We seek to obtain regulatory approvals in countries requiring advance clearance of our products before they are marketed or distributed in those countries. Our failure to comply with the technical, equipment authorization, or other regulatory requirements of a specific country or region could impair our ability to commercially market and distribute our products in that country or region.
We lease our main office and research and development facilities, located in the Industrial Zone in Yokneam Illit, Israel pursuant to a lease that expires in December 2010. We have an option to extend our lease for an additional two year period. We, and our subsidiary Light Instruments Ltd. occupy approximately 36,600 square foot in this leased facility in Yokneam Illit. Our German subsidiary leases a 8,350 square foot facility in Germany pursuant to a lease renewable on a yearly basis. Our U.S. subsidiary leases a 2,212 square foot facility in Schaumburg, Illinois pursuant to a lease that expires in May 2010. Our U.S. subsidiary also leases a 15,204 square foot facility in Irvine, California pursuant to a lease that expires in October 2011. Our Canadian subsidiary leases a 14,257 square foot facility in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada pursuant to leases that expire in July 2012. Our Hong-Kong subsidiary leases a 2,814 square foot facility in Hong-Kong pursuant to a lease that expires in June 2010. Inlight Corp. leases a 840 square foot facility in Irvine, California, pursuant to a lease which is renewable on a monthly basis. We believe that our properties are adequate to meet our current needs.
| ITEM 5. | | OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS |
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with Item 3.A, “Key Information – Selected Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. In addition to historical consolidated financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results and timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in theses forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under Item 3.D, “Key Information – Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
Overview
We design, develop and market innovative aesthetic medical products mostly based on our proprietary ELOS technology, which uses the synergy between electrical energy and optical energy to provide effective, safe and affordable aesthetic medical treatments. Our products, which we sell primarily to physicians and other practitioners, target a wide array of non-invasive aesthetic medical procedures, including hair removal, wrinkle reduction, rejuvenation of the skin’s appearance through the treatment of superficial benign vascular and pigmented lesions, and treatment for the temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite thigh circumference and skin tightening, and one minimally invasive product for laser-assisted lipolysis. We believe ELOS provides performance advantages over existing technologies that rely solely on optical energy. We believe using optical energy alone limits the safety and efficacy of many aesthetic medical procedures due to limited skin penetration and unwanted epidermal absorption, and that our proprietary ELOS technology, which combines optical and electrical energy, enhances the user’s ability to accurately target the tissue to be treated and enables real-time measurement of skin temperature, resulting in increased patient safety and comfort and improved treatment results.
We were incorporated in the State of Israel in July 2000. During 2000 and 2001, our primary activity was the development and approval of our first product platform, the Aurora, which utilizes our ELOS technology. We received our CE Mark approval in Europe in November 2001 and launched sales of the Aurora product platform in December 2001. We received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for hair removal for the Aurora product platform in July 2002. In October 2002, we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA to market the Aurora product platform for the treatment of superficial benign vascular and pigmented lesions. In August 2002, we introduced the Aurora product platform commercially in the United States.
We launched the Polaris product platform in May 2003 after receiving our CE Mark approval in Europe for the product in December 2002. In April 2003, we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA to market the Polaris product platform for leg vein treatment as well as other types of vascular lesions. In December 2003, we introduced the Polaris product platform commercially in the United States.
We received our CE Mark approval in Europe for the Pitanga product platform in May 2003. During the fourth quarter of 2003, we launched the Pitanga product platform for the treatment of acne and hair removal in Europe and Canada.
We launched the Galaxy product platform in May 2004. We received our CE Mark approval in Europe for the Galaxy product platform in May 2004. The 510(k) clearances from the FDA also provide the regulatory basis for the marketing of the Galaxy product for all applications. We introduced the Galaxy product platform commercially in the United States in May 2004.
During 2004, we significantly expanded our direct sales and marketing organization in North America to approximately 50 employees, established a distribution network in eleven countries in the Asia-Pacific region and increased our sales and marketing efforts in Europe. We increased our sales and marketing effort in 2004 in connection with new product introductions and other marketing activities planned for 2004. In 2004, we introduced three new product platforms: the Galaxy, which combines the applications of the Aurora and the Polaris product platforms, the Vela, for the temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite and the Comet, for hair removal. Our Galaxy and Comet platforms are covered by our present FDA clearances. In June 2005, the FDA granted 510(k) clearance to our Vela platform for the temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite and for the relief of minor muscle aches, pain and spasms, as well as the temporary improvement of local blood circulation.
In July 2005, we entered into an agreement to invest $1.5 million in Light Instruments Ltd. in consideration for approximately 51% of Light Instruments’ outstanding share capital. As part of the investment agreement, we received the exclusive North American marketing and sales rights for 10 years following the FDA clearance of Light Instruments product used for the treatment of oral soft and hard tissue. On July 2, 2007, we entered into a share purchase agreement to purchase approximately 44% of Light Instruments’ outstanding share capital in consideration for an aggregate amount of up to $4.5 million. In October 2008, we purchased an additional 5% of Light Instruments’ outstanding share capital, and we currently own 100% of Light Instruments.
As of February 15, our North American Sales force consists of 40 salespeople in five territories, each with a dedicated regional manager.
Also, in the first quarter of 2006, we launched three new platforms to address medical aesthetic applications based on our ELOS™ (Electro-Optical Synergy) combined energy technology. The new eLight™ platform combines broad spectrum light with bi-polar radio frequency. The system provides a full facial solution for skin rejuvenation, including the treatment of superficial vascular and pigmented lesions, and acne applications. It also supports hair removal applications. The system also includes a new skin tightening modality – the ST, which received FDA clearance in March 2006. The new eLaser™ platform combines diode laser technology with bi-polar radio frequency and offers ultra fast hair removal, as well as upgradeability to Syneron’s leg vein and wrinkle reduction treatments. Finally, the new eMax™ platform combines bi-polar radio frequency with multiple forms of light energy and diode laser energy to deliver the complete range of Syneron’s ELOS modalities in one multi-platform system. All the applications on the eLight, eLaser and eMax have received 510(k) clearance from the FDA.
In the first quarter of 2007, we launched the LiteTouch platform, which is a dental laser system that can be used for treatment of oral soft and hard tissue. The new LiteTouch platform is a compact, lightweight and portable laser system which makes the use of the device very similar to mechanical drills. The LiteTouch system has a small footprint, which saves important floor space and allows it to easily integrate into any clinic. The LiteTouch offers both high energy and high frequency, thus providing a wide envelope of treatment parameters.
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On April 10, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Fluorinex Active Ltd., an Israeli-based start-up that develops advanced fluoridation and tooth whitening devices for dentists and consumers, under which we purchased 38.47% of Fluorinex’s then outstanding share capital in consideration for $1.5 million and received a warrant to purchase an additional 3.85% of Fluorinex’s then outstanding share capital. Fluorinex has developed a unique device that delivers fluoride ions directly to the tooth enamel via a sophisticated electro-chemical technique. The Fluorinex technology delivers the maximum amount of fluoride ions to the tooth, for the longest endurance of time known today. Unlike other electro-chemical based fluoride systems, no electric current passes through the patient’s tissue, thus enhancing the safety of the device.
In the second quarter of 2007, we introduced a new Matrix IR applicator for use with our eMax and eLaser platforms. The Matrix IR combines fractional optical energy with radio frequency for deep dermal heating for effective treatment of wrinkles. The collagen remodeling caused by the Matrix IR treatment is designed for maximum effective penetration for consistent and effective treatment for wrinkles. We are now permitted to sell the Matrix IR all over the world.
In August 2007, our Vela™ platform received FDA 510(k) pre-market clearance in the United States and CE Mark certification in the European Union for the temporary reduction of body circumference.
On November 8, 2007, we announced our first share repurchase program. Under this share repurchase program, we have repurchased, and may continue to repurchase, our outstanding ordinary shares up to an aggregate amount of $50.0 million. Through February 15, 2009, we repurchased 588,000 ordinary shares at a total price of $9.1 million under this share repurchase program.
In the first quarter of 2008, we completed development of our new Matrix RF™ applicator. The Matrix RF applicator utilizes our fractional radio frequency technology to provide fractional tissue heating at three ablation relative ratios, resulting in effective ablation and resurfacing of the skin. The tunable applicator, equipped with our SelecPulse™, allows the user to adjust the relative ratio of ablation, as well as direct heating, and to vary the treatment depth based upon desired clinical endpoints. The Matrix RF applicator is the first bi-polar non-laser and non-light-based aesthetic device capable of creating a tunable ablation impact, simulating the effects of different types of ablative / coagulative lasers used for a range of aesthetic applications. These applications include tightening and resurfacing with minimal or no downtime. Matrix RF is being sold as an applicator add-on to all existing eLight, eLaser and eMax platforms. The ergonomically designed headpiece will greatly increase ease-of-use for physicians performing the treatments. The Matrix RF features a single-use disposable treatment tip. Each applicator comes with 10 treatments tips at purchase. Treatment will most often be performed around the eyes, mouth, and cheek, but can also be performed on the entire face as well as other anatomical areas. The Matrix RF was the second product in our series of ELOS fractional treatments, which currently includes the Matrix IR applicator. In September 2008, our Matrix RF applicator received CE Mark certification in the European Union and FDA clearance in the United States for use in dermatologic procedures for wrinkle reduction by means of skin ablation and coagulation (CE) and use in dermatological procedures requiring ablation and resurfacing of the skin (FDA). In the third quarter of 2008, we commenced selling our Matrix RF applicator.
In the first quarter of 2008, we also completed the development of our new LipoLite platform. Our LipoLite is a minimally invasive alternative and a complement to traditional liposuction fat-removing procedures. The procedure requires only local anesthetic and is designed to provide patients lasting results with little downtime and a high level of safety. For our customers, the LipoLite product is comfortable to use, upgradable to support future applications and fits easily on tabletops to save floor space in small operating rooms. In May 2008, our LipoLite platform received FDA 510(k) clearance in the United States for laser-assisted lipolysis and additional dermatological procedures. As a result of this clearance, we are currently permitted to sell our LipoLite platform in the United States. In the third quarter of 2008, we commenced selling our LipoLite platform in the United States.
In February 2008, we entered into an agreement with Rakuto Bio Technologies Ltd. (RBT), an Israeli-based start-up that develops and advances a whole skin completion whitening treatment. Under the agreement, Syneron agreed to purchase an aggregate of 31.57% of RBT’s outstanding share capital in consideration for up to US $ 3.0 million, and received a warrant to purchase an additional 6.32% of RBT outstanding share capital. As of February 15, 2009, we hold 15.78% of RBT’s outstanding share capital. As part of the agreement, we have exclusive worldwide distribution rights to RBT’s currently developed product.
In November 2008, we entered into an agreement with Inlight Corp, a San Diego-based development and research company, under which we purchased 100% of Inlight Corp.‘s outstanding share capital. We expect that Inlight’s innovative technology will enable us to release unique and highly competitive skin rejuvenation products during the first half of 2009. Inligh is currently developing a CO2 laser for fractional skin rejuvenation and we expect to introduce the product in the second quarter of 2009.
In November 2008, we entered into a joint venture agreement for the formation of Syneron China. Our partner in Syneron China is EverCare Medical Group, the largest aesthetic hospital chain in China. Evercare operates cosmetic surgery hospitals throughout the country and has been our distributor in China for the past two and a half years. Through this new Chinese subsidiary, we will be able to sell directly to medical and aesthetic professionals in China, including doctors, hospitals, medi-spas and cosmetic chains. Syneron China will also provide training and after sales service and support. The first two offices of Syneron China were opened in Beijing and Guangzhou in August 2008. In addition, Syneron China intends to establish product demonstration centers in several areas in China.
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In December 2008, we launched our new eMatrix™ treatment system, a portable touch-screen device that allows physicians to program dermatological procedures requiring skin resurfacing. The eMatrix utilizes our Matrix RF technology for fractional tissue heating to provide ablation and effective resurfacing. With the SelectPulse feature, our customers can “tune” eMatrix to any of three resurfacing programs, customizing the depth of ablation and degree of skin resurfacing to each patient’s needs.
Revenues
Generally, we recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of the product has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable, collectability is probable and we do not have any obligation to customers after the date on which products are delivered.
We generate our revenues primarily from the sales of our ELOS-based medical aesthetic equipment as well as other products, which we developed. For the year ended December 31, 2008, our revenues totaled $115 million. From inception through December 31, 2008, we sold over 11,700 products worldwide. For the year ended December 31, 2008, we derived approximately 2.3% of our revenue from the recognition of service revenue. We expect product service revenue to increase over time as our installed base continues to grow.
We directly sell our products primarily in the United States, Canada, and to a lesser extent, in China, Hong Kong and Germany, and use distributors to sell our products in countries where we do not have a direct presence or to complement our direct sales force. For the year ended December 31, 2008, we derived 48.1% of our revenue from sales of our products outside North America through a combination of direct and distributor sales. As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately 40 salespeople in North America and distributors in more than 50 countries. We believe that our sales will increase over time as we continue to introduce new products with new applications.
The following table provides information regarding the breakdown of our sales by geographical region for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008:
| Percent of Sales |
|---|
| Region | Year ended
December
31, 2007 | Year ended
December
31, 2008 |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| North America | | | | 57.1 | % | | 52.4 | % |
| Europe | | | | 23.2 | | | 28.7 | |
| Asia-Pacific | | | | 15.6 | | | 14.7 | |
| Israel | | | | 0.6 | | | 0.5 | |
| Others | | | | 3.5 | | | 3.7 | |
| Total | | | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % |
Cost of Revenues
Our cost of revenues consists of the cost of manufacture and assembly of our products by third party manufacturers. These costs primarily include materials, components and labor used by our third-party manufacturers. We have been able to negotiate competitive terms with the subcontractors that manufacture our products. Also, because our product technology, design and engineering does not require highly sophisticated, time intensive labor for assembly and testing and our products use the off-the-shelf discrete components, we are able to experience low manufacturing costs and relatively high gross margins.
Cost of revenues also includes royalties to third parties, service and warranty expenses, as well as salaries and personnel-related expenses for our operations management team which includes subcontractor management, purchasing and quality control. The cost of revenue as a percentage of revenues increased from 2007 to 2008 due to an increase in sales of products that are more expensive to manufacture, an increase in the cost of infrastructure required to run our service operations and an increase in costs in write-offs of inventory. We anticipate that this trend may continue.
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses consist of salaries and other personnel-related expenses of employees primarily engaged in research and development activities, external engineering fees and materials used and other overhead expenses incurred in connection with the design and development of our products.
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Selling and Marketing Expenses
Our selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of salaries, commissions and other personnel-related expenses for those engaged in the sales, marketing and support of our products and trade show, promotional and public relations expenses, as well as management and administration expenses in support of sales and marketing in our subsidiaries. We expect our selling and marketing expenses to increase slightly as a percentage of revenues, as a result of expansion of our marketing efforts.
General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other personnel-related expenses for executive, accounting and administrative personnel, professional fees and other general corporate expenses. We are experiencing an increase of our general and administrative expenses in absolute dollars and as a percentage of revenues primarily due to an increase in personnel costs associated with the expansion of our management functions and support of our overall growth.
Financial Income, net
Interest income and other income consists primarily of interest earned on cash, cash equivalents, deposits and marketable securities, as well as exchange differences resulting from remeasurement of our foreign currency transactions and balances into U.S. dollars.
Taxes on Income
Our facilities in Israel were granted the status of “Approved Enterprise” and the status of “Benefited Enterprise” (The new program under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959), both entitling us to a ten-year exemption from Israeli corporate tax. The “Approved Enterprise” and “Benefited Enterprise” status only allows corporate tax exemptions on profits generated from such operations but requires regular Israeli corporate tax on income generated from other sources, such as gains from sales of marketable securities and interest earned on cash, cash equivalent and marketable securities. We will seek to maintain the “Approved Enterprise” and the “Benefited Enterprise” status by meeting the necessary conditions with respect to our future capital investment programs thus extending our “Approved Enterprise” benefits beyond the first ten years. Our effective tax rate is directly affected by the relative proportions of domestic and international revenue and proportions between revenue from Approved and Benefited Enterprises and revenue from other sources as discussed above. We are also subject to changing tax laws in multiple jurisdictions in which we operate. For additional description of Israeli Tax please see Item 10.E, “Additional Information – Taxation – Israeli Taxation.”
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of our operations is based upon our audited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On a periodic basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, warranty reserves, income taxes, litigation and stock-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience, authoritative pronouncements and various other assumptions which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a discussion of our critical accounting policies and the significant judgments and estimates affecting the application of those policies in our consolidated financial statements. See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
Marketable securities. In accordance with SFAS 157, the Company measures marketable securities and auction rate securities at fair value. Marketable securities are classified within Level 1 or Level 2. This is because marketable securities are valued using quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources and models utilizing market observable inputs. Investments in auction rate securities are classified within Level 3 because they are valued using valuation techniques. Some of the inputs to these models are unobservable in the market and are significant. Due to the current economic environment in which there is a lack of market activity for auction rate securities, the Company has been unable to obtain quoted prices or market prices for identical assets as of the measurement date resulting in significant unobservable inputs used in determining the fair value. The Company with its third party advisor estimated the fair value of these auction rate securities using the income approach based on the following: (i) the underlying structure and contractual provisions of each security; (ii) the present value of future principal and interest payments discounted at rates considered to reflect current market conditions; and (iii) consideration of the probabilities of default, auction failure, or repurchase at par for each period. These estimated fair values could change significantly based on future market conditions, which could result in recognizing other-than-temporary impairment losses. The actual value at which such securities could actually be sold or settled with a willing buyer or seller may differ from such estimated fair values depending on a number of factors including, but not limited to, current and future economic conditions, the quantity sold or settled, the presence of an active market and the availability of a willing buyer or seller. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in marketable debt securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such designations as of each balance sheet date. The Company’s management is generally required to classify its investments into one of three investment categories under U.S. GAAP: trading; held to maturity; or available-for-sale. The classification of the investment may affect our reported results. For investments classified as trading, we are required to recognize changes in the fair values into income for the period reported. For investments classified as held to maturity, we are required to carry the investment at amortized cost, with only the amortization occurring during the period recognized into income. Changes in the fair value of investments classified as available for sale are not recognized to income during the period, but rather are recognized as a separate component of equity until realized. We classify our investments as available-for-sale. During 2008, 2007, and 2006, all marketable securities covered by Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 115 “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” were designated as available-for-sale. Accordingly, these securities are stated at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of taxes. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments, and impairment of investments, as determined on a specific identification basis, are included in the consolidated statement of operations. Interest and amortization of premium and discount on debt securities are recorded as financial income.
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FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 115-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investment” (“FSP 115-1”) and SAB Topic 5M “Other Than Temporary Impairment Of Certain Investments In Debt And Equity Securities” provides guidance for determining when an investment is considered impaired, whether impairment is other-than temporary, and measurement of an impairment loss. An investment is considered impaired if the fair value of the investment is less than its carrying amount. The Company considers various factors in determining whether to recognize an impairment charge, including the Company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost basis, the credit ratings of the securities and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuers. If, after consideration of all available evidence to evaluate the realizable value of its investment, impairment is determined to be other than temporary, then an impairment loss should be recognized equal to the difference between the investment’s carrying amount and its fair value.
We regularly review our investments for factors that may indicate that a decline in the fair value of an investment below its cost or amortized cost is other than temporary. Some factors considered in evaluating whether or not a decline in fair value is other than temporary include:
Our ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery in value; the duration and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; and the financial condition of the issuer. Such reviews are inherently uncertain in that the value of the investment may not fully recover or may decline further in future periods resulting in realized losses.
Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenues in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104 (“SAB 104”), when each of the following four criteria are met:
| | — | There is persuasive evidence of an arrangement; |
| | — | delivery of product has occurred; |
| | — | the fee is fixed or determinable; and |
Revenue from product sales to end users in North America usually includes multiple elements within a single contract. We consider the sale of a product and the service element in the agreement to be two separate accounting units of the arrangement and defer the fair value of the service element to the period in which it is earned. Fair value is determined based on the price charged on a stand alone basis for the service provided, and data available from which to estimate the volume of services provided during the term of the arrangement.
In evaluating whether collection is reasonably assured, we review credit and operation histories and customers’ facilities and in the case of independent distributors, we will evaluate creditworthiness and other relevant factors.
If changes in conditions cause management to determine that these criteria are not met for future transactions, revenue recognized for any reporting period could be adversely affected. Although we meet the requirements of SAB 104 upon shipment of product, and the recording of revenue, we continually evaluate our accounts receivable for any bad debts and make estimates for any bad debt allowances.
We compute an allowance based upon a specific customer account review of our customers. Our assessment of the ability of our customers to pay generally includes direct contact with the customer, investigation into their financial status, as well as consideration of their payment history with us. If the financial condition of a customer were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of its ability to make payments, additional allowance may be required. If we determine, based on our assessment, that it is probable that a customer will be unable to pay, we will write off the account receivable. Revenue from some product sales to end users in North America includes multiple elements within a single contract. The Company’s accounting policy complies with the requirements set forth in EITF 00-21, relating to the separation of multiple deliverables into individual accounting units with determinable fair values.
We consider the sale of a product and the service element in the agreement to be two separate accounting units of the arrangement and defers the fair value of the service element to the period in which it is earned. Fair value is determined based on the price charged by third parties on a stand alone basis for the service provided, and data available from which to estimate the volume of services provided during the term of the arrangement.
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Inventory write-down. As a designer and manufacturer of high technology equipment, we may be exposed to a number of economic and industry factors that could result in portions of our inventory becoming either obsolete or in excess of anticipated usage. These factors include, but are not limited to, technological changes in our markets, our ability to meet changing customer requirements and competitive pressures in products and prices. Our policy is to establish inventory reserves when conditions exist that suggest that our inventory may be in excess of anticipated demand or is obsolete based upon our assumptions about future demand for our products and market conditions. We regularly evaluate our ability to realize the value of our inventory based on combination of factors including the following: historical usage rates, forecasted sales or usage, estimated current and future values and new product instructions. Assumptions used in determining our estimates of future product demand may prove to be incorrect, in which case the provision required for excess and absolute inventory would have to be adjusted in the future. If inventory is determined to be overvalued, we would be required to recognize such as cost of goods sold at the time of such determination. When recorded, our reserves are intended to reduce the carting value of our inventory to its net realizable.
Taxes on Income. We account for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“SFAS No. 109”). This statement prescribes the use of the liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liability account balances are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. We provide a valuation allowance, if necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to their estimated realizable value. Our valuation allowance is based on our judgment on future taxable income that would allow or prevent us from benefiting from our loss carryforwards. Currently, our relatively short history of loss operations does not allow us to record any tax benefit resulting from our subsidiaries’ losses.
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, an interpretation of FASB SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). The Interpretation addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under FIN 48, we may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the tax authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim periods and requires increased disclosures. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective beginning January 1, 2007. Based on our evaluations, the FIN 48 impact on our consolidated financial statements is not material.
Stock-Based Compensation. SFAS 123(R) requires share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values at the date of grant. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative.
On January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS 123(R) using the modified prospective method as permitted under SFAS 123(R). Under that transition method, compensation cost recognized during 2006 included: (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123(R). In accordance with the modified prospective method of adoption, our results of operations and financial position for prior periods have not been restated.
We used the Black-Scholes option pricing model in 2003 and 2004 and the Binominal model for options granted thereafter to estimate the fair value of stock option grants. Key assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the exercise price of the award, the expected option term, the expected volatility of our stock over the option’s expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the option’s expected term, the post-vesting forfeiture rate, the suboptimal exercise factor and our expected annual dividend yield. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of similar companies. As equity-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statement of income is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it should be reduced for estimated forfeitures. The expected life represents the weighted average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding giving consideration to vesting schedules and our historical exercise patterns; and the risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected life of the option. The post-vesting forfeiture rate and estimated forfeitures are based on our historical experience and the suboptimal exercise factor is based on our historical experience as well as on academic papers and the common practice which support our assumptions. Assumed dividend yield of zero is based on the fact that we have never paid cash dividends and have no present intention to pay cash dividends.
If factors change and we employ different assumptions for estimating stock-based compensation expense in future periods the stock-based compensation expense we recognize in future periods may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period and could materially affect our operating income, net income and earnings per share. It may also result in a lack of comparability with other companies that use different models, methods and assumptions. Existing valuation models, including the Binominal model, may not provide reliable measures of the fair values of our stock-based compensation. Consequently, there is a risk that our estimates of the fair values of our stock-based compensation awards on the grant dates may bear little resemblance to the actual values realized upon the exercise, expiration, early termination or forfeiture of those stock-based payments in the future. Certain stock-based payments, such as employee stock options, may expire with little or no intrinsic value compared to the fair values originally estimated on the grant date and reported in our financial statements. Alternatively, the value realized from these instruments may be significantly higher than the fair values originally estimated on the grant date and reported in our financial statements.
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Litigation.Management sets aside liabilities related to litigation brought against us when the amount of the potential loss is probable and can be estimated. Because of the uncertainties related to an unfavorable outcome of litigation, and the amount and range of loss on pending litigation, management is often unable to make an accurate estimate of the liability that could result from an unfavorable outcome. As litigation progresses, we continue to assess our potential liability and revise our estimates accordingly. Such revisions in our estimates could materially impact our results of operations and financial position. Estimates of litigation liability affect our accrued liability line item in our consolidated balance sheet and our general and administrative expense line item in our statement of income.
Warranty Reserve. We generally provide a one to three years standard warranty with our products, depending on the type of product and the country in which we do business. After the warranty period, maintenance and support is provided on a service contract basis or on an individual call basis. We provide for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time product revenue is recognized. Factors that affect our warranty reserves include the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty repairs and the cost per repair. While we engage in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of our component suppliers, our estimated warranty obligation is affected by ongoing product failure rates, specific product class failures outside of our baseline experience, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. If actual product failure rates, material usage or service delivery costs differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be required. Assumptions and historical warranty experience are evaluated to determine the appropriateness of such assumptions. We assess the adequacy of the warranty provision once a year and we may adjust this provision if necessary.
Fair Market Measurements. The performance of fair value measurements is an integral part of the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability in an orderly transaction between market participants to sell or transfer such an asset or liability. Selection of the appropriate valuation techniques, as well as determination of assumptions, risks and estimates used by market participants in pricing the asset or liability requires significant judgment. Although we believe that the inputs used in our evaluations techniques are reasonable, a change in one or more of the inputs could result in an increase or decrease in the fair value of certain assets and certain liabilities and could have an impact on both our consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations.
Results of Operations
Years Ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2008
Revenues. Revenues in 2008 decreased by $26 million, or 18.4%, from $141 million in 2007 to $115 million. The decrease was primarily attributable to the global financial crisis, a weakness in US economy as well as in the rest of the world, combined with a tightening of credit terms available to our customers.
Cost of Revenues. The cost of revenues increased by $2.7 million in 2008, from $27.0 million in 2007 to $29.7 million. The increase in cost of revenues was primarily attributable to a reduction of the average sales price of our products, a one-time inventory write-off and our overhead expenses which remained fixed while our sales volume was reduced.
Research and development. Research and development expenses increased by $1.3 million, from $12.5 million in 2007 to $13.8 million in 2008. As a percentage of revenues, research and development expenses increased from 8.9% in 2007 to 12% in 2008. The increase was primarily attributable to a 14% strengthening of the NIS against the US$. Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008 included $0.3 million of stock-based compensation expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R) in comparison to $0.9 million of stock-based compensation expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R) for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Selling and Marketing Expenses. Selling and marketing expenses decreased by $4.5 million, from $58.6 million in 2007 to $54.1 million in 2008. As a percentage of revenues, selling and marketing expenses increased from 41.6% in 2007 to 47% in 2008. The decrease in selling and marketing expenses was primarily attributable to a reduction of revenue in 2008. Selling and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008 included $3.9 million of stock-based compensation expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R) in comparison to $4.5 million of stock-based compensation expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R) for the year ended December 31, 2007.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $5.8 million, from $11.9 million in 2007 to $17.7 million in 2008. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses increased from 8.4% in 2007 to 15.4% in 2008. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to a provision for doubtful debts and legal fees. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008 included $3.4 million of stock-based compensation expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R) in comparison to $2.1 of stock-based compensation expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R) for the year ended December 31, 2007.
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Financial Income. Financial income increased by $0.6 million, from $3.3 million in 2007 to $3.9 million in 2008. The increase in financial income was primarily attributable to interest earned on our increasing cash balance offset partially by a low interest rate and by an impairment charge of $5.8 million and $1.6 million on our investment portfolio due to uncertainties in the capital markets regarding auction-rate securities in the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2008 respectively. As a percentage of revenues, financial income increased from 2.3% in 2007 to 3.4% in 2008.
Taxes on Income. Income taxes decreased by $5 million, from income tax expense in the amount of $3.0 million in 2007 to income tax benefit in the amount of $2.0 million in 2008. As a percentage of revenue, taxes on income changed from 2.15% in 2007 to 1.7% in 2008. The decrease in taxes on income was primarily attributed to a reverse of the prior year’s provision resulting from final tax assessment reached with the Israeli tax authorities. As an “Approved Enterprise” and a “Benefited Enterprise” in Israel, we are exempt from tax on any income derived from our “Approved Enterprise” and “Benefited Enterprise,” and we pay taxes only on income from other sources which are not integral to our “Approved Enterprise” and “Benefited Enterprise,” such as interest on marketable securities. Our subsidiaries had loss carryforwards of approximately $34.04 million as of December 31, 2008 as compared to approximately $38.0 million as of December 31, 2007. We have recorded a valuation allowance for the deferred taxes on these losses since it is more likely than not that we will not be able to offset such losses against future income. In addition we have capital loss for tax purposes on marketable securities resulting from the U.S. dollar/NIS fluctuation rate. We had loss carry forwards of approximately $38.0 million. The Company provided a valuation allowance with respect to the above mentioned capital loss to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts which are more likely than not to be realized during 2009 (see also Note 15d to the consolidated financial statements).
Years Ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007
Revenues. Revenues in 2007 increased by $24 million, or 20.5%, from $117 million in 2006 to $141 million. The increase was primarily attributable to increased unit sales as a result of continued extensive efforts in Asia, South America, Europe and North America which resulted in an increase in the market share of Syneron products.
Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues increased by $9.1 million in 2007, from $17.9 million in 2006 to $27.0 million. The increase in cost of revenues was primarily attributable to the increase in the number of products manufactured and sold. As a percentage of revenue, cost of revenues increased from 15.3% in 2006 to 19.1% in 2007 due to change in our geographical product mix.
Research and development. Research and development expenses increased by $4.0 million, from $8.5 million in 2006 to $12.5 million in 2007. As a percentage of revenues, research and development expenses increased from 7.3% in 2006 to 8.9% in 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to expansion of our research and development staff, its materials, and the development of new products such as our Matrix RF applicator, VelaShape and LipoLite. Research and Development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2007 included $0.9 million of stock-based compensation expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R).
Selling and Marketing Expenses. Selling and marketing expenses increased by $12.2 million, from $46.4 million in 2006 to $58.6 million in 2007. As a percentage of revenues, selling and marketing expenses increased from 39.7% in 2006 to 41.6% in 2007. The increase in selling and marketing expenses was primarily attributable to an increase in personnel costs, sales force, and marketing activities associated with the expansion of our activities in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and South America. Selling and Marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2007 included $4.5 million of stock-based compensation expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R).
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $2.4 million, from $9.5 million in 2006 to $11.9 million in 2007. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses increased from 8.0% in 2006 to 8.4% in 2007. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to an increase in personnel costs associated with the expansion of our finance and other management functions needed to support our overall growth. General and Administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2007 included $2.1 million of stock-based compensation expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R).
Financial Income. Financial income decreased by $3.2 million, from $6.5 million in 2006 to $3.3 million in 2007. The decrease in financial income was primarily attributable to an impairment charge of $5.8 million on our investment portfolio due to uncertainties in the capital markets regarding auction-rate securities in 2007. As a percentage of revenues, financial income decreased from 5.5% in 2006 to 2.3% in 2007.
Taxes on Income. Income taxes increased by $1.5 million, from $1.5 million in 2006 to $3.0 million in 2007. As a percentage of revenue, taxes on income increased from 1.3% in 2006 to 2.15% in 2007. As an “Approved Enterprise” in Israel, we are exempt from tax on any income derived from our “Approved Enterprise,” and we pay taxes only on income from other sources which are not integral to our approved enterprise such as interest on marketable securities. Our subsidiaries had loss carryforwards of approximately $38.0 million in 2007 as compared to approximately $50.0 million in 2006. We have recorded a valuation allowance for the deferred taxes on these losses since it is more likely than not that we will not be able to offset such losses against future income.
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| B. | LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES |
From December 31, 2002 through August 10, 2004, we funded our operations principally from private placements of our preferred shares that resulted in aggregate net proceeds of approximately $3.3 million. On August 11, 2004, we completed our initial public offering, which resulted in net proceeds of approximately $54.0 million. Since August 10, 2004, we have been using the proceeds from our initial public offering and our working capital to fund our operations. On March 8, 2005, certain selling shareholders completed a secondary offering, in connection with which we received net proceeds of approximately $1.6 million from the exercise of options. On August 11, 2005, the one-year lock-up period for certain of our shareholders ended, and following that period, we raised $11.7 million from the exercise of options. As of February 15, 2009, we did not have any outstanding or available debt financing arrangements.
As of December 31, 2008, we had working capital of $205 million, and our primary source of liquidity was $217 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and cash flow from operations. Approximately $9.5 million of the marketable securities that we held as of December 31, 2008 were auction-rate securities consisting of interests in collateralized debt obligations supported by pools of residential and commercial mortgages or credit cards, insurance securitizations and other structured credits, including corporate bonds. While the auction-rate securities held by us had AAA/Aaa credit ratings at the time of our purchase of these securities, as part of the recent ongoing credit market crisis, the auction-rate securities held by us have experienced multiple failed auctions. As a result, we recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of approximately $5.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 and an additional charge of $1.6 million during 2008. We cannot predict when the liquidity of these auction-rate securities will improve. Please see Item 3.D. “Key Information – Risk Factors” for further details regarding our auction-rated securities.
We believe that our cash balances and cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash requirements for the foreseeable future. If existing cash and cash generated from operations are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of debt securities, these securities could have rights senior to those associated with our ordinary shares and could contain covenants that would restrict our operations. We cannot be sure that we will not require additional capital beyond the amounts currently forecasted by us, nor that any such required additional capital will be available on reasonable terms, if at all.
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $37.3 million in 2006, $47.8 million in 2007, and $20.4 million in 2008. The change in net cash provided by operating activities reflects a decrease in sales activities. During 2008, trade receivables, other account receivables and prepaid expenses decreased as a result of a decrease in sales activities. In 2007, we incurred an impairment charge of $5.8 million on our investment portfolio due to uncertainties in the capital markets regarding auction-rate securities. In 2008 we increased the impairment charge with additional $1.6 million.
Net Cash (Used In) Investing Activities. Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was $(34.7) million in 2006, $(17.4) million in 2007 and provided by $10.9 million in 2008. Cash used in investing activities is primarily attributable to marketable securities. For the year ended December 31, 2006, we invested $1.0 million in capital expenditures, which consisted primarily of purchases of a patent family, software, manufacturing equipment and general equipment. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we invested $8.4 million in capital expenditures, which consisted primarily of an acquisition of a minority share in a subsidiary ($3.6 million), investment in affiliated companies ($2.6 million), leasehold improvements ($1.3 million), and computers and general equipment ($0.9 million). For the year ended December 31, 2008, we invested $4.1 million in capital expenditures, which consisted primarily of a purchase of minority shares in our subsidiaries ($1.3 million), investment in affiliated companies ($1.6 million) and a purchase of computers and general equipment ($1.2 million).We expect our capital expenditures in 2009 will be approximately $1 million and will consist of computers and general equipment.
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities. Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities was $0.3 million in 2006, ($3.7) million in 2007 and ($1.3) million in 2008. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2006 was primarily attributable to the proceeds of the exercise of stock options and the sale of restricted shares units. Net cash used in 2007 financing activities was attributed to the proceeds of exercise of options and the sale of restricted shares units in the amount of $3.5 million. This was offset by the Company’s repurchase program under which we have repurchased our outstanding ordinary shares in the aggregate amount of in the amount of $7.2 million. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2008 was primarily attributable to the company’s repurchase program under which we have repurchased our outstanding ordinary shares in the aggregate amount of $1.9 million, offset by reimbursement of share issuance expenses ($0.6) million.
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| C. | RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES, ETC. |
Our research and development activities are conducted internally by a research and development staff consisting of 63 employees. Our research and development efforts are focused on the development of new products, as well as the extension of our existing products to new applications in the non-invasive aesthetic medical market. We have a number of new projects and products under development, mainly focusing on additional non-invasive aesthetic treatments. We expect to continue and develop several major product initiatives in 2009 including a new product for circumferential reduction, a new product line for aestheticians and the cosmetic market; and products for home use using Syneron’s proprietary ELOS technology.
Prior to 2007, our research and development effort has been focused on the development of products that leverage our existing ELOS platform rather than developing new technologies. In 2007 our research and development efforts focused on the development of technologies that are not only based on our existing ELOS technology. Our gross research and development expenditures were $8.5 million in 2006, $12.5 million in 2007, and $13.8 million in 2008. We expect to continue to increase our expenditures on research and development.
In May 2008, the FDA granted 510(k) to our new LipoLite product for laser-assisted lipolysis and additional dermatological procedures. In September 2008, the FDA granted 510(k) clearance to our Matrix RF applicator for use in dermatological procedures requiring ablation and resurfacing of the skin.
We intend to continue the development of new products and procedures in the medical aesthetic market in order to maintain the growth in revenue and net income.
| E. | OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS |
We do not have off-balance sheet arrangements (as such term is defined in Item E(2) of Form 20-F) that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial conditions, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
| F. | TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS |
The following table summarizes our contractual commitments as of December 31, 2008 excluding royalty payments commitments, such as amounts due to the Israeli Office of Chief Scientist, and the effect those commitments are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods:
| Payments Due by Period |
|---|
| Contractual Commitments | Total | Less than 1
year | 1-3 years | 3-5 years | More than
5 years |
|---|
| (in thousands) |
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | |
|---|
| Uncertain tax positions (1) | | | $ | 5,052 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Operating leases (2) | | | $ | 3,631 | | $ | 1,683 | | $ | 1,805 | | $ | 143 | | $ | - | |
| | (1) | Uncertain income tax position under FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” (“FIN 48��) are due upon settlement and we are unable to reasonably estimate the ultimate amount or timing of settlement. See Note 14 in our Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the Company’s liability under FIN 48. |
| | (2) | Consists of operating leases for our facilities and motor vehicles |
| ITEM 6. | | DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES |
| A. | DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT |
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors as of February 15, 2009:
| Name | Age | | Position(s) |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Dr. Shimon Eckhouse | 64 | | Chairman of the Board of Directors |
| Louis Scafuri | 57 | | Chief Executive Officer |
| Doron Gerstel | 49 | | Former Director and Chief Executive Officer |
| Fabian Tenenbaum | 35 | | Chief Financial Officer |
| Dr. Michael Anghel | 70 | | External Director |
| Marshall Butler | 82 | | Director |
| Yaffa Krindel | 54 | | Director |
| David Schlachet | 64 | | Director |
| Dan Suesskind | 65 | | External Director |
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Dr. Shimon Eckhouse has served as the Chairman of our board of directors since May 2004. Dr. Eckhouse is the chairman of OrSense Ltd., CardioDex Ltd., NanoCyte Ltd., ColorChip Ltd., Ventor Medical Technologies Ltd., Tulip Ltd., and Navotek Ltd. Dr. Eckhouse was a co-founder of ColorChip and served as its chairman from 2003 to January 2004 and again since 2007, and as its chief executive officer from 2001 to 2003. Dr. Eckhouse was the chairman and chief executive officer of ESC Medical Systems from its inception in 1992 until 1999. Prior to founding ESC Medical Systems, Dr. Eckhouse was head of product development and technical director at Maxwell Technologies in San Diego, California. Before that, Dr. Eckhouse was a scientist, team leader and head of a department in Rafael, Armament Development Authority of Israel and was active in various areas of research and development, including lasers and electro-optics. Dr. Eckhouse holds a B.Sc. in physics from the Technion Israeli Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California at Irvine. He has more than 20 registered patents and published more than 50 papers in leading reference journals and conferences. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Technion Israeli Institute of Technology.
Louis Scafuri was appointed our Chief Executive Officer on February 2, 2009. From 1983 until 1999, Mr. Scafuri held various executive and sales positions with GE Marquette Medical Systems. In his last position with GE Marquette Medical Systems, Mr. Scafuri served as its COO and President. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Scafuri served as the COO of ESC Medical, where he was in charge of the global sales, R&D and Operations of the company. From 2002, Mr. Scafuri acted as an entrepreneur and angel investor in medical device and medical aesthetic companies in the U.S. Mr. Scafuri holds a B.Sc. degree in biology from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
Doron Gerstel was appointed our Chief Executive Officer on May 14, 2007 and was elected as a director of the Company as of December 23, 2008. On February 2, 2009, Mr. Gerstel ceased to be our Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company. Previously, Mr. Gerstel served as our President of Syneron North America since May 2006. Prior to that Mr. Gerstel was a co-founder of Zend Technologies Inc., a private technology company that creates modern open source web infrastructure, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer from its inception in 1999 until May 2006. Prior to his founding of Zend, Mr. Gerstel was VP Operation of Lumenis Ltd. (formerly ESC Medical Systems), a public company that develops, manufacturers and sells laser and light-based devices. Mr. Gerstel holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Information Systems from the Technion, and an M.B.A. from Tel Aviv University.
Fabian Tenenbaum was appointed our Chief Financial Officer on May 14, 2007. Mr. Tenenbaum served as our Vice President for Business Development since September 2006 and was responsible for developing the growth strategy for our home-use product, which culminated in the exclusive worldwide joint development and supply agreement with Procter and Gamble. From April 2002 to September 2006, Mr. Tenenbaum was Vice President at Radiancy Inc., where he managed the U.S. subsidiary of a late-stage med-tech start-up with the third largest global installed base for light-based devices in the field of dermatology and aesthetic medicine. Mr. Tenenbaum holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine from Ben Gurion University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Dr. Michael Anghel has served as a director since November 2004. Until 2005, Dr. Anghel served as the President and CEO of Israel Discount Capital Markets & Investments Corp., a subsidiary of the Israel Discount Bank. From 2000 to 2004, Dr. Anghel served as the Chief Executive Officer of CAP Ventures, an operating venture capital company he founded that has invested and established a number of information technology and communications enterprises. Since 1980, Dr. Anghel has been directly involved in founding, managing and directing a variety of industrial, technology and financial enterprises. Dr. Anghel also served as a director of major publicly listed corporations and a number of financial institutions and providence funds. Dr. Anghel is currently a director of Evogene Ltd., Dan Hotels Ltd., Analyst Provident Fund, Partner Communications Company Ltd., Straus Group and several other private companies, including Gravity Visual Effects & Design Ltd. From 1969 to 1977, Dr. Anghel was a full-time member of the faculty of the Graduate School of Business at the Tel-Aviv University teaching in the areas of finance and corporate strategy. Dr. Anghel served on various Israeli governmental policy committees in the areas of communications and public finance. Dr. Anghel is the Chairman of the Executive Program of the Graduate School of Business Administration of Tel Aviv University. Dr. Anghel received his B.A. in Economics from the Hebrew University in 1960, an M.B.A. in Economics and Finance from Columbia University in 1964, and a Ph.D. in International Finance from Columbia University in 1969.
Marshall Butler has served as a director since October 2003. Mr. Butler is a co-founder and has served as chairman of both First Israel Mezzanine Investors Fund and Israeli Infinity Venture Capital Fund since 1996. Mr. Butler is a director of Pixer Technology Ltd., and A.R.T. New York. Mr. Butler served as chairman of Nitzanim, AVX/Kyocera Corporation from 1994 to 2001. Mr. Butler served as Chief Executive Officer and chairman of AVX Corporation from 1974 to 1993 and as director of Kyocera Corporation from 1990 to 1994. Mr. Butler is on the board of governors of the Technion Institute in Haifa, Israel. In 1998, Mr. Butler received the Israeli Prime Minister’s award for his contribution to Israeli industry. In 2001, he received an Honoree Doctorate from the Technion Institute.
Yaffa Krindel has served as a director since November 2005. She is currently serving as a General Partner in Tamarix Ventures, a private cleantech venture capital partnership headquartered in Herzliya, Israel. From 1997 until 2007 Ms. Krindel served as Partner and Managing Partner of Star Ventures, a private venture capital fund headquartered in Munich, Germany. Before joining Star Ventures, between 1992 and 1996, Ms. Krindel served as CFO and VP Finance of Lannet Data Communications Ltd., then a publicly traded company in NASDAQ (now part of Avaya Inc.), a data communication systems company for the enterprise market. From 1993 to 1997 she served as a director and CFO of BreezeCOM Ltd. (now part of Alvarion Ltd.), a Point-to-Multipoint (PMP) Broadband Wireless Access company headquartered in Tel Aviv. Ms. Krindel currently serves on the boards of : Fundtech Ltd. (NASDAQ: FNDT), Voltaire Ltd. (NASDAQ: VOLT), OrSense Ltd. and Siano Inc. Ms. Krindel has earned M.B.A. from Tel Aviv University and a B.A. in Economics and Japanese Studies from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
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David Schlachet served as our Chief Executive Officer from November 2005 until May 14, 2007, when he resigned as our Chief Executive Officer and was appointed to our board of directors. From July 2004 to November 2005, Mr. Schlachet served as our Chief Financial Officer. From 2000 to June 2004, Mr. Schlachet served as Managing Partner of Biocom, a venture capital fund specializing in the life sciences area. From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Schlachet served as a senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Strauss Elite Holdings, a packaged food group. From June 1997 to June 2000 David Schlachet also served as an active chairman of Elite Industries, a chocolate and confectionary company which is a subsidiary of Strauss Elite Holdings, in addition to his position in Straus Elite Holdings. From 1990 to 1995, Mr. Schlachet served as Vice President of Finance and Administration of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Mr. Schlachet serves as a director for Nasdaq listed EzChip (formerly LanOptics Ltd.). In addition, Mr. Schlachet serves as a director for Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange listed companies Taya Investments Ltd., Mazor Surgical Technologies Ltd. and Adgar Investments and Developments Ltd. As of November 2008, Mr. Schlachet was nominated to serve as a director in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) and as a director and audit committee member of the TASE Clearing House. Mr. Schlachet also serves as a director of several privately owned Israeli companies. Mr. Schlachet holds a B.Sc. degree in chemical engineering and an M.B.A. from Tel-Aviv University.
Dan Suesskind has served as a director since November 2004. Until 2008, Mr. Suesskind has held numerous positions with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. since 1976. Mr. Suesskind served as Teva’s Chief Financial Officer from 1977 until 2008, and as a director from 1981 until 2001. From 1970 until 1976, Mr. Suesskind was a consultant and securities analyst with I.C. International Consultants Ltd. Mr. Suesskind is a member of the Jerusalem Foundation, Investment Advisory Committee, Board of Trustees of Hebrew University, board member of Ness Technologies Inc., and a board member of Migdal Insurance Company Ltd. Mr. Suesskind received his B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the Hebrew University in 1965, a certificate in Business Administration from the Hebrew University in 1967, and an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts in 1969.
Our Chief Executive Officer serves at the discretion of our board of directors and hold office until his or her successor is elected or his or her earlier resignation or removal. Each other executive officer, in his or her capacity as such, serves at the discretion of our Chief Executive Officer and holds office until his or her successor is elected or his or her earlier resignation or removal.
The aggregate direct compensation we paid to our directors who are not executive officers for their services as directors as a group for the year ended December 31, 2008 was approximately $321,000. This amount includes payment to our Chairman of the board. Directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in order to attend board or committee meetings.
The aggregate direct compensation we and our subsidiaries paid to the executive officers as a group for the year ended December 31, 2008 was approximately $2.2 million. This amount does not include expenses we incurred for other payments, including dues for professional and business associations, business travel and other expenses, and other benefits commonly reimbursed or paid by companies in Israel. We did not pay our officers who also serve as directors any separate compensation for their directorship during 2008, other than reimbursements for travel expenses.
As of February 15, 2009, our directors and officers (9 persons, including Doron Gerstel, a former director and chief executive officer of the Company) had outstanding options to purchase 2,446,060 ordinary shares with exercise prices ranging from $0.01 to $27.73. 13,375 of these options will expire in the year 2011, 4,000 of these option will expire in the year 2012, 408,249 of these options will expire in the year 2013, 15,000 of these options will expire in the year 2014, 1,555,436 of these options will expire in the year 2015, and 450,000 will expire in 2016.
For a description of the plans pursuant to which such options were granted please see Item 6.E, “Share Ownership” below.
Board of Directors
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as related new rules subsequently implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NASDAQ Global Select Market, requires issuers to comply with various corporate governance practices. Our board of directors currently consists of six directors, four of whom are independent, and our audit committee consists of three directors, all of whom are independent. In addition, Israeli law requires that we have at least two external directors, as described in greater detail below.
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In general, the number of members of our board of directors will be determined from time to time by a vote of at least 75% of the ordinary shares present and entitled to vote, provided that there shall be no more than 7 and no fewer than three directors. Our board of directors consists of six directors. Two of the directors, Dr. Anghel and Mr. Suesskind, are external directors under Israeli law and are independent for Nasdaq purposes. Other than external directors, who are subject to special election requirements under Israeli law, our directors are elected in three staggered classes by the vote of a majority of the ordinary shares present, in person or by proxy, at a shareholders’ meeting. The directors of only one class are elected at each annual meeting, so that the regular term of only one class of directors expires annually. At our annual general meeting held in 2008, the term of the first class expired and Mr. David Schlachet and Mr. Doron Gerstel were elected for a three-year term. Mr. Doron Gerstel has ceased to serve on the board in February 2009. At our annual general meeting to be held in 2009, the term of the second class, consisting of Mr. Butler and Ms. Krindel, will expire, and the directors elected at that meeting will be elected for a three-year term. At our annual general meeting to be held in 2010, the term of the third class, consisting of Dr. Eckhouse, will expire and the director elected at that meeting will be elected for a three-year term. After these initial terms, directors (other than the external directors) shall serve in office until the end of the third annual shareholders’ meeting following the one in which they were elected. Any director elected following the removal or resignation of one of the directors, shall serve until the third annual meeting of the shareholders following the meeting in which he was elected.
The external directors will not be assigned a class. The general meeting of our shareholders may dismiss a director during his or her term of office only by a vote of at least 75% of the ordinary shares present and entitled to vote (except for external directors, who may be dismissed only in the manner prescribed in the Companies Law). We have employment and consultancy agreements with our principal executive officers. These agreements contain salary, benefit, non-competition and other provisions that we believe to be customary in our industry. In addition, these agreements provide for up to six months of liquidation fees in certain events of termination of employment. Agreements with our directors (serving in that capacity) do not provide for benefits upon termination of service.
Each of our executive officers serves at the discretion of our board of directors and holds office until his or her successor is elected or his or her resignation or removal.
External Directors
We are subject to the Companies Law. Under the Companies Law, an Israeli company whose shares have been offered to the public or whose shares are listed for trading on a stock exchange in or outside of Israel, is required to appoint at least two external directors to serve on its board of directors. Our external directors are Dr. Anghel and Mr. Suesskind. At least one of the outside directors is required to have “financial and accounting expertise,” unless another member of the audit committee, who is an independent director under the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, has “financial and accounting expertise,” and the other outside director or directors are required to have “professional expertise.” The above qualifications do not apply to external directors appointed prior to January 19, 2006. However, an external director may not be appointed to an additional term unless: (i) such director has “accounting and financial expertise;” or (ii) he or she has “professional expertise,” and on the date of appointment for another term there is another external director who has “accounting and financial expertise” and the number of “accounting and financial experts” on the board of directors is at least equal to the minimum number determined appropriate by the board of directors.
A director has “professional expertise” if he or she satisfies one of the following:
| | — | the director holds an academic degree in one of these areas: economics, business administration, accounting, law or public administration; |
| | — | the director holds an academic degree or has other higher education, all in the main business sector of the company or in a relevant area for the board position; or |
| | — | the director has at least five years’ experience in one or more of the following (or a combined five years’ experience in at least two or more of these: (a) senior management position in a corporation of significant business scope; (b) senior public office or senior position in the public sector; or (c) senior position in the main business sector of the company. |
A director with “financial and accounting expertise” is a person that due to his or her education, experience and skills has high skills and understanding of business-accounting issues and financial reports which allow him to deeply understand the financial reports of the company and hold a discussion relating to the presentation of financial information. The company’s board of directors will take into consideration in determining whether a director has “accounting and financial expertise”, among other things, his or her education, experience and knowledge in any of the following:
| | — | accounting issues and accounting control issues characteristic to the segment in which the company operates and to companies of the size and complexity of the company; |
| | — | the functions of the external auditor and the obligations imposed on such auditor; |
| | — | preparation of financial reports and their approval in accordance with the Companies Law and the securities law. |
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A person may not serve as an external director if at the date of the person’s appointment or within the prior two years the person, or his or her relatives, partners, employers or entities under the person’s control, have or had any affiliation with us or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with us. Under the Companies Law, “affiliation” includes:
| | — | an employment relationship; |
| | — | a business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis; |
| | — | service as an office holder, excluding service as a director in a private company prior to the first offering of its shares to the public if such director was appointed as a director of the private company in order to serve as an external director following the initial public offering. |
An “office holder” is defined as any director, managing director, general manager, chief executive officer, executive vice president, vice president, other manager directly subordinate to the general manager or any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of these positions regardless of that person’s title. Each person listed in the table under “Item 6A. – Directors and Senior Management” is an office holder.
A person may not serve as an external director if that person’s position or other business activities create, or may create, a conflict of interest with the person’s service as a director or may otherwise interfere with the person’s ability to serve as a director. If at the time any external director is appointed, all members of the board are the same gender, then the external director to be appointed must be of the other gender. A director of a company shall not be appointed as an external director of another company if at such time, a director of the other company is acting as an external director of the first company. Until the lapse of two years from the termination of office, a company may not engage an external director to serve as an office holder and cannot employ or receive services from that person, either director or indirectly, including through a corporation controlled by that person.
External directors are elected by a majority vote at a shareholders’ meeting, as long as either:
| | — | the majority of shares voted for the election includes at least one-third of the shares of non-controlling shareholders voted at the meeting; or |
| | — | the total number of shares of non-controlling shareholders voted against the election of the external director does not exceed one percent of the aggregate voting rights of our company. |
The Companies Law provides for an initial three-year term for an external director, which may be extended for one additional three-year term. External directors may be removed only by the same special majority required for their election or by a court, and then only if the external directors cease to meet the statutory qualifications for their appointment or if they violate their duty of loyalty to our company. In the event of a vacancy created by an external director, our board of directors is required under the Companies Law to call a shareholders meeting to appoint a new external director. Dr. Michael Anghel and Dan Suesskind serve as our external directors.
External directors may be compensated only in accordance with regulations adopted under the Companies Law. The regulations provide three alternatives for cash compensation to external directors: a fixed amount determined by the regulations, an amount within a range set in the regulations, or an amount that is equal to the average compensation to other directors who are not controlling shareholders of the company or employees or service providers of the company or its affiliates. A company also may issue shares or options to an external director at the average amount granted to directors who are not controlling shareholders of the company or employees or service providers of the company or its affiliates. Cash compensation at the fixed amount determined by the regulations does not require shareholder approval. Compensation determined in any other manner requires the approval of the company’s audit committee, board of directors and shareholders. Compensation of an external director must be determined prior to the person’s consent to serve as an external director.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has established three standing committees, the audit committee, the compensation committee and the nominating and governance committee.
Audit Committee. Under the Companies Law, the board of directors of any public company must establish an audit committee. The audit committee must consist of at least three directors and must include all of the external directors. The audit committee may not include the chairman of the board, any director employed by the company or providing services to the company on an ongoing basis, a controlling shareholder or any of the controlling shareholder’s relatives. In addition, under the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, we are also required to maintain an audit committee of at least three members, all of whom are independent directors under the Nasdaq Global Select Market listing requirements. The rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market also require that at least one member of the audit committee be a financial expert.
40
Our audit committee, acting pursuant to a written charter, is comprised of Dr. Anghel, who has been designated as the audit committee financial expert, Mr. Suesskind, and Ms. Krindel. All of the audit committee members have been determined to be independent as defined by the applicable NASDAQ and SEC rules.
The audit committee provides assistance to the 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 approving the services performed by our independent accountants and reviewing their reports regarding our accounting practices and systems of internal accounting controls. The audit committee also oversees the audit efforts of our independent accountants and takes those actions as it deems necessary to satisfy itself that the accountants are independent of management. Under the Companies Law, the audit committee also is required to monitor deficiencies in the administration of the company, including by consulting with the internal auditor, and to review and approve related party transactions.
Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee, acting pursuant to a written charter, is comprised of Dr. Anghel, Ms. Krindel and Mr. Butler. The composition and functions of the compensation committee meet the requirements of the Nasdaq Global Select Market rules, with which we comply voluntarily. All of the compensation committee members have been determined to be independent as defined by the applicable Nasdaq rules. The compensation committee makes recommendations to the board of directors regarding the issuance of employee share incentives under our share option and benefit plans and determines salaries and bonuses for our Chief Executive Officer and incentive compensation for our other employees.
Nominating and Governance Committee. Our nominating and governance committee, acting pursuant to a written charter, is comprised of Dr. Anghel, Ms. Krindel and Mr. Butler. The committee is responsible for making recommendations to the board of directors regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of the board. In addition, the committee is responsible for overseeing our corporate governance guidelines and reporting and making recommendations to the board concerning corporate governance matters. The composition and function of our nominating and governance committee meets the requirements of the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, with which we comply voluntarily. All of the nominating committee members have been determined to be independent as defined by the applicable Nasdaq rules.
Internal Auditor
Under the Companies Law, the board of directors must also appoint an internal auditor nominated by the audit committee. Our internal auditor is Ezra Yehuda, C.P.A. (Isr). The role of the internal auditor is to examine whether a company’s actions comply with the law and proper business procedure. The internal auditor may not be an interested party or office holder, or a relative of any interested party or office holder, and may not be a member of the company’s independent accounting firm or its representative. The Companies Law defines an interested party as a holder of 5% or more of the shares or voting rights of a company, any person or entity that has the right to nominate or appoint at least one director or the general manager of the company or any person who serves as a director or as the general manager of a company. Our internal auditor is not our employee, but the managing partner of an accounting firm which specializes in internal auditing.
The breakdown of our employees by department and geographic location is as follows:
| As of December 31
|
|---|
| 2006
| 2007
| 2008
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Management, administration and operations | | | | 39 | | | 44 | | | 58 | |
| Research and development | | | | 40 | | | 43 | | | 63 | |
| Selling and marketing | | | | 195 | | | 193 | | | 179 | |
| Total | | | | 274 | | | 280 | | | 300 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Israel | | | | 83 | | | 113 | | | 141 | |
| North America | | | | 175 | | | 151 | | | 140 | |
| Asia-Pacific | | | | 5 | | | 5 | | | 10 | |
| Europe | | | | 10 | | | 10 | | | 9 | |
| South America | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 0 | |
Some provisions of the collective bargaining agreement between the Histadrut, which is the General Federation of Labor in Israel, and the Coordination Bureau of Economic Organizations, including the Industrialist’s Association of Israel, apply to our Israeli employees by virtue of extension orders of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Employment.
41
These provisions concern the length of the workday and the work-week, recuperation pay and commuting expenses. Furthermore, these provisions provide that the wages of most of our employees are adjusted automatically based on changes in Israel’s Consumer Price Index. The amount and frequency of these adjustments are modified from time to time. In addition, Israeli law determines minimum wages for workers, minimum vacation pay, sick leave, determination of severance pay and other conditions of employment. We have never experienced a work stoppage, and we believe our relations with our employees are good.
Israeli law generally requires the payment of severance pay by employers upon the retirement or death of an employee or termination of employment without cause. As of December 31, 2008, our accrued severance pay funds totaled $0.2 million. We fund our ongoing severance obligations by making monthly payments to insurance policies. Furthermore, Israeli employees and employers are required to pay predetermined sums to the National Insurance Institute, which is similar to the U.S. Social Security Administration. These amounts also include payments for national health insurance. The payments to the National Insurance Institute are approximately 18% of wages, up to a specified amount of which the employee contributes approximately 12% and the employer contributes approximately 6%.
In Israel, we are subject to the instructions of the Extension Order in the Industrial Field for Extensive Pension Insurance 2006 according to the Israeli Collective Bargaining Agreements Law, 1957 (the “Extension Order”). The Extension Order ensures the pension insurance of certain employees which fall under its criteria.
In accordance with our policy and the provisions of the Extension Order, we make contributions to the Pension Fund and/or Insurance Policy. Therefore, all our obligations to pay severance pay are covered by the aforementioned contributions, in accordance with Section 14 of the Severance Pay Law and the Extension Order or any other applicable law.
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of February 15, 2009 by our executive officers and directors:
Beneficial ownership of shares is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes any shares over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power. Ordinary shares that are subject to warrants or stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of February 15, 2009 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the stock options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of any other person.
Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, each shareholder in the table has sole voting and investment power for the shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Percentage ownership is based on 24,479,775 ordinary shares outstanding on February 15, 2009.
| Executive Officers and Directors: | Number | Percent |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| Dr. Shimon Eckhouse(1) | | | | 2,729,147 | | | 9.93 | % |
| Yaffa Krindel | | | | * | | | * | % |
| Marshall Butler | | | | * | | | * | % |
| Dan Suesskind | | | | * | | | * | % |
| Dr. Michael Anghel | | | | * | | | * | % |
| David Schlachet(2) | | | | * | | | * | % |
| | | |
| Louis Scafuri | | | | * | | | * | % |
| Doron Gerstel(3) | | | | * | | | * | % |
| Fabian Tenenbaum | | | | * | | | * | % |
| All directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons) | | | | 3,348,710 | | | 11.92 | % |
* equals less than 1%
| (1) | Includes 2,287,331 shares held by Starlight Capital Ltd and 341,816 shares held by European High-Tech Capital S.A., which are corporations wholly owned by foundations that were created for the benefit of members of Dr. Eckhouse’s family. Dr. Eckhouse disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. |
| (2) | Mr. Schlachet ceased to serve as our Chief Executive Officer on May 14, 2007. |
| (3) | Mr. Gerstel ceased to serve as our Chief Executive Officer in February 2009. |
42
Employee Benefit Plans
As of December 31, 2008, we had 15,931 options outstanding, all of which were issued under the 2003 Plan or conformed to the terms of the 2003 Plan. On May 12, 2004, our board of directors cancelled the unallocated options under the 2003 Plan.
On July 12, 2004, our board of directors and shareholders adopted separate 2004 plans for Israel and for the United States, Canada and the rest of the world. On November 11, 2004, our shareholders approved the 2004 United States, Canada and Rest of World Plan. Under the 2004 Plans, as of December 31, 2008, we had 3,942,178 options and RSUs outstanding.
Prior to the adoption of the 2004 Plans, we maintained one equity incentive plan adopted in 2003, which served as an umbrella plan for all of our employees, directors, officers and other eligible persons worldwide. Prior to the 2003 Plan, we granted options according to individual agreements with the grantees, without adopting a specific plan. We adopted both the 2003 Plan and the 2004 Israel Plan under Section 102 of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance.
Options granted to employees under the 2003 Plan generally vest over three to four years from the grant date. Any option not exercised within seven years of the grant date will expire unless extended by the board of directors. If we terminate the engagement with a grantee for cause, all of his or her vested and unvested options expire immediately. If we terminate the engagement with a grantee for any other reason or the grantee resigns, the grantee may exercise his or her vested options within six months of the date of termination. A grantee who terminates his or her engagement with us due to death or disability may exercise his or her options (or in case of death, by the estate or the legal successor of the grantee) within 12 months of the date of death or disability. In case of retirement, the post-retirement period of exercise is set at the discretion of the board of directors or the compensation committee. Any expired or terminated options return to the plan and are automatically cancelled.
Under the 2003 Plan, we have granted to our directors, officers, employees and consultants and those of any of our subsidiaries, options to purchase our ordinary shares. Since May 12, 2004, all option grants to our Israeli employees have been issued under the 2004 Israel Plan and, unless we adopt a new plan, all such grants in the future will be issued under the 2004 Israel Plan. The 2004 Israel Plan also allows for beneficial tax treatment for options issued through a trustee. Based on Israeli law currently in effect and elections made by us, and provided that options granted or, upon their exercise, the underlying shares, issued under the plan are held by the trustee for at least two years following the end of the calendar year in which the options are granted, Israeli employees are (i) entitled to defer any taxable event with respect to the options until the underlying shares are sold, and (ii) subject to capital gains tax of 25% on the sale of the shares. We may not recognize expenses pertaining to the options for Israeli tax purposes.
Israeli tax law allows us to choose from among three alternative sets of tax treatment for our 2004 Israel Plan or future plans. In approving the 2004 Israel Plan, the board of directors selected the capital gains tax treatment described above.
Under the 2004 United States, Canada and Rest of World Plan, we may grant to our non-Israeli directors, officers, employees and consultants, options and other incentive awards to purchase our ordinary shares. These plans were adopted to allow favorable tax treatment for our United States and Canadian directors, officers, employees and consultants. Since May 12, 2004, all option grants to our non-Israeli employees have been issued under the 2004 United States, Canada and Rest of World Plan and, unless we adopt a new plan, all such grants in the future will be issued under the 2004 United States, Canada and Rest of World Plan.
Options granted under the 2004 Plans generally vest over a period of one to three years of employment. Any options that are cancelled or forfeited before expiration become available for future grants. The Company can also issue a variety of other equity incentives under the 2004 Plans, but no such other equity incentives were outstanding as of December 31, 2005. In addition to granting stock options during 2006, the Company started to routinely grant Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) under the 2004 United States, Canada and Rest of World Plan. RSUs usually vest over a period of employment of up to three years. Upon vesting, the RSU beneficiary is entitled to receive a share per one RSU for $0.01 per share. RSUs that are cancelled or forfeited become available for future grants.
Each of the 2004 Plans expires in 2014 and has an evergreen provision. The evergreen provision calls for the annual increase of shares reserved for issuance under the 2004 Plan by the lesser of 2,000,000 options or 3% of the share capital, provided however that the board of directors may, at its sole discretion, decrease, at any given year, the yearly incremental increase of options to whatever number it deems appropriate.
| ITEM 7. | | MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of February 15, 2009 by each person or entity that we know beneficially owns 5% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares.
Beneficial ownership of shares is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and generally includes any shares over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power. Ordinary shares that are subject to warrants or stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of February 15, 2009 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the stock options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of any other person.
43
Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, each shareholder in the table has sole voting and sole investment power for the shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Percentage ownership is based on 27,479,775 ordinary shares outstanding as of February 15, 2009.
| Bumber of
Shares
Neneficially
Owned | Percentage
of
Outstanding
ordinary
Shares |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| The Baupost Group, LLC (1) | | | | 3,086,619 | | | 11.23 | % |
| Starlight Capital Ltd.(2) | | | | 2,287,331 | | | 8.32 | % |
| Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC (3) | | | | 1,677,918 | | | 6.11 | % |
| (1) | The information is solely based upon Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 12, 2009 by the Baupost Group, LLC (“Baupost”), SAK Corporation and Seth A. Klarman. SAK Corporation is the Manager of Baupost. Seth A. Klarman, as the sole Director of SAK Corporation and a controlling person of Baupost, may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities beneficially owned by Baupost. Securities reported on the Schedule 13G as being beneficially owned by Baupost includes securities purchased on behalf of various investment limited partnerships. |
| (2) | A corporation wholly owned by foundations that were created for the benefit of members of Dr. Eckhouse’s family. Dr. Eckhouse disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. Excludes 341,816 shares held by European High-Tech Capital S.A., which is also a corporation wholly owned by foundations that were created for the benefit of members of Dr. Eckhouse’s family. |
| (3) | The information is solely based upon Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 17, 2009 by Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC. Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC has the sole voting power over 1,667,918 of these ordinary shares and the shared dispositive power over all of these ordinary shares. |
To our knowledge, the only significant changes in the percentage ownership held by our major shareholders during the past three years have been: (i) the sale by Cititrust Bahamas Ltd., which is a trust that was created for the benefit of our retired Chief Technology Officer and director, Dr. Michael Kreindel, of part of its holdings pursuant to 10b5-1 plans, (ii) the increase in the percentage ownership held by the Baupost Group, LLC from 5.52% (based on a Schedule 13G filed on February 13, 2007) to 11.23% (based on a Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G filed on February 12, 2009), (iii) the purchase by Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC of our ordinary shares, based on a Amendment No.1 to Schedule 13G filed on February 17, 2009.
Our major shareholders have the same voting rights with respect to their respective ordinary shares as other shareholders have with respect to their respective ordinary shares.
To our knowledge, as of February 15, 2009, we had 9* stockholders of record who were registered with addresses in the United States. These holders in the United States were as of such date, the holders of record of approximately 9.8%* of our outstanding ordinary shares.
* Includes the Depository Trust Company
| B. | Related Party Transactions |
Agreements with Directors and Officers
Our articles of association permit us to exculpate, indemnify and insure our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Companies Law. We have entered into agreements with each of our office holders, including our directors, undertaking to exculpate, indemnify and insure them to the fullest extent permitted by law, to the extent that these liabilities are not covered by insurance. See “Item 10.B Memorandum And Articles Association – Exculpation, Indemnification and Insurance of Directors and Officers.”
44
Registration Rights
Prior to our initial public offering, we issued preferred shares to Starlight Capital Ltd., European High-Tech Capital S.A. and Marshall Butler. Starlight Capital Ltd. and European High-Tech Capital S.A. are controlled by foundations which have been established for the benefit of family members of Dr. Shimon Eckhouse, the chairman of our board of directors. Dr. Eckhouse disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by these companies. Marshall Butler is a member of our board of directors. All of these preferred shares were subject to registration rights, and all of these preferred shares were automatically converted into ordinary shares at the closing of our initial public offering. As of February 15, 2009, we believe that these shareholders continue to hold a certain amount of ordinary shares issued upon conversion of our preferred shares subject to such registration rights. Pursuant to these registration rights, in the event we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act, either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, these and other holders who may hold shares subject to registration rights are entitled to notice of such registration and are entitled to include their remaining ordinary shares subject to the registration rights in such registration, subject to certain marketing cutbacks and other limitations. The holders of at least 50% of the ordinary shares with registration rights will have the right to require us, on not more than one occasion, to file a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act in order to register the resale of their ordinary shares. We may, in certain circumstances, defer such registration and the underwriters have the right, subject to certain limitations, to limit the number of shares included in such registrations. Further, these holders may require us to register the resale of all or a portion of their shares on a Registration Statement on Form F-3, subject to certain conditions and limitations.
Shareholders’ Rights Plan
In November 2008, our board of directors adopted a shareholder rights plan, under which our board of directors declared a dividend of one right for each ordinary share held by shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 9, 2008. Initially, these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with our ordinary shares. Under the plan, these rights will generally be exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of our ordinary shares or commences a tender or exchange offer for 15 percent or more of our ordinary shares, except if such person or group has become an “Acquiring Person” pursuant to an offer approved by the majority of the board of directors. If a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of our ordinary shares (except if such person or group has become an “Acquiring Person” pursuant to an offer approved by the majority of the board of directors), each right will generally entitle the holder, other than the acquiring person or group, to acquire, for the exercise price of $0.01 per share (subject to adjustment as provided in the plan), two (2) ordinary shares. In addition, if, after a person acquires such ownership, we engages in a merger in which it is not the survivor or its ordinary shares are changed or exchanged, or sells or transfers more than 50 percent of its assets or earning power, each right will generally entitle the holder, other than the acquiring person or group, to acquire, for the exercise price of $0.01 per share (subject to adjustment as provided in the plan), two (2) times the shares of the acquiring company to which each of our shareholders is entitled to for each ordinary shares. Our board of directors may redeem the rights at a price of $.0001 per right at any time up to ten days after a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of our ordinary shares. The rights plan will continue in effect until November 9, 2009 unless earlier redeemed or amended by our board of directors.
| C. | INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 8. | | FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
| A. | Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information |
Our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008 are included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F under Item 18, “Financial Statements.”
Legal Proceedings.
On December 31, 2007, Torkaman and Torabi Dental Corporation filed a complaint against us, Syneron Inc. and Scott Cote. Plaintiff alleges that we represented that dentists who purchased our products did not need to have a medical doctor or other medically trained personnel operate the device and that it could be legally operated by an aesthetician. Plaintiff alleges that it purchased the equipment in reliance upon these representations. Plaintiff further alleges that based on our misrepresentation, he set up a dental spa operation and has suffered economic damage as a consequence of not being able to operate the dental spa in the manner represented by us. Our insurance carrier is not expected to cover this complaint. We intend to vigorously defend its position in this case. Please also see Item 3.D, “Risk Factors – Existing and future third-party claims of infringement or other claims against us could require us to redesign our products, seek licenses, or engage in future costly intellectual property litigation, which could impact our future business and financial performance.”
On March 10, 2009 our subsidiary, Syneron Inc. was served with a complaint from Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. The complaint alleges infringement of US Patents Nos. 5,735,844 and 5,595,568 by hair removal products sold in the United States. These patents are each currently being reexamined by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office based on different prior art. Syneron Inc.‘s response to the complaint is due May 10, 2009.
On or before March 27, 2009, we expect to receive $3,975,000 as consideration for the resolution of a dispute.
For other legal proceedings see also Notes 13c and 19 to our consolidated financial statements.
Policy on Dividend Distribution
We have never declared or paid cash dividends to our shareholders, and we do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We intend to reinvest any future earnings in developing and expanding our business. We have decided to reinvest the amount of tax-exempt income derived from out “Approved Enterprise” status and not to distribute that income as dividends.
45
None.
| ITEM 9. | | THE OFFER AND LISTING |
| A. | OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS |
Our ordinary shares are quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ELOS.”
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated since August 5, 2004, which was the date on which our ordinary shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (formerly known as the Nasdaq National Market), the high and low sales prices of our ordinary shares as reported by the Nasdaq Global Market.
Nasdaq Global Market
| | Price per share (US$)
|
|---|
| | High
| Low
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Yearly highs and lows | | | | | | | | |
| 2004 | | | $ | 39.0 | | $ | 15.58 | |
| 2005 | | | | 46.91 | | | 23.05 | |
| 2006 | | | | 32.72 | | | 17.81 | |
| 2007 | | | | 28.12 | | | 13.37 | |
| 2008 | | | | 18.04 | | | 5.88 | |
| | | |
| Quarterly highs and lows | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| 2007 | | |
| First quarter | | | | 28.12 | | | 28.12 | |
| Second quarter | | | | 27.39 | | | 27.39 | |
| Third quarter | | | | 26.10 | | | 26.10 | |
| Fourth quarter | | | | 24.25 | | | 24.25 | |
| 2008 | | |
| First quarter | | | | 17.77 | | | 13.35 | |
| Second quarter | | | | 18.04 | | | 14.51 | |
| Third quarter | | | | 17.25 | | | 12.70 | |
| Fourth quarter | | | | 14.13 | | | 5.88 | |
| 2009 | | |
| First quarter (through March 23, 2009) | | | | 8.74 | | | 4.55 | |
| | | |
| Monthly highs and lows | | |
| | | |
| September 2008 | | | | 16.97 | | | 12.70 | |
| October 2008 | | | | 14.13 | | | 7.75 | |
| November 2008 | | | | 10.07 | | | 5.88 | |
| December 2008 | | | | 9.14 | | | 6.40 | |
| January 2009 | | | | 8.74 | | | 6.66 | |
| February 2009 | | | | 7.69 | | | 5.20 | |
On March 23, 2009, the closing price of our ordinary share as quoted on Nasdaq Global Select Market was $5.86
Not applicable.
Our ordinary shares are quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ELOS.”
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
46
| ITEM 10. | | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
Not applicable.
| B. | MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION |
Set forth below is a summary of certain provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Association, as adopted by our shareholders on November 7, 2007, and Israeli law affecting our shareholders. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated articles of association and such law. On November 7, 2007 our shareholders adopted the amended and restated articles of association of the Company (for the purposes of this Item, the “Amended Articles”)
Register Number and Purposes of the Company
Our registration number with the Israeli Companies Registrar is 51-298651-4. Pursuant to Section 4 of our Amended Articles we may engage in any type of lawful business as may be determined by our board of directors from time to time.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
Holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to their proportionate share of any cash dividend, share dividend or dividend in kind declared with respect to our ordinary shares. We may declare dividends out of profits legally available for distribution. Under the Companies Law, a company may distribute a dividend only if the distribution does not create a reasonably foreseeable risk that the company will be unable to meet its existing and anticipated obligations as they become due. A company may only distribute a dividend out of the company’s profits, as defined under the Companies Law. If the company does not meet the profit requirement, a court may allow it to distribute a dividend, as long as the court is convinced that there is no reasonable risk that a distribution might prevent the company from being able to meet its existing and anticipated obligations as they become due.
Under the Companies Law, the declaration of a dividend does not require the approval of the shareholders of a company unless the company’s articles of association provide otherwise. Our Amended Articles provide that the board of directors may declare and distribute dividends without the approval of the shareholders. In the event of our liquidation, holders of our ordinary shares have the right to share ratably in any assets remaining after payment of liabilities, in proportion to the paid-up par value of their respective holdings.
These rights may be affected by the grant of preferential liquidation or dividend rights to the holders of a class of shares that may be authorized in the future.
Voting, Shareholder Meetings and Resolutions
Holders of ordinary shares have one vote for each ordinary share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. This right may be changed if shares with special voting rights are authorized in the future.
Under the Companies Law, an annual general meeting of our shareholders should be held once every calendar year, but no later than 15 months from the date of the previous annual general meeting. The quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders present in person or by proxy holding at least 40.0% of the voting power. A meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum generally is adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place or any time and place as the directors designate in a notice to the shareholders. At the reconvened meeting, the required quorum consists of any number of shareholders present in person or by proxy.
Our board of directors may, in its discretion, convene additional meetings as “special general meetings.” In addition, the board must convene a special general meeting upon the demand of two of the directors, one fourth of the nominated directors, one or more shareholders having at least 5% of outstanding share capital and at least 1% of the voting power in the company, or one or more shareholders having at least 5% of the voting power in the company. The chairman of the board of directors presides at each of our general meetings. The chairman of the board of directors is not entitled to a vote at a general meeting in his capacity as chairman.
Most shareholders’ resolutions, including resolutions to:
| | — | amend our articles of association (except for amendments relating to the election of directors and the powers, composition and size of the board of directors); |
| | — | make changes in our capital structure such as a reduction of capital, increase of capital or share split, merger or consolidation; |
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| | — | authorize a new class of shares, elect directors, other than external directors; |
| | — | approve transactions with certain office holders. |
will be deemed adopted if approved by the holders of a majority of the voting power represented at a shareholders’ meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting on that resolution. In most cases these actions will not require the approval of a special majority.
Ownership of Shares; Transfer of Shares; Notices
Our Amended Articles and the laws of the State of Israel do not restrict the ownership or voting of ordinary shares by non-residents of Israel, except with respect to individuals and entities that are residents of countries in a state of war with Israel, and except with respect to entities which are controlled by residents of countries in a state of war with Israel.
Our fully paid ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are freely transferable under our Amended Articles.
Under the Companies Law, shareholders’ meetings require prior notice of at least 21 days.
Under the Companies Law, we are required to maintain a major shareholder register listing shareholders holding 5% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares.
Modification of Class Rights
The Companies Law provides that the rights of a particular class of shares may not be modified without the vote of a majority of the affected class.
Election of Directors
Our ordinary shares do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Therefore, the holders of ordinary shares representing more than 50% of the voting power at the general meeting of the shareholders, in person or by proxy, have the power to elect all of the directors whose positions are being filled at that meeting, to the exclusion of the remaining shareholders. External directors are elected by a majority vote at a shareholders’ meeting, provided that either:
| | — | the majority of shares voted for the election includes at least one-third of the shares of non-controlling shareholders voted at the meeting; or |
| | — | the total number of shares of non-controlling shareholders voted against the election of the external director does not exceed one percent of the aggregate voting rights in the company. |
Each of our directors holds office until the next annual general meeting of shareholders. However, in accordance with the Companies Law, our external directors serve for three years, which may be renewed for additional three year terms, if both the audit committee and the board of directors confirm that in light of the expertise and contribution of the external director, the extension of such external director’s term would be in the interest of our company (such requirement is not applicable to the first three-year renewal). The Companies Law requires that the offices of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board of Directors be held by different persons. However, the Companies Law further provides that those positions may be held by the same person for a period not exceeding three years if approved by a majority of the company’s shareholder, including at least two thirds of the voting shareholders present (shares held by abstaining shareholders are not considered) which are not controlling shareholders or the aggregate number of shares voting against the proposal shall not exceed 1% of company voting shareholders.
The Companies Law provides that Israeli public companies must have at least two external directors. External directors may be elected at our annual general meeting or a special meeting of our shareholders in a number and manner stipulated by law, namely, for a term of three years which may be renewed for additional three year terms and requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares and in addition either that (i) at least one third (33.33%) of the holders of shares who are not controlling shareholders attending in person or represented by proxy have voted in favor of the proposal (shares held by abstaining shareholders shall not be considered) or (ii) the aggregate number of shares voting against the proposal has not exceeded 1% of the company’s voting shareholders. External directors may be removed from office only under the following circumstances: (i) an external director ceases to meet the legal requirements for appointment as an external director or breaches his or her fiduciary duty to the company and a resolution to remove such external director is made by the shareholders at a meeting at which such external director is granted a reasonable opportunity to express his position (such a resolution requires the same majority of votes that elected the external director); (ii) an external director ceases to meet the legal requirements for appointment as an external director or breaches his or her fiduciary duty to the Company and a court orders that such director be removed; or (iii) an external director is unable to perform his or her duties or is convicted of certain felonies and a court orders that such director be removed.
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An external director is qualified for nomination as an external director, only if he/she has either professional qualifications or accounting and financial expertise. At least one of the external directors must have accounting and financial expertise. However, a company whose shares are traded in certain exchanges outside of Israel, including the Nasdaq Global Select Market, such as our company, is not required to nominate at least one external director who has accounting and financial expertise as long as another independent director for audit committee purposes who has such expertise serves on the board of directors pursuant to the applicable foreign securities laws. In such case all external directors will have professional qualification.
Regulations adopted under the Companies Law provide that a director with accounting and financial expertise is a director that due to his education, experience and skills has high expertise and understanding in business-accounting matters and financial statements in a way that enables him to deeply understand the financial statements of the company and to facilitate discussion with respect to the way the financial data should be presented. The assessment of the accounting and financial expertise of a director shall be made by the board of directors, who shall take into consideration,inter alia, the education, experience and knowledge of the director in the following subjects:
| | (1) | Accounting matters and audit accounting matters, which are typical to the sector in which the company works and of companies with the same size and complexity as of the company; |
| | (2) | The duties and obligations of the auditing accountant; and |
| | (3) | Preparing of financial statements and their approval according to applicable law, including securities law. |
The regulations also provide that a director with professional qualifications is a director who meets one of the following conditions:
| | (1) | A holder of an academic degree in one of the following: economics, business administration, accounting, law, or public administration; |
| | (2) | A holder of another academic degree or is otherwise a graduate of higher education in a major field of business of the company or in other field which is relevant to the role; |
| | (3) | He has experience of at least five years in one of the following, or that he has cumulative experience of at least five years in two or more of the following: |
| | (a) | A senior position in the business management of a corporation which has a significant scope of business; |
| | (b) | A senior public position or in a senior role in the public service; or |
| | (c) | A senior position in the company’s major fields of business. |
According to the Companies Law, the board of directors of a public company must establish the minimum number of board members that are to have accounting and financial expertise while considering,inter alia, the nature of the company, its size, the scope and complexity of its operations and the number of directors stated in the Amended Articles.
The board of directors resolved that the minimum number of board members that need to have accounting and financial expertise, including the external director with accounting and financial expertise is 1.
The board of directors determined that Dr. Michael Anghel has accounting and financial expertise as described in the regulations promulgated pursuant to Companies Law, and that, therefore, the requirements of the minimum number of board members that need to have accounting and financial expertise, as set by the board of directors, has been met.
On September 29, 2008, Amendment No. 8 to the Companies Law came into effect. The amendment states that a publicly traded company will be able to determine the number of independent directors that will serve on the company’s board of directors. The amendment also sets a recommendation as to the number of independent directors a public company should appoint to their board: (i) companies with a controlling shareholder – one third; and (ii) other companies – a majority of the board. A Majority of our board members are independent as required by Nasdaq rules, which are different than the independence standard of the Companies Law.
Under regulations promulgated under the Companies Law regarding payment of compensation to external directors, compensation of external directors shall be comprised of annual compensation and a per meeting payment ranging as stated in the regulations. These amounts are adjusted twice a year in accordance with the Israeli consumer price index. With regard to a company, which shares are traded in an exchange outside of Israel, and is subject to laws which impose upon the external directors duties which exceed the duties imposed upon them under Israeli law, the maximum amount payable to the external directors is NIS 115,400 per annum (approximately $28,326) and NIS 3,470 (approximately $852) per meeting. The approval of the shareholders of the Company is required for such compensation, unless it is between the maximum and fixed amounts set forth in these regulations. Alternatively, the compensation of external directors may be linked to the compensation of other directors subject to certain restrictions. Additionally, external directors may be entitled to compensation in stock (including by way of granting options to purchase the Company’s stock), provided that such compensation is granted within the framework of a stock incentive plan applicable to all other directors and further provided the amount of stock granted or purchasable shall not fall below the lowest amount granted to any other director and shall not exceed the average amount of stock granted to all other directors. In 2008, these regulations were amended to allow an increased compensation to external directors who are considered “expert external directors” under these regulations.
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See Item 6.C, “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Board Practices” regarding our staggered board.
Anti-Takeover Provisions; Mergers and Acquisitions
Merger. The Companies Law permits merger transactions with the approval of each party’s board of directors and shareholders. In accordance with the Companies Law, a merger may be approved at a shareholders meeting by a majority of the voting power represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting on that resolution. In determining whether the required majority has approved the merger, shares held by the other party to the merger, any person holding at least 25% of the outstanding voting shares or means of appointing the board of directors of the other party to the merger, or the relatives or companies controlled by these persons, are excluded from the vote.
Under the Companies Law, a merging company must inform its creditors of the proposed merger. Any creditor of a party to the merger may seek a court order blocking the merger, if there is a reasonable concern that the surviving company will not be able to satisfy all of the obligations of the parties to the merger. Moreover, a merger may not be completed until at least 30 days have passed from the time that the shareholders of each company approved the merger proposal and 50 days have passed from the time that a merger proposal was filed with the Israeli Registrar of Companies.
In addition, the Companies Law preserves provisions of its predecessor, the Companies Ordinance, dealing with arrangements between a company and its shareholders. These arrangements may be used to effect squeeze out transactions in which the target company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the acquirer. These provisions generally require that the merger be approved by at least 75% of the shares of participating shareholders and a majority of the shareholders voting at a shareholders meeting. In addition to shareholder approval, court approval of the transaction is required, which entails further delay.
A merger, the acquisition of a controlling stake or any transaction in which all or substantially all the assets of a company are de facto transferred to another company, may require the approval of the Israeli Commissioner of Restrictive Trade Practices, in the event that the aggregate annual sales volume in Israel of all the companies which are parties to such transaction in the year preceding the merger, exceeds 150,000,000 NIS (approximately $37,000,000, an amount which is adjusted on an annual basis) and the annual sales volume in Israel of at least two of the companies which are parties to such transaction exceeds 10,000,000 NIS each (approximately $2,450,000, an amount which is adjusted on an annual basis), and also if after the consummation of such transactions, the joint market, in Israel, or at any identified geographic part of Israel will be in excess of 50% with respect to such products and services.
Tender Offer. The Companies Law requires a purchaser to conduct a tender offer in order to purchase shares in publicly held companies, if as a result of the purchase the purchaser would hold more than 25% of the voting rights of a company in which no other shareholder holds more than 25% of the voting rights, or the purchaser would hold more than 45% of the voting rights of a company in which no other shareholder holds more than 50% of the voting rights. Under the Companies Law, a person may not purchase shares of a public company if, following the purchase of shares, the purchaser would hold more than 90% of the company’s shares or of any class of shares unless the purchaser makes a tender offer to purchase all of the target company’s shares or all the shares of the particular class, as applicable. If, as a result of the tender offer, the purchaser would hold more than 95% of the company’s shares or a particular class of shares, the ownership of the remaining shares will be transferred to the purchaser. However, if the purchaser is unable to purchase 95% or more of the company’s shares or class of shares, the purchaser may not own more than 90% of the shares or class of shares of the target company.
Tax Law. Israeli tax law treats some acquisitions, such as a stock-for-stock swap between an Israeli company and a foreign company, less favorably than U.S. tax law. For example, Israeli tax law may subject a shareholder who exchanges his ordinary shares for shares in a foreign corporation to immediate taxation. Please see Item 10.E, “Additional Information – Taxation – Israeli Taxation.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares.
Listing
Our ordinary shares are quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ELOS”.
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Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law
Office Holders
The Companies Law codifies the fiduciary duties that office holders owe to a company. An office holder is defined as any director, managing director, general manager, chief executive officer, executive vice president, vice president, other manager directly subordinate to the general manager or any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of these positions regardless of that person’s title. Each person listed in the table under Item 6.A, “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Directors and Senior Management” is an office holder under the Companies Law.
Fiduciary duties. An office holder’s fiduciary duties consist of a duty of loyalty and a duty of care. The duty of loyalty requires the office holder to avoid any conflict of interest between the office holder’s position in the company and personal affairs, and proscribes any competition with the company or the exploitation of any business opportunity of the company in order to receive personal advantage for himself or others. This duty also requires him or her to reveal to the company any information or documents relating to the company’s affairs that the office holder has received due to his or her position as an office holder. The duty of care requires an office holder to act with a level of care that a reasonable office holder in the same position would employ under the same circumstances. This includes the duty to use reasonable means to obtain information regarding the advisability of a given action submitted for his or her approval or performed by virtue of his or her position and all other relevant information pertaining to these actions.
Compensation. Under the Companies Law, all compensation arrangements for office holders who are not directors require approval of the board of directors, unless the articles of association provide otherwise. Our compensation committee is required to approve the compensation of all office holders. Arrangements regarding the compensation of directors require audit committee, board and shareholder approval.
Disclosure of personal interest. 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 known to him or her, in connection with any existing or proposed transaction by the company. “Personal interest”, as defined by the Companies Law, includes a personal interest of any person in an act or transaction of the company, including a personal interest of his relative or of a corporate body in which that person or a relative of that person is a 5% or greater shareholder, a holder of 5% or more of the voting rights, a director or general manager, or in which he or she has the right to appoint at least one director or the general manager. “Personal interest” does not apply to a personal interest stemming merely from the fact of that the office holder is also a shareholder in the company.
The office holder must make the disclosure of his personal interest no later than the first meeting of the company’s board of directors that discusses the particular transaction. This duty does not apply to the personal interest of a relative of the office holder in a transaction unless it is an “extraordinary transaction”. The Companies Law defines an extraordinary transaction as a transaction not in the ordinary course of business, not on market terms or that is likely to have a material impact on the company’s profitability, assets or liabilities, and defines a relative as a spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent, descendent, spouse’s descendant and the spouse of any of the foregoing.
Approvals. The Companies Law provides that a transaction with an office holder or a transaction in which an office holder has a personal interest may not be approved if it is adverse to the company’s interest. In addition, such a transaction generally requires board approval, unless the transaction is an extraordinary transaction or the articles of association provide otherwise. If the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, or if it concerns exculpation, indemnification or insurance of an office holder, then in addition to any approval stipulated by the articles of association, approval of the company’s audit committee and the board of directors is required. Exculpation, indemnification, insurance or compensation of a director also would require shareholder approval. A director who has a personal interest in a matter that is considered at a meeting of the board of directors or the audit committee may not attend that meeting or vote on that matter, unless a majority of the board of directors or the audit committee also has a personal interest in the matter. If a majority of the board of directors or the audit committee has a personal interest in the transaction, shareholder approval also would be required.
Shareholders
The Companies Law imposes the same disclosure requirements, as described above, on a controlling shareholder of a public company that it imposes on an office holder. For these purposes, a controlling shareholder is any shareholder that has the ability to direct the company’s actions, including any shareholder holding 25% or more of the voting rights if no other shareholder owns more than 50% of the voting rights in the company. Two or more shareholders with a personal interest in the approval of the same transaction are deemed to be one shareholder.
Approval of the audit committee, the board of directors and our shareholders is required for:
| | — | extraordinary transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest; and |
| | — | employment of a controlling shareholder. |
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The shareholder approval must include the majority of shares voted at the meeting. In addition, either:
| | — | the majority must include at least one-third of the shares of the voting shareholders who have no personal interest in the transaction; or |
| | — | the total shareholdings of those who have no personal interest in the transaction and who vote against the transaction must not represent more than 1% of the aggregate voting rights in the company. |
Under the Companies Law, a shareholder has a duty to act in good faith towards the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing his or her power in the company including, among other things, when voting in a general meeting of shareholders or in a class meeting on the following matters:
| | — | any amendment to the articles of association; |
| | — | an increase in the company's authorized share capital; |
| | — | approval of related party transactions that require shareholder approval. |
A shareholder has a general duty to refrain from depriving any other shareholder of their rights as a shareholder. In addition, any controlling shareholder, any shareholder who knows that it possesses the power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote and any shareholder who has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment of an office holder in the company is under a duty to act with fairness towards the company. The Companies Law does not describe the substance of this duty of fairness.
Exculpation, Indemnification and Insurance of Directors and Officers
Our Amended Articles allow us to indemnify, exculpate and insure our office holders to the fullest extent permitted by the Companies Law, provided that procuring this insurance or providing this indemnification or exculpation is approved by the audit committee and the board of directors, as well as by the shareholders where the office holder is a director. Our Amended Articles also allow us to insure or indemnify any person who is not an office holder, including any employee, agent, consultant or contractor who is not an office holder.
Under the Companies Law, a company may indemnify an office holder in respect of some liabilities, either in advance of an event or following an event. If a company undertakes to indemnify an office holder in advance of an event, the indemnification must be limited to foreseeable types of events and reasonable amounts, as determined by the board of directors.
Under the Companies Law, a company may indemnify an office holder against any monetary liability incurred in his or her capacity as an office holder whether imposed on him or her in favor of another person pursuant to a judgment, a settlement or an arbitrator’s award approved by a court. A company also can indemnify an office holder against reasonable litigation expenses including attorneys’ fees, incurred by him or her in his or her capacity as an office holder, in proceedings instituted against him or her by the company, on its behalf or by a third-party, in connection with criminal proceedings in which the office holder was acquitted, or as a result of a conviction for a crime that does not require proof of criminal intent. The additional case in which a reimbursement of expenses is allowed according to the Companies Law is reasonable legal fees, including attorneys fees, incurred by an Office Holder in an investigatory proceeding or other proceeding filed by a governmental authority, which has terminated without the filing of criminal charges and without imposing a fine, or with imposing a fine in lieu of a criminal charge which does not require proof of criminal intent.
Under the Companies Law, a company may obtain insurance for an office holder against liabilities incurred in his or her capacity as an office holder. These liabilities include a breach of duty of care to the company or a third-party, a breach of duty of loyalty and any monetary liability imposed on the office holder in favor of a third-party.
A company may exculpate an office holder for a breach of duty of care, but only in advance of that breach. A company may not exculpate an office holder from a breach of duty of loyalty towards the company nor from a breach of duty of care with respect to a distribution.
Under the Companies Law, however, an Israeli company may only indemnify or insure an office holder against a breach of duty of loyalty to the extent that the office holder acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to assume that the action would not prejudice the company. In addition, an Israeli company may not indemnify, insure or exculpate an office holder against a breach of duty of care if committed intentionally or recklessly unless it was carried our negligently, or committed with the intent to derive an unlawful personal gain, or for a fine or forfeit levied against the office holder in connection with a criminal offense.
Our audit committee, board of directors and shareholders have resolved to indemnify our directors and officers to the extent permitted by law and by our Amended Articles for liabilities not covered by insurance and that are of certain enumerated types of events, subject to an aggregate sum equal to 50.0% of the shareholders equity outstanding at the time a claim for indemnification is made.
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For a description of the material terms of our Patent License and Settlement Agreement with Lumenis Inc. and Lumenis Ltd., and of our Patent License and Settlement Agreement with Thermage, Inc., please see Item 4.B, “Information on the Company – Business Overview – Intellectual Property”.
For a short description of the material terms of our agreements with our manufacturers, please see Item 4.B, “Information on the Company – Business Overview – Manufacturing.”
Effective February 25, 2007, we entered into an exclusive Joint Development and Supply Framework Agreement with the Procter & Gamble Company for the commercialization of patented and patent pending, ELOS-based, home-use devices and compositions for the enhancement of skin appearance through the treatment of fine lines, wrinkles, age and sun spots and cellulite. Under the terms of the agreement we will lead the research, development and manufacturing of the devices, while Procter & Gamble will focus on the development of the compositions, marketing, and distribution of the devices. The agreement provides that Procter & Gamble will purchase the devices exclusively from us. The devices will be marketed under the Procter & Gamble family of skin care products and will be co-branded with our ELOS technology. The agreement contemplates further collaboration between Procter & Gamble that could lead to commercializing additional products in the future. Procter & Gamble may terminate the agreement in certain circumstances, including following the failure to successfully complete two milestones.
Non-residents of Israel who hold our ordinary shares are able to receive any dividends, and any amounts payable upon the dissolution, liquidation and winding up of our affairs, freely repatriable in non-Israeli currency at the rate of exchange prevailing at the time of conversion. However, Israeli income tax is required to have been paid or withheld on these amounts. In addition, the statutory framework for the potential imposition of exchange controls has not been eliminated, and may be restored at any time by administrative action.
The following is a general summary only and should not be considered as income tax advice or relied upon for tax planning purposes.
ISRAELI TAXATION
The following is a general summary only and should not be considered as income tax advice or relied upon for tax planning purposes.
ISRAELI TAXATION
The following is a summary of the material Israeli tax laws applicable to us, and some Israeli Government programs benefiting us. This section also contains a discussion of some Israeli tax consequences to persons owning our ordinary shares. This summary does not discuss all the acts 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, traders in securities or persons that own, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our outstanding voting capital, all of whom are subject to special tax regimes not covered in this discussion. Some parts of this discussion are based on new tax legislation which has not been subject to judicial or administrative interpretation. The discussion should not be construed as legal or professional tax advice and does not cover all possible tax considerations.
Potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the Israeli or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares, including, in particular, the effect of any foreign, state or local taxes.
General Corporate Tax Structure in Israel
Israeli companies are generally subject to corporate tax on their taxable income at the rate of 27% for the 2008 tax year. This rate was reduced to 26% in 2009 and had been scheduled to be reduced to 25% in 2010 and beyond. Israeli companies are generally subject to capital gains tax at a rate of 25% for capital gains (other than gains deriving from the sale of listed securities) derived after January 1, 2003. However, the effective corporate tax rate payable by a company that derives income from an Approved Enterprise/Privileged Enterprise (as further discussed below) may be considerably less.
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Tax Benefits under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959
Tax benefits prior to the 2005 Amendment
The Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 (the “Investments Law”), provides that a proposed capital investment in eligible facilities may, upon application to the Investment Center of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the State of Israel, be granted the status of an approved enterprise. The Investment Center bases its decision as to whether or not to approve an application, among other things, on the criteria set forth in the Investments Law and related regulations, the then prevailing policy of the Investment Center, and the specific objectives and financial criteria of the applicant. Each certificate of approval for an approved enterprise relates to a specific investment program delineated both by its financial scope, including its capital sources, and by its physical characteristics, e.g., the equipment to be purchased and utilized pursuant to the program.
The Investments Law provides that a company investing in an approved enterprise is eligible for tax benefits (“Tax Benefits”) on taxable income derived from the operations under the approved enterprise programs. The Tax Benefits under the Investments Law also apply to income generated by a company from the grant of a usage right with respect to know-how developed pursuant to the approved enterprise, income generated from royalties, and income derived from a service which is auxiliary to such usage right or royalties, provided that such income is generated within the ordinary course of business of the company investing in the approved enterprise. If a company has more than one approval or only a portion of its capital investments are approved, its effective tax rate is the result of a weighted average of the applicable rates. The Tax Benefits under the Investments Law are not, generally, available with respect to income derived from products manufactured outside of Israel. In addition, the Tax Benefits available to a company investing in an approved enterprise are contingent upon the fulfillment of conditions stipulated in the Investments Law and related regulations and the criteria set forth in the specific certificate of approval, as described above. In the event that a company does not meet these conditions, it would be required to refund the amount of tax benefits, plus a consumer price index linked adjustment and interest.
The Investments Law also provides that a company investing in an approved enterprise is entitled to accelerated depreciation on its property and equipment that are included in an approved enterprise program in the first five years of using the equipment.
The tax benefits call for taxable income of a company that has been granted the status of approved enterprise on a specific investment program to be subject to corporate tax at the maximum rate of 25%, rather than the regular corporate tax rate, for the benefit period. This period is ordinarily seven years, commencing with the year in which the approved enterprise first generates taxable income, and is limited to 12 years from commencement of production or 14 years from the date of approval, whichever is earlier (the“Time Limit”).
Additionally, a company that has been granted the status of an approved enterprise on all or part of its operations may elect to receive a grant of money from the government or an alternative track of tax benefits under the Investments Law (the “Alternative Track”). Under the Alternative Track, a company’s undistributed income derived from the approved enterprise will be exempt from corporate tax for a period of between two and ten years, starting from the first year the company derives taxable income under the approved enterprise program. The length of time of this exemption will depend on the geographic location of the approved enterprise within Israel. After the exemption period lapses, the company will be eligible for the reduced tax rate discussed in the previous paragraph for the remainder of the benefit period. The Time Limit imposed on the Tax Benefit does not limit this exemption under the Alternative Track.
The Company has elected to be taxed under the Alternative Track. A company that has elected the Alternative Track and subsequently pays a dividend out of income derived from the approved enterprise during the tax exemption period will be subject to corporate tax on the amount which is determined by the distributed amount grossed up with the effective corporate tax rate which would have been applied had the company not elected the Alternative Track, which is generally 10%-25%, depending on the percentage of the company’s ordinary shares held by foreign shareholders. Dividends paid out of income derived from an approved enterprise (or out of dividends received from a company whose income is derived from an approved enterprise) are generally subject to withholding tax at the reduced rate of 15%, if the dividend is distributed during the tax exemption period or within twelve years thereafter. In the event, however, that the company is qualifies as a Foreign Investors’ as defined below, there is no such time limitation. The company must withhold this tax at the source.
A company that has an approved enterprise program is eligible for further tax benefits if it qualifies as a foreign investors’ company. A foreign investors’ company is a company where more than 25% of its share capital and combined share and loan capital is owned by non-Israeli residents. A company that qualifies as a foreign investors’ company and has an approved enterprise program is eligible for tax benefits for a ten-year benefit period. As specified above, depending on the geographic location of the approved enterprise within Israel, income derived from the approved enterprise program, if undistributed, may be exempt from tax for a period of between two to ten years, and will be subject to a reduced tax rate for the remainder of the benefit period. The tax rate for the remainder of the benefit period will be 25%, unless the level of foreign investment exceeds 49%, in which case the tax rate will be 20% if the foreign investment is more than 49% and less than 74%; 15% if more than 74% and less than 90%; and 10% if 90% or more.
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Under the Alternative Track, dividends paid by a company are considered to be attributable to income received from the entire company and the company’s effective tax rate is the result of a weighted average of the various applicable tax rates, excluding any tax-exempt income. Under the Investments Law, a company that has elected the Alternative Track is not obliged to distribute retained profits, and may generally decide from which year’s profits to declare dividends. We currently intend to reinvest any income derived from our approved enterprise program and not to distribute such income as a dividend.
Tax benefits under the 2005 Amendment
An amendment to the Investments Law, which effective as of April 1, 2005, has changed certain provisions of the Investments Law. The amendment includes revisions to the criteria for investments qualified to receive tax benefits as an approved enterprise. This amendment applies to new investment programs and investment programs commencing after 2004, and does not apply to investment programs approved prior to December 31, 2004. However, a company that was granted benefits according to section 51 of the Investments Law prior to the amendment would not be allowed to apply for benefits under the new amendment for a period of 3 years from the date of commencement of the beginning of the year the privileged enterprise was operated (reduced to a period of 2 years under certain conditions).. According to the amendment, only approved enterprises receiving cash grants require the prior approval of the Investment Center.
The Amendment does not apply to benefits included in any certificate of approval that was granted before the amendment came into effect, which will remain subject to the provisions of the Investments Law as they were on the date of such approval.
The basic condition for receiving the benefits under this track is that the enterprise contributes to the country’s economic independence and is a competitive factor for the Gross Domestic Product (a“Competitive Enterprise”). In order to comply with this condition, the Law prescribes various requirements regarding industrial enterprises. In each tax year during the benefit period, one of the following conditions must be met:
| | 1. | The enterprise’s main activity is in the area of biotechnology or nanotechnology as approved by the Head of the Administration of Industrial Research and Development, prior to the approval of the aforementioned plan. |
| | 2. | The enterprise’s revenues during the tax year from the plant’s sales in a certain market do not exceed 75% of total revenues from the plant’s total sales during that tax year. A “market” is defined as a distinct country or customs territory. |
| | 3. | 25% or more of the enterprise’s total revenues from the plant’s sales during the tax year are from sales to a certain market that numbers at least 12 million residents. |
An industrial enterprise that sells a specific product that constitutes a component in another product manufactured by another industrial enterprise (which is, or was, a beneficiary enterprise or an approved enterprise), the enterprise must meet the conditions stipulated in the relevant regulations regarding the encouragement of capital investments.
In order to receive the tax benefits, the amendment states that a company must make an investment in the Privileged Enterprise exceeding a certain percentage or a minimum amount specified in the Investments Law. Such investment may be made over a period of no more than three years, ending at the end of the year in which the company requested to have the tax benefits apply to the Privileged Enterprise (the “Year of Election”). Where the company requests to have the tax benefits apply to an expansion of existing facilities, then only the expansion will be considered a Privileged Enterprise and the company’s effective tax rate will be the result of a weighted combination of the applicable rates. In this case, the minimum investment required in order to qualify as a Privileged Enterprise is required to exceed a certain percentage or a minimum amount of the company’s production assets before the expansion.
The duration of these tax benefits is limited to the earlier of 7 to 10 years from the Commencement Year or 12 years from the first day of the Year of Election. Commencement Year is defined as the later of the first tax year in which a company had derived liable income for tax purposes from the Privileged Enterprise, or the year of election which is the year in which a company requested to have the tax benefits apply to the Privileged Enterprise. The tax benefits granted to a Privileged Enterprise are determined, depending on the geographic location of the Privileged Enterprise within Israel, according to one of the following, which may be applicable to us:
| | — | Similar to the currently available Alternative Track, exemption from corporate tax may be available on undistributed income for a period of two to ten years, depending on the geographic location of the Privileged Enterprise within Israel, and a reduced corporate tax rate of 10% to 25% for the remainder of the benefit period, depending on the level of foreign investment in each year. Benefits may be granted for a term of seven to ten years, depending on the level of foreign investment in the company. If the company pays a dividend out of income derived from the Privileged Enterprise during the tax exemption period, such income will be subject to corporate tax at the applicable rate (10%-25%) with respect to the gross amount of the dividend that we may distribute. The company is required to withhold tax on such distribution at a rate of 15%; or |
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| | — | A special track which enables companies owning facilities in certain geographical locations in Israel to pay corporate tax at the flat rate of 11.5% on income of the Privileged Enterprise (the “Irish Track”). The benefit period is for ten years. Upon payment of dividends, the company is required to withhold tax on such dividend at a rate of 15% for Israeli residents and at a rate of 4% for foreign residents. |
Generally, a company that is Abundant in Foreign Investment (owned by at least 74% foreign shareholders and has undertaken to invest a minimum sum of $20 million in the Privileged Enterprise) is entitled to an extension of the benefit period by an additional five years, depending on the rate of its income that is derived in foreign currency.
The amendment changes the definition of “foreign investment” in the Investments Law so that the definition now requires a minimal investment of NIS 5 million by foreign investors. Furthermore, such definition now also includes the purchase of shares of a company from another shareholder, provided that the company’s outstanding and paid-up share capital exceeds NIS 5 million. Such changes to the aforementioned definition will take effect retroactively from 2003.
As a result of the amendment, tax-exempt income generated under the provisions of the Investments Law, as amended, will subject us to taxes upon distribution or liquidation and we may be required to record deferred tax liability with respect to such tax-exempt income.
Currently we have three approved programs under the Investments Law, which entitles us to some tax benefits. The first program under the Law before the amendment (Approved Enterprise) and the second and third after the amendment (Privileged Enterprise). The above mentioned approved programs are subject to the Alternative Track provisions, which allows for a ten years period of exemption of taxes for undistributed income.
A substantial portion of our taxable operating income is derived from our approved enterprise program and we expect that a substantial portion of any taxable operating income that we may realize in the future will be also derived from such program.
The tax benefits attributable to our current Approved Enterprises and Privileged Enterprise are scheduled to expire in phases by 2016.
If a company requested the alternative package of benefits for an Approved Enterprise under the old law before the 2005 amendment, it was precluded from filing a Year of Election notice for a Privileged Enterprise for three years after the year in which the Approved Enterprise was activated (the “Cooling Period”). In November 2008, the law was amended to shorten the Cooling Period to two years.
Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 1969
We believe that we qualify as an “Industrial Company” within the meaning of the Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 1969, or the Industry Encouragement Law. The Industry Encouragement Law defines “Industrial Company” as a company resident in Israel, of which 90% or more of its income in any tax year, other than of income from defense loans, capital gains, interest and dividends, is derived from an “Industrial Enterprise” owned by it. An “Industrial Enterprise” is defined as an enterprise whose major activity in a given tax year is industrial production activity.
The following corporate tax benefits, among others, are available to Industrial Companies:
| | — | deduction of purchased of know-how and patents and/or right to use a patent over an eight-year period; |
| | — | accelerated depreciation rates on equipment and buildings; |
| | — | under specified conditions, an election to file consolidated tax returns with additional related Israeli Industrial Companies and an industrial holding company; |
| | — | Expenses related to a public offering on recognized stock markets, are deductible in equal amounts over three years. |
Eligibility for the benefits under the Industry Encouragement Law is not subject to receipt of prior approval from any governmental authority. We cannot assure that we will continue to qualify as an “Industrial Company” or that the benefits described above will be available in the future.
Taxation of the Company Shareholders
Dividends
According to the investment law any distribution of dividend from income attributed to an Approved Enterprise or a Privileged Enterprise under the Investments Law will generally be subject to tax in Israel at the rate of 15% A tax rate of 4% will be applied in respect of dividend distributed to a non-Israeli resident from income derived by a Privileged Enterprise under the Irish Track), subject to a reduced rate under any applicable double tax treaty (see below the description of relevant provisions of Israel U.S. double tax treaty in respect of dividend income).
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Any distribution of dividend from income, which isnot attributed to an “Approved Enterprise”/Privileged Enterprise, will be subject to tax, at the following rates:
Israeli resident
| | — | Individual – The distribution of dividend by an Israeli resident company to an Israeli resident individual will generally be subject to income tax at a rate of 20%. However, a 25% tax rate will apply if the dividend recipient is a “Significant Shareholder” (i.e., a person who holds, directly or indirectly, alone or together with other, 10% or more of one of the Israeli resident company’s means of control at the time of distribution or at any time during the preceding 12 months period). |
| | — | Corporation – Dividend distributed by an Israeli resident corporation to another Israeli resident corporation will be generally exempt from income tax provided the income from which such dividend is distributed was derived or accrued within Israel. |
Non Israeli resident
Under the Israeli income tax ordinance non-Israeli resident (either individual or corporation) is generally subject to an Israeli income tax on the receipt of dividends at the rate of 20% (25% if the dividends recipient is a “Significant Shareholder” (as defined above), those rates are subject to a reduced tax rate under an applicable double tax treaty. Thus, under the Double Tax Treaty concluded between the State of Israel and U.S. the following rates will apply in respect of dividend distributed by an Israeli resident company to a U.S. resident:
| | (i) | If the U.S. resident is a corporation which holds at the taxable year which precede the date of payment of the dividend and during the whole of its prior taxable year (if any), at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the voting stock of the Israeli resident paying corporation and not more then 25% of the gross income of the Israeli resident paying corporation for such prior taxable year (if any) consists of certain type of interest or dividends – the tax rate is 12.5%. |
| | (ii) | If both the conditions mentioned in section (i) above are met and the dividend is paid from an Israeli resident company’s income which was entitled to a reduced tax rate applicable to an “approved enterprise” under the Investment Law the tax rate is 15%. |
| | (iii) | In all other cases, the tax rate is 25%. |
The afore-mentioned rates under the Israel U.S. Double Tax Treaty will not apply if the dividend income was derived through a permanent establishment of the U.S. resident in Israel.
Withholding tax at source from dividend distributed by the company
An Israeli resident company whose shares are listed in a stock exchange is obligated to withhold tax, upon the distribution of a dividend, from the amount distributed, at the following rates:
The dividend distributed from an income attributed to the Approved Enterprise/Privileged Enterprise
| | — | Israeli resident corporation - 15%. |
| | — | Israeli resident individual - 15%. |
| | — | Non-Israeli resident – 15% subject to a reduced tax rate under an applicable double tax treaty (4% in respect of dividend distributed from income derived by a Privileged Enterprise under the Irish Track, subject to a reduced tax rate under an applicable double tax treaty).. |
The dividend distributed from an income not attributed to the Approved Enterprise/Privileged Enterprise
| | — | Israeli resident corporation - 0%. |
| | — | Israeli resident individual - 20%. |
| | — | Non-Israeli resident - 20% subject to a reduced tax rate under an applicable double tax treaty |
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Capital Gain Tax
General
��Capital gain tax is imposed on the disposal of capital assets by an Israeli resident and on the disposal of such assets by a non- Israel resident if those assets are either (i) located in Israel; (ii) they are shares or a right to a share in an Israeli resident corporation (iii) they represent a directly or indirectly rights to assets located in Israel. The Israeli Tax Ordinance distinguishes between “Real Gain” and the “Inflationary Surplus”. Real Gain is the excess of the total capital gain over Inflationary Surplus computed generally on the basis of the increase in the Israeli CPI between the date of purchase and the date of disposal.
Inflationary Surplus, that accrued until December 31, 1993, is subject to a tax rate of 10% while Inflationary Surplus that accrued after this date is exempt from any tax.
Capital Gain Tax Applicable to Israeli Resident Shareholders
The Capital gain accrued at the sale of an asset purchased on or after January 1, 2003 will be taxed as follows:
| | — | Individual – The real capital gain will be subject to tax at the rate of 20%. If the shareholder is a Significant Shareholder” (see aforementioned) or if the capital gain derived by an individual claiming deduction of financing expenses in respect of such gain, the real capital gain will be taxed at the rate of 25%. |
| | — | Corporation – The real capital gain derived by corporation will be generally subject to tax at the rate of 25%. However, the real capital gain derived from sale of securities, as defined in Section 6 of the Inflationary Adjustment Law, by a corporation, which was subject upon August 10, 2005 to the provisions of Section 6 of the Inflationary Adjustment Law, will be taxed at the corporate tax rate (27% in 2008, 26% in 2009). |
The Capital gain accrued at the sale of an asset purchased prior to January 1, 2003 will be subject to tax at a blended rate. The marginal tax rate for individuals (up to 47% in 2008) and the regular corporate tax rate for corporations (27% in 2008, 26% in 2009) will be applied to the gain amount which bears the same ratio to the total gain realized as the ratio which the holding period commencing at the acquisition date and terminating on January 1, 2003 bears to the total holding period. The remainder of the gain realized will be subject to capital gains tax at the rates applicable to an asset purchased after January 1, 2003 (see aforementioned).
Capital Gain Tax Applicable to Non-Israeli Resident Shareholders
Capital gain from the sale of the Shares by a non-Israeli shareholder are exempt under the Israeli income tax ordinance from Israeli taxation provided the following cumulative conditions are met: (i) the Shares were purchased upon or after the registration of the Shares at the stock exchange (shares purchased on or after 1.1.2009 are not subject to this condition) (ii) the seller doesn’t have a permanent establishment in Israel to which the derived capital gain is attributed (iii) if the seller is a corporation, less than 25% of its means of control are held by Israeli resident shareholders. In addition, the sale of the Shares may be exempt from Israeli capital gain tax under an applicable tax treaty. Thus, the U.S.-Israel Double Tax Treaty exempts U.S. resident from Israeli capital gain tax in connection with such sale, provided (i) the U.S. resident owned, directly or indirectly, less than 10% of an Israeli resident company’s voting power at any time within the 12 – month period preceding such sale; and (ii) the seller, being an individual, is present in Israel for a period or periods of less than 183 days at the taxable year; and (iii) the capital gain from the sale was not derived through a permanent establishment of the U.S. resident in Israel.
Generally, within 30 days of a transaction a detailed return, including a computation of the tax due, should be submitted to the Israeli Tax Authority, and an advanced payment amounting to the tax liability arising from the capital gain is payable. At the sale of traded securities, the aforementioned detailed return may not be submitted and the advanced payment should not be paid if all tax due was withheld at source according to applicable provisions of the Israeli income tax ordinance and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Capital gain is also reportable on the annual income tax return.
Taxation of investors engaged in a business of trading securities
Individual and corporate shareholder dealing in securities in Israel are taxed at the tax rates applicable to business income (27% – tax rate (in 2008, 26% in 2009) for a corporation and a marginal tax rate of up to 47% (in 2008, 46% in 2009) for individual). If the shareholder is a non-Israeli resident then such taxation is subject to the provision of any applicable double tax treaty.
Withholding at source from capital gains upon the sale of traded securities
Either the seller and the Israeli stockbrokers and the financial institution through which the sold securities are held are obliged, subject to the above mentioned exemptions, to withhold tax upon the sale of securities from the real capital gain. at the rate of 25% in respect of a corporation and 20% in respect of an individual.
Foreign Exchange Regulations
Non-residents of Israel who hold our ordinary shares are able to receive any dividends, and any amounts payable upon the dissolution, liquidation and winding up of our affairs, freely repayable in non-Israeli currency at the rate of exchange prevailing at the time of conversion. However, Israeli income tax is required to have been paid or withheld on these amounts. In addition, the statutory framework for the potential imposition of exchange controls has not been eliminated, and may be restored at any time by administrative action.
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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of ordinary shares. The following discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), regulations promulgated under the Code by the U.S. Treasury Department (including proposed and temporary regulations), rulings, current administrative interpretations and official pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Such change could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences described below. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below.
This discussion does not address state, local, or foreign tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of ordinary shares.See “Israeli Taxation” above.
This summary is for general information only and does not address all aspects of the U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular holder in light of its investment or tax circumstances or to holders subject to special tax rules, such as: banks; financial institutions; insurance companies; dealers in stocks, securities, or currencies; traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings; tax-exempt organizations; real estate investment trusts; regulated investment companies; qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, and other tax-deferred accounts; expatriates of the United States; persons subject to the alternative minimum tax; persons holding ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, or other integrated transaction; persons who acquired ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation for services; persons actually or constructively holding 10% or more of our voting stock; and U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar.
This discussion is not a comprehensive description of all of the U.S. federal tax consequences that may be relevant with respect to the ownership and disposition of ordinary shares. We urge you to consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances and the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to you of owning and disposing of ordinary shares, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, or foreign or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws.
This summary is directed solely to holders that hold their ordinary shares as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which generally means as property held for investment. For purposes of this discussion, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of ordinary shares that is any of the following:
| | n | a citizen or resident of the United States or someone treated as a U.S. citizen or resident for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| | n | 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; |
| | n | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; |
| | n | a trust if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust's administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or |
| | n | a trust in existence on August 20, 1996 that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
The term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of an ordinary share who is not a U.S. Holder. The tax consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder may differ substantially from the tax consequences to a U.S. Holder. Certain aspects of U.S. federal income tax relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder also are discussed below.
If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of ordinary shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A holder of ordinary shares that is a partnership and partners in such partnership should consult their own tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding and disposing of ordinary shares.
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Distributions Paid on the Ordinary Shares
We have never paid cash dividends and we do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in gross income as ordinary dividend income the amount of any distributions paid on the ordinary shares, including the amount of any Israeli taxes withheld, to the extent that those distributions are paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” 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 a sale or exchange of those ordinary shares. Our dividends will not qualify for the dividends-received deduction applicable in some cases to U.S. corporations. Dividends paid in NIS, including the amount of any Israeli taxes withheld, will be includible in the income of a U.S. Holder in a U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the day they are received by the U.S. Holder. Any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date the dividend is includible in the income of the U.S. Holder to the date that payment is converted into U.S. dollars generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss.
For tax years beginning before January 1, 2011, a non-corporate U.S. Holder’s “qualified dividend income” is subject to tax at reduced rates not exceeding 15%. “Qualified dividend income” generally includes dividends paid by a foreign corporation if either:
| | — | The stock of that corporation with respect to which the dividends are paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S., or |
| | — | That corporation is eligible for benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States. which includes an information exchange program and is determined to be satisfactory by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. The Internal Revenue Service has determined that the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty is satisfactory for this purpose. |
In addition, under current law a U.S. Holder must generally hold his ordinary shares for more than 60 days during the 121 day period beginning 60 days prior to the ex-dividend date.
Dividends paid by a foreign corporation will not qualify for the reduced rates, however, if such corporation is treated, for the tax year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding tax year, as a “passive foreign investment company” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We do not believe that we will be classified as a “passive foreign investment company” for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our current taxable year. However, see the discussion under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations” below.
Subject to the discussion below under “Information Reporting and Back-up Withholding,” a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on dividends received on ordinary shares unless that income is effectively connected with the conduct by that Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States.
Foreign Tax Credit
Subject to certain conditions and limitations, Israeli tax withheld on dividends may be deducted from taxable income or credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends distributed with respect to the ordinary shares will generally constitute “passive category income” or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, “general category income”. Any dividend income resulting from distributions we pay to a U.S. Holder with respect to the ordinary shares generally will be treated as foreign source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes; however, special rules will apply if we are a “United States-owned foreign corporation.” In that case, distributions of current or accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as U.S. source and foreign source income in proportion to our earnings and profits in the year of the distribution allocable to U.S. and foreign sources. We will be treated as a U.S.-owned foreign corporation as long as stock representing 50% or more of the voting power or value of our ordinary shares is owned, directly or indirectly, by U.S. persons. Foreign taxes allocable to the portion of our distributions treated as from U.S. sources under these rules may not be creditable against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability on such portion. The rules relating to the determination of foreign source income and the foreign tax credit are complex, and availability of a foreign tax credit depends on numerous factors. Each U.S. Holder should consult with its own tax advisor to determine whether its income with respect to the ordinary shares would be foreign source income and whether and to what extent that U.S. Holder would be entitled to the credit.
Disposition of Ordinary Shares
Upon the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares, subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares. U.S. Holders should consult their own advisors with respect to the tax consequences of the receipt of a currency other than U.S. dollars upon such sale or other disposition.
In the event there is an Israeli income tax on gain from the disposition of ordinary shares, such tax should generally be the type of tax that is creditable for U.S. tax purposes; however, because it is likely that the source of any such gain would be a U.S. source, a U.S. foreign tax credit may not be available. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the ability to claim such credit.
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Gain or loss upon the disposition of the ordinary shares will be treated as long-term if, at the time of the sale or disposition, the ordinary shares were held for more than one year. For tax years beginning before January 1, 2011, long-term capital gains realized by non-corporate U.S. Holders are generally subject to a lower marginal U.S. federal income tax rate than ordinary income, other than qualified dividend income, as defined above. The deductibility of capital losses by a U.S. Holder is subject to limitations. In general, any gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares will be U.S. source income or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the source of income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes and the effect of the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty on the source of income.
Subject to the discussion below under “Information Reporting and Back-up Withholding”, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale or exchange of ordinary shares unless:
| | — | that gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States, or |
| | — | in the case of any gain realized by an individual Non-U.S. Holder, that holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale or exchange, and other conditions are met. |
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
Special U.S. federal income tax rules apply to U.S. Holders owning shares of a passive foreign investment company. A non-U.S. corporation will be considered a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year in which, after applying look-through rules, 75% or more of its gross income consists of specified types of passive income, or 50% or more of the average value of its assets consists of passive assets, which generally means assets that generate, or are held for the production of, passive income. Passive income may include amounts derived by reason of the temporary investment of funds. If we were classified as a passive foreign investment company, a U.S. Holder could be subject to increased tax liability upon the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares or upon the receipt of amounts treated as “excess distributions.” Under these rules, the excess distribution and any gain would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares, and the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which we were a passive foreign investment company would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest marginal rate in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed on the resulting tax allocated to such other taxable years. The tax liability with respect to the amount allocated to years prior to the year of the disposition, or “excess distribution,” cannot be offset by any net operating losses. In addition, holders of stock in a passive foreign investment company may not receive a “step-up” in basis on shares acquired from a decedent. U.S. Holders who hold ordinary shares during a period when we are a passive foreign investment company will be subject to the foregoing rules even if we cease to be a passive foreign investment company.
We believe that we are not a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but we cannot be certain whether we will be treated as a passive foreign investment company for the current year or any future taxable year. Our belief that we will not be a passive foreign investment company for the current year is based on our estimate of the fair market value of our intangible assets, including goodwill, not reflected in our financial statements under U.S. GAAP, and our projection of our income for the current year. If the IRS successfully challenged our valuation of our intangible assets, it could result in our classification as a passive foreign investment company. Moreover, because passive foreign investment company status is based on our income and assets for the entire taxable year, it is not possible to determine whether we will be a passive foreign investment company for the current taxable year until after the close of the year. In the future, in calculating the value of our intangible assets, we will value our total assets, in part, based on our total market value determined using the average of the selling price of our ordinary shares on the last trading day of each calendar quarter. We believe this valuation approach is reasonable. While we intend to manage our business so as to avoid passive foreign investment company status, to the extent consistent with our other business goals, we cannot predict whether our business plans will allow us to avoid passive foreign investment company status or whether our business plans will change in a manner that affects our passive foreign investment company status determination. In addition, because the market price of our ordinary shares is likely to fluctuate and the market price of the shares of technology companies has been especially volatile, and because that market price may affect the determination of whether we will be considered a passive foreign investment company, we cannot assure that we will not be considered a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year.
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The passive foreign investment company rules described above will not apply to a U.S. Holder if the U.S. Holder makes an election to treat us as a qualified electing fund. However, a U.S Holder may make a qualified electing fund election only if we furnish the U.S. Holder with certain tax information. We currently do not provide this information, and we do not intend to take actions necessary to permit you to make a qualified electing fund election in the event we are determined to be a passive foreign investment company. As an alternative to making this election, a U.S. Holder of passive foreign investment company stock which is publicly traded may in certain circumstances avoid certain of the tax consequences generally applicable to holders of a passive foreign investment company by electing to mark the stock to market annually and recognizing as ordinary income or loss each year an amount equal to the difference as of the close of the taxable year between the fair market value of the passive foreign investment company stock and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the passive foreign investment company stock. Losses would be allowed only to the extent of net mark-to-market gain previously included by the U.S. Holder under the election for prior taxable years. This election is available for so long as our ordinary shares constitute “marketable stock,” which includes stock of a passive foreign investment company that is “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange or other market.” Generally, a “qualified exchange or other market” includes a national market system established pursuant to Section 11A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A class of stock that is traded on one or more qualified exchanges or other markets is “regularly traded” on an exchange or market for any calendar year during which that class of stock is traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. We believe that the Nasdaq Global Select Market will constitute a qualified exchange or other market for this purpose. However, no assurances can be provided that our ordinary shares will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or that the shares will be regularly traded for this purpose.
The rules applicable to owning shares of a passive foreign investment company are complex, and each prospective purchaser who would be a U.S. Holder should consult with its own tax advisor regarding the consequences of investing in a passive foreign investment company.
Information Reporting and Back-up Withholding
Generally, information reporting requirements will apply to distributions on ordinary shares or proceeds on the disposition of ordinary shares paid within the United States (and, in certain cases, outside the United States) to U.S. Holders other than certain exempt recipients, such as corporations. Furthermore, backup withholding (currently at 28%) may apply to such amounts if the U.S. Holder 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. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide such certification on IRS Form W-9.
Payments to Non-U.S. Holders of distributions on, or proceeds from the disposition of, ordinary shares are generally exempt from information reporting and backup withholding. However, a Non-U.S. Holder may be required to establish that exemption by providing certification of non-U.S. status on an appropriate IRS Form W-8.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding from a payment to you may be credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability and you 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.
| F. | DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS |
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
A copy of each report submitted in accordance with applicable United States law is available for public review at our principal executive offices. In addition, our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission may be inspected without charge at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room can be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s website atwww.sec.gov.
A copy of each document (or a translation thereof to the extent not in English) concerning Syneron Medical Ltd. that is referred to in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, is available for public view (subject to confidential treatment of certain agreements pursuant to applicable law) at our principal executive offices.
Not applicable.
| ITEM 11. | | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
Exchange Rate Risk. A significant portion of our operations is conducted through operations in countries other than the United States and Israel. Revenues from our international operations which were recorded in U.S. dollars represented 75% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008. Substantially all of the remaining 25% were sales in Euros. Since we conduct our business in U.S. dollars, our main exposure, if any, results from changes in the exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar and NIS and U.S. dollar. Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Our policy is to reduce exposure to exchange rate fluctuations by having most of our assets and liabilities, as well as most of our revenues and expenditures, in U.S. dollars, or U.S. dollar linked. Therefore, we believe that the potential loss that would result from an increase or decrease in the exchange rate may have a material impact on us.
62
Interest Rate Risk. We do not have any outstanding loans and therefore, our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rate relates primarily to our investments in cash, marketable securities and bank deposits. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while maximizing the interest income we receive from our investments, without increasing risk. We invest approximately 33% of our cash balances in bank deposits and the remainder primarily in securities issued by the United States, by non-U.S. governments and by high quality U.S and non U.S corporations featuring high credit rating of A and up. We do not use derivative financial instruments to limit exposure to interest rate risk. Our interest gains may decline in the future as a result of changes in the financial markets; however we believe any such potential loss would be immaterial to us.
Our investment portfolio of cash equivalents, corporate securities, and governmental debt securities is subject to interest rate fluctuations. At December 31, 2008, we held $9.5 million in auction-rate securities (ARS). The ARS we invest in are mainly high quality securities. At December 31, 2007, because of the short-term nature of our investment in these securities, they were classified as available-for-sale and included in short-term investments on our consolidated balance sheets. Subsequent to December 31, 2007, our securities failed at auction due to a decline in liquidity in the ARS and other capital markets. We will not be able to access our investments in ARS until future auctions are successful, ARS are called for redemption by the issuers, or until sold in a secondary market. As our investments in ARS currently lack short-term liquidity, we have reclassified these investments as non-current as of December 31, 2008. During fiscal 2008, we sold approximately $4.1 million of the ARS held at December 31, 2007. The recovery of the remaining $9.5 million ARS held is based upon market factors which are not within our control.
| ITEM 12. | | DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES |
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 |
At the closing of our initial public offering of our ordinary shares on August 11, 2004, all of our outstanding preferred shares were converted into ordinary shares. Amendments to articles of incorporation (relating only to ordinary shares and allowing, for example, free transferability of shares) became effective upon the closing of our initial public offering. Since our initial public offering, no instruments defining the rights of our ordinary shares’ holders have been modified.
Pursuant to our initial public offering, we sold an aggregate of 5,000,000 ordinary shares at a per share offering price of $12.00. Our net aggregate proceeds (after underwriting discount and expenses) amounted to approximately $54 million. The amount of the underwriting discount paid by us in the initial public offering was approximately $4.2 million and the expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, were approximately $2.0 million, consisting of, among other things, SEC registration fees, NASD filings fees, Nasdaq Global Select Market listing fees, Israel stamp duty and legal and accounting fees. The payments of these expenses did not constitute direct or indirect payments to our directors, officers, major shareholders or affiliates.
To date, the net proceeds of the offering were invested in term deposits in U.S. banks, government bonds and corporate bonds in accordance with our investment guidelines as adopted by our audit committee. We still intend to use the proceeds in the manner set forth in our prospectus of August 5, 2004.
| ITEM 15. | | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
(a) We have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2008. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (the principal executive and principal financial officer, respectively) have concluded that we have in place effective controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
63
(b) Our management, under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:
| | — | pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and asset dispositions; |
| | — | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| | — | provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and board of directors (as appropriate); and |
| | — | provide reasonable assurance regarding the prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements. |
Due to its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 based on the framework for Internal Control-Integrated Framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2008.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer an independent registered public accounting firm and a member firm of Ernst & Young Global has issued an attestation report on our internal controls over financial reporting, and is incorporated herein by reference. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified with the evaluation thereof that occurred during the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 20-F that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
| ITEM 16A. | | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT |
Our board of directors has determined that Dr. Michael Anghel, who is an independent director (as defined under Rule 4200(a)(15) of The Nasdaq Marketplace Rules) and serves on our audit committee, qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F.
In 2004, we adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to the Company’s directors, officers and employees, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions. In February 2008, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics was reapproved by our board of directors. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our website, www.syneron.com.
| ITEM 16C. | | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES |
During the years 2007 and 2008, we were billed the following aggregate fees for the professional services rendered by Ernst & Young, independent registered public accounting firm:
| 2007
(in thousands) | 2008
(in thousands) |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| Audit Fees(1) | | | | 542 | | | 595 | |
| Tax Fees(2) | | | | 49 | | | 170 | |
| Audit Related Fees(3) | | | | 24 | | | 162 | |
| Total | | | | 615 | | | 927 | |
| (1) | Audit fees are fees for audit services for each of the years shown in this table, including fees associated with the annual audit (including audit of our internal control over financial reporting), consultations on various accounting issues and audit services provided in connection with other statutory or regulatory filings. |
| (2) | Tax services rendered by our auditors were for tax compliance and for tax consulting associated with international transfer pricing. |
| (3) | Audit related services rendered by Ernst & Young during 2008 were mostly in connection with due diligence review conducted with respect to potential acquisitions. |
64
Our audit committee has adopted a policy for pre-approval of audit and non-audit services provided by our independent auditor. Under the policy, such services must require the specific pre-approval of our audit committee followed by ratification of our full board of directors. Any proposed services exceeding the pre-approval amounts for all services to be provided by our independent auditor require an additional specific pre-approval by our audit committee.
| ITEM 16D. | | EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 16E. | | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS |
Through February 15, 2009, we spent an aggregate of $9.1 million to repurchase 588,700 ordinary shares under our share repurchase program. The following table provides information regarding our repurchases of our ordinary shares for each month included in the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 20-F:
Period
| (a) Total Number
of Ordinary
Shares Purchased
| (b) Average
Price Paid per
Ordinary Share
| (c) Total Number of
Ordinary Shares
Purchased as Part
of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
| (d) Approximate
Dollar
Value of Shares
that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs (in
thousands)
|
|---|
| | | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| November 1 - November 30, 2007 | | | | 209,000 | | $ | 15.622 | | | 209,000 | | $ | 46,735 | |
| December 1 - December 31, 2007 | | | | 257,000 | | | 15.272 | | | 466,000 | | | 42,810 | |
| March 1 - March 31, 2008 | | | | 122,700 | | | 15.701 | | | 588,700 | | | 40,884 | |
| ITEM 16F. | | CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 16G. | | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Not applicable.
PART III
| ITEM 17. | | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 18. | | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Our, and our subsidiary’s Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on pages F-1 through F-52, as set forth in the following index, are hereby incorporated herein by reference. These Consolidated Financial Statements are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
| |
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|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | F-2 |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting | F-3 |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | F-4 F-5 |
| Consolidated Statements of Income | F-6 |
| Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity | F-7-F-9 |
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | F-10-F-11 |
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | F-12-F-52 |
65
| 1.1 | | Articles of Association of Registrant, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed May 7, 2008). |
| 2.1 | | Form of Share Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed July 14, 2004). |
| 4.1 | | Turn-Key Manufacturing Agreement by and between Syneron Medical Ltd. and U.S.R. Electronics Systems (1987) Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1/A filed August 3, 2004)^. |
| 4.2 | | Turn-Key Manufacturing Agreement by and between Syneron Medical Ltd. and Fibernet Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1/A filed August 3, 2004)^. |
| 4.3 | | Patent License and Settlement Agreement dated March 4, 2004 by and between (a) Lumenis Inc. and Lumenis Ltd. and (b) Syneron Inc. and Syneron Medical Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1/A filed August 3, 2004)^. |
| 4.4 | | 2003 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed July 14, 2004). |
| 4.5 | | 2004 Israel Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed July 14, 2004). |
| 4.6 | | 2004 United States and Canada Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed July 14, 2004). |
| 4.7 | | Patent License and Settlement Agreement dated as of June 3, 2005 by and between Thermage, Inc. and Syneron Medical Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed July 30, 2005). |
| 4.8 | | Joint Development and Supply Framework Agreement dated as of February 25, 2007 by and between The Procter & Gamble Company and Syneron Medical Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed June 15, 2007)^. |
| 4.9 | | Shareholders’ Rights Agreement dated as of November 11, 2008 by and between Syneron Medical Ltd. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to our Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed November 12, 2008) |
| 8.1* | | List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant. |
| 12.(a).1* | | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 12.(a).2* | | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 13.(a).1* | | Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 15.(a).1* | | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. |
| ^ | Portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a confidential treatment request |
66
SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated
Financial Statements
As of December 31, 2008
In U.S. Dollars
SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated
Financial Statements
As of December 31, 2008
In Thousands of U.S. Dollars
C O N T E N T S
F - 1
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 | Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer
2 Pal-Yam Ave.
Haifa 33095, Israel
Tel: 972 (4)8654000
Fax: 972 (3)5633443
www.ey.com.il |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
SYNERON MEDICAL LTD.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Syneron Medical Ltd. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 23, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
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|---|
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|---|
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|---|
| Haifa, Israel | KOST FORER GABBAY & KASIERER |
| March 24, 2009 | A Member of Ernst & Young Global |
F - 2
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|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer
2 Pal-Yam Ave.
Haifa 33095, Israel
Tel: 972 (4)8654000
Fax: 972 (3)5633443
www.ey.com.il |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
SYNERON MEDICAL LTD.
We have audited Syneron Medical Ltd.’s (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO criteria”). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Form 20-F. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Syneron Medical Ltd. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 and our report dated March 24, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
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| Haifa, Israel | KOST FORER GABBAY & KASIERER |
| March 24, 2009 | A Member of Ernst & Young Global |
F - 3
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| Note
| 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| CURRENT ASSETS: | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | | | | | $ | 72,366 | | $ | 42,624 | |
| Available-for-sale marketable securities | | | | 3 | | | 117,342 | | | 124,941 | |
| Trade receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,876 | | |
| and $1,777 as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively) | | | | | | | 32,637 | | | 40,741 | |
| Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses | | | | 5 | | | 4,249 | | | 4,485 | |
| Inventories | | | | 6 | | | 12,660 | | | 9,465 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total Current Assets | | | | | | | 239,254 | | | 222,256 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| LONG-TERM ASSETS: | | |
| Severance pay fund | | | | | | | 107 | | | 225 | |
| Long-term deposits and others | | | | 7 | | | 180 | | | 1,130 | |
| Long-term available-for-sale marketable securities | | | | 3 | | | 27,214 | | | 35,122 | |
| Investments in affiliated companies | | | | 8 | | | 4,225 | | | 2,572 | |
| Property and equipment, net | | | | 9 | | | 3,656 | | | 3,111 | |
| Intangible assets, net | | | | 10 | | | 3,828 | | | 2,594 | |
| Goodwill | | | | 11 | | | 2,822 | | | 2,266 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total Long-Term Assets | | | | | | | 42,032 | | | 47,020 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total Assets | | | | | | $ | 281,286 | | $ | 269,276 | |
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 4
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| Note
| 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | |
| Trade payables | | | | | | $ | 8,675 | | $ | 7,734 | |
| Other accounts payable and accrued expenses | | | | 12 | | | 25,587 | | | 24,738 | |
| | |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total Current Liabilities | | | | | | | 34,262 | | | 32,472 | |
| | |
| |
| |
| | | |
| LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: | | |
| Deferred revenues | | | | | | | 3,140 | | | 4,991 | |
| Warranty accruals | | | | | | | 1,117 | | | 730 | |
| Accrued severance pay | | | | | | | 171 | | | 248 | |
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| Total Long-Term Liabilities | | | | | | | 4,428 | | | 5,969 | |
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| Total Liabilities | | | | | | | 38,690 | | | 38,441 | |
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| | | |
| SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: | | | | 14 | | | | | | | |
| Ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 par value: | | |
| Authorized - 100,000,000 Ordinary shares; Issued and outstanding - | | |
| 27,472,775 and 27,375,010 shares as of December 31, 2008 and | | |
| 2007, respectively | | | | | | | 64 | | | 64 | |
| Additional paid-in capital | | | | | | | 98,125 | | | 89,941 | |
| Treasury shares - 1,251,574 and 1,128,874 Ordinary shares as of | | |
| December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively | | | | | | | (9,587 | ) | | (7,660 | ) |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | | | | | | (344 | ) | | (83 | ) |
| Retained earnings | | | | | | | 154,338 | | | 148,573 | |
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| Total Shareholders' Equity | | | | | | | 242,596 | | | 230,835 | |
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| Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | | | | | | $ | 281,286 | | $ | 269,276 | |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 5
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME |
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| | Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| Note
| 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
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|---|
| Revenues | | | | | | $ | 114,979 | | $ | 140,996 | | $ | 116,976 | |
| Cost of revenues | | | | | | | 29,670 | | | 26,995 | | | 17,921 | |
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| Gross profit | | | | | | | 85,309 | | | 114,001 | | | 99,055 | |
| | |
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| Operating expenses: | | |
| Research and development | | | | | | | 13,783 | | | 12,511 | | | 8,515 | |
| Selling and marketing | | | | | | | 54,064 | | | 58,605 | | | 46,434 | |
| General and administrative | | | | | | | 17,706 | | | 11,860 | | | 9,455 | |
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| Total operating expenses | | | | | | | 85,553 | | | 82,976 | | | 64,404 | |
| | |
| |
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| Operating (loss) income | | | | | | | (244 | ) | | 31,025 | | | 34,651 | |
| Financial income, net | | | | 16 | | | 3,862 | | | 3,254 | | | 6,492 | |
| | |
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| Income before taxes on income | | | | | | | 3,618 | | | 34,279 | | | 41,143 | |
| Taxes on income (benefits) | | | | 15 | | | (2,009 | ) | | 3,035 | | | 1,489 | |
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| Net income | | | | | | $ | 5,627 | | $ | 31,244 | | $ | 39,654 | |
| | |
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| Net earnings per share: | | |
| Basic net earnings per share | | | | | | $ | 0.21 | | $ | 1.13 | | $ | 1.46 | |
| | |
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| |
| Diluted net earnings per share | | | | | | $ | 0.20 | | $ | 1.12 | | $ | 1.44 | |
| | |
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| |
| |
| | | |
| Weighted average number of shares used in per share | | |
| calculations (in thousands): | | |
| Basic | | | | | | | 27,410 | | | 27,690 | | | 27,202 | |
| | |
| |
| |
| |
| Diluted | | | | | | | 27,521 | | | 27,880 | | | 27,601 | |
| | |
| |
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| |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 6
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
| STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Ordinary
Shares
| Additional
Paid-in
Capital
| Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
loss **)
| Treasury
Shares
| Retained
Earnings
| Total
Shareholders'
Equity
| Total
Comprehensive
Income
|
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | |
|---|
| Balance as of January 1, 2008 | | | $ | 64 | | $ | 89,941 | | $ | (83 | ) | $ | (7,660 | ) | $ | 148,573 | | $ | 230,835 | | | | |
| Exercise of stock options | | | | *) | | | 2 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 2 | | | | |
| Issuance of shares as a result | | |
| of exercise of restricted stock units (RSU) | | | | *) | | | 2 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 2 | | | | |
| Equity based compensation expenses | | | | - | | | 7,592 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 7,592 | | | | |
| Repurchase of Ordinary shares at cost | | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (1,927 | ) | | - | | | (1,927 | ) | | | |
| Accretion to redemption of value of put option | | |
| (see also Note 1C) | | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 138 | | | 138 | | | | |
| Reimbursement of share issuance expenses | | |
| (see also Note 14A(7)) | | | | - | | | 588 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 588 | | | | |
| Other comprehensive income: | | |
| Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities | | | | - | | | - | | | (558 | ) | | - | | | - | | | (558 | ) | $ | (558 | ) |
| Reclassification to income statement for loss realized | | | | - | | | - | | | 297 | | | - | | | - | | | 297 | | | | |
| Net income | | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 5,627 | | | 5,627 | | | 5,627 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total comprehensive income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 5,069 | |
| | | | | | |
| |
| | | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2008 | | | $ | 64 | | $ | 98,125 | | $ | (344 | ) | $ | (9,587 | ) | $ | 154,338 | | $ | 242,596 | | | | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| **) | Accumulated other comprehensive loss on account of unrealized losses on available-for-sale marketable securities. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 7
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
| STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHARHOLDERS' EQUITY |
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Ordinary
Shares
| Additional
Paid-in
Capital
| Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
loss **)
| Treasury
Shares
| Retained
Earnings
| Total
Shareholders’
Equity
| Total
Comprehensive
Income
|
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | |
|---|
| Balance as of January 1, 2007 | | | $ | 63 | | $ | 78,663 | | $ | (1,197 | ) | $ | (461 | ) | $ | 117,329 | | $ | 194,397 | | | | |
| Exercise of stock options | | | | 1 | | | 3,468 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 3,469 | | | | |
| Issuance of shares as a result of exercise of restricted stock units (RSU) | | | | *) | | | 1 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 1 | | | | |
| Equity based compensation expenses | | | | - | | | 7,809 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 7,809 | | | | |
| Repurchase of Ordinary shares at cost | | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (7,199 | ) | | - | | | (7,199 | ) | | | |
| Other comprehensive income: | | |
| Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities | | | | - | | | - | | | 981 | | | - | | | - | | | 981 | | $ | 981 | |
| Reclassification to income statement for gain realized | | | | - | | | - | | | 133 | | | - | | | - | | | 133 | | | | |
| Net income | | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 31,244 | | | 31,244 | | | 31,244 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total comprehensive income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 32,225 | |
| | | | | | |
| |
| | | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2007 | | | $ | 64 | | $ | 89,941 | | $ | (83 | ) | $ | (7,660 | ) | $ | 148,573 | | $ | 230,835 | | | | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| **) | Accumulated other comprehensive loss on account of unrealized losses on available-for-sale marketable securities. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 8
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
| STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHARHOLDERS' EQUITY |
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Ordinary
Shares
| Additional
Paid-in
Capital
| Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
loss *)
| Deferred
Stock based
Compensation
| Treasury
Shares
| Retained
Earnings
| Total
Shareholders’
Equity
| Total
Comprehensive
Income
|
|---|
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| Balance as of January 1, 2006 | | | $ | 61 | | $ | 70,254 | | $ | (2,188 | ) | $ | (177 | ) | $ | (461 | ) | $ | 77,675 | | $ | 145,164 | | | | |
| Exercise of stock options | | | | 1 | | | 329 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 330 | | | | |
| Issuance of shares as a result of exercise | | |
| of restricted stock units (RSU) | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 2 | | | | |
| Reclassification of deferred stock based compensation to additional paid in capital due to adoption of FAS 123(R) | | | | - | | | (177 | ) | | - | | | 177 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | | |
| Equity based compensation expenses | | | | - | | | 8,256 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 8,256 | | | | |
| Other comprehensive income: | | |
| Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities | | | | - | | | - | | | 913 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 913 | | $ | 913 | |
| Reclassification to income statement | | |
| for loss realized | | | | - | | | - | | | 78 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 78 | | | | |
| Net income | | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 39,654 | | | 39,654 | | | 39,654 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total comprehensive income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 40,567 | |
| | | | | | | |
| |
| | | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2006 | | | $ | 63 | | $ | 78,663 | | $ | (1,197 | ) | $ | - | | $ | (461 | ) | $ | 117,329 | | $ | 194,397 | | | | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| *) | Accumulated other comprehensive loss on account of unrealized losses on available-for-sale marketable securities. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 9
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net income | | | $ | 5,627 | | $ | 31,244 | | $ | 39,654 | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | | 2,137 | | | 1,263 | | | 720 | |
| Deferred taxes | | | | (1,812 | ) | | - | | | - | |
| Increase (decrease) in accrued severance pay, net | | | | 41 | | | (14 | ) | | 4 | |
| Decrease (increase) in trade receivables, net | | | | 8,104 | | | (2,263 | ) | | (17,091 | ) |
| Decrease in other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses | | | | 2,048 | | | 405 | | | 3,795 | |
| Increase in inventories | | | | (3,691 | ) | | (2,381 | ) | | (3,650 | ) |
| Increase in trade payables | | | | 941 | | | 1,282 | | | 4,340 | |
| Increase (decrease) in other account payable and accrued expenses | | | | (552 | ) | | 3,915 | | | (403 | ) |
| Impairment of available-for-sale marketable securities | | | | 1,553 | | | 5,776 | | | - | |
| Realized loss (gain) and changes in accrued interest from marketable securities | | | | (192 | ) | | (1,059 | ) | | 52 | |
| Equity based compensation | | | | 7,592 | | | 7,809 | | | 8,256 | |
| Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues | | | | (2,020 | ) | | 1,175 | | | 2,584 | |
| Increase (decrease) in warranty accruals | | | | 641 | | | 596 | | | (917 | ) |
| Loss on sales of property and equipment | | | | - | | | 8 | | | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | | | | 20,417 | | | 47,756 | | | 37,344 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | |
| Maturity of (investment in) short-term deposits, net | | | | - | | | 5,000 | | | (1,500 | ) |
| Purchase of available-for-sale marketable securities | | | | (183,103 | ) | | (152,568 | ) | | (82,207 | ) |
| Proceeds from sale and redemption of available-for-sale marketable securities | | | | 196,988 | | | 138,542 | | | 49,996 | |
| Payments for investments in affiliated companies | | | | (1,653 | ) | | (2,572 | ) | | - | |
| Investment in long -term deposits and others | | | | 950 | | | (25 | ) | | (2 | ) |
| Purchase of property and equipment | | | | (1,247 | ) | | (2,272 | ) | | (747 | ) |
| Purchase of intangible assets | | | | - | | | - | | | (250 | ) |
| Acquisition of minority shares in a subsidiary (Schedule A) | | | | (775 | ) | | (3,554 | ) | | - | |
| Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | | | | - | | | 10 | | | - | |
| Net cash paid in conjunction with acquisition of a subsidiary (Schedule B) | | | | (500 | ) | | - | | | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | | | | 10,660 | | | (17,439 | ) | | (34,710 | ) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | |
| Exercise of stock options | | | | 2 | | | 3,469 | | | 330 | |
| Issuance of shares as a result of exercise of RSUs | | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | 2 | |
| Repurchase of Ordinary shares from shareholders at cost | | | | (1,927 | ) | | (7,199 | ) | | - | |
| Reimbursement of share issuance expenses | | | | 588 | | | - | | | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | | | | (1,335 | ) | | (3,729 | ) | | 332 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Increase in cash and cash equivalents | | | | 29,742 | | | 26,588 | | | 2,966 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year | | | | 42,624 | | | 16,036 | | | 13,070 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year | | | $ | 72,366 | | $ | 42,624 | | $ | 16,036 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | | |
| Cash paid during the year for: | | |
| Income taxes | | | $ | 905 | | | - | | $ | 9 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 10
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Supplemental disclosure of non cash financing and investing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Purchase of property and equipment in credit | | | $ | 347 | | $ | - | | $ | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| Change in designation of Inventory to property and equipment | | | $ | 496 | | $ | - | | $ | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| Acquisition of minority shares in a subsidiary by credit | | | $ | - | | $ | 786 | | $ | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| SCHEDULE A: | | |
| Acquisition of minority shares in a subsidiary (see Note 1(C)) | | |
| | | |
| Estimated net fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of | | |
| acquisition was as follows: | | |
| | | |
| Goodwill and other intangible assets | | | $ | 556 | | $ | 4,241 | | $ | - | |
| In Process Research and Development | | | | - | | | 99 | | | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| Total identified assets acquired | | | | 556 | | | 4,340 | | | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| Amount payable | | | | - | | | (786 | ) | | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| Amounts paid during the year | | | | 219 | | | - | | | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | | $ | 775 | | $ | 3,554 | | $ | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| SCHEDULE B: | | |
| Net cash paid in conjunction with acquisition of subsidiary (see Note 1(D)) | | |
| | | |
| Contingent Payment Liability | | | $ | (614 | ) | $ | - | | $ | - | |
| Developed Technology | | | | 1,826 | | | - | | | - | |
| Deferred Tax Liability | | | | (712 | ) | | - | | | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Net cash paid for acquisition | | | $ | 500 | | $ | - | | $ | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 11
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| | A. | Syneron Medical Ltd. (“the Company” or “Syneron”) commenced its operations in July 2000. The Company and its subsidiaries (together “the Group”) are principally engaged in research, development, marketing and sales, directly to end-users and also to distributors of advanced equipment for the esthetic medical industry and systems for dermatologists, plastic surgeons and other qualified practitioners worldwide. |
| | B. | Syneron GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary in Germany, was established in August 2001, for the purpose of marketing and selling of the Company’s products in Europe. Syneron Inc. and Syneron Canada Corp., also wholly-owned subsidiaries, were established during 2002 for the purpose of marketing and selling the Company’s products in North America. Syneron Medical (HK) Ltd., also a wholly-owned subsidiary, was established in Hong Kong in June 2004 and became active in promoting, marketing and serving as an agent of the Company in Asia and Australia in January 2007. |
| | In 2005, the Company invested in Light Instruments Ltd. (“LI”), an Israeli development stage company engaged in the development of advanced dental laser devices. The Company invested $1,500, in two portions, in consideration for approximately 51% of is outstanding share capital and exercised its right to increase the number of directors to three out of five members of LI’s board of directors. As such, the Company is consolidating LI since the third quarter of 2005. The Company is expecting to utilize LI’s technology to develop and release additional products. |
| | On July 2, 2007, the Company signed a new share purchase agreement with LI and its two founders. The Company has recorded an investment at the total amount of $4,340 in consideration for approximately 44% of LI’s outstanding share capital. Following the closing, the Company held approximately 95% of LI. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had paid in cash $3,554 and recorded a liability to pay an additional $786 to the two founders. During 2008, the Company paid $219 on account of the above mentioned liability. |
| | Each of the two founders is also entitled to 0.5% of all of LI is net sales for a period of up to seven years starting from the closing date, up to an aggregate amount of $500 with no regard to their continuous employment by the Company (i.e., the founders are entitled to such amounts as sellers and not in their role as employees). This amount will be recorded as part of the purchase price and will be allocated to goodwill. |
| | The Founders and the Company have a put and call option for the respective sale and acquisition of the remaining 5% holdings for the sum of $500, with various effective dates, last of which was July 2, 2017. |
| | In 2008, the founders exercised their put option. As a result of the exercise of the put option, the Company accreted to the redemption value of the put option and recorded such accretion to its retained earnings in the amount of $138. The Company recorded the amount paid for the remaining 5% as an increase to its goodwill resulting from the LI acquisition. As of October 2008, the Company holds 100% of LI. |
F - 12
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| | C. | Light Instruments Ltd (Cont.): |
| | If the two founders comply with certain terms with respect to the termination of their employment, they shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount of $350 over a period of 3 years. Since the founders’entitlement to such compensation is contingent upon their continuous service to the acquired company, such amounts are recognized as compensation expense in the appropriate periods in which the founders are providing services to the acquired company as employees. |
| | The Company has accounted for this share purchase agreement according to SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”. |
| | The purchase price was allocated based on an independent third party appraisal. |
| | The excess of the amounts paid through December 31, 2008 for the above mentioned LI shares acquired over their book value was attributed as follows: |
| | Excess cost
| Expected useful lives
of excess cost
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Developed technology | | | $ | 1,394 | | | 6.5 years | |
| In Process Research and Development | | | | 99 | | | Immediate write-off | |
| Distribution agreements | | | | 286 | | | 8.5 years | |
| Brand name | | | | 295 | | | 11.5 years | |
| Goodwill(*), (**) | | | | 2,822 | | | Indefinite | |
| |
| | | |
| | | | $ | 4,896 | | | | |
| |
| | | |
| | (*) | Including $56 paid to the two founders in connection with LI net sales amounts, see above. |
| | (**) | Including $500 paid in connection with put option exercised, see above. |
| | 1. | In November 2008, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement (“SPA”) with Inlight Corp. (“Inlight”), a company incorporated under the laws of the State of California pursuant to which Syneron acquired all of Inlight’s share capital. The Company is expecting to utilize Inlight’s technology to develop and release additional products. |
| | 2. | In consideration for Inlight’s share capital, the Company undertook to pay a total consideration of up to $4,000. The consideration is conditioned upon Inlight’s compliance with certain milestones detailed in the SPA. At the closing, the Company paid Inlight’s shareholders a total consideration of $500 and deposited an additional amount of $500 in escrow. Amounts deposited in escrow were recorded as part of other receivables. |
F - 13
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| | 3. | The Company has accounted for the acquisition in accordance with SFAS141, “Business Combinations”. The purchase price was allocated based on independent third party appraisal. The excess amounts paid for above mentioned shares acquired over their book value was attributed as follows: |
| Assets
| Fair Value
| Expected useful lives
of excess cost
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Tangible Asset | | | | | | | | |
| Contingent Payment Liability | | | $ | (614 | ) | | - | |
| | | |
| Intangible Assets | | |
| Developed Technology | | | | 1,826 | | | 6 years | |
| Deferred tax liability | | | | (712 | ) | | - | |
| |
| | | |
| Total Purchase Price | | | $ | 500 | | | | |
| |
| | | |
| | During November 2008, the Company signed a joint venture (“JV”) agreement for establishing Syneron China. According to the agreement the Company will hold 51% of the JV for the total investment of $510. Through this new Chinese subsidiary, Syneron will sell directly to medical and aesthetic professionals in China. As of December 31, 2008, the JV has not yet been incorporated and is expected to commence its operations during 2009. |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
| | The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP"). |
| | The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions. The Company’s management believes that the estimates, judgments and assumptions used are reasonable based upon information available at the time they are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
| | B. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN U.S. DOLLARS |
| | The Company’s consolidated revenues are generated mainly in U.S. dollars (“dollars”). In addition, a substantial portion of the Group’s costs are incurred in dollars. The Company’s management believes that the dollar is the primary currency of the economic environment in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate. Thus, the dollar is the functional and reporting currency of the Company and its subsidiaries. Transaction and balances in currencies other than the US dollars have been re-measured into dollars in accordance with the principles set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 52, “Foreign Currency Translation”. All exchange gains and losses from re-measurement are reflected in the consolidated income statements in financial income or expenses. |
F - 14
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | C. | PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION |
| | The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances including profit from inter-company sales not yet realized outside the Group, have been eliminated upon consolidation. |
| | Cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash with original maturities of less than three months at the date acquired. |
| | Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in marketable debt securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such designations as of each balance sheet date. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, all marketable securities covered by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”, were designated as available-for-sale. |
| | Accordingly, these securities are stated at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of taxes. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments, and impairment of investments, as determined on a specific identification basis, are included in the consolidated statement of operations. Interest and amortization of premium and discount on debt securities are recorded as financial income, net. |
| | FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 115-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investment” (“FSP 115-1”) and SAB Topic 5M, “Other Than Temporary Impairment Of Certain Investments In Debt And Equity Securities”, provide guidance for determining when an investment is considered impaired, whether impairment is other than temporary, and measurement of an impairment loss. An investment is considered impaired if the fair value of the investment is less than its carrying amount. The Company considers various factors in determining whether to recognize an impairment charge, including the Company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost basis, the credit ratings of the securities and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuers. If, after consideration of all available evidence to evaluate the realizable value of its investment, impairment is determined to be other than temporary, then an impairment loss should be recognized equal to the difference between the investment’s carrying amount and its fair value. |
| | The Company’s Derivatives are not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS 133. Those derivatives consist primarily of forward contracts the Company uses to hedge foreign currency balance sheet exposures. Since the derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS 133, the Company recognizes changes in the fair values in its statement of income in financial income, net, in the same period as the remeasurement gain and loss of the related foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities. |
F - 15
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Inventory write-offs are provided for slow-moving items. |
| | Cost is determined as follows: |
| | Raw materials: first in, first out (“FIFO”) method. |
| | Finished products: raw materials as explained above, with the addition of the specific manufacturing costs. |
| | Inventory provisions are provided to cover risks arising from slow-moving items and discontinued products. Inventory provisions for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were $1,478, $1,318 and $0, respectively. |
| | H. | PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET |
| | Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets at the following annual rates: |
| | %
|
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| Computers, software, manufacturing and | 10-33 (mainly 33) |
| laboratory equipment |
| Office furniture, equipment | 7-15 (mainly 15) |
| Leasehold improvements | The shorter of term of the lease or the |
| | useful life of the asset |
| | I. | IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS |
| | The Company’s long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of an asset to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, no impairments losses have been identified. |
| | J. | INVESTMENTS IN AFFILATED COMPANIES |
| | All investments in Affiliates are stated at cost. The Company followed EITF 02-14,“Whether an Investor Should Apply the Equity Method of Accounting to Investments Other Than Common Stock”, with regard to certain investments in Preferred shares, and determined that they are not in substance Common stock. |
F - 16
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | J. | INVESTMENTS IN AFFILATED COMPANIES (CONT.) |
| | The Company’s investment in the affiliated companies is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an investment may not be recoverable, in accordance with Accounting Principle Board Opinion No. 18, “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock” (“APB No. 18”) and FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 115-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investment” (“FSP 115-1”). As of December 31, 2008, based on management’s most recent analysis, no impairment losses have been identified. |
| | K. | GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS |
| | Goodwill and intangible assets have been recorded as a result of an acquisition. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price in a business combination over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired. |
| | The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS No. 142”). Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill is not amortized but instead is tested for impairment at least annually (or more frequently if impairment indicators arise). The Company determined June 30 as the date of the annual impairment test. |
| | SFAS No. 142 prescribes a two-phase process for impairment testing of goodwill. The first phase screens for impairment while the second phase (if necessary) measures impairment. |
| | In the first phase of impairment testing, goodwill attributable to the reporting units is tested for impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. The Company performs an annual impairment test or more frequently if impairment indicators are present. The Company operates in one operating and reportable segment. As of December 31, 2008, no instances of impairment were found. |
| | Intangible assets are stated at cost, net of accumulated amortization. Intangible Assets are amortized over their useful lives using a method of amortization that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are consumed or otherwise used up, in accordance with SFAS No. 144. The Company amortizes its intangible assets on a straight line basis. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, no impairment loss was recorded. |
| | The Company and its subsidiaries generate revenues mainly from product sales. The Company also generates revenues in a lesser extent from services. The Company sells its products primarily through its subsidiaries to end users and distributors. |
| | Revenues are recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, “Revenue Recognition” when delivery has occurred, persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, the fee is fixed and determinable, collectability is probable and no further obligations exist. The Company does not grant a right of return for its products. |
F - 17
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | L. | REVENUE RECOGNITION (CONT.) |
| | Other than pricing terms which may differ due to the different volume of purchases between distributors and end-users, there are no material differences in the terms and arrangements involving direct and indirect customers. |
| | All of the Company’s products sold through agreements with distributors are non-exchangeable, non-refundable, non-returnable and without any rights of price protection or stock rotation. Accordingly, the Company considers all the distributors as end-users. |
| | Deferred revenue includes unearned amounts received in respect of service contracts and amounts received from customers but not yet recognized as revenues. |
| | Revenue from some product sales to end users in North America includes multiple elements within a single contract. The Company’s accounting policy complies with the requirements set forth in EITF 00-21, relating to the separation of multiple deliverables into individual accounting units with determinable fair values. |
| | The Company considers the sale of a product and the service element in the agreement to be two separate accounting units of the arrangement and defers the fair value of the service element to the period in which it is earned. Fair value is determined based on the price charged by third parties on a stand alone basis for the service provided, and data available from which to estimate the volume of services provided during the term of the arrangement. |
| | M. | RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS |
| | Research and development costs are charged to the income statement as incurred. |
| | N. | STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION |
| | At December 31, 2008, the Company has 2 stock-based employee compensation plans, which are described more fully in Note 14. Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for those plans under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”), and related Interpretations, as permitted by FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“Statement 123”). Under APB 25, compensation expense was measured based on the intrinsic value of the options granted at the grant date or other measurement date. |
| | On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”) which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense based on estimated fair values for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors. SFAS 123(R) supersedes APB 25, under which the Company previously accounted for its share based awards granted to employees and directors, for periods beginning in fiscal 2006. In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”) relating to SFAS 123(R). The Company has applied the provisions of SAB 107 in its adoption of SFAS 123(R). |
F - 18
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | N. | STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (CONT.) |
| | SFAS 123(R) requires companies to estimate the fair value of equity-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s consolidated income statement. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company accounted for equity-based awards to employees and directors using the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB 25 as 123. |
| | The Company adopted SFAS 123(R) using the modified prospective transition method, which requires the application of the accounting standard starting from January 1, 2006, the first day of the Company’s fiscal year 2006. Under that transition method, compensation costs recognized in 2006, 2007and 2008, include: (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted starting from January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of Statement 123(R). Results for prior periods have not been restated. |
| | The Company recognizes compensation expenses for the value of its awards based on the straight line method over the requisite service period of each of the awards, net of estimated forfeitures. Estimated forfeitures are based on actual historical pre-vesting forfeitures. |
| | O. | BASIC AND DILUTED NET EARNINGS PER SHARE |
| | Basic net earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of Ordinary shares outstanding during each year. Diluted net earning per share are computed based on the weighted average number of Ordinary shares outstanding during each year, plus the dilutive effect of options considered to be outstanding during each year, in accordance with Statement of Financial accounting Standards No. 128, “Earnings Per Share” (SFAS 128). |
| | P. | FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
| | The carrying amounts of financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, short-term deposits, marketable securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate fair value because of their generally short maturities. |
| | Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 157, “Fair Value Measurement”, and effective October 10, 2008, adopted FSP No. SFAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active”, except as it applies to the nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities subject to FSP 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157". SFAS 157 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, SFAS 157 establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value: |
F - 19
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | P. | FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONT.) |
| | Level 1- Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. |
| | Level 2 – Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace. |
| | Level 3 –Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity. |
| | The fair value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. |
| | The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“SFAS No. 109”). SFAS No. 109 prescribes the use of the liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance, if necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts more likely than not to be realized. |
| | Deferred tax liabilities and assets are classified as current or non current based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting, or according to the expected reversal dates of the specific temporary differences if not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting. |
| | On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 contains a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109. The first step is to evaluate the tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that, on an evaluation of the technical merits, the tax position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% (cumulative probability) likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its provision for income tax. |
F - 20
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | The Company’s liability for severance pay to its Israeli employees is calculated pursuant to Israeli severance pay law based on the most recent salary of the employees multiplied by the number of years of employment as of the balance sheet date. Employees are entitled to one month’s salary for each year of employment or a portion thereof. The Company’s liability for all of its Israeli employees is covered by monthly deposits for insurance policies and by an accrual. The value of these policies is recorded as an asset in the Company’s balance sheet. |
| | The deposited funds may be withdrawn only upon the fulfillment of the obligation pursuant to Israeli severance pay law or labor agreements. The value of the deposited funds is based on the cash surrendered value of these policies, and includes immaterial profits accumulated up to balance sheet dates. |
| | Severance expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 amounted to approximately $761, $505 and $266, respectively. |
| | Advertising expenses are charged to the statements of income, as incurred. Advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were $2,672, $2,644 and $2,019, respectively. |
| | T. | CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK |
| | Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and trade receivables. |
| | The majority of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents are invested in dollar instruments of major banks in Israel and in the United States. Management believes that the financial institutions that hold the Company’s investments are financially sound and, accordingly, low credit risk exists with respect to these investments. |
| | The Company’s marketable securities include investments in highly rated debentures of Israeli, U.S, and Scotch Corporations and Governmental Bonds. Based on the above and the fact that the portfolio is well diversified, management believes that low credit risk exists with respect to these marketable securities. As a result of the recent turmoil in capital markets, the Company has implemented additional measures with respect to its investment policy. Such measures included among others: reducing credit exposure to corporate sector securities and increasing the overall credit quality of the portfolio. |
| | The Company and its subsidiaries have no off-balance sheet concentration of financial instruments subject to credit risk such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts or other hedging arrangements. |
| | The Company’s trade receivables are derived from sales to large independent distributors located mainly in Western Europe, Asia Pacific region and to end-users in North America. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and to date has not experienced any material losses. An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined with respect to those specific amounts that the Company has determined to be doubtful of collection. |
F - 21
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | T. | CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK (CONT.) |
| | The following table provides the detail of the change in the Company provision for doubtful debts for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006: |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Balance at the beginning of the year | | | $ | 1,777 | | $ | 1,582 | | $ | 222 | |
| Additions | | | | 4,168 | | | 311 | | | 1,426 | |
| Deductions | | | | 69 | | | 116 | | | 66 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Balance at end of the year | | | $ | 5,876 | | $ | 1,777 | | $ | 1,582 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | U. | CONCENTRATION OF OPERATIONAL RISK |
| | The Company outsources the manufacturing of its products to three subcontractors located in Israel. These subcontractors have limited manufacturing capacity that may be inadequate if customers place orders for unexpectedly large quantities of products. In addition, because the Company’s subcontractors are located in Israel, they on occasion may feel the impact of potential economic or political instability in the region. If the operations of one or more of these subcontractors were halted or limited, even temporarily, or if they were unable or unwilling to fulfill large orders, the Company could experience business interruption, increased costs, damage to the Company’s reputation and loss of customers. In addition, qualifying new subcontractors could take several months. Management believes that the above mentioned risk is mitigated by diversification of production where each product is manufactured by more than one subcontractor. In addition, most of the subcontractors are affiliated with international firms and if needed a temporary solution could be found by shifting manufacturing out of Israel. |
| | Many of the components that comprise the Company’s products are currently manufactured by a limited number of suppliers. Although most of the components are obtained from at least three separate suppliers, the Company does not have the ability to manufacture these components. A supply interruption or an increase in demand beyond current suppliers’ capabilities could harm the Company’s ability to manufacture its products until it identifies and qualifies a new source of supply, which could take several months. |
| | Any interruption in the supply of components or materials, or the Company’s inability to obtain substitute components or materials from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner, could impair the ability to meet the demand of the Company’s customers, which would have an adverse effect on the Company’s business. |
| | The Company generally provides a one year to three year standard warranty for its products, depending on the type of product and the country in which the Company does business. The Company records a provision for the estimated cost to repair or replace products under warranty at the time of sale. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty reserve include the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty repairs and the cost per repair. |
F - 22
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | The following table provides the detail of the change in the Company’s product warranty accrual, which is a component of other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Warranty accrual, beginning of year | | | $ | 2,042 | | $ | 1,443 | |
| Charged to costs and expenses relating to new sales | | | | 1,777 | | | 1,662 | |
| Costs of product warranty claims | | | | (1,136 | ) | | (1,063 | ) |
| |
| |
| |
| Warranty accrual, end of year | | | $ | 2,683 | | $ | 2,042 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | At December 31, 2008, short term and long term accrued warranty amounted to $1,566 and $1,117, respectively. At December 31, 2007, short term and long term accrued warranty amounted to $1,312 and $730, respectively. |
| | The Company reports comprehensive income in accordance with SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income”. This statement establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in a full set of general purpose financial statements. Comprehensive income generally represents all changes in stockholders’ equity during the period except those resulting from investments by, or distributions to, stockholders. The Company determined that items of other comprehensive income relate to unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities. |
| | The Company repurchases its Ordinary Shares from time to time on the open market and holds such shares as treasury stock. The Company accounts for the repurchases of its Ordinary Shares in accordance with Accounting Principles Board No. 6, “Status of Accounting Research Bulletins” (“APB No. 6”). The Company presents the cost to repurchase treasury stock as a reduction of shareholders’ equity. |
| | Y. | IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUTING STANDARDS |
| | In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS No. 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP FAS 157-2”), to delay the effective date of FASB Statement 157 for one year for certain nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, excluding those that are recognized or disclosed in financial statements at fair value on a recurring basis (that is, at least annually). For purposes of applying the FSP FAS 157-2, nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities include all assets and liabilities other than those meeting the definition of a financial asset or a financial liability in FASB Statement 159. FSP FAS 157-2 defers the effective date of Statement 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for items within the scope of this FSP FAS 157-2. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 157 for the certain nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, excluding those that are recognized or disclosed in the financial statements at fair value on a recurring basis, to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
F - 23
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | Y. | IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUTING STANDARDS (CONT.) |
| | In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 161”) an amendment to FASB No. 133. This statement changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities. Entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why and entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement 133 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. Early application is encouraged. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 161 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
| | In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ratified a consensus opinion reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) on EITF Issue 07-1, “Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements” (“EITF 07-1”). The guidance in EITF 07-1 defines collaborative arrangements and establishes presentation and disclosure requirements for transactions within a collaborative arrangement (both with third parties and between participants in the arrangement). The consensus in EITF 07-1 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2008. The consensus requires retrospective application to all collaborative arrangements existing as of the effective date, unless retrospective application is impracticable. The impracticability evaluation and exception should be performed on an arrangement-by-arrangement basis. The Company is evaluating the impact EITF 07-1 will have on its financial statements. The Company currently does not believe that the adoption of EITF 07-1 will have a significant effect on its financial statements. |
| | In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 amends ARB 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements”, to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It also clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS 160 also changes the way the consolidated income statement is presented by requiring consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest. |
| | It also requires disclosure, on the face of the consolidated statement of income, of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest. SFAS 160 requires that a parent recognize a gain or loss in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated and requires expanded disclosures in the consolidated financial statements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent owners and the interests of the noncontrolling owners of a subsidiary. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal periods, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS 160 is not expected to have a material effect on accounting for the Company’s current subsidiaries. |
F - 24
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | Y. | IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUTING STANDARDS (CONT.) |
| | In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”). This Statement replaces SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”, and requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, including those arising from contractual contingencies, any contingent consideration and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that date, with limited exceptions specified in the statement. SFAS 141(R) also requires the acquirer in a business combination achieved in stages (sometimes referred to as a step acquisition) to recognize the identifiable assets and liabilities, as well as the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, at the full amounts of their fair values (or other amounts determined in accordance with SFAS 141(R)). In addition, SFAS 141(R)‘s requirement to measure the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at fair value will result in recognizing the goodwill attributable to the noncontrolling interest in addition to that attributable to the acquirer. |
| | SFAS 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. As such, the adoption of SFAS 141(R) is not expected to have a material effect on accounting for the Company’s current subsidiaries. |
| | In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (FSP 142-3). FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. FSP 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect the adoption of FSP 142-3 to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. |
| | EITF Issue No. 08-6, “Equity-Method Investment Accounting” (“EITF 08-6”), concludes that the cost basis of a new equity-method investment would be determined using a cost-accumulation model, which would continue the practice of including transaction costs in the cost of investment and would exclude the value of contingent consideration. Equity-method investment should be subject to other-than-temporary impairment analysis. It also requires that a gain or loss to be recognized on the portion of the investor’s ownership sold. EITF 08-6 will be effective for the reporting period beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect a material impact on its consolidated financial statements from the adoption of EITF 08-6. |
| | EITF Issue No. 08-7, “Defensive Intangible Assets” (“EITF 08-7”), requires an acquiring entity to account defensive intangible assets as a separate unit of accounting. Defensive intangible assets should not be included as part of the cost of the acquirer’s existing intangible assets because the defensive intangible assets are separately identifiable. Defensive intangible assets must be recognized at fair value in accordance with SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 157. EITF 08-7 will be effective for the reporting period beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect a material impact on its consolidated financial statements from the adoption of EITF 08-7. |
F - 25
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 2 | – | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.) |
| | Y. | IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUTING STANDARDS (CONT.) |
| | In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. SFAS 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. It is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 162 on its financial statements, and the adoption of this Statement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. |
| | On October 29, 2008, the FASB issued FSP No.132 (R)-a, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits,” to require that an employer disclose the following information about the fair value of plan assets: 1) the level within the fair value hierarchy in which fair value measurements of plan assets fall; 2) information about the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets; and 3) a reconciliation of beginning and ending balances for fair value measurements of plan assets using significant unobservable inputs. The FSP will be effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009, with early application permitted. Application of the FSP would not be required for earlier periods that are presented for comparative purposes. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this FSP on its disclosures in the financial statements. |
| | In June 2008, the FASB issued FSP EITF No. 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities”. Under the FSP, unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities, and should be included in the two-class method of computing EPS. The FSP is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those years, and is not expected to have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements |
F - 26
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 3 | – | AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE – MARKETABLE SECURITIES |
| December 31, 2008
|
|---|
| Amortized
Cost
| Gross
Unrealized
Gains
| Gross
Unrealized
Losses
| Market
Value
|
|---|
| | | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Equity securities | | | $ | 300 | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | 300 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Available-for-sale - matures within one year: | | |
| Government debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 26,752 | | | 133 | | | (50 | ) | | 26,835 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | | 26,752 | | | 133 | | | (50 | ) | | 26,835 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Available-for-sale - matures after one year | | |
| through three years: | | |
| | | |
| Government debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 87,748 | | | 861 | | | (101 | ) | | 88,508 | |
| Corporate debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 5,159 | | | 13 | | | (174 | ) | | 4,998 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | | 92,907 | | | 874 | | | (275 | ) | | 93,506 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Available-for-sale - matures after three years | | |
| through five years: | | |
| Government debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 6,171 | | | 17 | | | (8 | ) | | 6,180 | |
| Corporate debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 2,423 | | | - | | | (121 | ) | | 2,302 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | | 8,594 | | | 17 | | | (129 | ) | | 8,482 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Available-for-sale - matures after five years: | | |
| Government debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 3,513 | | | 178 | | | - | | | 3,691 | |
| Corporate debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 1,706 | | | 1 | | | (198 | ) | | 1,509 | |
| Corporate debentures - floating interest rate | | | | 700 | | | 28 | | | - | | | 728 | |
| Auction rate securities | | | | 10,428 | | | - | | | (923 | ) | | 9,505 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | | 16,347 | | | 207 | | | (1,121 | ) | | 15,433 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | $ | 144,900 | | $ | 1,231 | | $ | (1,575 | ) | $ | 144,556 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Reclassification of certain securities to Long Term | | | | | | | | | | | | | 27,214 | |
| | | |
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 117,342 | |
| | | |
| |
F - 27
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 3 | – | AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE – MARKETABLE SECURITIES (CONT.) |
| December 31, 2007
|
|---|
| Amortized
Cost
| Gross
Unrealized
Gains
| Gross
Unrealized
Losses
| Market
Value
|
|---|
| | | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Equity securities | | | $ | 18,064 | | $ | 146 | | $ | - | | $ | 18,210 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Available-for-sale - matures within one year: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| Government debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 30,148 | | | 15 | | | (97 | ) | | 30,066 | |
| Corporate debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 8,213 | | | 34 | | | (57 | ) | | 8,190 | |
| Auction rate securities | | | | 11,819 | | | - | | | - | | | 11,819 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | | 50,180 | | | 49 | | | (154 | ) | | 50,075 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Available-for-sale - matures after one year | | |
| through three years: | | |
| | | |
| Government debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 49,906 | | | 316 | | | (69 | ) | | 50,153 | |
| Corporate debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 5,082 | | | 19 | | | (50 | ) | | 5,051 | |
| Auction rate securities | | | | 2,982 | | | | | | (14 | ) | | 2,968 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | | 57,970 | | | 335 | | | (133 | ) | | 58,172 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Available-for-sale - matures after three years | | |
| through five years: | | |
| | | |
| Government debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 11,858 | | | 21 | | | (55 | ) | | 11,824 | |
| Corporate debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 2,357 | | | 14 | | | (25 | ) | | 2,346 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | | 14,215 | | | 35 | | | (80 | ) | | 14,170 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Available-for-sale - matures after five years: | | |
| | | |
| Government debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 16,119 | | | 22 | | | (59 | ) | | 16,082 | |
| Corporate debentures - fixed interest rate | | | | 1,432 | | | 4 | | | (68 | ) | | 1,368 | |
| Corporate debentures - floating interest rate | | | | 704 | | | - | | | (53 | ) | | 651 | |
| Auction rate securities | | | | 1,462 | | | | | | (127 | ) | | 1,335 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | | 19,717 | | | 26 | | | (307 | ) | | 19,436 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | $ | 160,146 | | $ | 591 | | $ | (674 | ) | $ | 160,063 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Reclassification of certain securities to Long Term | | | | | | | | | | | | | 35,122 | |
| | | |
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 124,941 | |
| | | |
| |
The unrealized losses in the Company’s investments in all types of securities are mainly attributed to recent market events. The contractual cash flows of these investments are either guaranteed by the U.S. Government or an agency of the U.S. Government or were issued by highly rated corporations and other governments. As the Company has the ability to hold these investments until maturity, it is expected that these securities would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of the Company’s investments. Therefore, the securities, except for certain ARS, were not considered to be other than temporarily impaired at December 31, 2008.
| Note 4 | – | FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT |
In accordance with SFAS 157, the Company measures cash equivalents, short-term deposits, marketable securities, auction rate securities and foreign currency derivative contracts at fair value. Cash equivalents, short-term deposits, marketable securities and severance pay fund are classified within Level 1 or Level 2. This is because cash equivalents, short-term deposits, marketable securities and severance pay fund are valued using quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources and models utilizing market observable inputs. Investments in auction rate securities are classified within Level 3 because they are valued using valuation techniques. Some of the inputs to these models are unobservable in the market and are significant.
F - 28
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 4 | – | FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (CONT.) |
Due to the current economic environment in which there is a lack of market activity for auction rate securities, the Company has been unable to obtain quoted prices or market prices for identical assets as of the measurement date resulting in significant unobservable inputs used in determining the fair value. The Company with its third party advisor estimated the fair value of these auction rate securities using the income approach based on the following: (i) the underlying structure and contractual provisions of each security; (ii) the present value of future principal and interest payments discounted at rates considered to reflect current market conditions; and (iii) consideration of the probabilities of default, auction failure, or repurchase at par for each period. These estimated fair values could change significantly based on future market conditions, which could result in recognizing other-than-temporary impairment losses.
The Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis, excluding accrued interest components, consisted of the following types of instruments as of December 31, 2008:
| Level 1
| Level 2
| Level 3
| Total
|
|---|
| | | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Corporate debentures | | | $ | - | | $ | 4,852 | | $ | - | | $ | 4,852 | |
| Auction rate securities | | | | - | | | - | | | 9,505 | | | 9,505 | |
| U.S. government, agency and municipal debentures | | | | - | | | 129,899 | | | - | | | 129,899 | |
| Equity securities | | | | 300 | | | - | | | - | | | 300 | |
| Foreign currency derivatives | | | | - | | | 118 | | | - | | | 118 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total | | | $ | 300 | | $ | 134,869 | | $ | 9,505 | | $ | 144,674 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
The following table presents the changes in Level 3 instruments measured on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company’s Level 3 instruments consist of Auction Rate Securities classified as available-for-sale with the unrealized losses, reported in “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” in shareholders’ equity.
Fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):
| Auction Rate
Securities
|
|---|
| | |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| |
|---|
| Beginning balance | | | $ | 874 | |
| Transfer to Level 3 | | | | 11,107 | |
| | | |
| Unrealized losses included in earnings (other-than-temporary impairment) | | | | (1,553 | ) |
| Unrealized losses included in Other Comprehensive Income | | | | (923 | ) |
|
| |
| Ending balance | | | $ | 9,505 | |
|
| |
Consistent with the Company’s investment policy guidelines, the ARS investments held by the Company all had AAA/Aaa credit ratings at the time of purchase. With the liquidity issues experienced in global credit and capital markets, the ARS held by the Company at December 31, 2007 and 2008 have experienced multiple failed auctions as the amount of securities submitted for sale has exceeded the amount of purchase orders.
The estimated market value of the Company’s ARS holdings in collateralized debt obligations and a certain ARS for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $2,154 and $728, which reflects impairment of $7,329 and $5,776 respectively, to the carrying value of $8,050. Based on respectively valuation models and an analysis of other-than-temporary cumulative impairment factors, the Company has recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $1,553 in 2008 and $ 5,776 in 2007, reflecting the portion of ARS holdings that the Company has concluded have another-than-temporary decline in value.
F - 29
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 5 | – | OTHER ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PREPAID EXPENSES |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Government authorities | | | $ | 832 | | $ | 3,156 | |
| Prepaid expenses | | | | 768 | | | 994 | |
| Deferred taxes | | | | 1,812 | | | - | |
| Amount deposited in escrow agent (*) | | | | 500 | | | - | |
| Other receivables | | | | 337 | | | 335 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | $ | 4,249 | | $ | 4,485 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Raw materials | | | $ | 3,079 | | $ | 3,321 | |
| Finished products | | | | 9,581 | | | 6,144 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | $ | 12,660 | | $ | 9,465 | |
| |
| |
| |
| Note 7 | – | LONG-TERM DEPOSITS AND OTHERS |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Structured note (*) | | | $ | - | | $ | 1,000 | |
| Others | | | | 180 | | | 130 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | $ | 180 | | $ | 1,130 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | (*) | The structured note was redeemable by the Bank at the earlier of (a) the end of 10 years or (b) when the aggregate interest amount reaches 12% but not earlier than the end of 1.5 years. The interest rate in the first year is 10% and from the second year to maturity the interest rate will be 9.25% minus twice LIBOR for 6 months. The structured note was fully redeemed during 2008. |
| Note 8 | – | INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATED COMPANIES |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Investment in Fluorinex Active Ltd. (1) | | | $ | 1,675 | | $ | 1,022 | |
| Investment in Q'Ray Ltd. (2) | | | | 1,050 | | | 1,050 | |
| Investment in Rakuto Bio Technologies Ltd. (3) | | | | 1,500 | | | 500 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | | $ | 4,225 | | $ | 2,572 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | (1) | In April 2007, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement (“SPA”) with Fluorinex Active Ltd., an Israeli development stage company engaged in the development of new tooth decay and dental caries prevention method and device. |
| | During 2007, the Company invested $1,022 in consideration for 38.47% of Fluorinex’s Series B Preferred shares. During 2008, following Fluorinex’s achievement of certain milestones, the Company invested an additional amount of $653 in consideration of 3.85% of Fluorinex’s Series B Preferred shares. As of December 31, 2008, Fluorinex has achieved all the milestones according to the agreement and the Company holds 42.32% of Fluorinex’s Series B Preferred shares. |
F - 30
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 8 | – | INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATED COMPANIES (CONT.) |
| | The investment is stated at cost, since the investment in Series B Preferred shares is not considered by the Company to be an investment in substance Common stock. |
| | (2) | In October 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with Shaldot Metal Works Ltd. (“Shaldot”) and its subsidiary QRay Ltd. (“QRay”), an Israeli medical development stage company developing light-based products that impact cellular tissue (see Note 13 C). As of December 31, 2007, the total investment in QRay includes $1,050 paid in consideration for 9% of QRay’s Ordinary shares. The investment is stated at cost. |
| | (3) | In August 2007, the Company entered into a term sheet with Rakuto Bio Technologies Ltd. (“RBT”), an Israeli medical development stage company developing non-chemical solutions for skin and hair lightening. |
| | Pursuant to the term sheet, the Company granted RBT a convertible loan in the amount of $500. In February 2008, the Company entered into a final share purchase (“SPA”) agreement with RBT whereby the Company converted the loan and invested an additional amount of $280 in consideration of 8.2% of RBT’s Series A Preferred shares and undertook to invest an additional amount of up to $1,720 subject to RBT meeting certain milestones and conditions detailed in the SPA. As of December 31, 2008, investment in RBT amounted to $1,500 in consideration for 15.9% of RBT’s series A Preferred shares. |
| | The investment is stated at cost, since the investment in Series B Preferred shares is not considered in substance Common stock. |
| Note 9 | – | PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Cost | | | | | | | | |
| Computers, software, manufacturing and laboratory equipment | | | $ | 4,722 | | $ | 2,821 | |
| Leasehold Improvements | | | | 1,519 | | | 1,391 | |
| Office furniture and equipment | | | | 534 | | | 473 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total cost | | | | 6,775 | | | 4,685 | |
| |
| |
| |
| Accumulated depreciation | | |
| Computers, software, manufacturing and laboratory equipment | | | | 2,140 | | | 1,329 | |
| Leasehold Improvements | | | | (*) 737 | | | 100 | |
| Office furniture and equipment | | | | 242 | | | 145 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total accumulated depreciation | | | | 3,119 | | | 1,574 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Property and equipment, net | | | $ | 3,656 | | $ | 3,111 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | Depreciation expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were $1,545, $656, $422, respectively. |
| | (*) | Including depreciation expenses in the amount of $350 as a result of leasehold improvements that are not in use in Syneron Canada Corp. |
F - 31
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 10 | – | INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Original cost | | | | | | | | |
| Patent (1) | | | $ | 1,716 | | $ | 1,716 | |
| Distribution agreements (2) | | | | 286 | | | 286 | |
| Brand name (3) | | | | 295 | | | 295 | |
| In process R&D (4) | | | | 99 | | | 99 | |
| Developed technology (5) | | | | 3,220 | | | 1,394 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total cost | | | | 5,616 | | | 3,790 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Accumulated amortization (6) | | |
| Patent | | | | 1,276 | | | 932 | |
| Distribution agreements | | | | 51 | | | 39 | |
| Brand name | | | | 39 | | | 14 | |
| In process R&D | | | | 99 | | | 99 | |
| Developed technology | | | | 323 | | | 112 | |
| |
| |
| |
| Total accumulated amortization | | | | 1,788 | | | 1,196 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Amortized cost | | | $ | 3,828 | | $ | 2,594 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | (1) | In December 2004 and November 2006, the Company purchased two U.S. patents, in the total amount of $1,466 and $250, respectively. The Company estimated the useful life of these patents at five years each, from the purchase date. |
| | The annual amortization expense relating to the patents as of December 31, 2008 is estimated to be as follows: |
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| 2009 | | | $ | 343 | |
| 2010 | | | | 49 | |
| 2011 | | | | 48 | |
| |
| |
| Total | | | $ | 440 | |
| |
| |
| | (2) | Distribution agreements represent two distributors’ agreements related to Light Instruments. (See Note 1(C)). |
| | (3) | Brand name represents trade names and trademarks related to Light Instruments. (See Note 1(C)). |
| | (4) | The Company expensed in-process research and development (IPR&D) in the amount of $99 upon acquisition as it represents incomplete research and development project that had not reached technological feasibility and had no alternative future use as of the date of the acquisition (See Note 1(C)). |
| | (5) | Developed technology represents existing and current technology (see Note 1(C) and 1(D)). |
| | (6) | Amortization expenses amounted to $592 for the year ended December 31, 2008 (see Note 1(C) ) |
F - 32
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 10 | – | INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET (CONT.) |
| | The annual amortization expense relating to intangible assets existing as of December 31, 2008 is estimated to be as follows: |
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| 2009 | | | $ | 920 | |
| 2010 | | | | 628 | |
| 2011 | | | | 624 | |
| 2012 | | | | 578 | |
| 2013 | | | | 578 | |
| Thereafter | | | | 500 | |
| |
| |
| Total | | | $ | 3,828 | |
| |
| |
| | Changes in goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 is as follows: |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Goodwill, beginning of year | | | $ | 2,266 | | $ | - | |
| Acquisition of minority shares in LI (see note 1(C) ) | | | | 556 | | | 2,266 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Goodwill, end of year | | | $ | 2,822 | | $ | 2,266 | |
| |
| |
| |
| Note 12 | – | OTHER ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Deferred revenues | | | $ | 5,576 | | $ | 5,745 | |
| Warranty accruals | | | | 1,566 | | | 1,312 | |
| Accrued expenses (*) | | | | 6,961 | | | 4,349 | |
| Deferred tax liability (**) | | | | 712 | | | - | |
| Accrued commission | | | | 1,672 | | | 3,362 | |
| Employees and related expenses | | | | 3,801 | | | 3,226 | |
| Tax authorities | | | | 5,052 | | | 6,113 | |
| Other payables | | | | 247 | | | 631 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | $ | 25,587 | | $ | 24,738 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | (*) | As part of the Company’s ongoing business operations, the Company incurred workforce rebalancing charges for severance and related costs within the Company during fiscal 2008. The liability incurred amounted to $1,868. |
F - 33
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 13 | – | OMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
| | In June 2004, the Company has entered into an agreement effective from December 1, 2003 and until 2021, for using know-how of a third party, in which the Company is obligated to pay royalties, at a rate of 4.5%, on sales of certain products to its distributors and subsidiaries. |
| | Expenses in respect of royalties amounted to $1,287, $1,547 and $1,311 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and were recorded as part of cost of revenues. |
| | The Company operates from facilities in Canada, the United States, Germany, Hong-Kong and Israel that are leased for periods expiring in years 2009 through 2012. |
| | The Company leases vehicles under standard commercial operating leases. |
| | The future minimum lease commitments of the Group under various non-cancelable operating lease agreements in respect of premises and motor vehicles, that are in effect as of December 31, 2008, are as follows: |
| Year ended December 31,
|
|
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| 2009 | | | $ | 1,683 | |
| 2010 | | | | 1,317 | |
| 2011 | | | | 488 | |
| 2012 | | | | 143 | |
| |
| |
| | | | $ | 3,631 | |
| |
| |
| | Rent expenses amounted to $1,248, $889 and $546 for the years ended December 31 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. |
| | 1. | On July 29, 2004, Shaldot Metal Works Ltd. (“Shaldot”), a privately owned Israeli company, sued the Company and Dr. Eckhouse, claiming that the Company’s products infringe Shaldot’s Israeli patent. Shaldot sued the Company for monetary damages and requested an injunctive relief. In the Company’s Statement of Defense the Company filed a counter claim against Shaldot. On October 9, 2007, without admitting any liability or infringement of the patent in suit, the Company entered into a settlement to resolve this matter and entered into a license agreement with Shaldot, and its subsidiary QRay Ltd., an Israeli medical development stage company developing light based products that impact cellular tissue (“QRay”), to whom the patent was assigned. Under the license agreement the Company received a license to use and utilize the patent in suit in any of its products. In return, the Company agreed to pay QRay a one-time license fee of $100. In addition, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with Shaldot and QRay whereby the Company invested $1,050 in QRay in consideration for 9% of QRay’s share capital. If QRay will meets certain milestones within three and a half years as of the closing of the transaction, the Company is obligated to invest an additional $ 450 in QRay. |
F - 34
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 13 | – | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONT.) |
| | 2. | In September 2005 and further dates thereafter, nine plaintiffs filed complaints in which the Company and its subsidiary, Syneron Inc., are named as defendants along with other named defendants. Eight of the plaintiffs are African-American women who allege they sustained burn and/or other complications after hair removal or skin rejuvenation treatments were administered by one of the Company’s customers with one of its products. In addition to traditional product liability and negligence theories, the complaint alleges theories of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, illegal sale of a dangerous prescriptive device and intentional race discrimination. The Company and its subsidiary have appeared in the court hearings. A vigorous defense to all of the allegations is being funded and controlled by an insurance company that issued an insurance policy to the Company’s subsidiary and under which the Company is also additionally insured through a controlling interest endorsement. The insurance company has reserved the right to deny coverage on some of the claims (product liability-intentional failure to warn, product liability-fraud, and intentional racial discrimination) which means there is a possibility that these claims would not be covered by the insurance policy. In addition, the complaint seeks recovery for punitive damages which the insurance company has advised the Company that it is not covered by the insurance policy. |
| | The Company resolved the claims with all of the plaintiffs through mediation. Most of the settlement costs were paid by the insurance company. |
| | 3. | On November 10, 2005, a class action was filed against one of the Company’s subsidiaries, Syneron Inc. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief, statutory damages and attorneys fees and costs as a result of the alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”). Syneron Inc.‘s insurance carrier has accepted tender of defense of this litigation subject to a reservation of rights. Although there appears to be a likelihood that Syneron Inc. will have insurance coverage for this lawsuit and it is currently being provided a defense through its insurance carrier, there is the possibility that these TCPA claims against Syneron Inc. will not be covered by the insurance policy. Syneron Inc. has answered the Complaint and the parties have engaged in discovery relating to the appropriateness of proceeding with the action on behalf of a class, as well as discovery on the merits of the claim. On February 7, 2007, Syneron Inc. filed a motion to dismiss the action and the court granted Syneron Inc.‘s motion. The plaintiff a motion for Reconsideration, which was denied. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal, however, due to the pending appeals in two similar cases, the parties agreed that the appeal shall be withdrawn from active consideration without prejudice and will leave to be reactivated pending the resolution of the two cases |
| | 4. | On August 1, 2007, a plaintiff filed a complaint against Syneron Medical Ltd., Syneron Inc., and Syneron Inc.‘s employee. Plaintiff claims she has been permanently scarred and developed abnormal pigmentation/depigmentation as a result of second degree burns she sustained as a result of Syneron Inc.‘s employee’s demonstration of a Polaris system on her leg. Syneron Inc.‘s insurance carrier has accepted defense of this litigation. The case was resolved |
F - 35
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 13 | – | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONT.) |
| | 5. | On December 31, 2007, a plaintiff filed a complaint against Syneron Medical Ltd., Syneron Inc. and Syneron Inc.‘s employee. Plaintiff alleges that Syneron represented that dentists who purchased Syneron’s products did not need to have a medical doctor or other medically trained personnel operate the device and that it could be legally operated by an esthetician. Plaintiff alleges that he purchased the equipment in reliance upon these representations. Plaintiff further alleges that based on Syneron’s misrepresentation, he set up a dental spa operation and has suffered economic damage as a consequence of not being able to operate the dental spa in the manner represented by Syneron. Syneron’s insurance carrier is not expected to cover this complaint. Syneron intends to vigorously defend its position in this case. |
| | 6. | On or around May 1, 2007, a complaint was filed against one of the Company’s subsidiaries, Syneron Inc. by a plaintiff. Plaintiff alleges that during a hair removal treatment her hair was set on fire as a result of which she suffered various injuries. Plaintiff alleges that Syneron is the company responsible for the sale of the System. Syneron intends to vigorously defend its position in this case. |
| | 7. | The Company has accrued an amount which it deems sufficient to cover probable losses from these claims. Management does not believe the final disposition of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. |
F - 36
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| Note 14 | – | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
| | 1. | Ordinary shares confer upon their holders voting rights, the right to receive dividends and the right to share in equity upon liquidation of the Company. |
| | 2. | During 2006, 1,001,543 stock options and RSU were exercised into Ordinary shares, in consideration of $332. |
| | 3. | During 2007, 310,881 stock options and RSU were exercised into Ordinary shares, in consideration of $3,470. |
| | 4. | During 2008, 220,465 stock option and RSU were exercised into Ordinary shares, in consideration of $4. |
| | 5. | In November, 2007, the Company announced that its board of directors authorized additional repurchases of up to $50,000 of its Ordinary shares. The repurchase program has no time limit and maybe suspended from time to time or discontinued. Under the above program, the Company repurchased during 2007 and 2008, 466,000 and 122,700 shares, respectively. The average purchase price per share was $15.50. Such purchases of Ordinary shares are accounted for as treasury stock and result in a reduction of shareholders’ equity. |
| | 6. | Certain of the Company’s officers, directors and major shareholders that hold Ordinary shares have the right to require the Company, on not more than one occasion, to file a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act in order to register the resale of their Ordinary shares. |
| | 7. | During 2004 and following Israeli regulation, the Company paid stamp duty and recorded it as part of the initial public offering issuance expenses. During 2008, following a Supreme Court verdict, it was determined by the Court that such stamp duty should be paid by domestic companies which are traded in a foreign stock exchange and thus each entity may appeal to the tax authorities for reimbursement. The Company with its legal counsel approached the tax authorities and received during November, 2008 the amounts originally paid. During 2008, the Company recorded an amount of $588 in additional paid in capital as a result of reimbursement of stamp duty in Israel. |
| | 8. | On November 11, 2008, the Company’s board of directors adopted a shareholder rights plan. The shareholder rights plan is designed to protect against any potential future use of coercive or abusive takeover techniques designed to gain control of the Company and its capital without full and fair value being paid to all of the Company’s shareholders. The shareholder rights plan was adopted following evaluation and consultation with outside advisors in consideration of the Company’s current low valuation and strong cash position. |
F - 37
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| Note 14 | – | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONT.) |
| | In connection with the adoption of the shareholder rights plan, the Company’s board of directors declared a dividend of one right for each Ordinary share of the Company held by shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 9, 2008. Initially, these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with the Ordinary shares of the Company. Under the plan, these rights will generally be exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of the Company’s Ordinary shares or commences a tender or exchange offer for 15 percent or more of the Company’s Ordinary shares, except if such person or group has become an “Acquiring Person” pursuant to an offer approved by the majority of the board of directors. If a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of the Company’s Ordinary shares (except if such person or group has become an “Acquiring Person” pursuant to an offer approved by the majority of the board of directors), each right will generally entitle the holder, other than the acquiring person or group, to acquire, for the exercise price of $0.01 per share (subject to adjustment as provided in the plan), two (2) Ordinary shares of the Company. In addition, if, after a person acquires such ownership, the Company engages in a merger in which it is not the survivor or its Ordinary shares are changed or exchanged, or sells or transfers more than 50 percent of its assets or earning power, each right will generally entitle the holder, other than the acquiring person or group, to acquire, for the exercise price of $0.01 per share (subject to adjustment as provided in the plan), two (2) times the shares of the acquiring company to which each of the shareholders of the Company is entitled to for each Ordinary share. |
| | The Company’s board of directors may redeem the rights at a price of $0.0001 per right at any time up to ten days after a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of the Company’s Ordinary shares. The rights plan will continue in effect until November 9, 2009, unless earlier redeemed or amended by the Company’s board of directors. |
| | Shareholders are not required to take any actions to receive the rights distribution. Until the rights become exercisable, outstanding share certificates will represent both Ordinary shares of the Company and the rights. |
| | In 2004, the Company adopted the 2004 Israel Stock Option Plan (for Israeli residents) and the 2004 Incentive Stock Option Plan (for United States, Canada and the rest of the world) (collectively “the 2004 Plans”). The number of options approved under the 2004 Plans was 2,000,000 options, increasing annually according to the evergreen provision included in each of the 2004 Plans. The evergreen provision calls for the annual increase by the lesser of 2,000,000 options or 3% of the share capital, provided however that the board of directors may at its sole discretion decrease, at any given year, the increase of the number of options to whatever number it see fit. |
| | As of December 31, 2008, there were 1,833,269 options available for future grant. |
F - 38
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| Note 14 | – | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONT.) |
| | B. | STOCK OPTION PLAN (CONT.) |
| | Under the 2004 Plans, options are granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants at an exercise price equal to at least the fair market value at the date of grant and are granted for periods not to exceed seven years. Options granted under the 2004 Plans generally vest over a period of one to three years of employment. Any options that are cancelled or forfeited before expiration become available for future grants. The Company can also issue a variety of other equity incentives under the 2004 Plans. In addition to granting stock options during 2006, the Company started to routinely grant Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) under the 2004 Plans. RSUs usually vest over a period of employment of up to three years. Upon vesting, the RSU beneficiary is entitled to receive a share per one RSU for no consideration ($0.01 per share). RSUs that are cancelled or forfeited become available for future grants. |
| | The following is a summary of activities relating to the Company’s stock options and RSUs granted to employee and directors among the Company’s various plans: |
| | Year ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | Amount
of options
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
| Amount
of options
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
| Amount
of options
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
|---|
| | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | |
|---|
| Options outstanding at | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| beginning of year | | | | 1,547,681 | | $ | 19.69 | | | 1,762,151 | | $ | 21.87 | | | 1,591,065 | | $ | 9.80 | |
| Changes during the year: | | |
| Granted | | | | 3,185,621 | | $ | 11.40 | | | 323,123 | | $ | 4.94 | | | 1,160,202 | | $ | 21.98 | |
| Exercised | | | | (185,870 | ) | $ | 0.03 | | | (241,289 | ) | $ | 14.36 | | | (956,478 | ) | $ | 0.35 | |
| Forfeited | | | | (594,121 | ) | $ | 20.67 | | | (296,304 | ) | $ | 20.19 | | | (32,638 | ) | $ | 23.08 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Options outstanding at end | | |
| of year | | | | 3,953,311 | | $ | 13.78 | | | 1,547,681 | | $ | 19.69 | | | 1,762,151 | | $ | 21.87 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Options exercisable at end | | |
| of year | | | | 829,543 | | $ | 23.35 | | | 883,194 | | $ | 21.92 | | | 737,008 | | $ | 20.49 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | The intrinsic value of options and RSU exercised by employees during the years ended on December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $3,320, $4,308 and $26,164, respectively. |
| | As of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the total unrecognized estimated compensation costs related to non-vested stock options and RSU’s granted prior to that date were $6,787 and $ 11,790 and $16,069, respectively which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.49, 1.31 and 1.45 years, respectively. |
F - 39
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| Note 14 | – | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONT.) |
| | B. | STOCK OPTION PLAN (CONT.) |
| | The information regarding the options and RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2008, is as follows: |
| Outstanding
| Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(years)
| Aggregate
intrinsic
value (*)
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
| Exercisable
| Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(years)
| Aggregate
intrinsic
value (*)
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
|---|
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| RSU | | | | 110,310 | | | 5.68 | | $ | 919 | | $ | 0.01 | | | 27,044 | | | 5.77 | | $ | 225 | | $ | 0.01 | |
| Options | | | | 3,843,001 | | | 5.96 | | | 655 | | $ | 14.2 | | | 802,499 | | | 4.14 | | | 145 | | $ | 24.14 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | 3,953,311 | | | 5.95 | | $ | 1,574 | | $ | 13.8 | | | 829,543 | | | 4.19 | | $ | 370 | | $ | 23.35 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | Vested or
expected to
vest
| Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(years)
| Aggregate
intrinsic
value (*)
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
|---|
| | | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| RSU | | | | 94,715 | | | 5.70 | | $ | 790 | | $ | 0.01 | |
| Options | | | | 1,825,367 | | | 5.62 | | | 519 | | $ | 15.38 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | 1,920,082 | | | 5.62 | | $ | 1,309 | | $ | 14.62 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | (*) | Calculation of aggregate intrinsic value is based on the share price of the Company’s Common stock as of December 31, 2008 ($ 8.34 per share). |
| | The information regarding the options and RSU’s outstanding as of December 31, 2007, is as follows: |
| Outstanding
| Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(years)
| Aggregate
intrinsic
value (*)
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
| Exercisable
| Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(years)
| Aggregate
intrinsic
value (*)
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
|---|
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| RSU | | | | 271,301 | | | 6.22 | | $ | 3,625 | | $ | 0.01 | | | 34,440 | | | 5.61 | | $ | 460 | | $ | 0.01 | |
| Options | | | | 1,276,380 | | | 4.99 | | | 1,031 | | $ | 23.87 | | | 848,754 | | | 4.74 | | | 1,031 | | $ | 21.17 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | 1,547,681 | | | 5.20 | | $ | 4,656 | | $ | 19.69 | | | 883,194 | | | 4.77 | | $ | 1,491 | | $ | 20.49 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Vested or
expected to
vest
| Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(years)
| Aggregate
intrinsic
value (*)
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
|---|
| | | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| RSU | | | | 221,202 | | | 6.20 | | $ | 2,955 | | $ | 0.01 | |
| Options | | | | 1,218,883 | | | 4.96 | | | 1,031 | | $ | 23.77 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | 1,440,085 | | | 5.15 | | $ | 3,986 | | $ | 20.12 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | (*) | Calculation of aggregate intrinsic value is based on the share price of the Company’s Common stock as of December 31, 2007 ($ 13.31 per share). |
F - 40
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| Note 14 | – | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONT.) |
| | B. | STOCK OPTION PLAN (CONT.) |
| | The information regarding the options and RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2006, is as follows: |
| Outstanding
| Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(years)
| Aggregate
intrinsic
value (*)
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
| Exercisable
| Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(years)
| Aggregate
intrinsic
value (*)
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
|---|
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | | | |
|---|
| RSU | | | | 130,927 | | | 6.50 | | $ | 3,530 | | $ | 0.01 | | | 23,497 | | | 6.50 | | $ | 637 | | $ | 0.01 | |
| Options | | | | 1,631,224 | | | 5.75 | | | 6,517 | | $ | 23.58 | | | 713,511 | | | 5.06 | | | 4,560 | | $ | 21.17 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | 1,762,151 | | | 5.80 | | $ | 10,047 | | $ | 21.87 | | | 737,008 | | | 5.11 | | $ | 5,197 | | $ | 20.49 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Vested or
expected to
vest
| Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
(years)
| Aggregate
intrinsic
value (*)
| Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
|---|
| | | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| RSU | | | | 130,927 | | | 6.50 | | $ | 3,551 | | $ | 0.01 | |
| Options | | | | 1,605,504 | | | 6.27 | | | 6,364 | | $ | 23.62 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | 1,736,431 | | | 6.30 | | $ | 9,915 | | $ | 21.76 | |
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | (*) | Calculation of aggregate intrinsic value is based on the share price of the Company’s Common stock as of December 29, 2006 ($ 27.13 per share). |
| | The following table summarizes information relating to RSUs granted to employee, as well as changes to such awards during 2008 and 2007: |
| | Year Ended December 31, 2008
|
|---|
| | Number
| Weighted
average grant
date fair value
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Outstanding at the beginning of the year | | | | 271,301 | | $ | 24.17 | |
| | | |
| Granted | | | | 29,155 | | $ | 12.13 | |
| Exercised | | | | (124,220 | ) | $ | 24.05 | |
| Forfeited | | | | (65,926 | ) | $ | 25.57 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Outstanding as of December 31, 2008 | | | | 110,310 | | $ | 20.28 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|---|
| | Number
| Weighted
average grant
date fair
value
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Outstanding at the beginning of the year | | | | 130,927 | | $ | 24.70 | |
| | | |
| Granted | | | | 264,123 | | $ | 24.36 | |
| Exercised | | | | (58,173 | ) | $ | 24.64 | |
| Forfeited | | | | (65,576 | ) | $ | 26.42 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Outstanding as of December 31, 2007 | | | | 271,301 | | $ | 24.17 | |
| |
| |
| |
F - 41
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| Note 14 | – | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONT.) |
| | B. | STOCK OPTION PLAN (CONT.) |
| | The Company’s outstanding RSU’s to consultants as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 are as follows: |
| | 1. | As of December 31, 2008: |
| | Issuance date
| RSU’s
| Exercise
Price per
Share
| RSU’s
Exercisable
| Exercisable Through
|
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| RSU | | | May 8, 2006 | | | | 3,310 | | $ | 0.01 | | | - | | May 8, 2013 | | |
| RSU | | | November 2, 2006 | | | | 1,488 | | $ | 0.01 | | | - | | November 2, 2013 | | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | 4,798 | | | | | | - | | | | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | 2. | As of December 31, 2007: |
| | Issuance date
| RSU’s
| Exercise
Price per
Share
| RSU’s
Exercisable
| Exercisable Through
|
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| RSU | | | May 8, 2006 | | | | 28,977 | | $ | 0.01 | | | 2,229 | | May 8, 2013 | | |
| RSU | | | November 2, 2006 | | | | 10,416 | | $ | 0.01 | | | 1,488 | | November 2, 2013 | | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | 39,393 | | | | | | 3,717 | | | | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | A summary of the status of the Company’s nonvested RSU granted to employees as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and changes during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, is presented below: |
| Nonvested shares
| Shares
| Weighted average
grant date fair value
|
|---|
| | | $
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Non-vested at January 1, 2008 | | | | 236,861 | | $ | 23.59 | |
| | | |
| Granted | | | | 29,155 | | $ | 12.13 | |
| Vested | | | | (112,026 | ) | $ | 20.89 | |
| Forfeited | | | | (65,926 | ) | $ | 25.57 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Non-vested at December 31, 2008 | | | | 88,064 | | $ | 21.75 | |
| |
| |
| |
| Nonvested shares
| Shares
| Weighted average
grant date fair value
|
|---|
| | | $
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Non-vested at January 1, 2007 | | | | 104,826 | | $ | 24.11 | |
| | | |
| Granted | | | | 264,123 | | $ | 24.36 | |
| Vested | | | | (66,512 | ) | $ | 24.68 | |
| Forfeited | | | | (65,576 | ) | $ | 26.42 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Non-vested at December 31, 2007 | | | | 236,861 | | $ | 23.59 | |
| |
| |
| |
F - 42
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| Note 14 | – | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONT.) |
| | B. | STOCK OPTION PLAN (CONT.) |
| | The weighted average fair values of options granted (including those granted to non-employees but excluding RSUs) during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were: |
| | Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Weighted average exercise prices | | | $ | 11.50 | | $ | 26.6 | | $ | 25.99 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Weighted average fair value on grant date | | | $ | 5.65 | | $ | 13.55 | | $ | 12.24 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | The weighted-average estimated fair value of employee stock options granted during the 12 months ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was calculated using the binomial model with the following weighted-average assumptions (annualized percentages): |
| | Year ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Volatility | 56% | 65% | 65% |
| Risk-free interest rate | 3.06% | 4.8% | 4.36%-5.09% |
| Dividend yield | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Post-vest cancellation rate *) | 5% | 5% | 0-5% |
| Suboptimal exercise factor **) | 2 | 2 | 2-3 |
| Expected life years | 4.45 | 3.04 | 3.17-5.65 |
| | *) | The post-vest cancellation rate was calculated on a monthly basis and is presented here on an annual basis. |
| | **) | The ratio of the stock price to strike price at the time of exercise of the option. |
| | The Company used volatility data of comparable companies’ with similar characteristics to the Company, i.e. profitability, for calculating volatility in accordance with SFAS 123(R). The computation of historical volatility was derived from the comparable companies’ historical volatility for similar contractual terms. As a result of the above-mentioned calculations, the weighted-average volatility used for the 12 months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was 56% and 65%, respectively. |
| | The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on observed interest rates appropriate for the term of the Company’s employee stock options. Weighted average interest rate used for the 12 months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was 3.06% and 4.8% respectively. |
| | The Company is required to assume a dividend yield as an input in the binomial model. The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s historical and expectation of future dividend payouts and may be subject to substantial change in the future. The dividend yield used for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was 0%. |
F - 43
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data |
| Note 14 | – | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONT.) |
| | B. | STOCK OPTION PLAN (CONT.) |
| | The expected life of employee stock options represents the weighted-average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding and is a derived output of the binomial model. The expected life of employee stock options is impacted by all of the underlying assumptions used in the Company’s model. The binomial model assumes that employees’ exercise behavior is a function of the option’s remaining contractual life and the extent to which the option is in-the-money (i.e., the average stock price during the period is above the strike price of the stock option). The binomial model estimates the probability of exercise as a function of these two variables based on the history of exercises and factors in also the post vesting termination rate of employees, as termination triggers the truncation of employee awards shortly thereafter. The expected life derived from the binomial model was a weighted average of 4.45 and 3.04 years for options granted during the 12 months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. |
| | As equity-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statement of income is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it should be reduced for estimated forfeitures. Statement 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. |
| | Pre-vesting forfeitures were estimated in 2008 and 2007 to be approximately 13.63% for options and 21.15% for RSU, for the full term of the award on a weighted average basis, based on historical experience. |
| | The Company’s aggregate compensation cost for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 totaled $7,592, $ 7,809 and $8,256, respectively. |
| | The total equity-based compensation expense related to all of the Company’s equity-based awards, recognized for years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, was comprised as follows: |
| | Year ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Cost of goods sold | | | $ | 51 | | $ | 278 | | $ | 267 | |
| Research and development | | | | 295 | | | 883 | | | 644 | |
| Sales and Marketing | | | | 3,860 | | | 4,514 | | | 5,054 | |
| General and administrative | | | | 3,386 | | | 2,134 | | | 2,291 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Total equity-based compensation expense before | | |
| taxes | | | $ | 7,592 | | $ | 7,809 | | $ | 8,256 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | The Company has never paid cash dividends to shareholders. The Company intends to retain future earnings for use in its business and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its shares in the foreseeable future. Any future dividend policy will be determined by the board of directors and will be based upon conditions then existing, including results of operations, financial condition, current and anticipated cash needs, contractual restrictions and other conditions as the board of directors may deem relevant. In the event that cash dividends are declared in the future, such dividends will be paid in U.S. dollars subject to any statutory limitations. |
F - 44
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| | A. | Effective January 1 2007, the Company adopted FIN 48. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statements recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in tax return. The implementation of FIN 48 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. |
| | The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income taxes in tax expenses line in its consolidated statements. The Company has approximately $331 accrued for the payments of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2008. |
| | A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the total amounts of gross tax liabilities is as follows: |
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| Gross tax liabilities at January 1, 2008 (*) | | | $ | 6,113 | |
| Decreases in tax positions for prior years | | | | (669 | ) |
| Increases in tax positions for current year | | | | 1,611 | |
| Decreases in tax position resulting from settlement | | | | (2,003 | ) |
| |
| |
| Gross tax liabilities at December 31, 2008 | | | $ | 5,052 | |
| |
| |
| | (*) | All of Company’s gross tax liabilities as of January 1, 2007 were already accrued under prior GAAP before the adoption of FIN 48. |
| | The Company operates in multiple jurisdictions throughout the world, and its tax returns are periodically audited or subject to review by both domestic and foreign authorities. As a result of ongoing examinations, tax proceedings in certain countries, additions to unrecognized tax benefits for positions taken and interest and penalties, if any, arising in 2008, it is not possible to estimate the potential net increase or decrease to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits during the next twelve months. The following describes the open tax years, by major tax jurisdiction, as of December 31, 2008: |
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| | |
|---|
| Israel | 2006 - present |
| United States | 2002 - present |
| Germany | 2001 - present |
| Canada | 2004 - present |
| | Taxable income of Israeli companies is subject to tax at the rate of 27% in 2008, 26% in 2009 and in 2010 and thereafter – 25%. |
| | 2. | Measurement of taxable income: |
| | On February 26, 2008, the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) enacted the Income Tax Law (Inflationary Adjustments) (Amendment No. 20) (Restriction of Effective Period), 2008, which the Company refers to as the Inflationary Adjustments Amendment. In accordance with the Inflationary Adjustments Amendment, the effective period of the Inflationary Adjustments Law will cease at the end of the 2007 tax year and as of the 2008 tax year the provisions of the law shall no longer apply, other than the transitional provisions intended at preventing distortions in the tax calculations. In accordance with the |
F - 45
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 15 | – | INCOME TAXES (CONT.) |
| | B. | ISRAELI TAXATION (CONT.) |
| | 2. | Measurement of taxable income (cont.): |
| | Inflationary Adjustments Amendment, commencing the 2008 tax year, income for tax purposes will no longer be adjusted to a real (net of inflation) measurement basis. Furthermore, the depreciation of inflation immune assets and carried forward tax losses will no longer be linked to the Israeli Consumer Price Index. |
| | In accordance with paragraph 9(f) of SFAS No. 109, the Company has not provided deferred income taxes on the above difference between the reporting currency and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. |
| | 3. | Tax benefits under Israel’s Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 1969: |
| | The Company is “Industrial Company”, as defined by the Law for the Encouragement of an Industry (Taxes), 1969, and as such, the Company is entitled to certain tax benefits, mainly amortization of costs relating to know-how and patents over eight years, accelerated depreciation and the right to deduct public issuance expenses for tax purposes. |
| | 4. | Tax Benefits Under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 (the “Law”): |
| | The Investment Law empowers the Israeli Investment Center to grant Approved Enterprise status to capital investments in production facilities that meet certain relevant criteria (“Approved Enterprise”) specified by the Law and the regulations specified thereafter. The tax benefits derived from any Approved Enterprise relate only to taxable income attributable to the specific program of investment to which the status was granted. |
| | On April 1, 2005, an amendment to the Investment Law came into effect (“the Amendment”) and has significantly changed the provisions of the Investment Law. The Amendment limits the scope of enterprises which may be approved by the Investment Center by setting criteria for the approval of a facility as a Beneficiating Enterprise, such as provisions generally requiring that at least 25% of the Beneficiating Enterprise’s income will be derived from export. Additionally, the Amendment enacted major changes in the manner in which tax benefits are awarded under the Investment Law so that companies no longer require Investment Center approval in order to qualify for tax benefits. |
| | In addition, the Investment Law provides that terms and benefits included in any certificate of approval already granted will remain subject to the provisions of the law as they were on the date of such approval. Therefore, the Company’s existing Approved Enterprise will generally not be subject to the provisions of the Amendment. As a result of the amendment, tax-exempt income generated under the provisions of the new law, as part of a new Beneficiating enterprise, will subject the Company to taxes upon distribution or liquidation. |
F - 46
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 15 | – | INCOME TAXES (CONT.) |
| | B. | ISRAELI TAXATION (CONT.) |
| | 4. | Tax Benefits Under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 (the “Law”) (cont.): |
| | The Company has been granted the status of “Approved Enterprises”, under the Law, for an investments program for the period ending in 2004, and the status of “Beneficiating Enterprise” according to the Amendment to the Law, for investments in 2005 through 2007 (“Programs”). |
| | In accordance with the Law and the Amendment, Syneron Medical Ltd. has chosen to enjoy an “Alternative benefits program” status. Accordingly, Syneron Medical Ltd’s income attributed to the Programs is exempt from taxes on income derived there from for a period of ten years starting in the year in which the Company first generates taxable income. |
| | Out of the Company’s retained earnings as of December 31, 2008 approximately $144 million are tax-exempt earnings attributable to its Approved Enterprise programs and $61 million are tax-exempt earnings attributable to its Beneficiating Enterprise program. The tax-exempt income attributable to the Approved and Beneficiating Enterprise cannot be distributed to shareholders without subjecting the Company to taxes. If dividends are distributed out of tax-exempt profits, the Company will then become liable for tax at the rate applicable to its profits from the approved enterprise in the year in which the income was earned, as if it was not under the “Alternative benefits program”(tax at the rate of 10%-25%). According to the Amendment, tax-exempt income generated under the Beneficiating Enterprise status will be taxed upon dividend distribution or complete liquidation, whereas tax exempt income generated under the Approved Enterprise status will be taxed only upon dividend distribution (and not upon complete liquidation, where the tax liability will be incurred by the shareholders). As of December 31, 2008, if the income attributed to the Approved Enterprise were distributed as dividend, the Company would incur a tax liability of approximately up to $ 22 million (depending on the tax rate as described above). If income attributed to the Beneficiating Enterprise were distributed as dividend, including upon liquidation, the Company would incur a tax liability in the amount of approximately up to $ 9 million (depending on the tax rate as described above). |
| | These amounts will be recorded as an income tax expense in the period in which the Company declares the dividend. |
| | The Company’s board of directors has determined that it will not distribute any amounts of its undistributed tax exempt income as dividend. The Company intends to reinvest the amount of its tax-exempt income. Accordingly, no deferred income taxes have been provided on income attributable to the Company’s Approved and Beneficiating Enterprise programs as the undistributed tax exempt income is essentially permanent in duration. |
| | The entitlement to the above benefits is conditional upon the Company’s fulfilling the conditions stipulated by the Law, regulations published there under and the certificates of approval for the specific investments in approved enterprises. |
F - 47
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 15 | – | INCOME TAXES (CONT.) |
| | B. | ISRAELI TAXATION (CONT.) |
| | 4. | Tax Benefits Under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 (the “Law”) (cont.): |
| | Should Syneron Medical Ltd. fail to meet such requirements in the future, income attributable to its programs could be subject to the statutory Israeli corporate tax rate and the Company could be required to refund a portion of the tax benefits already received, with respect to such program. The Company’s management believes that the Company is meeting the aforementioned conditions. |
| | Income from sources other than the “Approved Enterprise” is subject to tax at regular Israeli corporate tax rate of 27%. |
| | C. | NON-ISRAELI SUBSIDIARIES |
| | Non-Israeli subsidiaries are taxed based on tax laws in their countries of residence. |
| | Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows: |
| | December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
|
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| | | |
|---|
| Net operating loss carryforward of subsidiaries | | | $ | 15,048 | | $ | 15,248 | |
| SFAS 123R- compensation costs | | | | 4,099 | | | 2,594 | |
| Deferred tax asset from unrealized losses on | | |
| available-for-sale marketable securities | | | | 86 | | | 22 | |
| Impairment of available-for-sale marketable securities | | | | 1,832 | | | 1,444 | |
| Company's capital losses carryforward (*) | | | | 9,483 | | | 5,562 | |
| Temporary differences | | | | 2,123 | | | 1,680 | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total deferred tax asset before valuation allowance | | | | 32,671 | | | 26,550 | |
| Valuation allowance | | | | (30,859 | ) | | (26,550 | ) |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Total deferred tax asset | | | | 1,812 | | | - | |
| | | |
| Deferred tax liability from the acquisition of a | | |
| subsidiary (see also Note 1D) | | | | (712 | ) | | - | |
| |
| |
| |
| Total deferred tax liability | | | | (712 | ) | | - | |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Net deferred tax asset | | | $ | 1,100 | | $ | - | |
| |
| |
| |
| | (*) | the Company has a capital loss carryforward resulting from the difference between the reporting currency and the tax basis of the investments in Marketable securities. |
F - 48
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 15 | – | INCOME TAXES (CONT.) |
| | D. | DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (CONT.) |
| | In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences are deductible and net operating losses are utilized. |
| | The Israeli subsidiaries have available carryfoward tax loss of $3,950 to offset against future tax profits for an indefinite period. |
| | The Company’s subsidiary in the United States has estimated total available carryforward tax losses of $33,604 to offset against future tax profits for periods of 15-20 years expiring between 2017-2022. |
| | In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences are deductible and net operating losses and capital losses are utilized. Based on consideration of these factors, the Company has established a valuation allowance of $31,186 and $26,550 at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. |
| | Utilization of U.S. loss carryforwards may be subject to substantial annual limitation due to the “change in ownership” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and similar state provisions. The annual limitations may result in the expiration of losses before utilization. |
| | E. | INCOME BEFORE TAXES ON INCOME |
| | Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Domestic | | | $ | 1,136 | | $ | 30,240 | | $ | 46,671 | |
| Foreign | | | | 2,482 | | | 4,039 | | | (5,528 | ) |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | $ | 3,618 | | $ | 34,279 | | $ | 41,143 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Domestic | | | $ | (2,412 | ) | $ | 2,493 | | $ | 1,417 | |
| Foreign | | | | 403 | | | 542 | | | 72 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | $ | (2,009 | ) | $ | 3,035 | | $ | 1,489 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
F - 49
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 15 | – | INCOME TAXES (CONT.) |
| | F. | TAXES ON INCOME (CONT.) |
| | Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Current taxes (*) | | | $ | (197 | ) | $ | 3,035 | | $ | 1,419 | |
| Deferred taxes | | | | (1,812 | ) | | - | | | - | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | $ | (2,009 | ) | $ | 3,035 | | $ | 1,489 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | (*) | Includes the effect of a final tax assessment with the Israeli tax authorities for the years 2003-2005 in the amount of ($2,003). |
| | G. | A reconciliation between the theoretical tax expense, assuming all income is taxed at the statutory tax rate applicable to income of the Company and the actual tax expense as reported in the income statements is as follows: |
| | Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Income before taxes, as reported in the | | | | | | | | | | | |
| consolidated statements of income | | | $ | 3,618 | | $ | 34,279 | | $ | 41,143 | |
| | | |
| Statutory tax rate | | | | 27 | % | | 29 | % | | 31 | % |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Theoretical tax expenses on the | | |
| above amount at the Israeli Statutory | | |
| tax rate | | | $ | 977 | | $ | 9,941 | | $ | 12,754 | |
| Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from | | |
| "Approved Enterprise" benefits (1) | | | | 161 | | | (14,172 | ) | | (14,368 | ) |
| Difference in basis of measurement for | | |
| tax purpose | | | | (7,155 | ) | | - | | | (1,769 | ) |
| Change in valuation allowance, net | | | | 4,309 | | | 4,285 | | | 3,124 | |
| Non-deductible stock based compensation | | | | 1,056 | | | 2,263 | | | 1,684 | |
| Non-deductible expenses | | | | 185 | | | 451 | | | 134 | |
| Decrease in taxes resulting from tax settlement | | |
| with tax authorities | | | | (1,506 | ) | | - | | | - | |
| Others | | | | (36 | ) | | 267 | | | (70 | ) |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Actual tax (income) expense | | | $ | (2,009 | ) | $ | 3,035 | | $ | 1,489 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| (1) Per share amounts (basic) of the tax | | | | | | | | | | | |
| benefit resulting from the exemption | | | $ | 0.01 | | $ | (0.51 | ) | $ | (0.59 | ) |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Per share amounts (diluted) of the | | |
| tax benefit Resulting from the | | |
| exemption | | | $ | 0.01 | | $ | (0.50 | ) | $ | (0.58 | ) |
| |
| |
| |
| |
F - 50
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 16 | – | FINANCIAL INCOME, NET |
| | Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Income: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest on cash equivalents | | | $ | 373 | | $ | 505 | | $ | 472 | |
| Gain and interest on available-for-sale | | |
| marketable securities | | | | 7,561 | | | 8,423 | | | 5,111 | |
| Interest on short-term deposits and | | |
| structured note | | | | 510 | | | 310 | | | 333 | |
| Foreign currency transaction adjustments | | | | | | | 465 | | | 1,025 | |
| | | |
| Expenses: | | |
| Interest on short-term credit and bank | | |
| commissions | | | | (337 | ) | | (245 | ) | | (127 | ) |
| Loss on available-for-sale marketable | | |
| securities | | | | (540 | ) | | (428 | ) | | (322 | ) |
| Impairment of investments in marketable | | |
| securities | | | | (1,553 | ) | | (5,776 | ) | | | |
| Foreign currency transaction adjustments | | | | (2,152 | ) | | | | | | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | $ | 3,862 | | $ | 3,254 | | $ | 6,492 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Note 17 | – | MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION |
| | The Company applies Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” (“SFAS No. 131”). The Company operates in one reportable segment (see Note 1 for a brief description of the Company’s business). The total revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on the location of the end customer. |
| | The following presents total revenues and long-lived assets as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 and for the years then ended: |
| 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| Total
Revenue
| Long lived
assets
| Total
Revenue
| Long
lived
assets
| Total
Revenue
| Long
lived
assets
|
|---|
| | | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | | |
|---|
| North America | | | $ | 60,202 | | $ | 642 | | $ | 80,489 | | $ | 608 | | $ | 66,582 | | $ | 348 | |
| Europe | | | | 33,005 | | | - | | | 32,666 | | | 44 | | | 30,662 | | | 35 | |
| Asia Pacific | | | | 16,967 | | | - | | | 22,013 | | | - | | | 16,289 | | | - | |
| Israel | | | | 581 | | | 9,664 | | | 916 | | | 7,319 | | | 700 | | | 2,257 | |
| Others | | | | 4,224 | | | - | | | 4,912 | | | - | | | 2,743 | | | - | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | | $ | 114,979 | | $ | 10,306 | | $ | 140,996 | | $ | 7,971 | | $ | 116,976 | | $ | 2,640 | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
F - 51
| SYNERON MEDICAL LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
|
|---|
| Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
| U.S. dollars in thousands |
| Note 18 | – | EARNINGS PER SHARE |
| | The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net earnings per share: |
| | Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Numerator: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net income | | | $ | 5,627 | | $ | 31,244 | | $ | 39,654 | |
| | | |
| Denominator: | | |
| Weighted-average number of shares | | |
| outstanding used in computing basic net | | |
| earnings per share | | | | 27,410,187 | | | 27,690,449 | | | 27,201,932 | |
| Dilutive effect: stock options and RSU’s | | | | 110,576 | | | 190,041 | | | 398,786 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Total weighted-average number of shares used | | |
| in computing diluted net earnings per share | | | | 27,520,763 | | | 27,880,490 | | | 27,600,718 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Basic net earning per share | | | $ | 0.21 | | $ | 1.13 | | $ | 1.46 | |
| Diluted net earning per share | | | $ | 0.20 | | $ | 1.12 | | $ | 1.44 | |
| | The following outstanding options (prior to the application of the treasury shares method) were excluded from the computation of diluted net earnings per Ordinary share for the periods presented because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect. |
| | Year Ended December 31,
|
|---|
| | 2008
| 2007
| 2006
|
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| | | | |
|---|
| Options to purchase Ordinary shares | | | | 2,202,853 | | | 1,107,837 | | | 1,197,831 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Note 19 | – | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
| | A. | On March 10, 2009, the Company’s subsidiary in the U.S., Syneron Inc., was served with a complaint (“the complaint”) from Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. (“Palomar”). The complaint alleges infringement of certain US patents in connection with hair removal products sold in the United States. These patents are currently being reexamined by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office based on different prior art. Syneron Inc.‘s response to the complaint is due till May 10, 2009. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously against Palomar’s complaint. |
| | B. | On or before March 27, 2009, we expect to receive $3,975 as consideration for the resolution of a dispute. |
F - 52
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
Dated: March 24, 2009
| | Syneron Medical Ltd.
By: /s/ Louis Scafuri
——————————————
Louis Scafuri
Chief Executive Officer |
67
