electronics. We have also developed what we believe is the first available commercially viable copper-based nano-metric ink for mass-production of printed electronics. We believe that copper inks represent a significant improvement over silver-based inks given copper’s significantly lower cost and nearly identical electrical and conductive properties. We began low volume sales of our copper-based ink for printed electronics applications in the second half of 2014.

On December 3, 2017, we entered into and closed a Share Exchange Agreement with Digiflex according to which the Digiflex shareholders, representing the entire share capital of Digiflex on a fully diluted basis, sold to and exchanged with us all shares of Digiflex which they held in consideration for our Ordinary Shares, at a conversion rate of 33.698 shares of Digiflex for each share of the Company.

Financial Overview

We have incurred net losses since our inception in 2009, including a net loss of approximately $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $15.1 million. We have devoted substantially all of our financial resources to identifying, acquiring, licensing, and developing our products and technologies and providing general and administrative support for these operations. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity and convertible securities and government grants. The amount of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of our future expenditures, our ability to obtain funding through equity or debt financings, strategic collaborations, or grants and our ability to commercialize our products or technologies. We are dependent upon external sources to finance our operations and there can be no assurance that we will succeed in obtaining the necessary financing to continue our operations. As a result, our independent registered public accounting firm has expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (U.S. GAAP). These accounting principles are more fully described in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report and require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions upon which we rely are reasonable based upon information available to us at the time that these estimates, judgments and assumptions are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments or assumptions and actual results, our financial statements will be affected. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are critical to our financial results and to the understanding of our past and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management’s estimates and assumptions. We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (1) it requires us to make assumptions because information was not available at the time or it included matters that were highly uncertain at the time we were making our estimate; and (2) changes in the estimate could have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This means that an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We are electing to delay such adoption of new or revised accounting standards. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the public company effective date.

Revenue Recognition

Our total revenues consist of revenues received from limited commercial sales of our Sicrys™ inks and other income from sales of raw materials used in and waste byproducts resulting from our manufacturing and research and development efforts.

We recognize revenue when (1) persuasive evidence of a final agreement exists, (2) delivery has occurred, (3) the selling price is fixed or determinable, and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.

We assess collectability as part of the revenue recognition process. This assessment includes a number of factors such as an evaluation of the creditworthiness of the customer, past due amounts, past payment history, and current economic conditions. If it is determined that collectability cannot be reasonably assured, we defer recognition of revenue until collectability is assured.

Inventories

Inventories are measured at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is computed on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory costs consist primarily of material. We periodically assess inventory for obsolescence and excess and reduce the carrying value by an amount equal to the difference between its cost and the estimated market value based on assumptions about future demand and historical sales patterns. No write offs were recorded during the fiscal years ended 2017, 2016 or 2015.

As of December 31, 2017, we had $100,883 of inventory, of which $84,078 consisted of raw materials and $16,805 consisted of finished goods. As of December 31, 2016, we had $57,072 of inventory, of which $42,561 consisted of raw materials and $14,511 consisted of finished goods. The increase is primarily due to the Digiflex inventory that was consolidated as of December 31, 2017.

Taxes

We are subject to income taxes in Israel. Significant judgment is required in evaluating our uncertain tax positions and determining our provision for income taxes. We recognize income taxes under the liability method. Tax benefits are recognized from uncertain tax positions only if we believe that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. Although we believe we have adequately reserved for our uncertain tax positions, no assurance can be given that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different. We adjust these reserves when facts and circumstances change, such as the closing of a tax audit, the refinement of an estimate or changes in tax laws. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will impact the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of any reserves that are considered appropriate, as well as the related net interest and penalties.

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for future tax consequences arising from differences between the carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities under U.S. GAAP and their respective tax bases, and for net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. We regularly review our deferred tax assets for recoverability and establish a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. To make this judgment, we must make predictions of the amount and category of taxable income from various sources and weigh all available positive and negative evidence about these possible sources of taxable income.

While we believe the resulting tax balances as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are appropriately accounted for, the ultimate outcome of such matters could result in favorable or unfavorable adjustments to our consolidated financial statements and such adjustments could be material. We have filed or are in the process of filing the tax returns that may be audited by the respective tax authorities. We believe that we adequately provided for any reasonably foreseeable outcomes related to tax audits and settlement; however, our future results may include favorable or unfavorable adjustments to our estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments are made or resolved, audits are closed or when statute of limitations on potential assessments expire.

Share-Based Compensation and Liabilities presented at fair value

Ordinary Share Valuations

Based on the fair value of our Ordinary Shares as of December 31, 2017, the intrinsic value of the awards outstanding as of December 31, 2017 was $240,986, of which $197,977 related to exercisable options.

In addition, the fair value of the Ordinary Shares was used to determine the value of the warrants presented as a liability, the value of the deemed dividend, and stock based compensation in respect of equity restructuring. The following table sets forth the fair value of our Ordinary Shares used for each significant transaction:

The fair value of our Ordinary Shares was determined by our management with the assistance of appraiser. The valuations of our Ordinary Shares were determined in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, or the AICPA Practice Aid. The assumptions used in the valuation model are based on future expectations combined with management’s judgment. Our management exercised significant judgment and considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of our Ordinary Shares as of the date of each option grant, including the following factors:

We determined our Company’s value using a market approach. We allocated the estimated enterprise value among different classes of the Company’s shares by applying an option pricing method. Under the option pricing method, ordinary and preferred shares are treated as call options, with the preferred shares having an exercise price based on the liquidation preference of the preferred shares. Ordinary Shares will only have value if funds available for distribution to the stockholders exceed the value of the liquidation preference at the time of a liquidity event such as a merger, sale or initial public offering. The Ordinary Shares are modeled as call options with an exercise price equal to the liquidation preference of the preferred shares. The value of the call options is determined using the Black-Scholes-Mertons, or Black-Scholes, option-pricing model. The option pricing method requires significant assumptions; in particular, the time until investors in our company would experience an exit event and the volatility of our shares (which we determined based on public companies with business and financial risks comparable to our own).

We applied a discount to the resulting valuation due to the lack of marketability of our ordinary shares. We calculated this using an Asian put option model. The significant assumptions involved were the same as described above.

The dates of our valuations did not always coincide with the dates of our share-based compensation grants. In such instances, management’s estimates were based on the most recent valuation of our Ordinary Shares. For grants occurring between valuation dates, for financial reporting purposes, we used the closest valuation date before the grant, as we believe that the Ordinary Share valuation represents the valuation at the date of grant.

Options grants in May 23, 2013 and August 22, 2013

In order to estimate the value of our equity, including both ordinary and preferred shares, we relied upon our Series B-2 preferred share price determined in the April 9, 2013 financing rounds of our Series B-2 preferred shares, which we believed to be most indicative of our value. Our management determined the fair value of our ordinary shares as of May 23, 2013 and August 22, 2013 to be $0.14 per share. As part of this determination, our management considered an independent third party valuation. We based this price using the option pricing method according to the value derived from a third-party sale of shares in an arm’s length transaction.

Ordinary share price as of November 26, 2014

In order to estimate the value of our Ordinary Shares subsequent to the equity restructuring, our management used the market approach. We relied upon the Ordinary Share valuation established in our November 26, 2014 financing round. In the November 26, 2014 financing round, we issued units that consist of one Ordinary Share and one warrant to purchase an Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $1.50 per Ordinary Share. The unit price was $1.50. The Ordinary Shares were valued by performing iterations in the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Our management considered an independent third party valuation conducted for this date and determined the fair value of our Ordinary Shares as of November 26, 2014 subsequent to the equity restructuring to be $1.05. In order to estimate our equity value, including both Ordinary and Preferred Shares prior to the equity restructuring, management subtracted the November 26, 2014, financing from the valuation and applied the option pricing method as discussed above. Our management determined the fair value of our Ordinary Shares as of November 26, 2014 prior to the restructuring to be $0.51. Our Ordinary Share fair value increased from $0.51 prior to the restructuring to $1.05 subsequent to the restructuring due to the termination of the Preferred Shares rights.

Option Grants in July 15, 2015, October 6, 2015 and July 7, 2016

Our management determined the fair value of our ordinary shares as of July 15, 2015, October 6, 2015 and July 7, 2016 to be $1.02 per share. As part of this determination, our management considered an independent third party valuation. We based this price using the option pricing method according to the value derived from a third-party sale of shares in an arm’s length transaction.

Option Grants in February 9, 2017, November 19, 2017, December 3, 2017 and December 16, 2017

Our management determined the fair value of our ordinary shares as of February 9, 2017 to be $1.01 and as of November 19, 2017, December 3, 2017 and December 16, 2017 to be $1.00 per share. As part of this determination, our management considered an independent third party valuation. We based this price using the option pricing method according to the value derived from a third-party sale of shares in an arm’s length transaction.

Option Valuations

Under U.S. GAAP, we account for share-based compensation for employees in accordance with the provisions of the FASB’s ASC Topic 718 “Compensation—Stock Based Compensation,” or ASC 718, which requires us to measure the cost of options based on the fair value of the award on the grant date.

We selected the Black-Scholes option pricing model as the most appropriate method for determining the estimated fair value of options. The resulting cost of an equity incentive award is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period of the award, which is usually the vesting period. We recognize compensation expense over the vesting period using the straight-line method and classify these amounts in the consolidated financial statements based on the department to which the related employee reports.

The determination of the grant date fair value of options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model is affected by estimates and assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables are estimated as follows:

If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model change significantly, share-based compensation for future awards may differ materially compared with the awards previously granted.

The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted to employees, officers and consultants during the periods presented.

Liabilities Presented at Fair Value

Some of our warrants are classified as liabilities in accordance with ASC No. 815-40, “Distinguishing Liabilities From Equity”. Accordingly, these warrants were required to be marked to market at each reporting date.

We estimated the fair value of these warrants and such conversion feature using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, which is affected by estimates and assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables are estimated as follows:

In addition, the conversion feature of the Capital Note (as defined in “Item 7 Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – B. Related Party Transactions”) issued to a shareholder, is required to be marked to market at each reporting date. We estimated the fair value of the Capital Note by taking into account the expected occurrence of certain trigger events (such as IPO or M&A), multiplied by the value in a probability that the event will occur (based on our subjective assumptions) and discounting the value in an appropriate discount factor (based on the weighted average cost of capital of the Company) for a period of 2.5 years.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

For information with respect to recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2s to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Reporting Currency

Our functional currency is the U.S. Dollar, although substantial portion of the Company’s costs are incurred in NIS, the Company finances its operations mainly in U.S. dollars and a substantial portion of its costs and revenues from its primary markets are anticipated to be incurred and generated in U.S. dollars. As such, we believe that the U.S. dollar is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.

Transactions and balances that are denominated in dollars are presented at their original amounts. Non-dollar transactions and balances have been re-measured to dollars in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 830, “Foreign Currency Matters”. All foreign currency transaction gains and losses are reflected in the statements of operations as financial income or expenses, as appropriate.

Results of Operations

The following discussion of our operating results explains material changes in our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. The discussion should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and related notes and the information contained in Item 18.

 Total Revenues

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - total revenues amounted to $88,691 and $78,081, respectively, an increase of $10,610 or 14%. The increase is primarily due to revenue generated by Digiflex following the purchase date.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - total revenues amounted to $78,081 and $68,332, respectively, an increase of $9,749 or 14%. The slight increase in sales is due to the fact some customers which are developing their applications are purchasing additional ink quantities. Our total revenues consist of revenues received from limited commercial sales of our Sicrys™ inks and other income from sales of raw materials used in and waste byproducts resulting from our manufacturing and research and development efforts

Cost of Revenues

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - total cost of revenues amounted to $94,238 and $78,622, respectively, an increase of $15,616 or 20%. The increase is consistent with the increase in revenues.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - total revenues amounted to $78,622 and $69,051, respectively, an increase of $9,571 or 14%. The slight increase is consistent with the increase in revenues.

Amortization of intangible assets

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - total amortization of intangible assets amounted to $37,694 and $0, respectively. The amortization during the year ended December 31, 2017 related to the intangible assets that were acquired as part of the Digiflex acquisition. Such amortization was calculated from the purchase date, December 3, 2017 until the end of the calendar year.

Gross loss

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - total gross loss amounted to $43,241 and $541, respectively, an increase of $42,700 or 7,893%. The increase related to an increase of $37,694 in amortization of intangible assets and $15,616 in cost of revenues, partially offset by an increase of $10,610 in revenues.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - total gross loss amounted to $541 and $719, respectively, a decrease of $178 or 25%. The decrease related to an increase of $9,749 in revenues, partially offset by an increase of $9,571 in cost of revenues.

Research and Development Expenses, Net

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - net research and development expenses, were $404,891 and $632,826, respectively, a decrease of $227,935 or 36%, net of $382,134 and $344,056 of grants received in 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease in the net research and development expenses is primarily a result of lower payroll costs and higher grants received.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - net research and development expenses, were $632,826 and $720,997, respectively, a decrease of $88,171 or 12%, net of $344,056 and $180,033 of grants received in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease in the net research and development costs is primarily a result of higher grants received, as well as a shift in the focus to increase sales.

 Sales and Marketing Expenses

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - sales and marketing expenses amounted to $480,963 and $336,287, respectively, an increase of $144,676 or 43%. The increase in sales and marketing expenses is primarily due to additional payroll costs.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - sales and marketing expenses amounted to $336,287 and $245,756, respectively, an increase of $90,531 or 37%. The increase in sales and marketing expenses in 2016 relative to 2015 is primarily attributable to an increase in costs associated with our marketing and advertising activities, as well having Menachem Biran, our former Vice President, Sales and Marketing, employed for the entire year as opposed to only a portion of 2015. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of labor, consulting and advertising costs.

 General and Administrative Expenses

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - general and administrative expenses amounted to $1,227,632 and $571,110, respectively, an increase of $656,522 or 115%. The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to (1) issuance of ordinary shares with a fair value of $198,600, as compensation for professional services we incurred, (2) $150,000 related to the fair value of ordinary shares we issued as a finder’s fee in connection with the SEDA agreement, and (3) additional professional services.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - general and administrative expenses amounted to $571,110 and $807,277, respectively, a decrease of $236,167 or 29%. The decrease in general and administrative costs is a result of a decrease in professional fees associated with the Form F-1 in 2015.

 Acquisition related costs

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 – acquisition related costs amounted to $750,956 and $0, respectively. The acquisition related costs during the year ended December 31, 2017 related to finder’s fee in connection with the Digiflex acquisition. Such amount includes the following: (1) $675,926 represents fair value of warrants granted and (2) $75,030 cash payment.

Operating Expenses

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - operating expenses amounted to $2,864,442 and $1,540,223, respectively, an increase of $1,324,219 or 86%. The increase related to an increase of $750,956 in acquisition related costs, $656,522 in general and administrative expenses and $144,676 in sales and marketing expenses, partially offset by a decrease of $227,935 in research and development expenses, net.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - operating expenses amounted to $1,540,223 and $1,774,030 respectively, a decrease of $233,807 or 13%. The decrease related to a decrease of $236,167 in general and administrative expenses and $88,171 in research and development expenses, net, partially offset by an increase of $90,531 in sales and marketing expenses.

Operating Loss

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - operating loss amounted to $2,907,483 and $1,540,764, respectively, an increase of $1,366,719 or 89%. The increase in operating loss related to an increase of $1,361,913 in operating expenses and an increase of $4,806 in the gross loss.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - operating loss amounted to $1,540,764 and $1,774,749, respectively, a decrease of $233,985 or 13%. The decrease in operating loss related to a decrease of $233,807 in operating expenses, partially offset by a decrease of $178 in gross loss.

Financial Expenses (income), net

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - financial expenses (income), net, amounted to $(63,778) and $80,636, respectively, primarily as a result of income that was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with the change in fair value of warrants and capital note presented at fair value. Such income was partially offset by expenses related to interest and accretion in connection with convertible loans and others and foreign exchange loss, net.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - financial expenses (income), net, amounted to $636 and $(1,094), respectively. The main reason for the increase in financing expenses is due to the change in the fair value of the warrants and capital notes and beneficial conversion feature that was recorded with respect to a convertible loan.

Net Loss

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 - net loss amounted to $2,843,705 and $1,621,400, respectively, an increase of $1,222,305 or 75%. The increase in net loss related to an increase of $1,366,719 in operating loss, partially offset by an increase of $144,414 in financial income, net.

With respect to the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 - net loss amounted to $1,621,400 and $1,773,655, respectively, a decrease of $152,255 or 9%. The decrease in net loss related to a decrease of $233,985 in operating loss, partially offset by a decrease of $81,730 in financial expenses (income), net.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We currently have limited liquidity. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, our cash on hand was $450,305 and $126,222, respectively. Based on our current cash burn rate, strategy and operating plan, we believe that our cash reserves as of May 15, 2018 will enable us to operate for a period of approximately two (2) months. In order to fund our anticipated liquidity needs beyond such two-month period (or possibly earlier if our current cash burn rate, strategy or operating plan change in a way that accelerates or increases our liquidity needs), we will need to raise additional capital.

To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity and convertible securities and government grants. As of December 31, 2017, we had sold 2,743,115 units pursuant to private offerings for aggregate proceeds of $3,947,414. The private offering was extended several times and recently expired on March 31, 2018.

In July 2016, we had sold 1,134,667 ordinary shares in an internal equity investment round at a price per ordinary share of $0.75 for an aggregate investment amount of $851,000 including the conversion of the promissory notes described below. The closing of the round included the conversion of an aggregate of $206,000 of convertible promissory notes into 274,667 ordinary shares.

On July 9, 2015, we entered into the SEDA with YA Global, pursuant to which we may, at our election and in our sole discretion, issue and sell to YA Global, from time to time after the Effective Date, and YA Global has agreed to purchase (subject to the limitations and contained therein), up to $3,000,000 of ordinary shares at a price per share equal to 95% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares for the five consecutive trading days following our election to issue and sell shares to YA Global thereunder. Our ability to issue and sell shares under the SEDA is subject to, among other things, the qualification of our ordinary shares on the OTCQB. Pursuant to the terms of the SEDA, the Company agreed to pay a structuring and due diligence fee in an amount equal to $15,000 and a commitment fee in an aggregate amount of $150,000, payable by the issuance of 100,000 ordinary shares. In addition, pursuant to the SEDA, the investor purchased in October 2015, 100,000 units, at a purchase price of $1.50 per unit. Each unit consists of (i) one ordinary share and (ii) a five-year warrant to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share.

In August 2017, we entered into several Securities Purchase Agreements with Alpha Capital Anstalt, or Alpha Capital, First Fire Global Opportunities Fund LLC, or First Fire, and additional existing shareholders, whereby we issued and sold to such holders senior secured convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of $905,555 in consideration for an aggregate subscription amount of $815,000 and warrants to purchase 905,555 ordinary shares.

The notes include a 10% original issue discount on the consideration paid and bear interest at 6% per annum. Except for the notes of Alpha Capital and First Fire, which mature after 14 months, the notes mature after 24 months and may be converted into shares, subject to the terms of such notes. The initial conversion price of the notes was $1.00 but it was adjusted in January 2018 to $0.50 pursuant to the terms of the notes. In February 2018, Alpha Capital converted $10,313 worth of the notes into 20,626 shares and, in April 2018, Alpha Capital converted $26,025 worth of the notes into 52,050 shares. In April 2018, First Fire converted $8,889 worth of the notes into 17,778 shares. We may require mandatory conversion of the notes in certain circumstances.

The term of the warrants is for five (5) years and the initial exercise price of the warrants was $1.20 per ordinary share, subject to adjustment in accordance with their terms. The notes and the warrants include full ratchet anti-dilution purchase price adjustment rights and other mechanisms for adjustment of the purchase price. As a result, following the issuance of warrants to Jet CU at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, the conversion and exercise prices of these notes and warrants was adjusted to $0.50 per share.

On December 27, 2017, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU, as supplemented by that certain Supplement to Share Purchase Agreement dated January 3, 2018, pursuant to which we received aggregate gross proceeds of $992,615 from Jet CU in exchange for 992,615 ordinary shares and a warrant to purchase 300,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years, i.e. until January 3, 2023.

We have used and intend to use the proceeds of this transaction with Jet CU primarily for the organization and integration of Digiflex into the Company, finalization of the development of our products, payment of accrued debts of Digiflex and the Company and ongoing operations.

On March 8, 2018, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU, pursuant to which Jet CU provided us with a convertible loan in an aggregate principal amount of $150,000 and received from us warrants to purchase 400,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The loan amount bears interest of 5% per annum. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years, i.e. until March 8, 2023. Jet CU may receive warrants to purchase an additional 200,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, if the price of our shares by the end of December 2018 is lower than $1.00. 

 We expect to continue to fund our operations through equity or debt financings (including pursuant to the SEDA), strategic collaborations, grants and, to the extent our marketing and commercialization efforts are successful, sales of our products or technologies.

We have experienced cumulative losses of $15.1 million from inception through December 31, 2017. In addition, we have not yet established a stable recurring source of revenues sufficient to cover our operating costs and expect to continue to generate losses for the foreseeable future. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain an adequate level of financing needed for our near term requirements or the long-term development and commercialization of our product. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern”.

Net cash used in operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $2,169,889, $1,281,273 and $1,106,420, respectively, an increase of $888,616 or 69% (from 2016 to 2017), and an increase of $174,853 or 16% (from 2015 to 2016). The increase in net cash used in operating activities in 2017 relative to 2016 is primarily attributable to an increase in net loss and change in fair value of warrants and capital note which were partially offset by fair value of granted warrants and professional service received in connection with issuance of ordinary shares. The increase in net cash used in operating activities in 2016 relative to 2015 is primarily attributable to changes in current assets and liabilities, mainly trade payables and current liabilities.

Net cash used in investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 were $2,185, $13,860, and $42,074, respectively. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities in 2017 relative to 2016 is attributable to lower purchase of property and equipment. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities in 2016 relative to 2015 is attributable to the purchase of property and equipment on credit.

Net cash provided by financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $2,496,157, $1,410,443 and $478,641, respectively, an increase of $1,085,714 or 80% (from 2016 to 2017) and an increase of $931,802 or 194% (from 2015 to 2016). The increase in net cash provided by financing activities in 2017 relative to 2016 is primarily attributable to the proceeds from proceeds from issuance of warrants, receipt on account of shares and warrants and proceeds from convertible loans, net of issuance costs which were partially offset by lower proceeds from issuance of shares, net. The increase in net cash provided by financing activities in 2016 relative to 2015 is primarily attributable to the proceeds from the issuance of shares and convertible loans.

Research and Development Expenses and Policies

Since our formation we have focused our research and development efforts on developing inks for solar cell metallization; developing silver inks for PE applications, developing copper based inks for PE applications and scaling up the production process for the nano particles and inks. The following table sets forth the gross amount of our research and development expenses for the last three (3) years:

Trend Information

It is not possible for us to predict with any degree of accuracy the outcome of our research, development or commercialization efforts. As such, we cannot predict with any degree of accuracy any significant trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our net sales or revenues, income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause financial information to not necessarily be indicative of future operating results or financial condition. However, to the extent possible, certain trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments and events are in this “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We currently do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have had, 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 that are material to investors.

Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012

We qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we are deemed an emerging growth company, we are permitted to and intend to take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other regulatory requirements that are generally unavailable to other public companies, including:

We may take advantage of these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our common equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. However, if certain events occur prior to the end of such five-year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,” our annual gross revenues exceed $1.0 billion or we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such five-year period.

Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This means that an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We are electing to delay such adoption of new or revised accounting standards. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the public company effective date.

Contractual Obligations

As of December 31, 2017, we had no contractual obligations of the type required to be disclosed in this section.

ITEM 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.

A.          Directors and Senior Management.

The following table sets forth information regarding our directors and senior management team as of April 30, 2018. Unless otherwise stated, the address for our directors and senior managers is c/o P.V. Nano Cell Ltd., 8 Hamasger Street, P.O. Box 236, Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel 2310102.

The address of each of our executive officers and directors is c/o P.V. Nano Cell Ltd., 8 Hamasger Street

Migdal Ha’Emek 2310102, Israel.

Senior Management

Set forth below is biographical information with respect to the members of our senior management team.

Dr. Fernando de la Vega co-founded PV Nano Cell Ltd. in 2009 and has served as our Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of our board of directors since that time. Dr. de la Vega has more than 25 years industrial and entrepreneurial experience, having served in managerial positions with responsibility over research and development, quality and operations and has founded or co-founded several businesses in the fields of nano technology and functional materials. From 2001 to early 2009, Dr. de la Vega served as General Manager and a Director of Cima, a company focused on the development of innovative technologies in the field of flexible printed electronics. Dr. de la Vega also co-founded and, from 2003 through 2009, served as Chairman of the Nano Functional Materials Consortium, a five-year, $25 million research consortium which performed general research on nanotechnology, sponsored by Israel’s Office of the Authority as part of the MAGNET program, a special program intended to encourage cooperation between industry and academia. Dr. de la Vega has also co-founded three European research and development consortiums. He is a co-inventor of more than 11 patent families in the fields of nanomaterials and nanotechnology and author and co-author of many scientific and technical publications (including on conductive inks for inkjet printing). Dr. de la Vega holds a Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry from the Casali Institute at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as well as a M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Evyatar Cohen. has served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2017. Mr. Cohen graduated from the College of Management in Israel with B.A in Business Management in 2000 and was awarded his Masters of Law degree from the Bar Ilan University in 2003. Mr. Cohen is a licensed and certified public accountant in both the United States and Israel. Currently and prior to his appointment as our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Cohen serves and has served as a Chief Financial Officer and financial consultant for several public companies traded in the United States, Israel and Europe as well as privately held companies. Mr. Cohen worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in both the Tel-Aviv and New York. Mr. Cohen has gained vast experience in many industries such as high-tech, bio-tech, oil and gas, entertainment and media, and venture capital.

Eyal Shpilberg has served as our Chief Operating Officer since September 10, 2017. Mr. Shpilberg holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and BA in Computer Science from The Technion Institute of Technology located in Israel. Mr. Shpilberg has over 30 years of industrial experience. Prior to his appointment as our chief operating officer, Mr. Shpilberg had served as the CEO of several technology based companies, including CoreFlow, from 2006 to 2012, Intelesiv, from 2013 to 2014, and SP Nano Ltd, from 2014 to 2017. Mr. Shpilberg also served as Corporate Vice President Consumables Division, of Creo Ltd. (NASDAQ: CREO) (Sold to Eastman Kodak Company in 2005.

Board of Directors

Set forth below is biographical information with respect to the members of our board of directors, other than Dr. de la Vega. See “—Senior Management” above for biographical information with respect to Dr. de la Vega.

Dr. Astorre Modena has been a member of our board of directors since 2010. In 2005, he co-founded, and currently serves as General Partner of, Terra Venture Partners, an Israeli venture capital fund focused on clean technology. Prior to co-founding Terra Venture Partners, from 2001 to 2005, Dr. Modena was Associate and then Principal at Israel Seed Partners, a leading Israeli seed-stage venture capital firm. From 1998 to 2001, Dr. Modena was a consultant with McKinsey & Co., where he consulted for leading Italian, French and Israeli manufacturing and financial corporations on strategic and operational issues. Dr. Modena holds a Ph.D. in Plasma Physics from Imperial College in London and a B.Sc. in Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (where he was a part of the Honors Program for Outstanding Students). Dr. Modena was also a researcher in the laser-plasma physics department at Imperial College in London and École Polytechnique in Paris.

Orly Solomon has served as an external director of the Company since December 2017. Ms. Solomon is co-founder, COO and CFO of Eye Sight Fitness Ltd. From 2014 to 2016, Ms. Solomon served as CFO of Future Values Ltd. In 2013, Ms. Solomon served as CEO of D. Medical Industries (NASDAQ /TASE: DMED). From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Solomon served as CFO and Deputy to CEO of Lito Group Ltd. (TASE: LTGR-M). From 2009 to 2010, Ms. Solomon served as co-founder and CFO of Atid Team, Israel. From 2006 to 2010 Ms. Solomon served as co-founder and a director of Altshuler Shacham Benefits Israel. From 2003 to 2009 Ms. Solomon served as Tax Director at Deloitte, Israel. From 2001 to 2003, she served as Senior Manager at Ernst &Young, Israel. Ms. Solomon currently serves on the board of directors of Ortus Venture Capital LLP. Ms. Solomon served on the board of directors of Shikmona, a governmental & city owned corporation in Haifa from 2014 to 2017 as a director with financial specialties, nominated by the government. She was also the chairman of the board of directors of RSL Electronics Ltd (TASE:RSL) from 2011 to 2012. Ms. Solomon holds an MBA in Finance and Economics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and a Bachelor of Science Accounting, with honors, from Rutgers University at Newark, NJ, USA.

Ido Lapidot has served as an external director of the Company since December 2017. Mr. Lapidot is a “TRIZ- Effective Innovation” consultant for various companies, inter alia, Elbit, Verint, Coca Cola, Gilat, Tuff Merom Golan, Tama and HP. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Lapidot served as a Strategic Technologies Planner and TRIZ Program Leader at Intel R&D and Intel Labs. From 2008 to 2014, Mr. Lapidot served as an External Teacher for TRIZ and Systematic Innovation at Afeka Collage for Engineering, Israel. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Lapidot served as LEAN Manufacturing and TRIZ Program Leader at Intel Corporate Services -EMEA. From 1995 to 2005, Mr. Lapidot served as Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Intel’s factories. Mr. Lapidot holds an MA in Environmental Science, a BA in Chemistry, a BA in Atmospheric Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a TRIZ L3 certification from MA-TRIZ GEN3 Partners.

Shai Levy has served as a director of the Company since December 2017. Mr. Levy currently serves as the CEO of ProSeed Venture Capital Fund and the CEO of Ratio Oil Explorations (Finance) Ltd. From 2007 to 2012, Mr. Levy served as a CFO of Elie Tahari, New York. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Levy served as a Director of Financial Reporting & Compliance at Deutsch, New York. From 2004 to 2005, he served as Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoper, New York. From 2001 to 2004, he served as Senior Associate at Ernst & Young, Israel. From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Levy served as an Assistant Manager at Green Villa, Israel. Mr. Levy currently serves on the board of directors of Tehuti Networks, EnerJet PerfAction and Medic Vision Imaging Solutions Ltd. Mr. Levy served on the board of directors of Correlsense from 2012 to 2015 and is currently the Chairman of the board of directors of Capital Nature. Mr. Levy holds a Bachelor of Arts, Accounting and Finance degree from Tel Aviv University.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships between any members of our executive management and our directors.

B.          Compensation

Compensation of Senior Management and Directors

The aggregate compensation, including share-based compensation, paid by us to our senior management with respect to the year ended December 31, 2017 was $432,879, consisting of $17,919 of share based-compensation and $414,960 in cash compensation. This amount does not include business travel, professional and business association dues and expenses reimbursed to office holders, and other benefits commonly reimbursed or paid by companies in our industry.

We did not set aside or accrue any amounts to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits to any officers or directors of the Company in the year ended December 31, 2017.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, in connection with their services as board members, we issued options to purchase 20,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price per share of $0.917 to each of the following directors: Dr. Astorre Modena, Mr. Shai Levy, Dr. Fernando de la Vega, Ido Lapidot and Orly Solomon. The options will vest over three (3) years and will expire seven (7) years from the date of grant, subject to earlier termination in accordance with our Company’s 2010 Israeli Option Plan.

Other than the compensation paid to Dr. de la Vega pursuant to his service agreement with us in connection with his service as our Chief Executive Officer and the compensation described above, we did not pay our directors for the year ended December 31 2017 any other compensation.

Compensation of External Directors

No compensation was paid in any form to the external directors in 2017.

Employment or Service Agreements with Senior Managers for the Year Ended December 31, 2017

Dr. Fernando de la Vega. We have entered into a services agreement, dated September 9, 2009 as amended, or the DBG Services Agreement, with Dr. de la Vega’s wholly-owned service company, Dolev Bar-Guy Consulting and Management Ltd., or DBG, pursuant to which DBG has agreed to cause Dr. de la Vega to serve as our Chief Executive Officer during the term of the agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the DBG Services Agreement, Dr. de la Vega is entitled to a monthly fee of NIS 38,500 ($11,105 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) plus value added tax and a car allowance of NIS 2,500 ($721 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) plus value added tax per month plus reimbursement for fuel expenses and tolls. The aggregate fee paid to DBG in 2017 was NIS 492,000 ($141,909 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) and $433 stock based compensation. The Agreement provided for an original term of 24 months and has subsequently been extended and is made for an undefined term. Each party may terminate the DBG Services Agreement at any time for any reason upon 30 days prior written notice, or if the other party commits a breach of the DBG Services Agreement and does not cure such breach within 14 days after receipt of a written notice from the injured party.

Mr. Evyatar Cohen. We have entered into a consultancy agreement dated November 12, 2017 with Mr. Evyatar Cohen to serve as the Chief Financial Officer during the term of the agreement. Mr. Cohen’s services also include the services of Ms. Moran Cohen in the position of controller. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Mr. Cohen is entitled to a monthly fee of NIS 33,000 ($9,518 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) plus value added tax. The monthly fees will increase to NIS 45,000 upon filing of this annual report ($12,980 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) plus value added tax. In the event of termination of the services of Mr. Cohen for any reason prior to November 12, 2018, he will be entitled to an additional gross amount of NIS 3,000 ($865 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) per each month of performing the service plus value added tax. Both parties are permitted to terminate Mr. Cohen’s services with 45 days prior notice. The aggregate fee paid to Mr. Evyatar Cohen in 2017 was NIS 53,900 + VAT ($15,547 + VAT based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) and $2,973 stock-based compensation.

Eyal Shpilberg. We have entered into an employment agreement dated September 10, 2017 with Mr. Eyal Shpilberg to serve as chief operating officer. Mr. Shpilberg, as a full time employee, is entitled to a gross monthly salary of NIS 32,000 ($9,230 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017); overtime pay of NIS 8,000 per month ($2,307 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017); a car allowance of NIS 5,000 per month ($1,442 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) plus fuel and route 6 expenses; an amount equal to 7.5% of Mr. Shpilberg’s gross monthly salary and overtime pay to an Education Fund (known in Hebrew as “Keren Hishtalmut”, a short term savings plan available in Israel which is tax free to the employee up to a cap determined by law); and an amount equal to 14.58%-15.83% of Mr. Shpilberg’s gross monthly salary and overtime pay to a manager’s insurance fund (known in Hebrew as “Bituach Menahalim”). The Company is permitted to terminate Mr. Shpilberg’s employment with one month’s prior notice. The aggregate fee paid to Mr. Eyal Shpilberg in 2017 was NIS 252,106 ($72,716 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) and $3,034 stock-based compensation.

Menachem Biran. We entered into a Consultancy Agreement with Menachem Biran, dated June 17, 2015, pursuant to which Mr. Biran served as our Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Pursuant to such agreement, Mr. Biran was retained for an initial trial period ending on September 1, 2015, and was subsequently retained as a full time employee of the Company. Mr. Biran, as a full time employee, was entitled to a gross monthly salary of NIS 22,400 ($6,461 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017); overtime pay of NIS 5,600 per month ($1,615 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017); a car allowance of NIS 5,000 per month ($ 1,442 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) plus fuel and route 6 expenses; an amount equal to 7.5% of Mr. Biran’s gross monthly salary and overtime pay to an Education Fund (known in Hebrew as “Keren Hishtalmut”, a short term savings plan available in Israel which is tax free to the employee up to a cap determined by law); and an amount equal to 14.58%-15.83% of Mr. Biran’s gross monthly salary and overtime pay to a manager’s insurance fund (known in Hebrew as “Bituach Menahalim”). Mr. Biran’s employment was terminated on February 15, 2018. The aggregate fee paid to Mr. Menachem Biran in 2017 was NIS 528,618 ($152,471 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) and $9,747 stock-based compensation.

Anat Eshed. We entered into an agreement with Anat Eshed, dated December 7, 2016, pursuant to which Ms. Eshsed served as our Outsourcing Chief Financial Officer. In exchange for her service, Ms. Eshed was entitled to a monthly fee of 30,000 NIS ($8,653 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) + VAT. The Company undertook to add Ms. Eshed and an additional employee of her office as an insured under the Company’s D&O insurance in an amount of up to 3,000 NIS (based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017). Either party was entitled to terminate the agreement upon providing a three months’ prior notice. The agreement was terminated in 2017. See “Item 3. Key Information - Legal Proceedings”. The aggregate fee paid to Ms. Anat Eshed in 2017 was NIS 167,094 + VAT ($48,196 + VAT based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017).

Service Agreements with Directors for the Year Ended December 31, 2017

Previous directors did not receive any compensation of any type in 2017. On Dec 28, 2017, Steven Hsieh and Harold Weiner ceased to be directors. Shai Levy, Ido Lapidot and Orly Solomon were appointed as new board members by the shareholders at the annual shareholders meeting. In 2018, all board members will be compensated.

During fiscal 2017, we were not party to any service agreements with any of the members of our board of directors, other than the DBG Services Agreement with respect to Dr. de la Vega’s service as our Chief Executive Officer, which is described above, and certain option agreements entered into between the Company and the directors, pursuant to which the Company issued options to purchase 20,000 Ordinary Shares to each of the current directors.

C.          Board Practices.

Board of Directors

Under the Companies Law, the management of our business is vested in our board of directors. Our board of directors may exercise all powers and may take all actions that are not specifically granted to our shareholders or to management. Our Chief Executive Officer is responsible for our day-to-day management and has responsibilities established by our board of directors. Our Chief Executive Officer is appointed by, and serves at the discretion of, our board of directors, subject to the terms of a consulting agreement that we have entered into with him. Our Chief Executive Officer may retain additional executive officers to assist in the day to day management of our business.

Election and Removal of Directors

Our Articles of Association provide for a board of directors consisting of no less than three (3) and no more than seven (7) directors, with all directors (other than the external directors, whose appointment is required under the Companies Law, as described below) divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms with each class of directors to consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors other than the external directors. At each annual general meeting of our shareholders thereafter, the election or re-election of directors following the expiration of the term of office of the directors of that class of directors will be for a term of office that expires on the third annual general meeting following such election or re-election. Each director so elected will hold office until the annual general meeting of our shareholders for the year in which his or her term expires, unless the tenure of such director expires earlier pursuant to the Companies Law or unless he or she is removed from office as described below.

In addition we have appointed two (2) external directors who are not part of the staggered board, as described below.

External Directors

Under the Companies Law, companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel whose shares are publicly traded are required to appoint at least two (2) external directors who meet the qualification requirements set forth in the Companies Law.

At our general meeting of shareholders held in 2017, we appointed Ms. Orly Solomon and Mr. Ido Lapidot as our external directors.

The Companies Law provides for special approval requirements for the election of external directors. External directors must be elected by a majority vote of the shares present and voting at a shareholders meeting, provided that either:

After an initial term of three (3) years, an external director may be reelected to serve in that capacity for up to two additional terms of three (3) years each under one of two alternatives. Under the first alternative, the external director may be nominated by the board of directors, and such external director’s reelection is approved by a majority of the shareholders that was required to elect such external director in such director’s initial election. Under the second alternative, the external director may be nominated by a shareholder(s) holding 1% or more of the voting power and at the general meeting of shareholders such reelection is approved by a majority of those shares present and voting that are held by shareholders who are non-controlling shareholders and do not have a personal interest in the reelection, provided that such shares represent at least 2% of the total voting power in the company.

The term of office for external directors for Israeli companies traded on certain foreign stock exchanges (which does not include the OTCQB), may be extended indefinitely in increments of additional three-year terms, provided that, prior to each nomination for reelection, the audit committee and the board of directors of the company confirm that, in light of the external director’s expertise and special contribution to the work of the board of directors and its committees, the reelection for such additional period is beneficial to the company and provided that the reasons for such confirmation are presented to the shareholders at the general meeting at which such reelection is being sought and the external director is reelected in accordance with the appropriate approval method described above.

External directors may be removed from office by a special general meeting of shareholders called by the board of directors, which approves such dismissal by the same shareholder vote percentage required for their election or by a court, in each case, only under limited circumstances, including ceasing to meet the statutory qualifications for appointment, or violating their duty of loyalty to the company. If an external directorship becomes vacant and there are fewer than two (2) external directors on the board of directors at the time, then the board of directors is required under the Companies Law to call a shareholders’ meeting as soon as practicable to appoint a replacement external director.

Each committee of the board of directors that exercises powers of the board of directors is required to include at least one external director, and the audit and compensation committees are required to comprise entirely of external directors then serving on the board of directors. Under the Companies Law, external directors of a company are prohibited from receiving, directly or indirectly, any compensation from the company other than for their services as external directors pursuant to the provisions and limitations set forth in regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, which compensation is determined prior to their appointment and may not be changed throughout the term of their service as external directors (except for certain exceptions set forth in the regulations).

The Companies Law provides that a person is not qualified to serve as an external director if, as of the appointment date or at any time during the two (2) years preceding his or her appointment, that person or a relative, partner or employer of that person, any person to whom that person is subordinate (whether directly or indirectly), or any entity under that person’s control, had any affiliation or business relationship with the company, any controlling shareholder or relative of a controlling shareholder or an entity that, as of the appointment date is, or at any time during the two (2) years preceding that date was, controlled by the company or by any entity controlling the company.

The term affiliation for this purpose includes (subject to certain exceptions):

The Companies Law defines the term “office holder” of a company to include a general manager, chief business manager, deputy general manager, vice general manager, any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of these positions regardless of such person’s title, a director and any other manager directly subordinate to the general manager.

The following additional qualifications apply to an external director:

Furthermore, no person may serve as an external director if that person’s professional or other activities create, or may create, a conflict of interest with that person’s responsibilities as a director or otherwise interfere with that person’s ability to serve as an external director or if such person is an employee of the Israel Securities Authority or of an Israeli stock exchange. Following the termination of an external director’s membership on the board of directors, such former external director and his or her spouse and children may not be provided a direct or indirect benefit by the company, its controlling shareholder or any entity under its controlling shareholder’s control, including serving as an executive officer or director of the company or a company controlled by its controlling shareholder and cannot be employed by or provide professional services to the company for pay, either directly or indirectly, including through a corporation controlled by that former external director, for a period of two (2) years (the prohibition also applies to relatives of the former external director who are not his or her spouse or children, but only for a period of one year).

If at the time an external director is appointed, all members of the board of directors who are not controlling shareholders or their relatives are of the same gender, the external director must be of the other gender. A director of one company may not be appointed as an external director of another company if a director of the other company is acting as an external director of the first company at such time.

Pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, a person may be appointed as an external director only if he or she either has professional qualifications or has accounting and financial expertise as defined in those regulations. In addition, at least one of the external directors must be determined by our board of directors to have accounting and financial expertise and the board is required to determine the minimum number of board members who are required to possess accounting and financial expertise. In determining the number of directors required to have such expertise, the members of our board of directors must consider, among other things, the type and size of the company and the scope and complexity of its operations.

A director with accounting and financial expertise is a director who, due to his or her education, experience and skills, possesses a high degree of proficiency in, and an understanding of, business-accounting matters and financial statements, such that he or she is able to understand the financial statements of the company, in depth, and initiate a discussion about the manner of presentation of the financial data. A director is deemed to have professional qualifications if he or she has any of (i) an academic degree in economics, business management, accounting, law or public administration, (ii) an academic degree or has completed another form of higher education in the primary field of business of the company or in a field which is relevant to his/her position in the company, or (iii) at least five (5) years of experience serving in one of the following capacities, or at least five (5) years of cumulative experience serving in two or more of the following capacities: (a) a senior business management position in a company with a significant volume of business; (b) a senior position in the company’s primary field of business; or (c) a senior position in public administration or service. The board of directors is charged with determining whether a director possesses financial and accounting expertise or professional qualifications.

Audit Committee

On November 19, 2017, our board of directors approved the establishment of the Audit Committee and to appoint the following members: Dr. Modena, Mr. Lapidot (external director) and Ms. Solomon (external director).

On February 22, 2018 our board of directors resolved to appoint Ms. Orly Solomon as Chairman of the Audit Committee and to approve the Audit Committee Charter.

Pursuant to the Companies Law, the audit committee must be comprised of at least three (3) directors, including all of the external directors, and a majority of its members must be unaffiliated directors. An unaffiliated director is an external director or a director who is appointed or classified as such, and who meets the qualifications of an external director (other than the professional qualifications/accounting and financial expertise requirement), whom the audit committee has confirmed to meet the external director qualifications, and who has not served as a director of the company for more than nine (9) consecutive years (with any period of up to two (2) years during which such person does not serve as a director not being viewed as interrupting a nine-year period). For Israeli companies traded on certain foreign stock exchanges (which does not include the OTCQB), a director who qualifies as an independent director for the purposes of such director’s membership on the audit committee in accordance with the rules of such stock exchange is also deemed to be an unaffiliated director under the Companies Law. Such person must meet the non-affiliation requirements as to relationships with the controlling shareholder (and any entity controlled by the controlling shareholder, other than the company and other entities controlled by the company) and must meet the nine-year requirement described above. Following the nine-year period, a director of an Israeli company traded on such foreign stock exchange may continue to be considered an unaffiliated director for unlimited additional periods of three (3) years each, provided the audit committee and the board of directors of the company confirm that, in light of the director’s expertise and special contribution to the work of the board of directors and its committees, the reelection for such additional period is beneficial to the company.

Under the Companies Law, the audit committee may not include the chairman of the board, any director employed by the company or who regularly provides services to the company (other than as a board member), a controlling shareholder or any relative of the controlling shareholder, as each term is defined in the Companies Law. In addition, the audit committee may not include any director employed by the company’s controlling shareholder or by a company controlled by such controlling shareholder, or who provides services to the company’s controlling shareholder or a company controlled by such controlling shareholder, on a regular basis, or a director whose main livelihood is from the controlling shareholder. The chairman of the audit committee is required to be an external director.

Audit Committee Role

Our board of directors adopted an audit committee charter that sets forth the responsibilities of the audit committee as well as the requirements for such committee under the Israeli Companies Law, including the following:

Our audit committee provides assistance to our board of directors in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations in matters involving our accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control and legal compliance functions by pre-approving the services performed by our independent auditors and reviewing their reports regarding our accounting practices and systems of internal control over financial reporting. Our audit committee also oversees the audit efforts of our independent auditors and takes those actions that it deems necessary to satisfy itself that the auditors are independent of management.

Under the Israeli Companies Law, our audit committee is responsible for:

Our audit committee may not approve any actions requiring its approval (see “— Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law”), unless at the time of the approval a majority of the committee’s members are present, which majority consists of unaffiliated directors including at least one external director.

Compensation Committee

On November 19, 2017, our board of directors approved the appointment of Mr. Lapidot, Ms. Solomon and Mr. Levy as members of the Compensation Committee.

On February 22, 2018, our board of directors resolved to appoint Ms. Orly Solomon as Chairman of the Compensation Committee and to approve the Compensation Committee Charter and Compensation Policy.

Under the Companies Law, the Compensation Committee is required to be comprised of at least three (3) directors, including all of the external directors. The additional members of the Compensation Committee must be directors that receive compensation subject to the provisions and limitations set forth in the regulations promulgated under the Companies Law. Under the Companies Law, an external director must serve as the chairman of the Compensation Committee.

Under the Companies Law, the external directors shall constitute a majority of the Compensation Committee.

The compensation committee’s duties include, among other things, recommending compensation policies to the board of directors, overseeing compensation policy implementation, and ratifying the compensation of executive officers.

Compensation Policy under the Companies Law

In adopting the compensation policy, the Compensation Committee is required to take into account factors such as the office holder’s education, experience, past compensation arrangements with the Company, and the proportional difference between the person’s compensation and the average compensation of the Company’s employees. The compensation policy must be approved at least once every three (3) years at the Company’s general meeting of shareholders, and is subject to the approval of a majority vote of the shares present and voting at a shareholders meeting, provided that either:

Our board of directors approved and adopted the compensation policy on February 22, 2018.

The compensation policy serves as the basis for decisions concerning the financial terms of employment or engagement of executive officers and directors, including exculpation, insurance, indemnification or any monetary payment or obligation of payment in respect of employment or engagement. The compensation policy relates to certain factors, including advancement of the company’s objectives, the company’s business and its long-term strategy, and creation of appropriate incentives for executives. It also considers, among other things, the Company’s risk management, size and the nature of its operations. The compensation policy furthermore considers the following additional factors:

The compensation policy also includes the following principles:

The Compensation Committee is responsible for (a) recommending the compensation policy to the Company’s board of directors for its approval (and subsequent approval by our shareholders) and (b) duties related to the compensation policy and to the approval of the terms of engagement of office holders, including:

The Compensation Committee’s duties include recommending compensation policies to the board of directors, overseeing compensation policy implementation, and ratifying the compensation of executive officers.

Compensation of Directors

Under the Companies Law, the compensation of our directors requires the approval of our Compensation Committee, the subsequent approval of the board of directors and, unless exempted under the regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, the approval of the shareholders at a general meeting. Where the director is also a controlling shareholder, the requirements for approval of transactions with controlling shareholders apply, as described below under “—Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law—Disclosure of Personal Interests of a Controlling Shareholder and Approval of Acts and Transactions.”

The directors are also entitled to be paid reasonable travel, hotel and other expenses expended by them in attending board meetings and performing their functions as directors of the Company, all of which is to be determined by the board of directors.

External directors are entitled to remuneration subject to the provisions and limitations set forth in the regulations promulgated under the Companies Law.

Internal Auditor

Under the Companies Law, we are required to appoint an internal auditor recommended by the audit committee and appointed by the board of directors. As of the date of this annual report, the board of directors has not appointed an internal auditor, and the Company is therefore not currently in compliance with the requirements of the Companies Law. Due to such non-compliance with the Companies Law, the Company may be subject to third parties’ and/or shareholders’ claims under the Israeli Torts Ordinance.

An internal auditor may not be:

The role of the internal auditor is to examine, among other things, our compliance with applicable law and orderly business procedures. The audit committee is required to oversee the activities and to assess the performance of the internal auditor as well as to review the internal auditor’s work plan.

Certain Service Contracts

We have not entered into service contracts with any of our directors providing for benefits upon termination of service.

Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law

Fiduciary duties of office holders

The Companies Law imposes a duty of care and a duty of loyalty on all office holders of a company. The duty of care of an office holder is based on the duty of care set forth in connection with the tort of negligence under the Israeli Torts Ordinance (New Version) 5728-1968. This duty of care requires an office holder to act with the degree of proficiency with which a reasonable office holder in the same position would have acted under the same circumstances. The duty of care includes a duty to use reasonable means, in light of the circumstances, to obtain information on the advisability of a given action brought for his or her approval or performed by virtue of his or her position and all other important information pertaining to these actions.

The duty of loyalty requires an office holder to act in good faith and for the benefit of the company, and includes the duty to:

We may approve an act performed in breach of the duty of loyalty of an office holder provided that the office holder acted in good faith, the act or its approval does not harm the company, and the office holder discloses his or her personal interest, as described below.

Disclosure of personal interests of an office holder and approval of acts and transactions

The Companies Law requires that an office holder promptly disclose to the company any personal interest that he or she may have and all related material information or documents relating to any existing or proposed transaction by the company. An interested office holder’s disclosure must be made promptly and in any event no later than the first meeting of the board of directors at which the transaction is considered. An office holder is not obliged to disclose such information if the personal interest of the office holder derives solely from the personal interest of his or her relative in a transaction that is not considered an extraordinary transaction.

The term personal interest is defined under the Companies Law to include the personal interest of a person in an action or in the business of a company, including the personal interest of such person’s relative or the interest of any corporation in which the person is an interested party, but excluding a personal interest stemming solely from the fact that such person holds shares in the company. A personal interest furthermore includes the personal interest of a person for whom the office holder holds a voting proxy or the interest of the office holder with respect to his or her vote on behalf of the shareholder for whom he or she holds a proxy even if such shareholder itself has no personal interest in the approval of the matter. An office holder is not, however, obliged to disclose a personal interest if it derives solely from the personal interest of his or her relative in a transaction that is not considered an extraordinary transaction.

Under the Companies Law, an extraordinary transaction that requires approval is defined as any of the following:

Under the Companies Law, once an office holder has complied with the disclosure requirement described above, a company may approve a transaction between the company and the office holder or a third party in which the office holder has a personal interest, or approve an action by the office holder that would otherwise be deemed a breach of duty of loyalty. However, a company may not approve a transaction or action that is adverse to the company’s interest or that is not performed by the office holder in good faith.

Under the Companies Law, unless the articles of association of a company provide otherwise, a transaction with an office holder, a transaction with a third party in which the office holder has a personal interest, and an action of an office holder that would otherwise be deemed a breach of duty of loyalty requires approval by the board of directors. Our Articles of Association do not provide otherwise. If the transaction or action considered is (i) an extraordinary transaction, (ii) an action of an office holder that would otherwise be deemed a breach of duty of loyalty and may have a material impact on a company’s profitability, assets or liabilities, (iii) an undertaking to indemnify or insure an office holder who is not a director, or (iv) for matters considered an undertaking concerning the terms of compensation of an office holder who is not a director, including, an undertaking to indemnify or insure such office holder, then audit committee approval is required prior to approval by the board of directors, if the Company has an audit committee. Arrangements regarding the compensation, indemnification or insurance of a director require the approval of the audit committee, if there is one, the board of directors and shareholders, in that order.

A director who has a personal interest in a matter that is considered at a meeting of the board of directors may generally not be present at the meeting or vote on the matter unless a majority of the directors have a personal interest in the matter, or, unless the chairman of the board of directors determines that he or she should be present to present the transaction that is subject to approval. If a majority of the directors have a personal interest in the matter, such matter also requires approval of the shareholders of the company.

Pursuant to the Companies Law, public company compensation arrangements such as insurance, indemnification or exculpation arrangements with office holders who are not the Chief Executive Officer or a director require compensation committee approval and subsequent approval by the board of directors. Compensation arrangements must comply with the compensation policy of the company.

In special circumstances, the compensation committee and the board of directors may approve compensation arrangements that do not match the compensation policy of the company, subject to the approval of a majority vote of the shares present and voting at a shareholders meeting, provided that either: (a) such majority includes at least a majority of the shares held by all shareholders who are not controlling shareholders and do not have a personal interest in such compensation arrangement; or (b) the total number of shares of non-controlling shareholders and shareholders who do not have a personal interest in the compensation arrangement and who vote against the arrangement does not exceed two percent of the company’s aggregate voting rights, or Special Majority Vote for Compensation. In the event that the Special Majority Vote for Compensation is not obtained, the compensation committee and the board of directors may reconsider the compensation arrangement and approve it, after a detailed review.

Pursuant to the Companies Law, public company compensation arrangements with the Chief Executive Officer require compensation committee approval, approval by the board of directors and Special Majority for Compensation approval at the shareholders’ meeting. Compensation arrangements with the Chief Executive Officer must comply with the compensation policy of the company. In the event that Special Majority Vote for Compensation is not obtained, then the compensation committee and the board of directors may reconsider the compensation arrangement and approve it after a detailed review. Notwithstanding the above, the compensation committee is authorized to refrain from submitting a proposed compensation arrangement with a Chief Executive Officer candidate for shareholder approval, if (a) doing so would jeopardize the company’s engagement of the candidate and (b) the proposed arrangement complies with the company’s compensation policy.

With respect to amending an existing compensation arrangement, only the approval of the compensation committee is required, provided the committee determines that the amendment is not material in relation to the existing compensation arrangement. With respect to amending an existing related-party transaction, only the approval of the audit committee is required, provided the committee determines that the amendment is not material in relation to the existing arrangement.

Compensation arrangements with directors who are not controlling shareholders, including compensation arrangements with directors in their capacities as executive officers, (unless exempted under the applicable regulations), require the approval of the compensation committee, the board of directors and the company’s shareholders, in that order.

Disclosure of personal interests of a controlling shareholder and approval of acts and transactions

Pursuant to the Companies Law, the disclosure requirements regarding personal interests that apply to directors and executive officers also apply to a controlling shareholder of a public company. A controlling shareholder is a shareholder who has the ability to direct the activities of a company, including a shareholder who holds 25% or more of the voting rights if no other shareholder holds more than 50% of the voting rights. For this purpose, the holdings of all shareholders who have a personal interest in the same transaction will be aggregated.

An extraordinary transaction between a public company and a controlling shareholder, or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, and the terms of any compensation arrangement of a controlling shareholder who is an office holder or his relative, require the approval of a company’s audit committee (or compensation committee with respect to compensation arrangements), board of directors and shareholders, in that order. In addition, the shareholder approval must fulfill one of the following requirements:

To the extent that any such transaction with a controlling shareholder or his relative is for a period extending beyond three (3) years, shareholder approval is required once every three (3) years, unless, in respect to certain transactions, the audit committee determines that the duration of the transaction is reasonable under the circumstances.

Pursuant to regulations adopted under the Companies Law, a transaction with a controlling shareholder that would otherwise require approval of the shareholders is exempt from shareholders’ approval if the audit committee and the board of directors determine that the transaction is on market terms and in the ordinary course of business and does not otherwise harm the company. Under these regulations, a shareholder holding at least 1% of the issued share capital of the company may require, within 14 days of the publication of such determination, that despite such determination by the audit committee and the board of directors, such transaction will require shareholder approval under the same majority requirements that otherwise apply to such transactions.

Duties of Shareholders

Under the Companies Law, a shareholder has a duty to refrain from abusing its power in the company and to act in good faith and in an acceptable manner in exercising its rights and performing its obligations to the company and other shareholders, including, among other things, voting at general meetings of shareholders on the following matters:

A shareholder also has a general duty to refrain from discriminating against other shareholders.

The remedies generally available upon a breach of contract will also apply to a breach of the above mentioned duties, and in the event of discrimination against other shareholders, additional remedies are available to the injured shareholder.

In addition, any controlling shareholder, any shareholder that knows that its vote can determine the outcome of a shareholder vote and any shareholder that, under a company’s articles of association, has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment of an office holder, or has another power with respect to a company, is under a duty to act with fairness towards the company. The Companies Law does not describe the substance of this duty except to state that the remedies generally available upon a breach of contract will also apply in the event of a breach of the duty to act with fairness, taking the shareholder’s position in the company into account.

Exculpation, Insurance and Indemnification of Office Holders

Under the Companies Law, a company may not exculpate an office holder from liability for a breach of the duty of loyalty. An Israeli company may exculpate an office holder in advance from liability to the company, in whole or in part, for damages caused to the company as a result of a breach of duty of care but only if a provision authorizing such exculpation is inserted in its articles of association. Our Articles of Association include such a provision. An Israeli company may not exculpate a director from liability arising out of a prohibited dividend or distribution to shareholders.

An Israeli company may indemnify an office holder in respect of the following liabilities and expenses incurred for acts performed as an office holder, either in advance of an event or following an event, provided a provision authorizing such indemnification is contained in its articles of association:

An Israeli company may insure an office holder against the following liabilities incurred for acts performed as an office holder if and to the extent provided in the company’s articles of association:

An Israeli company may not indemnify or insure an office holder against any of the following:

Under the Companies Law, exculpation, indemnification and insurance of office holders must be approved by the audit committee (if any) and the board of directors and, with respect to directors, by shareholders.

Pursuant to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, or the Israeli Securities Law, and the Companies Law, the Israeli Securities Authority may impose administrative sanctions against companies like ours, and their office holders, for certain violations of the Israeli Securities Law or the Companies Law. These sanctions include monetary sanctions and certain restrictions on serving as a director or senior officer of a public company for certain periods of time. The amendments to the Israeli Securities Law and to the Companies Law provide that only certain types of such liabilities may be reimbursed by indemnification and insurance. Specifically, legal expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an individual in the applicable administrative enforcement proceeding and certain compensation payable to injured parties for damages suffered by them are permitted to be reimbursed via indemnification or insurance, provided that such indemnification and insurance are authorized by the company’s articles of association, and receive the requisite corporate approvals. Pursuant to the Israeli Securities Law and the Companies Law, only certain types of such liabilities may be reimbursed by indemnification and insurance. Specifically, legal expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an individual in the applicable administrative enforcement proceeding and any compensation payable to injured parties for damages suffered by them (as described in the immediately preceding paragraph) are permitted to be reimbursed via indemnification or insurance, provided that such indemnification and insurance are authorized by the company’s articles of association.

Our Articles of Association allow us to insure our office holders, to the extent fully permitted by law (including any expansion thereof), for any liability imposed on them as a consequence of an act (including any omission) which was performed by virtue of being an office holder. Our Articles of Association also allow us to provide insurance in connection with administrative enforcement proceedings, including without limitation, the proceedings described above.

Our office holders are currently covered by a directors and officers’ liability insurance policy. As of the date of this annual report, no claims for directors’ and officers’ liability insurance have been filed under this policy and we are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or officers in which indemnification is sought. Pursuant to the approval of our shareholders, we carry directors’ and officers’ insurance covering each of our directors and executive officers for acts and omissions.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors exculpating them from a breach of their duty of care to us to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to limited exceptions. This indemnification is limited to events determined as foreseeable by the board of directors based on our activities, and to an amount or according to criteria determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances. We intend to enter into new agreements with each of our directors and executive officers exculpating them from liability to us for damages caused to us as a result of a breach of duty of care and undertaking to indemnify them, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by our amended and restated articles of association to be effective upon the effectiveness of our registration statement and the Israeli Companies Law, including with respect to liabilities resulting from this offering to the extent that these liabilities are not covered by insurance. The maximum aggregate amount of indemnification that we may pay to all of our directors and office holders together based on the indemnification agreement is $5,000,000. Such indemnification amounts will be in addition to any amounts available under our directors’ and office holders’ liability insurance policy.

There is no pending litigation or proceeding against any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director or officer.

D.          Employees.

As of December 31, 2017, we had 10 full time employees, 1 part time employee in PVN and 8 full time employees in Digiflex, located in Israel. There is one additional employee in the United States, employed by Digiflex Inc. Israeli labor laws govern the length of the workday, minimum wages for employees, procedures for hiring and dismissing employees, determination of severance pay, annual leave, sick days, advance notice of termination of employment, equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws and other conditions of employment of our Israeli employees. Subject to certain exceptions, Israeli law generally requires severance pay upon the retirement, death or dismissal of an employee, and requires us and our employees to make payments to the National Insurance Institute, which is similar to the U.S. Social Security Administration. Our Israeli employees have pension plans in accordance with the applicable Israeli legal requirements.

While none of our employees are party to any collective bargaining agreements, certain provisions of the collective bargaining agreements between the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) and the Coordination Bureau of Economic Organizations (including the Industrialists’ Associations) are applicable to our employees by extension orders issued by the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. These provisions primarily concern the length of the workday, minimum daily wages for professional workers, pension fund benefits for all employees, insurance for work-related accidents, procedures for dismissing employees, determination of severance pay and other conditions of employment. We generally provide our employees with benefits and working conditions beyond the required minimums.

E.           Share Ownership.

Beneficial Ownership of Senior Management and Directors

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our outstanding Ordinary Shares as of April 30, 2018, of each of our directors and executive officers individually and as a group based on information provided to us by our directors and executive officers. The information in this table is based on 22,998,386 Ordinary Shares outstanding as of such date. The number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by a person includes Ordinary Shares subject to options or warrants held by that person that were currently exercisable at, or exercisable within 60 days of, April 30, 2018. The Ordinary Shares issuable under these options and warrants are treated as if they were outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding these options and warrants but not the percentage ownership of any other person.  None of the holders of the Ordinary Shares listed in this table have voting rights different from other holders of the Ordinary Shares.

* Represents beneficial ownership amount of less than 1%.

See “—Incentive Compensation Plan,” below for information regarding options held by our senior management and directors.

Incentive Compensation Plan

The purpose of the Plan is to serve as an incentive to attract new employees, directors, consultants and service providers, and to retain persons of training, experience and ability by providing them with opportunities to purchase securities, including shares of the Company, pursuant to the Plan, as approved by the board of directors of the Company. As of December 31, 2017, a total of 193,803 Ordinary Shares were reserved for issuance under the Plan, of which options to purchase 728,287 Ordinary Shares were issued, outstanding and exercised thereunder. The number of Ordinary Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan may be changed from time to time in the sole discretion of the board of directors.

The Plan is administered by our board of directors, provided that the board of directors may delegate responsibility for the administration of the Plan to a committee designated by the board of directors. The board of directors has authority to: designate grantees of awards under the Plan and the terms of any award granted, including the type of securities to be granted, the vesting terms of any securities granted, and any restrictions on transfer of any securities granted under the Plan.

Pursuant to the Plan, the Company may (1) grant awards of securities under the Plan under the capital gains track pursuant to Section 102 of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance, or the Ordinance, to our directors, officers and employees who are not holders of 10% or more of our total share capital and are not otherwise controlling shareholders, and (2) grant awards pursuant to Section 3(i) of the Ordinance to non-employee Israeli service providers, consultants and shareholders who hold 10% or more of our total share capital or are otherwise controlling shareholders.

Section 102 of the Ordinance allows employees, directors and officers, who are not controlling shareholders and are considered Israeli residents, to receive favorable tax treatment for compensation in the form of shares or options. Our non-employee Israeli service providers, consultants and controlling shareholders, which includes any shareholder holding 10% or more of the Company’s Ordinary Shares on a fully diluted basis, may only be granted options under Section 3(i) of the Ordinance, which does not provide for similar tax benefits. Section 102 of the Ordinance includes two alternatives for tax treatment involving the issuance of options or shares to a trustee for the benefit of the grantees and also includes an additional alternative for the issuance of options or shares directly to the grantee. Section 102(b)(2) of the Ordinance, the most favorable tax treatment for grantees, permits the issuance to a trustee under the “capital gains” track. However, under this track we are not allowed to deduct any expense with respect to the issuance of the options or shares. In order to comply with the terms of the capital gains track, all options granted under the Plan pursuant and subject to the provisions of Section 102 of the Ordinance, as well as the Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of these options and other shares received subsequently following any realization of rights with respect to such options, such as share dividends and share splits, must be granted to a trustee for the benefit of the relevant employee, director or officer and should be held by the trustee for at least two (2) years after the date of the grant. If such options or shares are sold by the trustee or are transferred to the grantee before the end of the two-year period, then the grantee would be taxed at top marginal rates upon selling the shares.

Options granted under the Plan will vest in accordance with the vesting dates determined by the board of directors with respect to each grant. Options that are not exercised within seven years from the grant date will expire, unless a shorter or longer term is provided for by the board of directors. Generally, if we terminate a grantee’s employment or services to the Company, all options granted to such grantee that are then vested will be exercisable for a period of six (6) months after the termination date (unless a shorter period is determined by the board of directors) or, if earlier, the expiration date of such options. If we terminate a grantee’s employment or service for cause, all of the grantee’s vested and unvested unexercised options will expire and terminate on the date of termination. In case of termination for reasons of disability or death, the grantee or his legal successor may exercise options that have vested prior to termination within a period of twelve (12) months from the date of disability or death.

In the event of a merger or consolidation of our company subsequent to which we would no longer exist as a legal entity, or a sale of all, or substantially all, of our Ordinary Shares or assets or other transaction having a similar effect on us, the Company will seek to cause the acquirer in such transaction to substitute all outstanding and unexercised options under the Plan for an appropriate number of the same type of shares or other securities of the successor company as were distributed to the Company or the shareholders in connection with such transaction. If the acquirer refuses to substitute the options, unvested options held by any grantee will vest in accordance with the following formula: X+Y*X/Z, where X = the number of vested options held by the grantee, Y = the number of unvested options held by the grantee, and Z = the number of options held by the grantee.

As of December 31, 2017, we have granted to our senior management and directors options to purchase up to 590,425 Ordinary Shares under the Plan, as follows.

ITEM 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.

A.          Major Shareholders.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our outstanding ordinary shares as of April 30, 2017, by each person or entity known to beneficially own 5% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares. The information with respect to beneficial ownership of the ordinary shares is given based on information reported in such shareholder’s Schedule 13G, and if no Schedule 13G was filed, based on the information provided to us by the shareholders.

The information in this table is based on 22,998,386 Ordinary Shares outstanding as of such date. In determining the number of ordinary shares beneficially owned by a person, we include any shares as to which the person has sole or shared voting power or investment power, as well as any ordinary shares subject to options or warrants held by that person that were currently exercisable at, or exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2017. The Ordinary Shares issuable under these options and warrants are treated as if they were outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding these options and warrants but not the percentage ownership of any other person. None of the holders of the ordinary shares listed in this table have voting rights different from other holders of ordinary shares.

To the best of our knowledge, we are not owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by another corporation or by any foreign government. We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our Company.

We believe that the shareholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown to be beneficially owned by them, based on information provided to us by such shareholders.

The Company has 20 U.S. shareholders, comprising of 10.12% of the Company’s outstanding ordinary shares ⁽¹⁾.

(1) Shares held by Cede & Co. are held on behalf of multiple shareholders, the identity of whom we do not know, and therefore they were not taken into account in the above calculation.

B.          Related Party Transactions.

The following is a description of the material terms of all transactions between us and certain related parties. Except as described below, since January 1, 2017, we have not entered into any transactions with (a) any enterprises that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control or are controlled by, or are under common control with, us; (b) our associates; (c) individuals owning, directly or indirectly, an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives them significant influence over the company, and close members of any such individual’s family; (d) our executive officers and directors; and (e) enterprises in which a substantial interest in the voting power is owned, directly or indirectly, by any person described in (c) or (d) or over which such a person is able to exercise significant influence.

IEC Convertible Loan Agreement. On October 2010, we entered into a Convertible Loan Agreement with IEC, which is currently a significant shareholder, which agreement was amended on April 2012. Pursuant to this agreement, IEC loaned us an aggregate amount of NIS 3,000,000 ($865,301 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017) at an interest rate of 8% per annum. In April 2013, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with IEC pursuant to which the aggregate principal amount of such loan and all accrued but unpaid interest thereon were converted into 172,190 Series B-1 Preferred Shares. On November 26, 2014, as part of the Private Placement these shares were converted into our Ordinary Shares and following the shares split IEC holds 1,278,166. Pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Loan Agreement, IEC is also entitled to royalty payments equal to 2% of net sales of the Company’s products, up to an aggregate of NIS 8,000,000 ($2,307,470 based on the exchange rate of $1.00 / NIS 3.467 in effect as of December 31, 2017). In addition, for a period of 10 years from the date of the first commercial sale of our products, IEC will be entitled to purchase our products, licenses and services, at prices which are at the lowest rate then offered or provided by the Company to any of its other customers for the same products, licenses or services (excluding demonstration units, pilot units, samples, and other customary promotional discounts which are sporadic in nature and do not represent on-going commercial basis prices with respect to the client), given similar quantities and commercial conditions.

IPB Side Agreement. On July 17, 2014, we entered into an agreement with IPB in connection with the termination agreement described above. Pursuant to this side agreement, we agreed to issue to IPB, upon the Initial Closing, a Warrant to purchase up to 120,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $0.917 per share. Such Warrant will be exercisable until the first to occur of an M&A Event (as defined in the Articles of Association) or the completion by us of a public offering pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act or any equivalent law of another jurisdiction, in any locality, with a fully diluted pre-offering valuation of the Company of no less than $70,000,000 and with net proceeds to the Company of no less than $10,000,000, or a Qualified IPO. In addition, pursuant to this side agreement, we have issued to IPB a note in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000 (the “Capital Note”), which note will become due and payable upon the earlier to occur of: (i) an M&A Transaction, (ii) a Qualified IPO or (iii) an equity financing by the Company resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of at least $6,000,000 (excluding our most recent private placement, and the conversion of the Series 2 Notes).

Employment and Services Agreements. Employment and services agreements entered into with our senior managers, as described above under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Compensation—Employment or Service Agreements with Senior Managers.”

Indemnification Agreements with Directors and Senior Managers. Customary indemnification agreements with our directors and senior managers, as described above under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Board Practices —Exculpation, Insurance and Indemnification of Office Holders.”

Option Agreement with Directors and Senior Managers. Option Agreements entered into with our directors and senior managers, as described above under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees —Share Ownership—Incentive Compensation Plan”.

Securities Purchase Agreement with Terra and Slobel. On August 16, 2017 Terra, Slobel and certain existing shareholders entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which they purchased 433,333 warrants to purchase ordinary shares in consideration for $393,939.

Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU. On December 27, 2017, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU, as supplemented by that certain Supplement to Share Purchase Agreement dated January 3, 2018, pursuant to which we received aggregate gross proceeds of $992,615 from Jet CU in exchange for 992,615 ordinary shares and a warrant to purchase 300,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years, i.e. until January 3, 2023.

Loan Agreement with Jet CU. On March 8, 2018, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Jet CU, pursuant to which Jet CU provided us with a convertible loan in an aggregate principal amount of $150,000 and received from us warrants to purchase 400,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The loan amount bears interest of 5% per annum. The warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5) years, i.e. until March 8, 2023. Jet CU may receive warrants to purchase an additional 200,000 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, if the price of our Ordinary Shares by the end of December 2018 is lower than $1.00.

We believe that we have executed all of our transactions with related parties on terms no less favorable to us than those we could have obtained from unaffiliated third parties. We are required by Israeli law to ensure that all future transactions between us and our officers, directors and principal shareholders and their affiliates are approved by a majority of our board of directors, including a majority of the independent and disinterested members of our board of directors, and that they are on terms no less favorable to us than those that we could obtain from unaffiliated third parties.

C.          Interests of Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. Financial Information.

A.          Consolidated Financial Statements and Other Financial Information.

See “Item 18. Financial Statements” for a list of all financial statements filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 20-F.

Legal Matters

On December 31, 2017, a lawsuit captioned Eshed Consulting and Financial Management Ltd. vs. P.V. Nano Cell Ltd., Claim No. 64342-12-17, was filed in the Magistrate Court in Nazareth in Israel. The complaint alleges that the Company owes Eshed, a total amount of NIS 120,000 in fees for professional financial services Eshed allegedly provided to the Company. The Company is disputing such claims and claims it has paid in full for the financial services it received from Eshed. A hearing has been scheduled for June 3, 2018.

On March 11, 2018, a lawsuit captioned Reinhold Cohn & Co. vs. (1) Digiflex Ltd. and (2) P.V. Nano Cell Ltd., Claim No. 21766-03-18, was filed in the Magistrate Court in Kfar Saba in Israel. The complaint alleges that the Company owes Reinhold Cohn NIS 80,298 in fees for various services involving the protection of the Company’s intellectual property rights by way of registration of patents worldwide, including in the United States, Canada and Europe. The Company does not dispute the debt and intends to make full payment thereof.

Dividend Policy

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of cash dividends, if any, in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on then-existing conditions, including our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.

Payment of dividends may also be subject to Israeli withholding taxes. See “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Certain Israeli Tax Considerations” for additional information.

B.          Significant Changes.

No significant changes with respect to our consolidated financial statements have occurred since December 31, 2017.

ITEM 9. The Offer and Listing.

9.A.4     Offer and Listing Details

There is currently no public trading market for our Ordinary Shares.

9.B.       Plan of distribution

Not applicable.

9.C.       Market for Ordinary Shares

Not applicable.

9.D.       Selling shareholders

Not applicable.

9.E.       Dilution

Not applicable.

9.F.       Expenses of the issue

Not applicable.

ITEM 10. Additional Information.

A.          Share Capital.

Not applicable.

B.          Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Our original articles of association were registered with the Israeli Registrar of Companies at the time of incorporation of the Company on June 24, 2009, under our Israeli registration number 514287093. Our purpose is set forth in Section 4 of our articles of association and includes every lawful purpose.

C.          Material Contracts

The following are summary descriptions of certain material agreements to which we are a party. The descriptions provided below do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the complete agreements, which are attached as exhibits to this annual report on Form 20-F.

For a description of our material agreements relating to our strategic collaborations and research arrangements and other material agreements, please refer to “Item 4. Information on the Company—Research and Development Agreements, License Agreements and Material Contracts.”

Employment Agreements

See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Employment Agreements and Arrangements with Directors and Related Parties.”

D.          Exchange Controls.

There are no Israeli government laws, decrees or regulations that restrict or that affect our export or import of capital or the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-resident holders of our securities, including the availability of cash for use by us and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, except for ownership by nationals of certain countries that are, or have been, declared as enemies of Israel or otherwise as set forth under “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation.”

E.           Taxation.

The following description is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences relating to the ownership or disposition of our ordinary shares. You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the laws of any state, local, foreign, including Israel, or other taxing jurisdiction.

Certain Israeli Tax Considerations

The following is a brief summary of the material Israeli income tax laws applicable to us. This section also contains a discussion of material Israeli tax consequences concerning the ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares. This summary does not discuss all the aspects of Israeli tax law that may be relevant to a particular investor in light of his or her personal investment circumstances or to some types of investors subject to special treatment under Israeli law. Examples of this kind of investor include residents of Israel or investors in securities who are subject to special tax regimes not covered in this discussion. To the extent that the discussion is based on new tax legislation that has not yet been subject to judicial or administrative interpretation, we cannot assure you that the appropriate tax authorities or the courts will accept the views expressed in this discussion. This summary is based on laws and regulations in effect as of the date hereof and does not take into account possible future amendments which may be under consideration.

General Corporate Tax Structure in Israel

Israeli resident companies (as defined below), such as the Company, were subject to corporate tax at the rate of 24% and 25% of their taxable income during 2017 and 2016, respectively, a reduction from the corporate tax rate of 26.5% in 2015 and 2014.

Capital gains derived by an Israeli resident company are generally subject to tax at the same rate as the corporate tax rate. Under Israeli tax legislation, a corporation will be considered an “Israeli resident” if it meets one of the following: (i) it was incorporated in Israel; or (ii) the control and management of its business are exercised in Israel.

Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 5729-1969

The Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 5729-1969, which we refer to as the Industry Encouragement Law, provides several tax benefits for “Industrial Companies,” which are defined as Israeli resident-companies of which 90% or more of their income in any tax year is derived from an “Industrial Enterprise” that it owns, or an enterprise whose principal activity in a given tax year is industrial production. Eligibility for benefits under the Industry Encouragement Law is not contingent upon approval of any governmental authority.

The following corporate tax benefits, among others, are available to Industrial Companies:

There can be no assurance that we will qualify as an industrial company or that the benefits described above will be available in the future.

Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959

The Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959, which we refer to as the Investment Law, provides certain incentives for capital investments in production facilities (or other eligible assets). The Investment Law was significantly amended effective April 1, 2005 and further amended as of January 1, 2011, or the 2011 Amendment. The 2011 Amendment introduced new benefits to replace those granted in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law in effect prior to the 2011 Amendment.

Tax Benefits under the 2011 Amendment

The 2011 Amendment canceled the availability of the benefits granted to Industrial Companies under the Investment Law prior to 2011 and, instead, introduced new benefits for income generated by a “Preferred Company” through its “Preferred Enterprise” (as such terms are defined in the Investment Law) as of January 1, 2011.

The definition of a Preferred Company includes a company incorporated in Israel that is not fully owned by a governmental entity, and that has, among other things, a Preferred Enterprise and is controlled and managed from Israel. Under a recent amendment announced in August 2013, or the 2013 Amendment, beginning in 2014 and in each year thereafter, a Preferred Company may only be entitled to reduced corporate tax rates of 16%, unless the Preferred Enterprise is located in a specified development zone, in which case the rate will be 9%. Income derived by a Preferred Company from a “Special Preferred Enterprise” (as such term is defined in the Investment Law) would be entitled, during a benefit period of ten (10) years, to further reduced tax rates of 8%, or 5% if the Special Preferred Enterprise is located in a certain development zone.

As of January 1, 2014, dividends paid out of income attributed to a Preferred Enterprise are subject to withholding tax at source at the rate of 20% unless a different tax rate is provided under an applicable tax treaty. However, if such dividends are paid to an Israeli company, no tax is required to be withheld.

A Beneficiary Company may elect to file a notice until May 31st of each year in order to avail itself of the benefits of the 2011 Amendments pursuant to Sections 131 and 132 of the Income Tax Ordinance (New Version) - 1961, referred to herein as the Israeli Tax Ordinance, and such benefits will apply on the tax year subsequent to the year in which such notice was filed.

Currently, we are not entitled to receive the tax benefits described above and there can be no assurance that we will be entitled to receive such benefits at any time in the future. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that even if in the future we meet the relevant requirements for such tax benefits, that such tax benefits will be available to us at all.

Taxation of Our Israeli Individual Shareholders on Receipt of Dividends

Israeli residents who are individuals are generally subject to Israeli income tax for dividends paid on our ordinary shares (other than bonus shares or share dividends) at a rate of 25%, or 30% if the recipient of such dividend is a Substantial Shareholder (as defined below) at the time of distribution or at any time during the preceding twelve (12) month period. Beginning in 2013, an additional tax at a rate of 2% may be imposed upon shareholders whose annual taxable income from all sources exceeds a certain amount.

A “Substantial Shareholder” is generally a person who alone, or together with his or her relative or another person who collaborates with him or her on a regular basis, holds, directly or indirectly, at least 10% of any of the “means of control” of a corporation. “Means of control” generally include the right to vote, receive profits, nominate a director or an officer, receive assets upon liquidation or instruct someone who holds any of the aforesaid rights regarding the manner in which he or she is to exercise such right(s), all regardless of the source of such right.

With respect to individuals, the term “Israeli resident” is generally defined under Israeli tax legislation as a person whose center of life is in Israel. The Israeli Tax Ordinance (as amended by Amendment Law No. 132 of 2002), states that in order to determine the center of life of an individual, consideration will be given to the individual’s family, economic and social connections, including: (i) place of permanent residence; (ii) place of residential dwelling of the individual and the individual’s immediate family; (iii) place of the individual’s regular or permanent occupation or the place of his or her permanent employment; (iv) place of the individual’s active and substantial economic interests; (v) place of the individual’s activities in organizations, associations and other institutions. The center of life of an individual will be presumed to be in Israel if: (i) the individual was present in Israel for 183 days or more in the tax year; or (ii) the individual was present in Israel for 30 days or more in the tax year, and the total period of the individual’s presence in Israel in that tax year and the two previous tax years is 425 days or more. Such presumption may be rebutted either by the individual or by the assessing officer.

Taxation of Israeli Resident Corporations on Payment of Dividends

Israeli resident corporations are generally exempt from Israeli corporate income tax with respect to dividends paid on ordinary shares held by such Israeli resident corporations as long as the profits out of which the dividends were paid were derived in Israel.

Tax Benefits under the Amendment to the Economic Efficiency Law

On December 22, 2016 the plenary Knesset passed the Economic Efficiency Law (Legislative Amendments for Achieving the Budget Targets for 2017 and 2018), 2016, or the 2017 Amendment, which provides, among other things, new tax benefits for two types of “Technology Enterprises”, as described below, and is in addition to the other existing tax beneficial programs under the Investment Law.

The 2017 Amendment provides that a technology company satisfying certain conditions will qualify as a “Preferred Technology Enterprise” and will thereby enjoy a reduced corporate tax rate of 12% on income that qualifies as “Preferred Technology Income”, as defined in the Investment Law. The tax rate is further reduced to 7.5% for a Preferred Technology Enterprise located in development zone A. In addition, a Preferred Technology Company will enjoy a reduced corporate tax rate of 12% on capital gain derived from the sale of certain “Benefited Intangible Assets” (as defined in the Investment Law) to a related foreign company if the Benefited Intangible Assets were acquired from a foreign company on or after January 1, 2017 for at least NIS 200 million, and the sale receives prior approval from the National Authority for Technological Innovation (referred to as NATI).

The 2017 Amendment further provides that a technology company satisfying certain conditions will qualify as a “Special Preferred Technology Enterprise” and will thereby enjoy a reduced corporate tax rate of 6% on “Preferred Technology Income” regardless of the company’s geographic location within Israel. In addition, a Special Preferred Technology Enterprise will enjoy a reduced corporate tax rate of 6% on capital gain derived from the sale of certain “Benefited Intangible Assets” to a related foreign company if the Benefited Intangible Assets were either developed by an Israeli company or acquired from a foreign company on or after January 1, 2017, and the sale received prior approval from NATI. A Special Preferred Technology Enterprise that acquires Benefited Intangible Assets from a foreign company for more than NIS 500 million will be eligible for these benefits for at least ten (10) years, subject to certain approvals as specified in the Investment Law.

Dividends distributed by a Preferred Technology Enterprise or a Special Preferred Technology Enterprise, paid out of Preferred Technology Income, are subject to withholding tax at source at the rate of 20%, and if distributed to a foreign company and other conditions are met, the withholding tax rate will be 4%.

Currently, we are not entitled to receive the tax benefits described above and there can be no assurance that we will be entitled to receive such benefits at any time in the future. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that even if in the future we meet the relevant requirements for such tax benefits, that such tax benefits will be available to us at all.

Capital Gains Taxes Applicable to Israeli Resident Shareholders

The income tax rate applicable to real capital gains derived by an Israeli individual resident from the sale of shares that were purchased after January 1, 2012, whether listed on a stock exchange or not, is 25%. However, if such shareholder is considered a Substantial Shareholder at the time of sale or at any time during the preceding twelve (12) month period, such gain will be taxed at the rate of 30%. In addition, as noted above, beginning in 2013, an additional tax at a rate of 2% may be imposed upon shareholders whose annual taxable income from all sources exceeds a certain amount.

Moreover, capital gains derived by a shareholder who is a dealer or trader in securities, or to whom such income is otherwise taxable as ordinary business income, are taxed in Israel at ordinary income rates (currently 25% for corporations and up to 50% for individuals, according to the individual’s marginal tax rate).

Taxation of Non-Israeli Shareholders on Receipt of Dividends

Non-Israeli residents are generally subject to Israeli income tax on the receipt of dividends paid on our ordinary shares at the rate of 25% (or 30% for individuals, if such person is a Substantial Shareholder at the time he or she receives the dividend or on any date in the twelve (12) months preceding such date), which tax will be withheld at source, unless a different rate is provided under an applicable tax treaty between Israel and the shareholder’s country of residence.

A non-Israeli resident who has dividend income derived from or accrued in Israel, from which the full amount of tax was withheld at source, is generally exempt from the duty to file tax returns in Israel in respect of such income; provided that (i) such income was not derived from a business conducted in Israel by the taxpayer and (ii) the taxpayer has no other taxable sources of income in Israel.

For example, under the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel with Respect to Taxes on Income, as amended, or the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, Israeli withholding tax on dividends paid to a U.S. resident for treaty purposes may not, in general, exceed 25%, or 15% in the case of dividends paid out of the profits of an Approved Enterprise (as such term is defined in the Investment Law), subject to certain conditions. Where the recipient is a U.S. corporation owning 10% or more of the voting shares of the paying corporation during the part of the paying corporation’s taxable year which precedes the date of payment of the dividend and during the entirety of its prior taxable year (if any) and the dividend is not paid from the profits of an Approved Enterprise, the Israeli tax withheld may not exceed 12.5%, subject to certain conditions.

Capital Gains Income Taxes Applicable to Non-Israeli Shareholders

Non-Israeli resident shareholders are generally exempt from Israeli capital gains tax on any gains derived from the sale, exchange or disposition of our ordinary shares, provided that such shareholders did not acquire their shares prior to January 1, 2009 and such gains were not derived from a permanent business or business activity of such shareholders in Israel. However, non-Israeli corporations will not be entitled to the foregoing exemptions if an Israeli resident (i) has a controlling interest of more than 25% in such non-Israeli corporation or (ii) is the beneficiary of or is entitled to 25% or more of the revenues or profits of such non-Israeli corporation, whether directly or indirectly.

In addition, a sale of securities by a non-Israeli resident may be exempt from Israeli capital gains tax under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty. For example, under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, the sale, exchange or disposition of our ordinary shares by a shareholder who is a U.S. resident (for purposes of the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty) holding the ordinary shares as a capital asset and is entitled to claim the benefits afforded to such a resident by the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, or a Treaty U.S. Resident, is generally exempt from Israeli capital gains tax unless: (i) such Treaty U.S. Resident is an individual and was present in Israel for 183 days or more during the relevant taxable year; (ii) such Treaty U.S. Resident holds, directly or indirectly, shares representing 10% or more of our voting power of the Company during any part of the twelve (12) month period preceding such sale, exchange or disposition, subject to certain conditions; or (iii) the capital gains arising from such sale, exchange or disposition are attributable to a permanent establishment of the Treaty U.S. Resident located in Israel, subject to certain conditions. In any such case, the sale, exchange or disposition of our ordinary shares would be subject to Israeli tax, to the extent applicable. However, under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, such Treaty U.S. Resident would be permitted to claim a credit for such taxes against U.S. federal income tax imposed on any gain from such sale, exchange or disposition, under the circumstances and subject to the limitations specified in the U.S.-Israel Income Tax Treaty.

Regardless of whether shareholders may be liable for Israeli income tax on the sale of our ordinary shares, the payment of the consideration may be subject to withholding of Israeli tax at the source. Accordingly, shareholders may be required to demonstrate that they are exempt from tax on their capital gains in order to avoid withholding at source at the time of sale.

Estate and Gift Tax

Israeli law presently does not impose estate or gift taxes.

Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following is a general summary of what we believe to be certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares by U.S. Holders (as defined below). This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code, or the Code, the regulations of the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued pursuant to the Code, or the Treasury Regulations, the income tax treaty between the United States and Israel, or the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or to different interpretation. No ruling has been sought from the IRS with respect to any U.S. federal income tax consequences described below, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. This summary is no substitute for consultation by prospective investors with their own tax advisors and does not constitute tax advice. This summary addresses only those U.S. Holders of our ordinary shares who hold such equity interests as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. Furthermore, his summary does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to specific U.S. Holders in light of their particular circumstances or to U.S. Holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law (including, without limitation, banks, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, retirement plans, regulated investment companies, partnerships, dealers in securities, brokers, real estate investment trusts, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, persons who acquire our ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment, persons who acquire our ordinary shares through the exercise or cancellation of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for their services, persons that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar, persons that own (or are deemed to own, indirectly, or by attribution) 10% or more of our shares, U.S. expatriates, or persons that mark their securities to market for U.S. federal income tax purposes). This summary does not address any U.S. state or local or non-U.S. tax considerations, any U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations, or any U.S. federal tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences.

As used in this summary, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a “United States person.”

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our ordinary shares, the tax treatment of such partnership and each partner thereof will generally depend upon the status and activities of the partnership and such partner. A holder that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to it and its partners of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares.

Prospective investors should be aware that this summary does not address the tax consequences to investors who are not U.S. Holders. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular tax considerations applicable to them relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares, including the applicability of U.S. federal, state and local tax laws and non-U.S. tax laws.

Taxation of U.S. Holders

Distributions. Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company,” a U.S. Holder that receives a distribution with respect to an ordinary share generally will be required to include the amount of such distribution in gross income as a dividend (without reduction for any Israeli tax withheld from such distribution) when actually or constructively received to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s pro rata share of our current and/or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Any distributions in excess of our earnings and profits will be applied against and will reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its ordinary shares, and, to the extent they exceed that tax basis, will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of our ordinary shares. We do not expect to maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, a U.S. Holder should expect that the entire amount of any distribution generally may be reported as dividend income.

If we were to pay dividends, we expect to pay such dividends in NIS. A dividend paid in NIS, including the amount of any Israeli taxes withheld, will be includible in a U.S. Holder’s income as a U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date such dividend is received, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. If the dividend is converted to U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize a foreign currency gain or loss. However, if the U.S. Holder converts the NIS into U.S. dollars on a later date, the U.S. Holder must include, in computing its income, any gain or loss resulting from any exchange rate fluctuations. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between (i) the U.S. dollar value of the amount included in income when the dividend was received and (ii) the amount received on the conversion of the NIS into U.S. dollars. Such gain or loss will generally be ordinary income or loss and will be U.S. source income or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them if we pay dividends in NIS or any other non-U.S. currency.

Subject to certain significant conditions and limitations, any Israeli taxes paid on or withheld from distributions from us and not refundable to a U.S. Holder may be credited against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted from the U.S. Holder’s taxable income. The election to deduct, rather than credit, foreign taxes, is made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid by a U.S. Holder or withheld from a U.S. Holder that year. Dividends paid on the ordinary shares generally will constitute income from sources outside the United States and be categorized as “passive category income” or, in the case of some U.S. Holders, as “general category income” for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. If a U.S. Holder is eligible for benefits under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty or are otherwise entitled to a refund for the taxes withheld, that U.S. Holder will not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the amount of any Israeli taxes withheld in excess of the maximum rate under the Treaty or for the taxes with respect to which that U.S. Holder can obtain a refund from the Israeli taxing authorities. A foreign tax credit for Israeli taxes imposed on distributions may be denied if the U.S. Holder does not satisfy certain minimum holding period requirements. Because the rules governing foreign tax credits are complex, U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of foreign tax credits in their particular circumstances.

Dividends paid on the ordinary shares will not be eligible for the “dividends-received” deduction generally allowed to corporate U.S. Holders with respect to dividends received from U.S. corporations.

Under current U.S. federal income tax law, certain distributions treated as dividends that are received by an individual U.S. Holder from a “qualified foreign corporation” generally qualify for a 20% reduced maximum tax rate so long as certain holding period and other requirements are met. A non-U.S. corporation (other than a corporation that is treated as a PFIC for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year) generally will be considered to be a qualified foreign corporation (i) if it is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States which the Secretary of Treasury of the United States determines is satisfactory for purposes of this provision and which includes an exchange of information program, or (ii) with respect to any dividend it pays on stock which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. The 20% reduced maximum tax rate does not apply unless certain holding period requirements are satisfied. Furthermore, dividends paid by us in a taxable year in which we are not a PFIC and with respect to which we were not a PFIC in the preceding taxable year are expected to be eligible for the 20% reduced maximum tax rate, although we can offer no assurances in this regard. However, any dividend paid by us in a taxable year in which we are a PFIC or were a PFIC in the preceding taxable year will be subject to tax at regular ordinary income rates (along with any applicable additional PFIC tax liability, as discussed below). As discussed below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company,” we have not determined whether we have been a PFIC for 2017 or any previous year, or in any future years.

The additional 3.8% “net investment income tax” (described below) may apply to dividends received by certain U.S. Holders who meet certain modified adjusted gross income thresholds.

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Ordinary Shares. Subject to the discussion under “Passive Foreign Investment Company” below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, or other disposition of our ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange, or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis (determined under U.S. federal income tax rules) in such ordinary shares. This capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period in our ordinary shares exceeds one year, provided that certain conditions are met, including certain holding period requirements and the absence of certain risk reduction transaction .. Preferential tax rates for long-term capital gain (currently, with a maximum rate of 20% for taxable years) will apply to individual U.S. Holders. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. The gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, subject to certain possible exceptions under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty. The additional 3.8% “net investment income tax” (described below) may apply to gains recognized upon the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of our ordinary shares by certain U.S. Holders who meet certain modified adjusted gross income thresholds.

U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving currency other than U.S. dollars upon the disposition of their ordinary shares.

Passive Foreign Investment Company

In general, a non-U.S. corporation will be treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any taxable year in which either (i) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income,” or (ii) on average at least 50% of its assets by value produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income for this purpose generally includes, among other things, certain dividends, interest, royalties, rents and gains from commodities and securities transactions and from the sale or exchange of property that gives rise to passive income. Passive income also includes amounts derived by reason of the temporary investment of funds, including those raised in a public offering. Assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income include cash, even if held as working capital or raised in a public offering, marketable securities and other assets that may produce passive income. In determining whether a non-U.S. corporation is a PFIC, a proportionate share of the income and assets of each corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, at least a 25% interest (by value) is taken into account.

A foreign corporation’s PFIC status is an annual determination that is based on tests that are factual in nature, and our status for any year will depend on the corporation’s income, assets, and activities for such year. We have not determined whether we have been a PFIC for 2016 or any previous year, or whether we will be a PFIC in 2017 or in any future years.

U.S. Holders should be aware of certain tax consequences of investing directly or indirectly in us due to our classification as a PFIC. A U.S. Holder is subject to different rules depending on whether the U.S. Holder makes an election to treat us as a “qualified electing fund,” referred to herein as a “QEF election,” for the first taxable year that the U.S. Holder holds ordinary shares makes a “mark-to-market” election with respect to the ordinary shares, or makes neither election. An election to treat us as a QEF will not be available if we do not provide the information necessary to make such an election. It is not expected that a U.S. Holder will be able to make a QEF election because we do not intend to provide U.S. Holders with the information necessary to make a QEF election.

QEF Election. One way in which certain of the adverse consequences of PFIC status can be mitigated is for a U.S. Holder make a QEF election. Generally, a shareholder making the QEF election is required for each taxable year to include in income a pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the QEF, subject to a separate election to defer payment of taxes, which deferral is subject to an interest charge. An election to treat us as a QEF will not be available if we do not provide the information necessary to make such an election. It is not expected that a U.S. Holder will be able to make a QEF election because we do not intend to provide U.S. Holders with the information necessary to make a QEF election.

Mark-to-Market Election. Alternatively, if our ordinary shares are treated as “marketable stock,” a U.S. Holder would be allowed to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our ordinary shares, provided the U.S. Holder completes and files IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions and related Treasury Regulations. If that election is made, the U.S. Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of our ordinary shares at the end of the taxable year over such holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ordinary shares. The U.S. Holder would also be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our ordinary shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our ordinary shares would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amount. Gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included in income by the U.S. Holder, and any loss in excess of such amount will be treated as capital loss. Amounts treated as ordinary income will not be eligible for the favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains.

A mark-to-market election will not apply to our ordinary shares held by a U.S. Holder for any taxable year during which we are not a PFIC, but will remain in effect with respect to any subsequent taxable year in which we become a PFIC. Such election will not apply to any PFIC subsidiary that we own.

Generally, stock will be considered marketable stock if it is “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange” within the meaning of applicable Treasury Regulations. A class of stock is regularly traded on an exchange during any calendar year during which such class of stock is traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. To be marketable stock, our ordinary shares must be regularly traded on a qualifying exchange (i) in the United States that is registered with the SEC or a national market system established pursuant to the Exchange Act or (ii) outside the United States that is properly regulated and meets certain trading, listing, financial disclosure and other requirements. Since our ordinary shares are quoted only on the OCTQB, they may not currently qualify as marketable stock for purposes of the election and therefore the election may not be available to a U.S. Holder. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election in respect to our ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.

Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax adviser with respect to the applicability of the “net investment income tax” (discussed below) where a mark-to-market election is in effect.

Default PFIC Rules. A U.S. Holder who does not make a timely QEF election (we do not currently intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable a U.S. Holder to make a QEF election) or a mark-to-market election, referred to in this summary as a “Non-Electing U.S. Holder,” will be subject to special rules with respect to (i) any “excess distribution” (generally, the portion of any distributions received by the Non-Electing U.S. Holder on the ordinary shares in a taxable year in excess of 125% of the average annual distributions received by the Non-Electing U.S. Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the Non-Electing U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares), and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of such ordinary shares. Under these rules:

If a Non-Electing U.S. Holder who is an individual dies while owning our ordinary shares, the Non-Electing U.S. Holder’s successor would be ineligible to receive a step-up in tax basis of such ordinary shares. Non-Electing U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the “net investment income tax” (described below) to their specific situation.

To the extent a distribution on our ordinary shares does not constitute an excess distribution to a Non-Electing U.S. Holder, such Non-Electing U.S. Holder generally will be required to include the amount of such distribution in gross income as a dividend to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that are not allocated to excess distributions. The tax consequences of such distributions are discussed above under “Item 10. Additional Information – Taxation—Taxation of U.S. Holders — Distributions.” Each U.S. Holder is encouraged to consult its own tax advisor with respect to the appropriate U.S. federal income tax treatment of any distribution on our ordinary shares.

If we are treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during the holding period of a Non-Electing U.S. Holder, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which the Non-Electing U.S. Holder is treated as a direct or indirect Non-Electing U.S. Holder even if we are not a PFIC for such years. A U.S. Holder is encouraged to consult its tax advisor with respect to any available elections that may be applicable in such a situation, including the “deemed sale” election of Code Section 1298(b)(1) (which will be taxed under the adverse tax rules described above).

We may invest in the equity of foreign corporations that are PFICs or may own subsidiaries that own PFICs. If we are classified as a PFIC, under attribution rules, U.S. Holders will be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to their indirect ownership interests in such PFICs, such that a disposition of the ordinary shares of the PFIC or receipt by us of a distribution from the PFIC generally will be treated as a deemed disposition of such ordinary shares or the deemed receipt of such distribution by the U.S. Holder, subject to taxation under the PFIC rules. There can be no assurance that a U.S. Holder will be able to make a QEF election, and a U.S. Holder may not make a mark-to-market election, with respect to PFICs in which we invest. Each U.S. Holder is encouraged to consult its own tax advisor with respect to tax consequences of an investment by us in a corporation that is a PFIC.

In addition, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the IRS information reporting and filing obligations that may arise as a result of the ownership of ordinary shares in a PFIC, including IRS Form 8621, Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund.

The U.S. federal income tax rules relating to PFICs elections are complex. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares, any elections available with respect to such ordinary shares and the IRS information reporting obligations with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares.

Certain Reporting Requirements

Certain U.S. Investors are required to file IRS Form 926, Return by U.S. Transferor of Property to a Foreign Corporation, and certain U.S. Investors may be required to file IRS Form 5471, Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations, reporting transfers of cash or other property to us and information relating to the U.S. Investor and us. Substantial penalties may be imposed upon a U.S. Investor that fails to comply.

In addition, certain U.S. Investors are required to report information on IRS Form 8938 with respect to their investments in certain “foreign financial assets,” which would include an investment in our Ordinary Shares, to the IRS.

Investors who fail to report required information could become subject to substantial civil and criminal penalties. U.S. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of these reporting requirements and any other applicable reporting requirement with respect to their investment in and ownership of our Ordinary Shares.

Disclosure of Reportable Transactions

If a U.S. Investor sells or disposes of the Ordinary Shares at a loss or otherwise incurs certain losses that meet certain thresholds, such U.S. Investor may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS. Failure to comply with these and other reporting requirements could result in the imposition of significant penalties.

Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting Requirements

Generally, information reporting requirements will apply to distributions on our Ordinary Shares or proceeds on the disposition of our Ordinary Shares paid within the United States (and, in certain cases, outside the United States) to U.S. Investors other than certain exempt recipients, such as corporations. Furthermore, backup withholding (currently at 28%) may apply to such amounts if the U.S. Investor fails to (i) provide a correct taxpayer identification number, (ii) report interest and dividends required to be shown on its U.S. federal income tax return, or (iii) make other appropriate certifications in the required manner. U.S. Investors who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide such certification on IRS Form W-9.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding from a payment may be credited against a U.S. Investor’s U.S. federal income tax liability and such U.S. Investor may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information in a timely manner.

Medicare Tax on Investment Income

Certain U.S. persons, including individuals, estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax, or “net investment income tax,” on unearned income. For individuals, the additional net investment income tax applies to the lesser of (i) “net investment income” or (ii) the excess of “modified adjusted gross income” over $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or $125,000 if married and filing separately). “Net investment income” generally equals the taxpayer’s gross investment income reduced by the deductions that are allocable to such income. Investment income generally includes passive income such as interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents, and capital gains. U.S. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional net investment income tax resulting from their ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares.

THIS SUMMARY OF MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES IS NOT TAX ADVICE. THE DETERMINATION OF THE ACTUAL TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR A U.S. HOLDER WILL DEPEND ON THE U.S. HOLDER’S SPECIFIC SITUATION. U.S. HOLDERS OF ORDINARY SHARES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF ACQUIRING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR ORDINARY SHARES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX AND ANY STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAX LAWS AND OF CHANGES IN THOSE LAWS.

F.           Dividends and Paying Agents.

Not applicable.

G.          Statements by Experts.

Not applicable.

H.          Documents on Display.

You may read and copy this Annual Report on Form 20-F, including the related exhibits and schedules, and any document we file with the SEC without charge at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

As a “foreign private issuer,” we are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act that are applicable to foreign private issuers, and under those requirements file reports with the SEC. Those other reports or other information may be inspected without charge at the locations described above. As a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act related to the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders will be exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to their purchases and sales of ordinary shares. Furthermore, as a “foreign private issuer,” we are also not subject to the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

We maintain a corporate website at http://www. pvnanocell.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report and does not constitute a part of this annual report. We have included our website address in this annual report solely as an inactive textual reference.

I.             Subsidiary Information.

We have two (2) wholly owned subsidiaries, Nano Size Ltd., a private company organized under the laws of the state of Israel which we acquired on December 31, 2009, and Digiflex Ltd., which we acquired on December 3, 2017.

ITEM 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business. Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates, including interest rates and foreign exchange rates, of financial instruments.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

Our foreign currency exposures give rise to market risk associated with exchange rate movements of the NIS mainly against the U.S. dollar because a large portion of our expenses are denominated in NIS. Our NIS expenses consist principally of payments made to employees, sub-contractors, professional services, other research and development activities and general and administrative activities. We anticipate that a large portion of our expenses will continue to be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Our financial position, results of operations and cash flow are subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Our results of operations and cash flow are, therefore, subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and may be adversely affected in the future due to changes in foreign exchange rates. Approximately 75% of our expenses are denominated in NIS. Changes of 5% and 10% in the U.S. dollar to NIS exchange rate will increase/decrease our operation expenses by less than 3.8% and 7.5%, respectively. To date, fluctuations in the exchange rates have not materially affected our results of operations or financial condition for the periods under review.

To date, we have not engaged in hedging our foreign currency exchange risk. In the future, we may enter into formal currency hedging transactions to decrease the risk of financial exposure from fluctuations in the exchange rates of our principal operating currencies. These measures, however, may not adequately protect us from the material adverse effects of such fluctuations.

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to interest rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the interest income generated by excess cash invested in bank deposits. We have not used any derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio or for cash management purposes. Interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. We have not been exposed nor do we anticipate being exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates. However, our future interest income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates.

ITEM 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities.

A.          Debt Securities.

Not applicable.

B.          Warrants and Rights.

Not applicable.

C.          Other Securities.

Not applicable.

D.           American Depositary Shares.

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies.

Not applicable.

ITEM 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds.

A.          Not applicable.

B.          Not applicable.

C.          Not applicable.

D.          Not applicable.

E.           Not applicable.

ITEM 15. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 20-F and filed with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported timely within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There can be no assurance that our disclosure controls and procedures will detect or uncover all failures of persons within our Company to disclose information otherwise required to be set forth in our reports. Nevertheless, our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Based on our evaluation, our management has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d) - 15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report are effective at such reasonable assurance level.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. In making this assessment, it used the criteria established in the updated framework in the Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 1992 and updated in May 2013 issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO. Based on our assessment, as of December 31, 2017, our internal control over financial reporting is ineffective.

The specific material weakness we identified in our internal control over financial reporting related to the lack of sufficient qualified internal control personnel with appropriate understanding of U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements commensurate with our financial reporting requirements, which resulted in a number of internal control deficiencies that were identified as being significant. Also, as a small company, we do not have sufficient internal control personnel to set up adequate review functions at each reporting level.

In order to cure the foregoing material weakness, we have taken or are taking the following remediation measures:

1. We are seeking internal control staff with relevant U.S. GAAP accounting, SEC reporting and internal control experience, skills and knowledge in improving standards and procedures according to the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

2. We have hired an outsourced chief financial officer with significant U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting experience; and

3. We established an Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. Ms. Orly Solomon, a member of each of these committees, serves as the Chairperson of each and has relevant U.S. GAAP accounting, SEC reporting and internal control experience.

We intend to complete the remediation of the material weaknesses discussed above as soon as practicable but we can give no assurance that we will be able to do so. Designing and implementing an effective disclosure controls and procedures is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments and to devote significant resources to maintain a financial reporting system that adequately satisfies our reporting obligations. The remedial measures that we have taken and intend to take may not fully address the material weakness that we have identified, and material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures may be identified in the future. Should we discover such conditions, we intend to remediate them as soon as practicable. We are committed to taking appropriate steps for remediation, as needed.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Even systems determined to be effective can only provide reasonable assurance regarding financial statement preparation and presentation and may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, any evaluation of effectiveness in future periods is subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in future conditions. 

Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

This annual report does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report of the company’s registered public accounting firm due to an exemption provided to emerging growth companies under the JOBS Act.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 16. [RESERVED]

ITEM 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

We have an audit committee, comprised of Dr. Astorre Modena, Mr. Ido Lapidot (external director) and Ms. Orly Solomon (external director). Ms. Solomon serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and is our audit committee financial expert and is an independent director as defined by the rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market.

ITEM 16B. Code of Ethics.

We have not adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer and principal financial officer due to our focus on the share exchange transaction with Digiflex and its integration with the Company. We intend to adopt a Code of Ethics as we develop our business.

ITEM 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global, an independent registered public accounting firm, served as our independent public accountants for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, for which audited financial statements appear in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.

The following table presents the aggregate fees for professional services rendered by such accountants to us during their respective term as our principal accountants in 2017 and 2016.

“Audit fees” are the aggregate fees billed for the audit of our annual financial statements. This category also includes services that generally the independent accountant provides, such as consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.

“Audit-related fees” are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and are not reported under audit fees. These fees primarily include accounting consultations regarding the accounting treatment of matters that occur in the regular course of business, implications of new accounting pronouncements and other accounting issues that occur from time to time.

“Tax fees” include fees for professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm for tax compliance and tax advice on actual or contemplated transactions.

“Other fees” include fees for services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm with respect to government incentives and other matters.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

Our audit committee, established in February 2018, provides assistance to our board of directors in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations in matters involving our accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control and legal compliance functions by pre-approving the services performed by our independent accountants and reviewing their reports regarding our accounting practices and systems of internal control over financial reporting. Our audit committee also oversees the audit efforts of our independent accountants and takes those actions that it deems necessary to satisfy itself that the accountants are independent of management. Our Board has authorized all auditing and non-auditing services provided by Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer during 2016 and 2017 and the fees paid for such services. Our audit committee will authorize all auditing and non-auditing services from the date of its establishment onward.

ITEM 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.

Not applicable.

ITEM 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable.

ITEM 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

Not applicable.

ITEM 16G. Corporate Governance.

Not applicable.

ITEM 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure.

Not applicable.

PART III

ITEM 17. Financial Statements.

We have responded to Item 18 in lieu of responding to this item.

ITEM 18. Financial Statements.

Please refer to the financial statements beginning on page F-1. The following financial statements, financial statement schedules and related notes are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 20-F, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm.

ITEM 19. Exhibits

SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

Date: May 15, 2018

P.V. NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2017

IN U.S. DOLLARS

INDEX

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACOUNTING FIRM

To The Shareholders and Board of Directors of

P.V. NANO CELL LTD.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of PV Nano Cell Ltd. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles.

The Company's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1b to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations, has a working capital deficiency, and has stated that substantial doubt exists about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management's evaluation of the events and conditions and management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1b. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

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 audits. 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 audits 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 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 include 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 provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.  

KOST FORER GABBAY & KASIERER

A Member of Ernst & Young Global  

We have served as the Company‘s auditor since 2009.

Tel-Aviv, Israel

May 15, 2018  

P.V. NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

U.S. dollars

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

P.V. NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

U.S. dollars