You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom or from whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation of an offer in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of the applicable document. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any distribution of securities pursuant to this prospectus shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or in our affairs since the date of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $15,000,000. This prospectus describes the securities we may offer and the general manner in which our securities may be offered by this prospectus. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement, provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date – for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement – the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
OUR COMPANY
We are engaged in the business of the development of mesenchymal and stem cell production technology and the commercialization of cell therapy products.
From May 2003 until March 2006, our business was focused on the development of stem cell production technology. Originally, our plan was to develop that technology to the point where we could license it to medical scientists and practitioners for their use in producing cell therapy products for sale in the marketplace. On March 6, 2006, we announced that our company was taking a new direction. Instead of looking to license our stem cell production technology, we decided to focus on developing the technology with the goal of producing cell therapy products ourselves for sale in the marketplace. On July 5, 2006 and October 16, 2006, we announced that our subsidiary, Pluristem Ltd., achieved a breakthrough in our preclinical study of bone marrow transplantation: The preclinical study showed that by adding PLX-I (PLacenta eXpanded cells) to Umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells during bone marrow transplantation (BMT), hematopoietic stem cell engraftment in mice showed up to a 500% increase in engraftment after irradiation and chemotherapy. On January 8, 2008, we announced that we achieved favorable results in demonstrating a revascularization effect after using our propriety PLX-PAD cells for the treatment of limb ischemia associated with peripheral artery disease (PAD). On April 7, 2008, we announced that the results from Fraunhofer Institute’s additional pre-clinical study utilizing our proprietary PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cells in treating ischemic stroke showed statistical significance utilizing functional as well as anatomical endpoints.
On November 23, 2007, we changed our name to Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. On November 26, 2007, we effected a one for two hundred reverse stock split. Accordingly, all references to number of shares, common stock and per share data have been adjusted to reflect the stock split on a retroactive basis.
On December 10, 2007, our shares of common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “PSTI.” The shares were previously traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the trading symbol “PLRS.OB”. On May 7, 2007, our shares also began trading on Europe’s Frankfurt Stock Exchange, under the symbol “PJT.”
Effective on June 4, 2008, our authorized number of shares of our common stock was increased from 7,000,000 shares to 30,000,000 shares.
Our executive offices are located at MATAM Advanced Technology Park, Building No. 20, Haifa, Israel, our telephone number is 011 972 74 710 7171 and our website address iswww.pluristem.com . The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and should not be considered to be part of this prospectus. Our website address is included in this prospectus as an inactive technical reference only. Our name and logo and the names of our products are our trademarks or registered trademarks. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Pluristem,”“we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. and it subsidiaries as required by the context.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves significant risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors contained in any prospectus supplement and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as all of the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before you decide to invest in our securities. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that we include in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus, may be deemed forward-looking statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. We use the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and, accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make, including the factors included in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus. You should read these factors and the other cautionary statements made in the documents we incorporate by reference as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any document incorporated by reference. We caution you that, except as otherwise required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements we make.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for research and product development activities, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
We may set forth additional information on the use of net proceeds from the sale of securities we offer under this prospectus in a prospectus supplement relating to the specific offering. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.
THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, summarize the material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that we may offer. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any securities the particular terms of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of the securities may differ from the terms we have summarized below. We may also include in the prospectus supplement information, where applicable, about material United States federal income tax consequences relating to the securities, and the securities exchange or market, if any, on which the securities will be listed.
We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, one or more of the following securities:
| | š | warrants to purchase common stock. |
The total initial offering price of all securities that we may issue in these offerings will not exceed $15,000,000.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
For a description of the material terms and provisions of our common stock and any other class of our securities which qualifies or limits our common stock, please see the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the description of our capital stock in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as amended, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in a prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement.
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General
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from the common stock.
We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement or by warrant agreements that we will enter into directly with the purchasers of the warrants. If we evidence warrants by warrant certificates, we will enter into a warrant agreement with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:
| | š | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| | š | the currency for which the warrants may be purchased or exercised; |
| | š | if applicable, the terms of the common stock with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with such common stock; |
| | š | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related common stock will be separately transferable; |
| | š | the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| | š | the manner in which the warrants may be exercised, which may include by cashless exercise; |
| | š | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants; |
| | š | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| | š | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| | š | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
| | š | the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified; |
| | š | the material United States federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; |
| | š | the terms of the common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and |
| | š | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the number of shares of common stock that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M., Eastern U.S. time, on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering to the warrant agent or us the warrant certificate or warrant agreement representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and by paying the required amount to the warrant agent or us in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate or in the warrant agreement and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent or us in connection with such exercise. Certain of the warrants may entitle the holders thereof to “cashless exercise” under certain circumstances. This option entitles the warrant holder to elect to receive fewer shares of common stock without paying the cash exercise price. The number of shares to be issued would be determined by a formula based on the total number of shares to which the warrant holder is entitled, the market price of the common stock on the date of exercise or the days prior to the exercise and the applicable exercise price of the warrants.
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Upon receipt of the required payment, if need to, and the warrant certificate or the warrant agreement, as applicable, properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, at our offices or at any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the common stock purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate or warrant agreement are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate or warrant agreement for the remaining amount of warrants.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
If we appoint a warrant agent, any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:
| | š | through agents to the public or to investors; |
| | š | to one or more underwriters for resale to the public or to investors; |
| | š | in “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; |
| | š | directly to investors in privately negotiated transactions; |
| | š | directly to a purchaser pursuant to what is known as an "equity line of credit" as described below; or |
| | š | through a combination of these methods of sale. |
The securities that we distribute by any of these methods may be sold, in one or more transactions, at:
| | š | a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| | š | market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| | š | prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
The accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of our securities, including:
| | š | the name or names of any agents or underwriters; |
| | š | any securities exchange or market on which the common stock may be listed; |
| | š | the purchase price and commission, if any, to be paid in connection with the sale of the securities being offered and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; |
| | š | any over-allotment options pursuant to which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
| | š | any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents' compensation; |
| | š | any public offering price; and |
| | š | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. |
If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of the sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. We may change from time to time the public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
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We may also sell securities pursuant to an “equity line of credit”. In such event, we will enter into a common stock purchase agreement with the purchaser to be named therein, which will be described in a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the SEC. In that Form 8-K, we will describe the total amount of money that we may require the purchaser to invest under the purchase agreement and the other terms of purchase, and any rights that the purchaser is granted to purchase securities from us. In addition to our issuance of shares of common stock to the equity line purchaser pursuant to the purchase agreement, this prospectus (and the applicable prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment) also covers the resale of those shares from time to time by the equity line purchaser to the public. The equity line purchaser will be considered an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. Its resales may be effected through a number of methods, including without limitation, ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers and block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction. The equity line purchaser will be bound by various anti-manipulation rules of the SEC and may not, for example, engage in any stabilization activity in connection with its resales of our securities and may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities other than as permitted under the Exchange Act.
We may sell our securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of our common stock, and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
We may provide underwriters and agents with indemnification against civil liabilities related to this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the underwriters or agents may make with respect to these liabilities. Underwriters and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. We will describe such relationships in the prospectus supplement naming the underwriter or agent and the nature of any such relationship.
Rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission may limit the ability of any underwriters to bid for or purchase securities before the distribution of the shares of common stock is completed. However, underwriters may engage in the following activities in accordance with the rules:
| | š | Stabilizing transactions – Underwriters may make bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the shares, so long as stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
| | š | Over-allotments and syndicate covering transactions – Underwriters may sell more shares of our common stock than the number of shares that they have committed to purchase in any underwritten offering. This over-allotment creates a short position for the underwriters. This short position may involve either “covered” short sales or “naked” short sales. Covered short sales are short sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional shares in any underwritten offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their over-allotment option or by purchasing shares in the open market. To determine how they will close the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market, as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. Naked short sales are short sales in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that, in the open market after pricing, there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares that could adversely affect investors who purchase shares in the offering. |
| | š | Penalty bids – If underwriters purchase shares in the open market in a stabilizing transaction or syndicate covering transaction, they may reclaim a selling concession from other underwriters and selling group members who sold those shares as part of the offering. |
Similar to other purchase transactions, an underwriter’s purchases to cover the syndicate short sales or to stabilize the market price of our common stock may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or mitigating a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of the shares of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of shares if it discourages resales of the shares.
If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of these activities at any time.
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Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market. One or more underwriters may make a market in our common stock, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to liquidity of the trading market for our common stock.
Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on the NASDAQ Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the common stock in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.
In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum commission or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Zysman, Aharoni, Gayer & Co. /Sullivan & Worcester, LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. appearing in its Annual Report (Form 10-KSB) for the year ended June 30, 2007 have been audited by Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer A member of Ernst & Young Global, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room.
The SEC also maintains a website, the address of which is www.sec.gov. That site also contains our annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, information statements and other information.
We have filed this prospectus with the SEC as part of a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement because some parts of the registration statement are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement from the SEC at the address listed above or from the SEC’s website.
We also maintain a website at www.pluristem.com, through which you can access our SEC filings. The information set forth on our website is not part of this prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
We are “incorporating by reference” certain documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information in the documents incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Statements contained in documents that we file with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus, including information in previously filed documents or reports that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, to the extent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the old information.
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We have filed or may file the following documents with the SEC. These documents are incorporated herein by reference as of their respective dates of filing:
| | š | Our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended June 30, 2007; |
| | š | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 2008; |
| | š | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 2007; |
| | š | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2007; |
| | š | Our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on April 10, 2008; |
| | š | Our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on December 7, 2007; |
| | š | Our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on November 26, 2007; |
| | š | Our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on November 9, 2007; |
| | š | Our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on November 6, 2007; |
| | š | Our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on October 12, 2007; |
| | š | Our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on September 5, 2007 ; |
| | š | The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC, as amended; and |
| | š | All documents filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (1) after the date of the filing of this registration statement and prior to its effectiveness and (2) until all of the common stock to which this prospectus relates has been sold or the offering is otherwise terminated, except in each case for information contained in any such filing where we indicate that such information is being furnished and is not to be considered “filed” under the Exchange Act, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. |
We will provide a copy of the documents we incorporate by reference, at no cost, to any person who receives this prospectus. To request a copy of any or all of these documents, you should write or telephone us at MATAM Advanced Technology Park, Building No. 20, Haifa, 31905, Israel, Attention: Yaky Yanay, (+972) 74 710 7171.
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