Exhibit A
CERAGON NETWORKS LTD.
NOTICE OF 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JULY 20, 2020
Notice is hereby given that the 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Ceragon Networks Ltd. (the “Company”) will be held on Monday, July 20, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. (Israel time), at the offices of the Company, 24 Raoul Wallenberg Street, Tel Aviv, Israel, for the following purposes:
| 1. | To approve a cash bonus plan to our Chief Executive Officer for 2020; |
| 2. | To approve an amendment to the Company's Executives & Directors Compensation Policy; and |
| 3. | To re-appoint Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a Member of Ernst & Young Global, as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 and until immediately following the next annual general meeting of shareholders. |
At the Meeting, you will also have an opportunity to receive and consider the auditor’s report and the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. This item will not involve a vote of the shareholders.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business day on Monday, June 22, 2020, the record date for determining those shareholders eligible to vote at the Meeting, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any postponements or adjournments thereof. All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Meeting in person.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, you are urged to promptly complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy and to mail it in the enclosed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States, at your earliest convenience so that it will be received at the offices of the Company no later than twenty four (24) hours prior to the Meeting (i.e., 5:00 p.m. (Israel time) on July 19, 2020). Execution of your proxy will not deprive you of your right to attend the Meeting and vote in person, and any person giving a proxy has the right to revoke it any time before it is exercised.
We currently intend to hold the Meeting in person, subject to the Israeli Ministry of Health COVID-19 restrictions. However, depending on developments with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, we might hold the Meeting virtually on the above date and time instead of in person. If we determine that a change to a virtual meeting format is advisable or required, an announcement of such change will be made on Form 6-K as promptly as practicable.
Joint holders of shares should take note that, pursuant to Article 69(b) of the Articles of Association of the Company (the “Articles”), a notice may be given by the Company to the joint holders of a share by giving notice to the first of the joint holders named in the Register of Shareholders with respect to the shares, and any notice so given shall be sufficient notice to the holders of such share(s).
Joint holders of shares should also take note that, pursuant to Article 32(d) of the Articles, the vote of the first of the joint holders named in the Register of Shareholders with respect to the share(s) who tenders a vote, will be accepted to the exclusion of the vote(s) of the other joint holder(s).
By Order of the Board of Directors,
ZOHAR ZISAPEL Chairman of the Board of Directors | IRA PALTI Director, President and Chief Executive Officer |
June 15, 2020
CERAGON NETWORKS LTD.
24 Raoul Wallenberg Street
Tel Aviv 69719, Israel
_______________________
PROXY STATEMENT
_______________________
2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holders of Ordinary Shares, NIS 0.01 nominal value (the “Ordinary Shares” or “Shares”), of Ceragon Networks Ltd. (“we,” “Ceragon” or the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of the Company of proxies for use at the Company's 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”), or at any postponements or adjournments thereof.
The Meeting will be held on Monday, July 20, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. (Israel time), at the offices of the Company, 24 Raoul Wallenberg Street, Tel Aviv, Israel.
PURPOSE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
It is proposed that at the Meeting, resolutions be adopted as follows:
1. | To approve a cash bonus plan to our Chief Executive Officer for 2020; |
2. | To approve an amendment to the Company’s Executives & Directors Compensation Policy; and |
3. | To re-appoint Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a Member of Ernst & Young Global, as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 and until immediately following the next annual general meeting of shareholders. |
Additionally, at the Meeting, shareholders will be provided with the opportunity to receive and consider the auditor’s report and the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. This item will not involve a vote of the shareholders.
We currently intend to hold the Meeting in person, subject to the Israeli Ministry of Health COVID-19 restrictions. However, depending on developments with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, we might hold the Meeting virtually on the above date and time instead of in person. If we determine that a change to a virtual meeting format is advisable or required, an announcement of such change will be made on Form 6-K as promptly as practicable.
RECORD DATE AND VOTING RIGHTS
Only holders of record of Ordinary Shares at the close of business on Monday, June 22, 2020, the record date for determining those shareholders eligible to vote at the Meeting, will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. At such time, each issued and outstanding Ordinary Share will be entitled to one vote upon each of the matters to be presented at the Meeting.
PROXY PROCEDURE
A form of proxy for use at the Meeting and a return envelope for the proxy are also enclosed.
If specification is made by a shareholder on the form of proxy, the Shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with such specification. If a choice is not specified by a shareholder with respect to any proposal, the form of proxy will be voted “FOR” any such proposal and in the discretion of the proxies with respect to all other matters, which may properly come before the Meeting and any and all adjournments or postponements thereof. On all matters considered at the Meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as neither a vote “FOR” nor “AGAINST” the matter, although they will be counted in determining if a quorum is present. Broker non-votes are votes that brokers holding shares of record for their clients are, pursuant to applicable stock exchange or other rules, precluded from casting in respect of certain non-routine proposals because such brokers have not received specific instructions from their clients as to the manner in which such shares should be voted on those proposals and as to which the brokers have advised the Company that, accordingly, they lack voting authority.
Shareholders may revoke the authority granted by their execution of proxies at any time before the effective exercise thereof by: (i) filing with the Company a written notice of revocation or duly executed proxy bearing a later date (but not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time fixed for the Meeting); or (ii) voting in person at the Meeting. However, if a shareholder attends the Meeting and does not elect to vote in person, his or her proxy will not be revoked. If a proxy is properly executed and received at the offices of the Company not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time fixed for the Meeting, Shares represented by the proxy in the enclosed form will be voted in the manner described above.
Proxies for use at the Meeting are being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company, chiefly by mail; however, certain officers, directors, employees and agents of the Company, none of whom will receive additional compensation for such solicitation, may solicit proxies by telephone, electronic mail or other personal contact. We may also retain an independent contractor to assist in the solicitation of proxies. If retained for such services, we will pay the related costs. The Company will bear the cost for the solicitation of the proxies, including postage, printing and handling, and will reimburse the reasonable expenses of brokerage firms and others for forwarding material to, and obtaining authority to execute proxies from, beneficial owners of Shares.
Should changes be made to any item on the agenda for the Meeting after the publication of this Proxy Statement, we will communicate the changes to our shareholders through the publication of a press release, a copy of which will be submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Form 6-K.
QUORUM
Two or more shareholders, present in person or by proxy, entitled to vote and holding together Ordinary Shares conferring in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the voting power of the Company, shall constitute a quorum at the Meeting. If within an hour from the time appointed for the Meeting a quorum is not present, the Meeting shall stand adjourned to Monday, July 27, 2020, at the same time and place. At such adjourned Meeting, any two (2) shareholders present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES BY PRINCIPAL
SHAREHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information, as of June 11, 2020, regarding: (i) all persons or entities known to the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the Company’s Ordinary Shares; (ii) each “office holder”1, as such term is defined in the Israeli Companies Law, 5759-1999 (the “Companies Law”), of the Company (the “Office Holders”) known to the Company to beneficially own more than 1% of the Company’s Ordinary Shares; and (iii) all Office Holders as a group.
The information contained herein has been obtained from the Company’s records or from information furnished by the individual or entity to the Company or disclosed in public filings with the SEC. Except where otherwise indicated, and except pursuant to community property laws, we believe, based on information furnished by such owners, that the beneficial owners of the Ordinary Shares listed below have sole investment and voting power with respect to such Shares.
The shareholders listed below do not have any different voting rights from any of our other shareholders.
The “Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned” in the table below includes Shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of options that are either currently exercisable or will become exercisable within sixty (60) days as of June 11, 2020. The Shares that may be issued under these options are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of determining the percentage owned by the person or group holding the options but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of determining the percentage of ownership of any other person or group shown in the table.
Name of Beneficial Owner | | Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned | | | Percentage of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned (1) | |
Zohar Zisapel (2) | | | 10,593,885 | | | | 13.06 | % |
Joseph D. Samberg (3) | | | 8,100,065 | | | | 9.98 | % |
| | | | | | | | |
Ira Palti (4) | | | 1,056,254 | | | | 1.30 | % |
All Office Holders, including directors, as a group (consists of 20 persons) | | | 12,396,393 | | | | 15.28 | % |
(1) (2) | Based on 81,134,454 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of June 10, 2020. Zohar Zisapel’s address is 24 Raoul Wallenberg St., Tel Aviv 69719, Israel. The ordinary shares held by Zohar Zisapel include (i) 5,494,015 ordinary shares held by Mr. Zohar Zisapel, (ii) 2,231,153 ordinary shares held by Lomsha Ltd., an Israeli company wholly owned by Mr. Zohar Zisapel, (iii) 2,500,000 ordinary shares held by Michael & Klil Holdings (93) Ltd. an Israeli company, wholly owned by Mr. Zohar Zisapel, (iv) 18,717 ordinary shares held by RAD Data Communications Ltd., an Israeli company of which Mr. Zisapel is a principal shareholder and a director, and (v) 350,000 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of options, with an average exercise price per share of $4.67, expiring between the years 2020 and 2026. This information is based on information provided to the Company by Mr. Zohar Zisapel. |
(3) | Joseph D. Samberg’s address is 1091 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY 10580. |
| |
(4) | Ira Palti’s address is 24 Raoul Wallenberg St., Tel Aviv 69719, Israel. Mr. Palti is a Director and our President and CEO. |
For information relating to the compensation of our five most highly compensated Office Holders with respect to the year ended December 31, 2019, please see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees – B. Compensation - b) Individual Compensation of Office Holders” in our Annual Report for 2019, which was filed on Form 20-F with the SEC on March 31, 2020 (File No. 0-30862).
| 1 | The term "Office Holder" as defined in the Companies Law includes a director, the chief executive officer, the chief business officer, the vice chief executive officer, the deputy chief executive officer, any other person fulfilling or assuming any of the foregoing positions without regard to such person's title, and any manager who is directly subordinated to the chief executive officer. |
ITEM 1
APPROVAL OF A CASH BONUS PLAN TO OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR 2020
Background
Under the Companies Law, arrangements regarding the compensation of a chief executive officer (“CEO”) of a publicly traded company should generally be consistent with such Company’s compensation policy and require the prior approval of the company’s compensation committee, board of directors and shareholders (provided that, the majority of the shares voted in favor of this proposal are not held by “controlling shareholders” or shareholders with “personal interest” in the approval of such proposal, as further detailed below), in that order.
Under his existing employment agreement, our CEO, Mr. Ira Palti, is entitled to a gross annual base salary of NIS 1,080,000 (approximately $ 312,953) based on the NIS-US$ exchange rate as published by the Bank of Israel at the end of business on June 11, 2020), plus customary benefits which include, among others, managers’ insurance, education fund, car expenses, long-term disability and life insurance. In addition, Mr. Palti is entitled to a performance-based annual cash bonus and to an annual equity grant.
We now seek our shareholders' approval for a cash bonus plan to our CEO for 2020. This Meeting does not include an equity grant.
General
2020 Cash Bonus Plan
Consistent with the Company’s compensation policy, originally approved by our shareholders on September 12, 2013 and last updated and approved by our shareholders on June 12, 2018 (the “Compensation Policy”), and the Amended Policy (as defined in Item 2 below), and subject to the limitations set forth therein, the Company may determine, with respect to each year, the target and maximum annual cash bonuses, as well as related objectives and related weights, applicable thresholds and the formula for calculating the annual cash bonus payment to be granted to our CEO.
Taking into account numerous factors, including the provisions of the Compensation Policy, the Amended Policy and other relevant information and materials presented to them, our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors have resolved, and are recommending that the shareholders approve, the following annual bonus plan for calendar year 2020 for Mr. Ira Palti, including the following related objectives, their weights and terms:
The target annual bonus for 2020, which is the annual cash amount that Mr. Palti will be entitled to receive upon achievement of 100% of his objectives (see below), will be equal to ten (10) monthly base salaries (approximately $261,000, based on the NIS-US$ exchange rate as published by the Bank of Israel at the end of business on June 10, 2020) (“On Target Bonus”), similarly to the target annual bonus that was approved by the Company’s shareholders for Mr. Palti with respect to the previous year. Based on the principles of the 2019 cash bonus plan, as was approved by our shareholders, Mr. Palti did not receive any annual cash bonus with respect to 2019. Our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors approved that the On Target Bonus is compliant with the Compensation Policy and the Amended Policy.
The personal objectives for the annual cash bonus of Mr. Palti for 2020, and their weights, are as follows:
| (A) | Two financial measurable targets: (i) non-GAAP net income, weighing 70% of the On Target Bonus; and (ii) cash flow criteria, weighing 10% of the On Target Bonus. These two targets were determined based on the Company’s 2020 annual business targets (each, a “Measurable Target”). Following the end of the calendar year, the actual achievements of the Company for 2020 shall be measured against each of the Measurable Targets, and the score results for each of the Measurable Targets (each, a “CEO Measurable Achievement”), shall entitle our CEO to a bonus payment comprised as follows: (a) achievement of 150% of the first Measurable Target set in (i) above shall entitle our CEO to 100% payment for such Measurable Target’s respective weight of the On Target Bonus; (b) achievement of the cash flow criteria comprising the second Measurable Target set in (ii) above, shall entitle our CEO to 100% payment for such Measurable Target’s respective weight of the On Target Bonus; and (c) achievement below each CEO Measurable Achievement will decrease the cash bonus for each such Measurable Target, and achievement above each CEO Measurable Achievement will increase the cash bonus for each such Measurable Target on an accelerated basis, subject to the minimum threshold and to the Maximum Payment Cap (see below); and |
| (B) | A non-measurable target comprised of personal performance criteria, pre-determined by our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors, which shall be assigned a 20% weight. |
Our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors have set a minimum threshold score with respect to each of the Measurable Targets, so that below a certain level of CEO Measurable Achievement, payment will not be made with respect to such Measurable Target, as well as a general plan threshold which is based on the achievement of a pre-determined measurable financial criteria, under which no annual cash bonus shall be paid to our CEO with respect to 2020.
Further, our Compensation Committee and Board of Director have resolved that the maximum annual bonus payment to our CEO for 2020 will be capped at 200% of his annual base salary (the “Maximum Payment Cap”), which cap is in compliance with the Compensation Policy and the Amended Policy. Reaching the Maximum Payment Cap, in the opinion of the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors, is an extremely challenging task.
Subject to receipt of shareholder approval of the above annual cash bonus, related objectives, weights and terms thereof for Mr. Palti, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors will determine, following approval by the Board of Directors of the Company’s audited financial statements for the 2020 fiscal year, and without the need for further shareholder approval, the actual bonus to be paid, if any, to Mr. Palti, with respect to calendar year 2020.
Our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors believe that the grant of annual cash bonus payment to our CEO is in the Company’s best interests and is in line with the compensation philosophy, objectives, limits and caps set forth in the Compensation Policy and Amended Policy. When reaching their conclusion, our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors analyzed all factors and considerations required under the Companies Law and under our Compensation Policy and Amended Policy, including data of peer companies in our industry, the responsibilities and duties performed by Mr. Palti, the estimation of Mr. Palti’s expected contribution and the importance of Mr. Palti to the future growth and profitability of the Company.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Ordinary Shares represented and voting at the Meeting in person or by proxy is required for the approval of our CEO’s 2020 cash bonus plan; provided that, the majority of the Shares voted in favor of this proposal are not held by “controlling shareholders” or shareholders with “personal interest” in the approval of such proposal, not taking into account any abstention, or that the total number of Shares referred to above voted against this proposal, does not exceed two percent of the aggregate voting rights in the Company.
Under the Companies Law, in general, a person will be deemed to be a “controlling shareholder” if that person has the power to direct the activities of the company, other than by reason of serving as a director or other office holder of the company, and a person is deemed to have a “personal interest” if he/she or any member of the shareholder’s immediate family, or the immediate family of a shareholder’s spouse, has a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal. In addition, you are deemed to have a “personal interest” if a company, other than Ceragon, that is affiliated with you, has a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal. Such company is a company in which you or a member of your immediate family serves as a director or chief executive officer, has the right to appoint a director or the chief executive officer, or owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares. However, you are not deemed to have a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal if your interest in such proposal arises solely from your ownership of our shares. The term "immediate family" means a spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent and child, and child, sibling or parent of a spouse or the spouse of any of the foregoing.
Please note that we consider it highly unlikely that any of our shareholders is a controlling shareholder, or has a personal interest in this proposal. However, as required under Israeli law, the enclosed form of proxy requires that you specifically indicate whether you are, or are not, a controlling shareholder or have a personal interest in this proposal. Without indicating to this effect – we will not be able to count your vote with respect to the special majority vote required for the approval of this proposal.
It is proposed that at the Meeting the following resolution be adopted:
“RESOLVED, to approve the cash bonus plan to our CEO, for the year 2020, upon the terms described in this Item 1.”
The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the proposed resolution.
As Mr. Ira Palti has a personal interest in the above proposal, he refrained from making a recommendation with respect thereto.
ITEM 2
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S EXECUTIVES & DIRECTORS
COMPENSATION POLICY
Background
On September 12, 2013, our shareholders, following the recommendation of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, approved the adoption of a Compensation Policy, which provides a framework for terms of office and employment of our Office Holders, including base salaries, cash bonuses, equity awards, severance and other benefits, the grant of an exemption from liability, insurance and an undertaking to indemnify or indemnification.
Under the Companies Law, our Compensation Policy must be reviewed from time to time by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, in order to consider its adequacy, and propose amendments to the extent it finds that the Compensation Policy is inadequate or should otherwise be amended. In addition, the Compensation Policy must be reapproved by the Compensation Committee, Board of Directors and shareholders of the company at least every three years. Our Compensation Policy was last approved by our shareholders in June 2018.
General
Insurance Framework
In recent years, trends in the D&O insurance market include extremely high coverages purchased and premiums paid with respect to such insurance, as a result of several factors, including, a significant increase in the number of class-action claims, higher settlement amounts and related legal expenses, and a trend to file class-action claims also against mid to small size companies. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and markets have significantly contributed towards a general atmosphere of uncertainty, which also influences the D&O insurance market and further enhances the trend of increase in coverages purchased and premiums paid with respect to such insurance. These occurrences have caused a dramatic increase in insurance premiums, impacted the insurance terms and coverages available, and are still in the process of shaping the D&O insurance market. Those trends are generally applicable to Israeli and other companies that are listed on Nasdaq, including the Company, as we have been served with such class-action claim.
Consequent to such increase in premiums paid for D&O insurance policies, the cap for D&O insurance premium as set in our Compensation Policy, is no longer aligned with currently prevailing market terms. In order to reflect such market terms, we propose to amend the insurance framework available under our Compensation Policy; pursuant to such amendment, the cap on the annual premium which may be paid for our D&O insurance policy(ies) shall be increased to US$2,000,000, plus additional annual premium of up to US$300,000 for claims associated with M&A transactions.
Our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors have approved this amendment to our Compensation Policy and deem it required in order to allow the Company more flexibility in providing its Office Holders, to the extent permitted by applicable law, with adequate coverage under D&O insurance policies, which include premiums that are in line with current market practice for comparable companies. The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors further believe that the acquisition of an appropriate D&O insurance policy is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, considering the fact, among others, that the Company would like to preserve its ability to recruit, nominate or maintain highly skilled and experienced Office Holders. In their review and approval of the proposed amendment to the Compensation Policy, our Compensation Committee and Board took into account, among others, the considerations, principles and provisions set forth in the Companies Law.
The proposed amendment to the Compensation Policy, for which we now seek shareholder approval, is marked in the revised version of the Compensation Policy attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit A (the “Amended Policy”); Other than the foregoing change in the insurance framework, all other terms of the Compensation Policy remain unchanged.
If the Amended Policy is adopted pursuant to the Companies Law, then the date of such amendment shall be deemed to be the date of the adoption of the Amended Policy in its entirety, so that the Amended Policy shall be in full force and effect for a period of three years from the date of the Meeting.
If the Amended Policy is not adopted pursuant to the Companies Law, then the current Compensation Policy shall continue to be in full force and effect until June 11, 2021, which is three years from the date it was last approved by our shareholders.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Ordinary Shares represented and voting at the Meeting in person or by proxy, is required for the approval of the Amended Policy; provided that, the majority of the shares voted in favor of this proposal are not held by “controlling shareholders” or shareholders with “personal interest” in the approval of such proposal, not taking into account any abstention, or that the total number of shares referred to above voted against this proposal, does not exceed two percent of the aggregate voting rights in the Company.
Please see Item 1 above for the definitions of the terms “controlling shareholders” and “personal interest”.
Please note that we consider it highly unlikely that any of our shareholders is a controlling shareholder, or has a personal interest in this proposal. However, as required under Israeli law, the enclosed form of proxy requires that you specifically indicate whether you are, or are not, a controlling shareholder or have a personal interest in this proposal. Without indicating to this effect – we will not be able to count your vote with respect to the special majority vote required for the approval of this proposal.
It is proposed that at the Meeting the following resolution be adopted:
“RESOLVED, that the Amended Policy, in the form attached as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, be, and it hereby is, approved.”
The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the proposed resolution.
As all Board members have personal interest in the proposed resolution, they are all allowed to recommend with respect thereto.
ITEM 3
RE-APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
Background
The Companies Law and our Articles provide that a certified accountant be appointed as an independent auditor of the Company at the annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company, and that the independent auditor serve in this position until immediately following the date of the next annual general meeting.
General
At the Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to re-appoint Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global (“Kost Forer”), as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, and until immediately following the next annual general meeting of shareholders.
Kost Forer has served as the Company’s independent auditor since 2002 and has no relationship with the Company or with any affiliate of the Company except as auditor, tax consultant and as a provider of other services that relate to transactional activities. Our Financial Audit Committee and the Board of Directors believe that such limited non-audit functions do not affect the independence of Kost Forer.
As a result of the combined provisions of the Israeli law, our Articles and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the appointment of the independent auditor requires the approval of the shareholders of the Company, and its remuneration requires the approval of our Financial Audit Committee. The Company’s Financial Audit Committee and Board of Directors have reviewed and are satisfied with the performance of Kost Forer, and have recommended their re-appointment as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, and until immediately following the next annual general meeting of shareholders. Approval of that appointment is now being sought from the Company’s shareholders.
The following table presents the aggregate amounts of fees paid by the Company to Kost Forer for its services to the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019:
Services Rendered | | Fees | |
Audit Fees (1) | | $ | 763,000 | |
Audit related fees(2) | | $ | 450,000 | |
Tax Fees (3) | | $ | 115,000 | |
Other Services (4) | | $ | 22,000 | |
Total | | $ | 1,350,000 | |
| (1) | Audit fees consist of services that would normally be provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including services that generally only the independent accountant can reasonably provide. |
| (2) | Audit related fees principally relates to assistance with audit services and consultation. |
| (3) | Tax fees relate to tax compliance, planning and advice. |
| (4) | Other consulting services. |
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of holders of the majority of the Ordinary Shares represented and voting at the Meeting in person, by proxy or by proxy card, is required for the re-appointment of Kost Forer as the Company's independent auditor.
It is proposed that at the Meeting the following resolution be adopted:
“RESOLVED, to re-appoint Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global, as the independent auditor of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, and until immediately following the next annual general meeting of shareholders.”
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" approval of the proposed resolution.
RECEIPT AND CONSIDERATION OF THE AUDITOR’S REPORT AND
THE AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
At the Meeting, our auditor’s report and the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 will be presented. The Company will hold a discussion with respect thereto, as required by the Companies Law. This item will not involve a vote of the shareholders.
The foregoing auditor’s report and the audited consolidated financial statements, as well as our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 (filed with the SEC on March 31, 2020), may be viewed on our website – https://www.ceragon.com/investors/financial-information or through the EDGAR website of the SEC at www.sec.gov. Except as noted above under “Beneficial Ownership of Securities by Principal Shareholders and Management”, none of the auditor's report, audited consolidated financial statements, Form 20-F or the contents of our website form part of the proxy solicitation material.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
ZOHAR ZISAPEL Chairman of the Board of Directors
| IRA PALTI Director, President and Chief Executive Officer |
June 15, 2020