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TABLE OF CONTENTS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7)
Registration No. 333-190965
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered |
Proposed maximum aggregate price per unit(1) |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price |
Amount of registration fee |
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Ordinary Shares, nominal value 0.01 New Israeli Shekels per share ("Ordinary Shares") |
277,476(2) | $98.47 | $27,323,061.72 | $3,519.21(3) | ||||
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated September 3, 2013)
STRATASYS LTD.
277,476 ORDINARY SHARES
This prospectus supplement relates to the sale, in one or more offerings, of up to 277,476 of our ordinary shares, nominal value 0.01 New Israeli Shekels per share, that are held or beneficially owned by the selling shareholders named in this prospectus supplement. The selling shareholders identified in this prospectus supplement, or their permitted transferees or other successors-in-interest that may be indentified in a prospectus supplement, may sell shares from time to time on or off the NASDAQ Global Select Market in regular brokerage transactions, in transactions directly with market makers or in privately negotiated transactions, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale that may be used by the selling shareholders, see the section entitled "Plan of Distribution" on page S-31. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of these shares.
Our ordinary shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "SSYS". You should read both this prospectus, and the additional information described under the heading "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference," before you decide to invest in our ordinary shares.
Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or are filed after the date hereof, to read about factors you should consider before purchasing our ordinary shares.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed on completeness or the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus supplement is August 7, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of an "automatic shelf" registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, as a "well-known seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, using a "shelf" registration process. Under this process, the selling shareholders named herein may offer and sell from time to time an aggregate of up to 277,476 of our ordinary shares in one or more offerings. We sometimes refer to our ordinary shares as the "shares" throughout this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
This prospectus supplement describes the terms of the offerings by the selling shareholders and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The accompanying prospectus, dated September 3, 2013, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, provides more general information. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus combined. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference that was filed with the Commission before the date of this prospectus supplement, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later datefor example, a document incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectusthe statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. You should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference, in their entirety before making an investment decision.
You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these shares. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than its respective date, regardless of when this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is delivered, or when any sale of our ordinary shares occurs. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus supplement to:
"Stratasys," the "Company," the "Registrant," "our company," "us," "we" and "our" are to Stratasys Ltd., an Israeli company, and its consolidated subsidiaries.
"Our shares," "ordinary shares" and similar expressions refer to our Ordinary Shares, nominal value 0.01 New Israeli Shekels, or NIS, per share.
"Dollars", "US dollars" or "$" are to United States Dollars.
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This summary may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read the entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the risks of investing in our ordinary shares incorporated by reference herein under the heading "Risk Factors" and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the financial statements and related notes, pro forma financial information, and other information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before making an investment decision.
We are a leading global provider of additive manufacturing, or AM, solutions for the creation of parts used in the processes of designing and manufacturing products and for the direct manufacture of end parts. Our solutions are sold under eight brands, with products ranging from entry-level desktop 3D printers to systems for rapid prototyping, or RP, and large production systems for direct digital manufacturing, or DDM, and related services offerings. We also develop, manufacture and sell materials for use with our systems. We believe that the range of more than 130 3D printing consumable materials that we offer is the widest in the industry. Our services offerings include professional services as well as paid parts (provided printed parts). We have more than 2,500 employees and hold more than 550 granted or pending patents internationally.
Our legal and commercial name is Stratasys Ltd., and we are the product of the 2012 merger of two leading additive manufacturing companies, Stratasys, Inc. and Objet Ltd. Stratasys, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 1989, and Objet Ltd. was incorporated in Israel in 1998, under the name Objet Geometries Ltd. and subsequently changed its name in 2011 to Objet Ltd. On December 1, 2012, the two companies completed a merger, which we refer to as the Stratasys-Objet merger, pursuant to which Stratasys, Inc. became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Objet Ltd., and Objet Ltd. changed its name to Stratasys Ltd. Also, as part of that transaction, the ordinary shares of Stratasys Ltd. were listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol "SSYS", in place of the listing of the common stock of Stratasys, Inc., which had also traded under that symbol. On August 15, 2013 we acquired Cooperation Technology Corporation, or MakerBot, which was the direct parent company of MakerBot Industries, LLC, a leader in desktop 3D printing, and which owned and operated Thingiverse.com, a website dedicated to the sharing of user-created digital design files. The business of MakerBot (including Thingiverse.com) is now operated by a subsidiary of our company.
We have dual headquarters. One of our two principal places of business is located at 7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and our telephone number there is (952) 937-3000. Our registered office and our other principal place of business is located at 2 Holtzman Street, Science Park, P.O. Box 2496, Rehovot 76124, Israel, and our telephone number at that office is (+972)-74-745-4314. Our agent in the United States is S. Scott Crump, our Chairman of the Board, whose address is c/o Stratasys Inc. at the address of our Eden Prairie, Minnesota headquarters. We maintain a website at www.stratasys.com. The information contained on or accessible through that web site (or on our other web sites, including www.objet.com or any other website referenced in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any other document incorporated by reference herein or therein) is not a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. As an Israeli company, we operate under the provisions of Israel's Companies Law 5759-1999, or the Companies Law.
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Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies Acquisitions
Description of Acquisitions
Since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, we have completed the acquisition of Solid Concepts Inc., or the Solid Concepts acquisition, and the acquisition of Harvest Technologies Inc., or the Harvest Technologies acquisition.
Acquisition of Solid Concepts
On April 2, 2014, we announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement, which we refer to as the Solid Concepts merger agreement, whereby we have subsequently acquired, on July 14, 2014, privately-held Solid Concepts Inc., or Solid Concepts. Pursuant to the Solid Concepts acquisition, we will pay total consideration of approximately $190 million, of which $29 million was paid in cash, $103 million was paid via issuance of our ordinary shares, $4 million was deferred for six months and will be paid in cash, and the remaining $54 million will be paid in three separate annual installments. Under the terms of the Solid Concepts merger agreement, certain of Solid Concepts' employees may also qualify for retention-related and other payments of $72 million, of which $15 million was paid in cash upon closing, and the remaining $57 million will be paid in three separate annual installments.
Subject to certain requirements for cash payments, we retain the discretion to settle any of the amounts payable under the Solid Concepts merger agreement in ordinary shares, cash or any combination of the two. These amounts are also subject to certain adjustments based on the market price of our ordinary shares.
Acquisition of Harvest Technologies
On April 2, 2014, we also announced the signing of a definitive stock purchase agreement, which we refer to as the Harvest Technologies stock purchase agreement, whereby we have subsequently acquired, on August 1, 2014, all of the shares of privately-held Harvest Technologies Inc., or Harvest Technologies. Pursuant to that acquisition, we have made an initial payment of an aggregate of 175,456 ordinary shares to the selling stockholders of Harvest Technologies upon the closing of the acquisition, and may make subsequent retention payments in cash and/or ordinary shares (at our discretion) to certain Harvest Technologies employees (including one former stockholder of Harvest Technologies) on certain anniversaries of the closing.
Impact of Acquisitions on Our Business
Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies are leading providers of AM services. Solid Concepts is the largest independent AM service bureau in North America and is expected to become a fast-growing partner to RedEye, our existing digital manufacturing service business. With the addition of Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies, we expect to create a strategic platform focused on meeting customers' AM needs through an expanded technology and business offering. Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies provide our company with significant manufacturing and end-use parts production capabilities, infrastructure, capacity and process know-how, which are expected to accelerate and enable further adoption of AM. The combination of Solid Concepts' thorough knowledge of manufacturing and vertical focus, in industries such as medical and aerospace, and Harvest Technologies' experience in parts production, as well as materials and systems know-how, together with our existing RedEye paid parts service, is expected to strengthen our DDM and parts production expertise.
Solid Concepts, based in Valencia California, has provided AM solutions to customers since its founding in 1991. Solid Concepts has developed extensive U.S.-based capacity and infrastructure, with six U.S. facilities staffed by approximately 450 employees. Solid Concepts maintains a broad variety of
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technology platforms and processes for AM and serves a diverse customer base across a wide range of vertical markets, including medical, aerospace, and industrial, among others. Solid Concepts provides a broad platform that, following the integration of Harvest Technologies and RedEye, is expected to create a comprehensive AM solution provider.
Harvest Technologies, based in Belton, Texas, is a specialty AM service bureau established in 1995, with approximately 80 employees. Harvest Technologies has deep manufacturing process know-how and focuses on advanced end use parts applications. Harvest Technologies was the first AM company in North America to become AS9100/ISO 9001 certified, and continues to produce end-use parts for multiple industries.
For a detailed description of how these acquisitions are expected to affect our company, please see our Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on April 2, 2014 and July 16, 2014, including the exhibits thereto.
Update to Property, Plants and Equipment due to Acquisitions
Our Solid Concepts subsidiary leases administrative/office space, manufacturing and assembly facilities, and storage/warehouse facilities at a total of seven locations, including its Valencia, California headquarters. All of such leased properties are subject to short-term to mid-term lease agreements (that expire in a range of dates between the end of 2014 and October 2023) and, except as indicated in the table below, are fully utilized by Solid Concepts.
On or about the time of the Harvest Technologies acquisition, Harvest Technologies entered into new lease agreements for its two leased properties, both of which are located in Belton, Texas. The leases will run for a period of 12 months each (which term will automatically renew) and will cover an aggregate of 42,400 square feet for aggregate monthly rent equal to $22,500.
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The real properties leased by Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies, the space that they occupy in each such properties and the monthly rent associated with each such property are provided below:
Lessee, Property Location and Use(s)
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Monthly Lease Payment |
Approximate square feet |
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Solid Concepts, 28177 Avenue Crocker, Valencia, California |
$10,687 plus cost of living adjustments since May 1, 2012(1) | 19,432 square feet | ||
Solid Concepts, 28309 Ave Crocker, Valencia, California |
$36,000 |
52,000 square feet |
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Solid Concepts, 12250 Kirkham Road, Poway, California |
$19,038 |
20,325 square feet |
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Solid Concepts, 9715-A Burnet Road Suite 500, Austin, Texas |
$12,532 |
22,378 square feet |
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Solid Concepts,3280 E. Hemisphere Loop, Suite 120, Tucson, Arizona |
$9,613 |
6,450 square feet |
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Solid Concepts, 75 West Baseline Road Suite 49, Gilbert, Arizona |
$4,641 |
11,051 square feet |
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Solid Concepts, 2701 Industrial Row, Troy, Michigan |
$8,100 |
16,868 square feet |
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Harvest Technologies, Belton Business Park, Phase 1, in the City of Belton, Bell County, Texas |
$21,000 |
gross area of 40,000 square feet |
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Harvest Technologies, Belton Industrial Park, Lot 2, Block 1, Belton Industrial Park, Bell County, Texas |
$1,500 |
2,400 square feet |
Other Material Changes
Any other material changes relating to our company since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, which we filed with the Commission on March 3, 2014, or the 2013 Annual Report, are or will be described in those Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K that we specifically incorporate by reference in the accompanying prospectus (as described under "Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference" in the accompanying prospectus).
As of the date of this prospectus supplement, the Reports of Foreign Private Issuer that we furnished to the Commission on
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operations of Stratasys and MakerBot, giving effect to the acquisition of MakerBot by our company as if it had been consummated on January 1, 2012); and
are the only such reports that followed the filing of the 2013 Annual Report that have been incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus.
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Investing in our ordinary shares involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the risks appearing under Item 3.D "Risk Factors" in the 2013 Annual Report and in our updates, if any, to those risk factors in our Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K. You should consider these risks in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our ordinary shares could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks related to our business and financial condition
We may not be able to introduce new 3D printers, high-performance systems and consumables acceptable to customers or to improve the technology, software or consumables used in our current systems in response to changing technology and end-user needs.
We derive most of our revenues from the sale of additive manufacturing systems and related consumables. The markets in which we operate are subject to rapid and substantial innovation and technological change, mainly driven by technological advances and end-user requirements and preferences, as well as the emergence of new standards and practices. Our ability to compete in these markets depends, in large part, on our success in enhancing our existing products and developing new additive manufacturing systems and new consumables that will address the increasingly sophisticated and varied needs of prospective end-users, and respond to technological advances and industry standards and practices on a cost-effective and timely basis or otherwise gain market acceptance.
Even if we successfully enhance our existing systems or create new systems, it is likely that new systems and technologies that we develop will eventually supplant our existing systems or that our competitors will create systems that will replace our systems. As a result, any of our products may be rendered obsolete or uneconomical by our or others' technological advances.
Our operating results and financial condition may fluctuate.
The operating results and financial condition of our company may fluctuate from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year and are likely to continue to vary due to a number of factors, many of which will not be within our control. If our operating results do not meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors, the market price of our ordinary shares will likely decline. Fluctuations in our operating results and financial condition may be due to a number of factors, including those listed below and those identified throughout this "Risk factors" section:
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Due to all of the foregoing factors, and the other risks discussed in our 2013 Annual Report, you should not rely on quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results as an indicator of our future performance.
Our operations, particularly in integrating the operations of our constituent companies, could suffer if we are unable to attract and retain key management or other key employees.
Our success depends upon the continued service and performance of our senior management and other key personnel. Our senior executive team is critical to the management of our business and operations, as well as to the development of our strategy. The loss of the services of any members of our senior executive team could delay or prevent the successful implementation of our growth strategy, or our commercialization of new applications for our systems or other products, or could otherwise adversely affect our ability to manage our company effectively and carry out our business plan. Members of our senior management team may resign at any time. High demand exists for senior management and other key personnel (including scientific, technical and sales personnel) in the additive fabrication industry, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to retain such personnel. We experience intense competition for qualified personnel. While we intend to continue to provide competitive compensation packages to attract and retain key personnel, some of our competitors for these employees have greater resources and more experience, making it difficult for us to compete successfully for key personnel. If we cannot attract and retain sufficiently qualified technical employees for our research and development and manufacturing operations, we may be unable to achieve the synergies expected from mergers and acquisitions that we may effect from time to time, or to develop and commercialize new products or new applications for existing products. Furthermore, possible shortages of key personnel, including engineers, in the regions surrounding our Minnesota, New York, California, Texas, New Hampshire or Israeli facilities could require us to pay more to hire and retain key personnel, thereby increasing our costs.
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If demand for our products and services does not continue to grow as expected, our revenues may stagnate or decline.
The commercial marketplace for additive manufacturing, which was once dominated by conventional methods that do not involve 3D printing technology, has been undergoing a shift towards 3D printing. This is true with respect to prototype development, and to some extent, with respect to direct digital manufacturing, or DDM, as an alternative to traditional manufacturing. If the commercial marketplace does not continue to transform towards the broader acceptance of 3D printing and DDM as alternatives for prototype development and traditional manufacturing, or if it adopts 3D printing based on technologies other than the technologies that we use, we may not be able to increase or sustain current or future levels of sales of our products and related materials and services, and our results of operations may be adversely affected as a result.
If our product mix shifts too far into lower margin products or our revenues mix shifts significantly towards our AM services business, our profitability could be reduced.
Sales of certain of our existing products for commercial use have higher margins than others. For instance, our high-end commercial systems and related consumables yield a greater gross margin than our entry-level commercial systems. Furthermore, our desktop 3D printers and related consumables yield a lower gross margin than our entry-level commercial systems. As we continue to ship entry-level commercial systems and, to a greater extent, desktop 3D printers, including as a result of our MakerBot transaction, our sales of those systems have grown, and we expect them to continue to account for a growing percentage of total systems that we sell. Furthermore, some of those sales may displace sales of our other systems. If sales of our entry-level desktop 3D printers have the effect of reducing sales of our higher margin products, or, if for any other reason, our product mix shifts too far into lower margin products, and we are not able to sufficiently reduce the engineering, production and other costs associated with those products or substantially increase the sales of those products, our profitability could be reduced. A similar negative impact on our gross margins could result if we experience a substantial shift towards revenues generated by our AM parts and services business, which we expect to significantly broaden as a result of our recent acquisitions of Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies, and which are characterized by lower margins relative to our products.
Declines in the prices of our products may adversely affect our financial results.
Our business is subject to price competition. Such price competition may adversely affect our ability to maintain profitability, especially during periods of decreased demand. If our business is not able to offset price reductions resulting from these pressures by improved operating efficiencies, reduced expenditures and increased sales, then those price reductions would adversely affect our operating results.
The markets in which we participate are competitive. Our failure to compete successfully could cause our revenues and the demand for our products to decline.
We compete for end-users with a wide variety of producers of systems that create models, prototypes, other 3D objects and end-use parts as well as producers of materials and services for these systems, including both additive and subtractive manufacturing methodologies, such as metal extrusion, computer-controlled machining and manual modeling techniques. Our principal competition currently consists of other manufacturers of systems for prototype development and customized manufacturing processes, including 3D Systems Corporation, EOS GmbH and EnvisionTEC GmbH, and, with respect to our entry-level desktop 3D printers, companies such as Delta Micro Factory, Affinia, Ultimaker, Printrbot, Leapfrog, Solidoodle, as well as 3D Systems Corporation. For our recently-broadened AM parts and services business, our chief competitors consist of 3D Systems Corporation, Materialise and many other smaller service providers. We may face additional competition in the future from new
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entrants into the marketplace, including companies that may have significantly greater resources than we have that may become new market entrants or may enter through acquisition or strategic or marketing partnerships with current competitors.
Some of our current and potential competitors have longer operating histories and more extensive name recognition than we have and may also have greater financial, marketing, manufacturing, distribution and other resources than we have. Current and future competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in end-user demands and to devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of their products than we can. Our current and potential competitors may develop and market new technologies that render our existing or future products obsolete, unmarketable or less competitive (whether from a price perspective or otherwise). We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or enhance our current competitive position or continue to compete successfully against current and future sources of competition.
To the extent other companies are successful in developing or marketing consumables for use in our Idea, Design and Production Series systems, our revenues and profits would likely be adversely affected.
We sell a substantial portion of the consumables used in our Idea, Design and Production Series systems. We attempt to protect against replication of our proprietary consumables through patents and trade secrets and provide that warranties on those systems are valid only if customers use consumables that we certify. However, other companies have successfully developed and sold, and may continue to successfully develop or sell, consumables that are less expensive than our consumables and compatible with our systems, which may reduce our consumables sales. Additionally, in order to compete with consumables manufactured by third parties, we could be forced to reduce prices for our proprietary consumables. Either of the above would impair our overall revenues and profitability.
If our relationships with suppliers for our products and services, especially with single source suppliers of components of our products, were to terminate or our manufacturing arrangements were to be disrupted, our business could be interrupted.
We purchase components and sub-assemblies for our systems, raw materials that are used in our consumables, and other component parts and raw materials for our AM services business, from third-party suppliers. While there are several potential suppliers of most of these component parts, sub-assemblies and raw materials, we currently choose to use only one or a limited number of suppliers for several of these components and materials. Our reliance on a single or limited number of vendors involves a number of risks, including:
In addition, we require any new supplier to become "qualified" pursuant to our internal procedures. The qualification process involves evaluations of varying durations, which may cause production delays if we were required to qualify a new supplier unexpectedly. We generally assemble our systems and parts based on our internal forecasts and the availability of raw materials, assemblies, components and finished goods that are supplied to us by third parties, which are subject to various lead times. If certain suppliers were to decide to discontinue production of an assembly, component or raw material that we use, the unanticipated change in the availability of supplies, or unanticipated
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supply limitations, could cause delays in, or loss of, sales, increased production or related costs and consequently reduced margins, and damage to our reputation. If we were unable to find a suitable supplier for a particular component, material or compound, we could be required to modify our existing products or the end-parts that we offer to accommodate substitute components, material or compounds.
In particular, we rely on a sole supplier, Ricoh Printing Systems America, Inc., or Ricoh, for the printer heads for our PolyJet 3D printers. Under the terms of our agreement with Ricoh, we purchase printer heads and associated electronic components, and receive a non-transferable, non-exclusive right to assemble, use and sell these purchased products under Ricoh's patent rights and trade secrets. Due to the risk of a discontinuation of the supply of Ricoh printer heads and other key components of our products, we maintain excess inventory of those printer heads and other components. However, if our forecasts exceed actual orders, we may hold large inventories of slow-moving or unusable parts or raw materials, which could result in inventory write offs or write downs and have an adverse effect on our cash flow, profitability and results of operations. See "Item 4. Information on the CompanyBusiness OverviewManufacturing and SuppliersInventory and SuppliersRicoh Agreement" in our 2013 Annual Report for further discussion of this agreement.
A loss of, or reduction in revenues from, a significant number of our resellers and our independent sales agents would impair our ability to sell our products and services and could reduce our revenues and adversely impact our operating results.
We rely heavily on our network of resellers and independent sales agents to sell and (in the case of resellers) to service our products to end-users in their respective geographic regions. These resellers and sales agents are generally precluded from selling our competitors' products in addition to ours. They may not be as effective in selling our products or servicing our end-users as we are. Further, if a significant number of these resellers and sales agents were to terminate their relationship with us or otherwise fail or refuse to sell our products, we may not be able to find replacements that are as qualified or as successful in a timely manner, if at all. If these resellers and independent sales agents do not perform as anticipated or if we are unable to find qualified and successful replacements, our sales will suffer, which would have a material adverse effect on our revenues and operating results. Additionally, a default by one or more resellers that have a significant receivables balance could have an adverse financial impact on our financial results.
Our business model is predicated in part on building an end-user base that will generate a recurring stream of revenues through the sale of our consumables. If that recurring stream of revenues does not develop as expected, or if our business model changes as the industry evolves, our operating results may be adversely affected.
Our business model is dependent in part on our ability to maintain and increase sales of our proprietary consumables as they generate recurring revenues. Existing and future end-users of our systems may not purchase our consumables at the same rate at which end-users currently purchase those consumables. In addition, our entry-level systems generally use a lower volume of consumables relative to our higher end systems. If our current and future end-users purchase a lower volume of our consumables, or if our entry level systems represent an increasing percentage of our future installed base mix uses less consumables than our current installed base, our recurring revenue stream relative to our total revenues would be reduced, and our operating results would be adversely affected.
Discontinuation of operations at our manufacturing sites could prevent us from timely filling customer orders and could lead to unforeseen costs for us.
We assemble and test the systems that we sell, and produce consumables for our systems, at single facilities in various locations that are specifically dedicated to separate categories of systems and
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consumables. Because of our reliance on all of these production facilities, a disruption at any of those facilities could materially damage our ability to supply 3D printers, other systems or consumable materials to the marketplace in a timely manner. Depending on the cause of the disruption, we could also incur significant costs to remedy the disruption and resume product shipments. Such disruptions may be caused by, among other factors, earthquakes, fire, flood and other natural disasters. Accordingly, any such disruption could result in a material adverse effect on our revenue, results of operations and earnings, and could also potentially damage our reputation.
If goodwill or other intangible assets that we have recorded become impaired, we could have to take significant charges against earnings.
As of December 31, 2013, the book value of all of our goodwill and other intangible assets, which was primarily attributable to the Stratasys-Objet merger and the MakerBot transaction, was approximately $1.8 billion. Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, we must assess, at least annually and potentially more frequently, whether the value of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets has been impaired. Amortizing intangible assets will be assessed for impairment in the event of an impairment indicator. Such impairment may result from one of a number of possible causes, including invalidation of acquired patents, trademarks or other intellectual property or the impairment of other intangible assets due to litigation, obsolescence, competitive factors, lower than expected revenue and operating results or other reasons. Any reduction or impairment of the value of goodwill or other intangible assets will result in a charge against earnings, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and shareholders' equity in future periods.
Global economic, political and social conditions have adversely impacted sales of our constituent companies, and may once again affect us in the future.
The uncertain direction and relative strength of the global economy, difficulties in the financial services sector and credit markets, continuing geopolitical uncertainties and other macroeconomic factors all affect spending behavior of potential end-users of our products and services. The prospects for economic growth in the regions in which we sell our products remain uncertain, and may cause end-users to further delay or reduce technology purchases. In particular, a portion of our sales are made to customers in countries in Europe, which have been and may continue to be affected by a significant economic crisis. These and other macroeconomic factors had an adverse impact on the sales of the products and services of our constituent companies in late 2008, 2009 and, to a lesser degree, 2010, leading to reduced revenues from sales in 2009 relative to 2008, and longer sales cycles. While Objet and Stratasys, Inc. saw an improvement in revenues from sales of their systems and consumables in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and our combined company has continued that positive trend beginning after the completion of the Stratasys-Objet merger on December 1, 2012 through the present time, there can be no assurance that such improvement is sustainable, particularly if global economic conditions remain volatile for a prolonged period or if European economies experience further disruptions. The global financial crisis affecting the banking system and financial markets has resulted in a tightening of credit markets, lower levels of liquidity in many financial markets, and extreme volatility in many fixed income, credit, currency and equity markets. These conditions may make it more difficult for our end-users to obtain financing.
We also face risks that may arise from financial difficulties experienced by our end-users, suppliers and distributors, which may be exacerbated by continued weakness in the global economy, including:
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Our existing and planned international operations currently expose us and will continue to expose us to additional market and operational risks, and failure to manage these risks may adversely affect our business and operating results.
We expect to derive a substantial percentage of our sales from international markets. We derived 46% of our sales in 2013 from countries outside of the United States. Accordingly, we face significant operational risks from doing business internationally, including:
Our failure to manage the market and operational risks associated with our international operations effectively could limit the future growth of our business and adversely affect our operating results.
If we are not successful in completing the integration of our constituent companies from the Stratasys-Objet merger, the benefits of that merger may not be fully realized and the market price of our ordinary shares may be negatively affected.
Since it was consummated in December 2012, the Stratasys-Objet merger has involved the integration of significant aspects of the operations of companies that had previously operated independently with principal offices in distinct locations and geographically diverse organizations. As a combined company (and following our subsequent acquisitions of MakerBot, Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies) we now have more than 2,500 employees in a total of 21 regional offices around
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the world. While integration activities have progressed well to date, the ongoing difficulties of coordinating our operations include:
As a result of these and other factors, we may not successfully complete the integration of the businesses of Stratasys and Objet. Furthermore, we may not realize all of the benefits and synergies of the Stratasys-Objet merger in the timeframe anticipated. It is also possible that such continuing integration and coordination arrangements could lead to the loss of members of our senior executive team, diversion of the attention of management, or the disruption or interruption of, or the loss of momentum in, our ongoing business, which could adversely affect our business and financial results. The occurrence of such negative results could adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares.
As part of our growth strategy, we have sought, and will continue to seek, to acquire or to make investments in other businesses, patents, technologies, products or services. Our failure to do so successfully (including, if applicable, to finance such acquisitions or investments on favorable terms and to avoid adverse financial consequences) may adversely affect our financial results.
As part of our growth strategy, we expect to continue to regularly evaluate acquisitions or investments to expand our suite of products and services. Even if we are able to identify a suitable acquisition or investment, we may not be able to consummate any such transaction if we cannot reach an agreement on favorable terms or if we lack sufficient resources to finance the transaction on our own and cannot obtain financing at a reasonable cost or if regulatory authorities prevent such transaction from being consummated. If we proceed with a particular acquisition, we may have to use cash, issue new equity securities with dilutive effects on existing shareholders, incur indebtedness, assume contingent liabilities or amortize assets or expenses in a manner that might have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. If we incur indebtedness by drawing down under our senior credit facility, that would require us to comply with certain conditions and would subject us to certain limitations, as described below under the risk factor that is titled "Covenants in our credit agreement may restrict our business in many ways." As a result of an acquisition, we will also be required to record certain acquisition-related costs and other items as current period expenses, which would have the effect of reducing our reported earnings in the period in which an acquisition is consummated. We will also be required to record any post-closing goodwill or other long-lived asset impairment charges in the period in which they occur, which could result in a significant charge to our earnings in that period. We could also face unknown liabilities or write-offs.
We have experienced rapid and significant growth in our operations and intend to continue to grow, and if we cannot adequately adapt our infrastructure and properly integrate the internal or external sources of our growth in order to generate the intended benefits from it, our results of operations will suffer.
We have experienced rapid and significant growth in our operations and intend to continue to grow, both organically and from acquisitions, such as the Stratasys-Object merger, the MakerBot
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transaction, the Solid Concepts acquisition and the Harvest Technologies acquisition. The adaptation of our infrastructure to our growth will require, among other things, continued development of our financial and management controls and management information systems, including our ongoing implementation of a unified enterprise resource planning system, management of our sales channel, increased capital expenditures, the ability to attract and retain qualified management personnel and the training of new personnel. We cannot be sure that our infrastructure, systems, procedures, business processes and managerial controls will be adequate to support the rapid and significant growth in our operations. Any delays in, or problems associated with, implementing, or transitioning to, new or enhanced systems, procedures, or controls to accommodate and support the requirements of our business and operations and to effectively and efficiently integrate acquired operations may adversely affect our ability to meet customer requirements, manage our product inventory, and record and report financial and management information on a timely and accurate basis.
Additional unforeseen difficulties and expenditures that may result from the integration of a new business or technology include:
These potential negative effects could prevent us from realizing the benefits of an acquisition transaction or other growth opportunity. In that event, our competitive position, revenues, revenue growth, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity could be adversely affected, which could, in turn, adversely affect our share price and shareholder value.
Covenants in our credit agreement may restrict our business in many ways.
The credit agreement and related agreements that we and our wholly-owned subsidiary (the borrower) entered into in November 2013 with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and the other lenders party thereto, contain various covenants that limit our ability to, among other things:
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A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default or event of default. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the credit agreement, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the agreement to be immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the lenders could accelerate the repayment of borrowings, we may not have sufficient assets to repay the amounts owed under the credit agreement or be able to obtain financing from other sources on favorable terms, if at all. For more information, please see Item 5.B "Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsLiquidity and Capital ResourcesCapital resources and capital expendituresRevolving credit facility" and note 9 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 18 of the 2013 Annual Report.
Defects in new products or in enhancements to our existing products could give rise to product returns or product liability, warranty or other claims that could result in material expenses, diversion of management time and attention, and damage to our reputation.
Our systems may contain undetected defects or errors when first introduced or as enhancements are released that, despite testing, are not discovered until after a product has been used. This could result in delayed market acceptance of those products, claims from distributors, end-users or others, increased end-user service and support costs and warranty claims, damage to our reputation and business, or significant costs to correct the defect or error. We may from time to time become subject to warranty or product liability claims that could lead to significant expenses as we need to compensate affected end-users for costs incurred related to product quality issues. This risk may be heightened when we sell products into certain markets, such as medical and dental applications.
This risk of product liability claims may also be greater due to the use of certain hazardous chemicals used in the manufacture of certain of our products. Those hazardous chemicals fall within three different categories (with several of the chemicals falling within multiple categories): irritants, harmful chemicals and chemicals dangerous for the environment. In addition, we may be subject to claims that our 3D printers have been, or may be, used to create parts that are not in compliance with legal requirements or that intellectual property posted by third parties on our Thingiverse website infringe the intellectual property rights of others.
Any claim brought against us, regardless of its merit, could result in material expense, diversion of management time and attention, and damage to our reputation, and could cause us to fail to retain existing end-users or to attract new end-users. Although we maintain product liability insurance, such insurance is subject to significant deductibles and there is no guarantee that such insurance will be available or adequate to protect against all such claims, or we may elect to self-insure with respect to certain matters. Costs or payments made in connection with warranty and product liability claims and product recalls or other claims could materially affect our financial condition and results of operations.
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Our AM services business, offering parts used as prototypes, benchmarks and end-use parts in general, and, in the case of end-use parts, our sales to customers in the aerospace, medical and automotive industries, in particular, makes us more susceptible to product and other liability claims, which characterize operations in those industries. These activities and our accompanying exposure to claims will increase significantly as a result of our recent acquisitions of Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies. Any such claims that are not adequately covered by insurance or for which insurance is not available may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
As a result of our recent acquisitions of Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies, and together with RedEye, our preexisting digital manufacturing service business, we expect to significantly broaden and increase our production and offering of AM parts, which are used by our customers as prototypes, benchmarks and end-use parts. In particular, we expect to provide these additive manufacturing services to customers in the aerospace, medical and automotive industries. The sale of end use parts in general, and to customers in the foregoing industries in particular, exposes us to possible claims for property damage and personal injury or death which may result from the use of these end-use parts. We may be potentially liable, in significant amounts, if an aircraft, automotive or medical part, component, or accessory or any other aviation, automotive or medical product that we have sold, produced or repaired fails, or if an aircraft or automobile for which our subsidiaries have provided services or in which their parts are installed crashes and the cause can be linked to those parts or cannot be determined. Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies, as well as RedEye, carry liability insurance in amounts that we believe are adequate for their risk exposure and commensurate with industry norms. While we intend to monitor our insurance coverage as our additive manufacturing services business continues to grow, claims may arise in the future, and that insurance coverage may not be adequate or available to protect our consolidated company in all circumstances. Additionally, we might not be able to maintain adequate insurance coverage for our AM services business in the future at an acceptable cost. Any liability claim against our AM services business that is not covered by adequate insurance could adversely affect our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
Under applicable employment laws, we may not be able to enforce covenants not to compete and therefore may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of some of our former employees.
We generally enter into non-competition agreements with our employees. These agreements prohibit our employees from competing directly with us or working for our competitors or clients for a limited period after they cease working for us. We may be unable to enforce these agreements under the laws of the jurisdictions in which our employees work and it may be difficult for us to restrict our competitors from benefiting from the expertise that our former employees or consultants developed while working for us. For example, Israeli courts have required employers seeking to enforce non-compete undertakings of a former employee to demonstrate that the competitive activities of the former employee will harm one of a limited number of material interests of the employer that have been recognized by the courts, such as the secrecy of a company's confidential commercial information or the protection of its intellectual property. If we cannot demonstrate that such interests will be harmed, we may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of our former employees or consultants and our ability to remain competitive may be diminished. In addition, non-competition agreements with employees are generally unenforceable in California, where most employees of Solid Concepts are located.
Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other applicable anti-corruption legislation could result in fines, criminal penalties and an adverse effect on our business.
We operate in a number of countries throughout the world, including countries known to have a reputation for corruption. We are committed to doing business in accordance with applicable anti-corruption laws. We are subject, however, to the risk that our affiliated entities or our and our
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affiliates' respective officers, directors, employees and agents (including distributors of our products) may take action determined to be in violation of such anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010, as well as trade sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Any violation by any of these persons could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties, or curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions, and might adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, actual or alleged violations could damage our reputation and ability to do business.
We own a number of our manufacturing and office facilities, which may limit our ability to move those operations. If we were to move some or all of those operations, we could incur unforeseen charges.
We own buildings in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, which we use to conduct our FDM manufacturing and assembly operations, as well as our manufacturing facility in Kiryat Gat, Israel. Ownership of these buildings and facilities may adversely affect our ability to move some or all of those operations to other locations that may be more favorable. If we were to move any of those operations to other locations, we may have difficulty selling or leasing the property that we vacate. This could result in an impairment charge, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in one or more periods.
If we do not generate sufficient future taxable income, we may be required to recognize deferred tax asset valuation allowances.
The value of our deferred tax assets depends, in part, on our ability to use them to offset taxable income in future years. If we are unable to generate sufficient future taxable income in the U.S. and certain other jurisdictions, or if there are significant changes in tax laws or the tax rates or the period within which the underlying temporary differences become taxable or deductible, we could be required to record valuation allowances against our deferred tax assets. Such allowances would result in an increase in our effective tax rate and have a negative impact on our operating results. If our estimated future taxable income is increased, the valuation allowances for deferred tax assets may be reduced. These changes may also contribute to the volatility of our consolidated financial results.
Default in payment by one or more resellers or customers from which we have large account receivable balances could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
From time to time, our accounts receivable balances have been concentrated with certain resellers or customers. Default by one or more of these resellers or customers could result in a significant charge against our current reported earnings. We have reviewed our policies that govern credit and collections, and will continue to monitor them in light of current payment status and economic conditions. However, there can be no assurance that our efforts to identify potential credit risks will be successful. Our inability to timely identify resellers and customers that are credit risks could result in defaults at a time when such resellers or customers have high accounts receivable balances with us. Any such default would result in a significant charge against our earnings and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations use chemicals and produce waste materials. We are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements in multiple jurisdictions governing, among other things, the generation, use, storage, registration, handling and disposal of chemicals and waste materials, the presence of specified substances in electrical products, the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into the ground, air or water, the cleanup of contaminated sites, including any contamination that results from spills due to our failure to properly dispose of chemicals
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and other waste materials and the health and safety of our employees. Under these laws, regulations and requirements, we could also be subject to liability for improper disposal of chemicals and waste materials, including those resulting from the use of our systems and accompanying materials by end-users. These or future laws and regulations could potentially require the expenditure of significant amounts for compliance and/or remediation. If our operations fail to comply with such laws or regulations, we may be subject to fines and other civil, administrative or criminal sanctions, including the revocation of permits and licenses necessary to continue our business activities. In addition, we may be required to pay damages or civil judgments in respect of third-party claims, including those relating to personal injury (including exposure to hazardous substances that we generate, use, store, handle, transport, manufacture or dispose of), property damage or contribution claims. Some environmental laws allow for strict, joint and several liability for remediation costs, regardless of fault. We may be identified as a potentially responsible party under such laws. Such developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to environmental laws due to the import and export of our products, which could subject us to compliance costs and/or potential liability in the event of non-compliance.
The export of our products internationally from our production facilities subjects us to environmental laws and regulations concerning the import and export of chemicals and hazardous substances such as the United States Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA, and the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical Substances, or REACH. These laws and regulations require the testing and registration of some chemicals that we ship along with, or that form a part of, our systems and other products. If we fail to comply with these or similar laws and regulations, we may be required to make significant expenditures to reformulate the chemicals that we use in our products and materials or incur costs to register such chemicals to gain and/or regain compliance. Additionally, we could be subject to significant fines or other civil and criminal penalties should we not achieve such compliance.
We are currently subject to a number of lawsuits. These and any future lawsuits to which we become subject may have a material adverse impact on our capitalization, business and results of operations.
We are currently party to one significant action by a former employee who seeks the issuance of options exercisable for our ordinary shares. The former employee has demanded, based on an alleged undertaking we had made prior to the Stratasys-Objet merger, that we issue him an option that would allow him to maintain an equity interest of 1.45% in us and reimburse salary reductions he had suffered. This plaintiff has further demanded compensation on account of alleged wrongful termination. While the initial court ruling on this matter dismissed the case and awarded us legal expenses, the plaintiff has appealed the case, which appeal is currently ongoing and is being litigated in the Israeli national labor court.
We have furthermore been sued by four current or former minority shareholders and former directors of our company who demand that we amend the capitalization table of our company such that certain share issuances prior to the Stratasys-Objet merger to certain of our shareholders named as defendants would be cancelled, with a consequent issuance of additional shares to the plaintiffs to account for the subsequent dilution to which they have been subject. The lawsuits, which were brought in an Israeli district court in March 2013, also name as defendants certain of our directors, officers and shareholders who previously held those positions prior to the Stratasys-Objet merger.
We can provide no assurance as to the outcome of these or any future matters or actions, and any such matters or actions may result in judgments against us for significant damages and/or the issuance of options to acquire shares of our capital stock, the exercise of which would result in dilution to our shareholders. Resolution of these matters can be prolonged and costly, and the ultimate results or judgments are uncertain due to the inherent uncertainty in litigation and other proceedings. Moreover,
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our potential liabilities are subject to change over time due to new developments, changes in settlement strategy or the impact of evidentiary requirements. Regardless of the outcome, litigation has resulted in the past, and may result in the future, in significant legal expenses and require significant attention and resources of management. As a result, current and any future litigation could result in losses, damages and expenses that have a material adverse effect on our business.
We rely on our management information systems for inventory management, distribution, and other key functions. If our information systems fail to adequately perform these functions, or if we experience an interruption in their operation, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
The efficient operation of our business is dependent on our management information systems. We rely on our management information systems: to, among other things, effectively manage our accounting and financial functions, including maintaining our internal controls; to manage our manufacturing and supply chain processes; and to maintain our research and development data. The failure of our management information systems to perform properly could disrupt our business and product development, which may result in decreased sales, increased overhead costs, excess or obsolete inventory, and product shortages, causing our business and operating results to suffer. Although we take steps to secure our management information systems, including our computer systems, intranet and Internet sites, email and other telecommunications and data networks, the security measures we have implemented may not be effective and our systems may be vulnerable to theft, loss, damage and interruption from a number of potential sources and events, including unauthorized access or security breaches, natural or man-made disasters, cyber-attacks, computer viruses, power loss, or other disruptive events. Our reputation, brand, and financial condition could be adversely affected if, as a result of a significant cyber event or otherwise, our operations are disrupted or shut down; our confidential, proprietary information is stolen or disclosed; we incur costs or are required to pay fines in connection with stolen customer, employee, or other confidential information; we must dedicate significant resources to system repairs or increase cyber security protection; or we otherwise incur significant litigation or other costs.
Compliance with disclosure rules regarding "conflict minerals" may require us to incur expenses or modify our products or operations and may also adversely affect the demand for some of our products and our operating results.
As required under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, in August 2012 the Commission promulgated final rules regarding disclosure of the use of certain minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold), and certain of their derivatives, known as "conflict minerals," which are mined from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjoining countries, as well as procedures regarding a manufacturer's efforts to prevent the sourcing of such minerals and metals produced from those minerals. As required by these new rules, in 2013, we commenced due diligence efforts to determine our use of conflict minerals, with initial disclosures required no later than June 2, 2014. We made our first conflict mineral filing with the Commission on June 2, 2014. The rules require us to make subsequent disclosures no later than May 31 of each following year. We expect that we will incur additional costs and expenses, which may be significant, in order to comply with these rules. Since our supply chain is complex, ultimately we may not be able to sufficiently verify the origins for any conflict minerals and metals used in our products through the due diligence procedures that we implement, which may adversely affect our reputation with our customers, shareholders, and other stakeholders. In such event, we may also face difficulties in satisfying customers who require that all of our products are certified as conflict mineral free. If we are not able to meet such requirements, customers may choose not to purchase our products, which could adversely affect our sales and the value of portions of our inventory. Further, there may be only a limited number of suppliers offering conflict free minerals and, as a result, we cannot be sure that we will be able to obtain metals, if necessary, from such suppliers in sufficient quantities or at competitive prices. Any one or a combination of these various factors could
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harm our business, reduce market demand for our products, and adversely affect our profit margins, net sales, and overall financial results.
Risks related to our intellectual property
If we are unable to obtain patent protection for our products or otherwise protect our intellectual property rights, our business could suffer.
We rely on a combination of patent and trademark laws in the United States and other countries, trade secret protection, confidentiality agreements and other contractual arrangements with our employees, end-users and others to maintain our competitive position. In particular, our success depends, in part, on our ability, and the ability of our licensors, to obtain patent protection for our and their products, technologies and inventions, maintain the confidentiality of our and their trade secrets and know-how, operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others and prevent others from infringing upon our and their proprietary rights.
Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, it is possible that competitors or other unauthorized third parties may obtain, copy, use or disclose our technologies, inventions, processes or improvements. We cannot assure you that any of our existing or future patents or other intellectual property rights will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or will otherwise provide us with meaningful protection. Our pending patent applications may not be granted, and we may not be able to obtain foreign patents or pending applications corresponding to our U.S. patents. The laws of certain countries, such as China, do not provide the same level of patent protection as in the United States, so even if we assert our patents or obtain additional patents in China or elsewhere outside of the United States, effective enforcement of such patents may not be available. If our patents do not adequately protect our technology, our competitors may be able to offer additive manufacturing systems, consumables or other products similar to ours. Our competitors may also be able to develop similar technology independently or design around our patents, and we may not be able to detect the unauthorized use of our proprietary technology or take appropriate steps to prevent such use.
If we attempt enforcement of our intellectual property rights, we may be (as we have been in the past) subject or party to claims, negotiations or complex, protracted litigation. Intellectual property disputes and litigation, regardless of merit, can be costly and disruptive to our business operations by diverting attention and energies of management and key technical personnel, and by increasing our costs of doing business. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our operating results.
As our patents expire, additional competitors using our technology could enter the market, which could offer competitive printers and consumables, require us to reduce our prices for our products and result in lost sales. Competitors' introduction of lower quality products using our technology could also negatively affect the reputation and image of our products in the marketplace.
Some of our patents have expired and others will expire in coming years. Upon expiration of those patents, our competitors may introduce products using the technology previously protected by the expired patents, which products may have lower prices than those of our products. To compete, we may need to reduce our prices for those products, which would adversely affect our revenues, margins and profitability. Additionally, the expiration of our patents could reduce barriers to entry into additive fabrication systems, which could result in the reduction of our sales and earnings potential. If competitors using technology previously protected by our expired patents were to introduce products of inferior quality, our potential customers may view our products negatively, which would have an adverse effect on our image and reputation and on our ability to compete with systems using other additive fabrication technologies.
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We may be subject to claims that we are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of others.
Our products and technology, including the technology that we license from others, may infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of third parties. Patent applications in the United States and most other countries are confidential for a period of time until they are published, and the publication of discoveries in scientific or patent literature typically lags actual discoveries by several months or more. As a result, the nature of claims contained in unpublished patent filings around the world is unknown to us, and we cannot be certain that we were the first to conceive inventions covered by our patents or patent applications or that we were the first to file patent applications covering such inventions. Furthermore, it is not possible to know in which countries patent holders may choose to extend their filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty or other mechanisms. In addition, we may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims from individuals, vendors and other companies, including those that have acquired patents in the fields of 3D printing or consumable production for the sole purpose of asserting claims against us. In addition to patent infringement claims, we may be subject to other intellectual property claims, such as claims that we are infringing trademarks or misappropriating trade secrets. We may also be subject to claims relating to the content on our websites, including third-party content posted on our Thingiverse.com website. Any intellectual property claims, regardless of the merit or resolution of such claims could cause us to incur significant costs in responding to, defending and resolving such claims, and may prohibit or otherwise impair our ability to commercialize new or existing products. Resolution of such claims may, among other things, require us to redesign infringing technology, enter into costly settlement or license agreements on terms that are unfavorable to us, or require us to indemnify our distributors and end-users Any infringement by us or our licensors of the intellectual property rights of third parties may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets or know-how, such proprietary information may be used by others to compete against us, in particular in developing consumables that could be used with our printing systems in place of our proprietary consumables.
We have devoted substantial resources to the development of our technology, trade secrets, know-how and other unregistered proprietary rights. While we enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements intended to protect such rights, such agreements can be difficult and costly to enforce or may not provide adequate remedies if violated, and we may not have entered into such agreements with all relevant parties. Such agreements may be breached and confidential information may be willfully or unintentionally disclosed, or our competitors or other parties may learn of the information in some other way. The disclosure to, or independent development by, a competitor of any of our trade secrets, know-how or other technology not protected by a patent could materially reduce or eliminate any competitive advantage that we may have over such competitor.
This concern could manifest itself in particular with respect to our proprietary consumables that are used with our systems. Portions of our proprietary consumables may not be afforded patent protection. Chemical companies or other producers of raw materials used in our consumables may be able to develop consumables that are compatible to a large extent with our systems, whether independently or in contravention of our trade secret rights and related proprietary and contractual rights. If such consumables are made available to owners of our systems, and are purchased in place of our proprietary consumables, our revenues and profitability would be reduced and we could be forced to reduce prices for our proprietary consumables.
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Risks related to operations in Israel
Our Israeli headquarters and manufacturing and other significant operations may be adversely affected by political, economic and military instability in Israel.
One of our dual corporate headquarters, as well as all of our PolyJet-related manufacturing and research and development facilities, and some of our suppliers, are located in central and southern Israel. In addition, many of our key employees, officers and directors are residents of Israel. Accordingly, political, economic and military conditions in Israel may directly affect our business. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have taken place between Israel and its neighboring countries. Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its trading partners could adversely affect our operations and results of operations. During the winter of 2008-2009, in November 2012 and once again at the current time (commencing in July 2014), Israel has been engaged in armed conflict with Hamas, a militia group and political party that controls the Gaza Strip, and during the summer of 2006, Israel was engaged in an armed conflict with Hezbollah, a Lebanese Islamist Shiite militia group and political party. These conflicts involved missile strikes against civilian targets in various parts of Israel, including areas where some of our manufacturing facilities are located, and negatively affected business conditions in Israel. Any armed conflicts, terrorist activities or political instability in the region, including those related to the recent unrest in Syria, could adversely affect business conditions and could harm our results of operations and could make it more difficult for us to raise capital. Parties with whom we do business have sometimes declined to travel to Israel during periods of heightened unrest or tension, forcing us to make alternative arrangements when necessary in order to meet our business partners face to face. In addition, parties with whom we have agreements involving performance in Israel may claim that they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions in such agreements due to the political or security situation in Israel.
Furthermore, many of our male employees in Israel, including members of our senior management, are obligated to perform one month, and in some cases longer periods, of annual military reserve duty until they reach the age of 45 (or older, for citizens who hold certain positions in the Israeli armed forces reserves), and, in the event of a military conflict (such as the current conflict with Hamas), may be called to active duty. In response to increases in terrorist activity from time to time and as a result of the current conflict with Hamas, there have been periods of significant call-ups of military reservists, and some of our Israeli employees have been called up in connection with armed conflicts. It is possible that there will be similar large-scale military reserve duty call-ups in the future. Our operations could be disrupted by the absence of a significant number of Israeli employees or of one or more of our key Israeli employees. Such disruption could materially adversely affect our business and operations.
Our commercial insurance does not cover losses that may occur as a result of an event associated with the security situation in the Middle East. Although the Israeli government is currently committed to covering the reinstatement value of direct damages that are caused by terrorist attacks or acts of war, we cannot assure you that this government coverage will be maintained, or if maintained, will be sufficient to compensate us fully for damages incurred. Any losses or damages incurred by our Israeli operations could have a material adverse effect on our business. Any armed conflicts or political instability in the region would likely negatively affect business conditions generally and could harm our results of operations.
Your rights and responsibilities as a shareholder will be governed by Israeli law, which may differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders of U.S. companies.
We are organized under Israeli law. The rights and responsibilities of the holders of our ordinary shares are governed by our amended and restated articles of association and Israeli law. These rights
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and responsibilities differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in typical U.S.-based corporations. In particular, a shareholder of an Israeli company has a duty to act in good faith toward the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing its power in the company, including, among other things, in voting at the general meeting of shareholders on matters such as amendments to a company's articles of association, increases in a company's authorized share capital, mergers and acquisitions and interested party transactions requiring shareholder approval. In addition, a shareholder who knows that it possesses the power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote or to appoint or prevent the appointment of a director or executive officer in the company has a duty of fairness toward the company. There is limited case law available to assist us in understanding the implications of these provisions that govern shareholders' actions. These provisions may be interpreted to impose additional obligations and liabilities on holders of our ordinary shares that are not typically imposed on shareholders of U.S. corporations.
Provisions of Israeli law and our amended articles may delay, prevent or otherwise impede a merger with, or an acquisition of, our company, which could prevent a change of control, even when the terms of such a transaction are favorable to us and our shareholders.
Israeli corporate law regulates mergers, requires tender offers for acquisitions of shares above specified thresholds, requires special approvals for transactions involving directors, officers or significant shareholders and regulates other matters that may be relevant to such types of transactions. For example, a merger may not be consummated unless at least 50 days have passed from the date on which a merger proposal is filed by each merging company with the Israel Registrar of Companies and at least 30 days have passed from the date on which the shareholders of both merging companies have approved the merger. In addition, a majority of each class of securities of the target company must approve a merger. Moreover, a tender offer for all of a company's issued and outstanding shares can only be completed if the acquirer receives positive responses from the holders of at least 95% of the issued share capital. Completion of the tender offer also requires approval of a majority of the offerees that do not have a personal interest in the tender offer, unless, following consummation of the tender offer, the acquirer would hold at least 98% of the company's outstanding shares. Furthermore, the shareholders, including those who indicated their acceptance of the tender offer, may, at any time within six months following the completion of the tender offer, petition an Israeli court to alter the consideration for the acquisition, unless the acquirer stipulated in its tender offer that a shareholder that accepts the offer may not seek such appraisal rights.
Our amended articles impose an additional barrier towards a merger or acquisition of our company, as they provide that our directors (other than external directors and the unclassified director) are not subject to election for the first two years following the Stratasys-Objet merger (that is, not until our first annual general shareholder meeting following December 1, 2014), such that a potential acquiror cannot replace our board of directors at an annual general shareholder meeting until that time). This could prevent a potential acquiror from receiving board approval for an acquisition proposal that our board opposes.
Furthermore, Israeli tax considerations may make potential transactions unappealing to us or to our shareholders whose country of residence does not have a tax treaty with Israel exempting such shareholders from Israeli tax. For example, Israeli tax law does not recognize tax-free share exchanges to the same extent as U.S. tax law. With respect to mergers, Israeli tax law allows for tax deferral in certain circumstances but makes the deferral contingent on the fulfillment of a number of conditions, including a holding period of two years from the date of the transaction during which sales and dispositions of shares of the participating companies are subject to certain restrictions.
Moreover, with respect to certain share swap transactions, the tax deferral is limited in time, and when such time expires, the tax becomes payable even if no disposition of the shares has occurred.
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These and other similar provisions could delay, prevent or impede an acquisition of our company or our merger with another company, even if such an acquisition or merger would be beneficial to us or to our shareholders.
Exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the New Israeli Shekel, the Euro and other non-U.S. currencies may negatively affect the earnings of our operations.
We report our financial results and most of our revenues are recorded in U.S. dollars. However, substantially all of the manufacturing, research and development expenses of our Israeli operations, as well as a portion of the cost of revenues, selling and marketing, and general and administrative expenses of our Israeli operations, are incurred in New Israeli Shekels. As a result, we are exposed to exchange rate risks that may adversely affect our financial results. If the New Israeli Shekel appreciates against the U.S. dollar or if the value of the New Israeli Shekel declines against the U.S. dollar at a time when the rate of inflation in the cost of Israeli goods and services exceeds the rate of decline in the relative value of the New Israeli Shekel, then the U.S. dollar cost of our operations in Israel would increase and our results of operations would be adversely affected Our Israeli operations also could be adversely affected if we are unable to effectively hedge against currency fluctuations in the future. We cannot predict any future trends in the rate of inflation in Israel or the rate of devaluation (if any) of the New Israeli Shekel against the U.S. dollar. The Israeli rate of inflation amounted to 1.8%, 1.6%, and 2.2% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The appreciation (devaluation) of the New Israeli Shekel in relation to the U.S. dollar amounted to 6.5%, 2.1% and (7.7)% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
We also have substantial revenues and expenses that are denominated in other non-US currencies (other than the New Israeli Shekel), particularly the Euro. Therefore, our operating results and cash flows are also subject to fluctuations due to changes in the relative values of the U.S. dollar and those foreign currencies. These fluctuations could negatively affect our operating results and could cause our revenues and net income or loss to vary from quarter to quarter. Furthermore, to the extent that our revenues increase in regions such as Asia Pacific, where our sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, a strengthening of the dollar against other currencies could make our products less competitive in those foreign markets and collection of receivables more difficult.
From time to time we engage in currency hedging activities. These measures, however, may not adequately protect us from material adverse effects due to the impact of inflation in Israel or from fluctuations in the relative values of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies in which we transact business, and may result in a financial loss, such as Objet experienced in 2011. For further information, please see "Item 11. Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" in the 2013 Annual Report.
Estimating our income tax rate is complex and subject to uncertainty. Our estimates are furthermore based on the assumption that we will continue to receive Israeli government tax benefits in respect of our Israeli operations. If we do not meet several conditions for receipt of those benefits, or if the Israeli government otherwise decides to eliminate those benefits, they may be terminated or reduced, which would impact our income tax rate and increase our costs.
The computation of income tax expense (benefit) is complex because it is based on the laws of numerous taxing jurisdictions and requires significant judgment on the application of complicated rules governing accounting for tax provisions under GAAP. Income tax expense (benefit) for interim quarters is based on a forecast of our global tax rate for the year, which includes forward-looking financial projections. Such financial projections are based on numerous assumptions, including the expectations of profit and loss by jurisdiction. It is difficult to accurately forecast various items that make up the projections, and such items may be treated as discrete accounting. Examples of items that could cause variability in our income tax rate include our mix of income by jurisdiction, tax deductions for share
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option expense, the application of transfer pricing rules, and tax audits. Future events, such as changes in our business and the tax law in the jurisdictions where we do business, could also affect our rate.
One important assumption that goes into calculation of our tax rate is the tax benefit that we receive in respect of some of our operations in Israel, referred to as "Approved Enterprise" and "Beneficiary Enterprises," under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959, or the Investment Law. Based on an evaluation of the relevant factors under the Investment Law, including the level of foreign (that is, non-Israeli) investment in the company, we have estimated that our effective tax rate to be paid with respect to all Israeli operations under these benefit programs is 7 - 10%, based on the current balance of activity between our Rehovot, Israel and Kiryat Gat, Israel facilities and the available level of benefits under the law. If we do not meet the requirements for maintaining these benefits, they may be reduced or cancelled and the relevant operations would be subject to Israeli corporate tax at the standard rate, which is currently set at 26.5%. In addition to being subject to the standard corporate tax rate, we could be required to refund any tax benefits that we have already received, plus interest and penalties thereon. Even if we continue to meet the relevant requirements, the tax benefits that our current "Approved Enterprise" and "Beneficiary Enterprise" receive may not be continued in the future at their current levels or at all. If these tax benefits were reduced or eliminated, the amount of taxes that we pay would likely increase, as all of our operations would consequently be subject to corporate tax at the standard rate, which may cause our global tax rate to be materially different than our estimates and could adversely affect our results of operations. Additionally, if we increase our activities outside of Israel, for example, via acquisitions, our increased activities may not be eligible for inclusion in Israeli tax benefit programs, and that could also adversely affect our global tax rate and our results of operations.
The Israeli government may furthermore independently determine to reduce, phase out or eliminate entirely the benefit programs under the Investment Law, regardless of whether we then qualify for benefits under those programs at the time, which would also adversely affect our global tax rate and our results of operations.
Certain Israeli government grants that we received for certain of our research and development activities in Israel may restrict our ability to transfer manufacturing operations or technology outside of Israel, and failure to satisfy the conditions of those grants with respect to such transfers may require us to pay penalties.
Our Israeli-based research and development efforts were financed in part, in the past, through grants that we received from Israel's Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Economy, or OCS. Through 2006, Objet received approximately $1.5 million, which it repaid in its entirety (including interest thereon) by the end of 2007. Notwithstanding the full repayment of these OCS grants, we nevertheless must continue to comply with the requirements of the Israeli Law for the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development, 1984, and related regulations, or the Research Law, with respect to those past grants. When a company develops know-how, technology or products using OCS grants, the terms of these grants and the Research Law restrict the transfer of such know-how, and the transfer of manufacturing or manufacturing rights of such products, technologies or know-how outside of Israel, without the prior approval of the OCS. Therefore, if aspects of our technologies are deemed to have been developed with OCS funding, the discretionary approval of an OCS committee would be required for any transfer to third parties outside of Israel of know-how or manufacturing or manufacturing rights related to those aspects of such technologies. We may not receive those approvals. Furthermore, the OCS may impose certain conditions on any arrangement under which it permits us to transfer technology or development out of Israel.
The transfer of OCS-supported technology or know-how outside of Israel may involve the payment of significant amounts, depending upon the value of the transferred technology or know-how, the amount of OCS support, the time of completion of the OCS-supported research project and other factors. Furthermore, the consideration available to our shareholders in a transaction involving the transfer outside of Israel of technology or know-how developed with OCS funding (such as a merger or similar transaction) may be reduced by any amounts that we are required to pay to the OCS.
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It may be difficult to enforce a U.S. judgment against us and our officers and directors in Israel or the United States, or to serve process on our officers and directors.
We are organized in Israel. Most of our executive officers and directors reside outside of the United States, and most of our assets are located outside of the United States. Therefore, a judgment obtained against us or any of our executive officers and directors in the United States, including one based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws, may not be collectible in the United States and may not be enforced by an Israeli court. It also may be difficult for you to effect service of process on these persons in the United States or to assert U.S. securities law claims in original actions instituted in Israel.
Risks related to an investment in our ordinary shares
If certain of our shareholders sell a substantial number of our ordinary shares, the market price of our ordinary shares could decline.
Former MakerBot stockholders and certain MakerBot employees, former Solid Concepts stockholders and option holders, and certain Solid Concepts employees, and the Harvest Technologies employees and former stockholders who are listed as selling shareholders in this prospectus supplement, may publicly sell ordinary shares that they have received or may in the future receive in connection with the MakerBot transaction, Solid Concepts acquisition or Harvest Technologies acquisition, as applicable. Under the terms of the MakerBot and Solid Concepts merger agreements, and the Harvest Technologies stock purchase agreement, we issued at the closing of the transactions on August 15, 2013, July 14, 2014 and August 1, 2014, respectively, 3,921,660 ordinary shares, 978,601 ordinary shares and 175,456 ordinary shares (after withholding certain shares for taxes, where applicable), which may be sold (or, in the case of the MakerBot transaction and Solid Concepts acquisition, which may have already been sold, in whole or part) to the public immediately following the closings, other than 823,265 ordinary shares that were issued at the Solid Concepts closing and that are subject to a six-month contractual lock-up. Those shares together constitute approximately 10% of our issued and outstanding shares, in the aggregate, as of the closing date of the Harvest Technologies acquisition (following the issuance of the shares in the Harvest Technologies acquisition). We may also issue up to an additional 2.5 million ordinary shares, approximately 1,000,000 ordinary shares and 102,020 ordinary shares to the selling shareholders and/or employees in respect of periods through the end of 2014, mid-2017 and early 2018 pursuant to the terms of the MakerBot merger agreement, Solid Concepts merger agreement and Harvest Technologies stock purchase agreement, respectively, which may be subsequently resold without restriction (assuming that the related registration statement that we have filed remains in effect). Sales of a significant number of the foregoing shares in a short period of time could have the effect of depressing the market price of our ordinary shares.
The market price of our ordinary shares may be subject to fluctuation, regardless of our operating results and financial condition. As a result, our shareholders could incur substantial losses.
The market price of our ordinary shares since the Stratasys-Objet merger has been subject to substantial fluctuation. During 2013 and the first half of 2014 (through July 31, 2014), our ordinary shares have traded with closing prices that have ranged from $62.50 to $136.46. It is likely that the price of our ordinary shares will continue to be subject to substantial fluctuation regardless of our operating results or financial condition due to a number of factors, including:
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These factors and any corresponding price fluctuations may materially and adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares and result in substantial losses being incurred by our shareholders.
Market prices for securities of technology companies historically have been very volatile. The market for these securities has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations for reasons unrelated to the operating performance of any one company. In the past, following periods of market volatility, public company shareholders have often instituted securities class action litigation. Such securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert the resources and attention of our management from our business.
If equity research analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they issue unfavorable commentary or downgrade our ordinary shares, the price of the ordinary shares could decline.
The trading market for our ordinary shares relies in part on the research and reports that equity research analysts publish about our company and its business. We do not have control over these analysts and do not have commitments from them to write research reports about us. The price of our ordinary shares could decline if one or more equity research analysts downgrades the ordinary shares or if those analysts issue other unfavorable commentary or cease publishing reports about our company or our business.
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Our class A and class B directors are serving for an initial term of two years, and during that period shareholders will be able to remove them, elect directors or otherwise change the composition of the board of directors only under very limited circumstances.
Under our amended and restated articles of association, as amended at our 2013 annual general meeting, or the amended articles, which govern the rights of our shareholders, until December 1, 2014, the second anniversary of the Stratasys-Objet merger, our board of directors is separated into two classes plus one unclassified director. Such two-year period is referred to as the initial term. Four class A directors, including one external director, have been appointed by the former Objet Ltd. board, and four class B directors have been appointed by the former Stratasys, Inc. board. A ninth director, who is also a class B director and an external director, has been appointed by the former Stratasys, Inc. board, subject to the approval of the former Objet Ltd. board. The tenth, unclassified director was elected by our shareholders at our 2013 annual general meeting of shareholders. All class A directors and class B directors will serve as directors during the entire initial term, except for external directors who will serve for terms of three years. The unclassified director will serve until the next annual general meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, during the initial term, our shareholders will elect only the unclassified director at our annual general meeting of shareholders.
During the initial term, a class A or class B director may be removed only either for cause by the unanimous vote of the other directors of his or her class, or under certain other limited circumstances under the Companies Law. The provision of the amended articles establishing the classified board of directors during the initial term can be amended only by the unanimous vote of the directors and the approval of 75% of the voting power of our shareholders. Furthermore, the provision of the amended articles regarding removal of directors may be amended only upon the approval of 75% of the voting power of our shareholders. Accordingly, it is unlikely that holders of our ordinary shares will generally be able to remove any directors or elect any directors, other than the unclassified director or otherwise change the composition of our board of directors during the initial term, even if such holders possess a majority of the voting power of our shareholders.
Raising additional capital by issuing securities may cause dilution to our shareholders.
We may need or desire to raise substantial capital in the future. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, among others:
If we raise funds by issuing equity or convertible debt securities, it will reduce the percentage ownership of our then-existing shareholders, and the holders of such new securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those possessed by our then-existing shareholders.
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We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, if our share price does not appreciate, our shareholders may not recognize a return, and could potentially suffer a loss, on their investment in our ordinary shares.
We intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our ordinary shares will be investors' sole source of a return on their investment for the foreseeable future.
Even if we decide to pay dividends on our ordinary shares, we may be restricted from doing so or payment of such dividends may have adverse consequences for our company.
Under the Companies Law, dividends may only be paid out of our profits and other surplus funds (as defined in the Companies Law) as of the end of the most recent year or as accrued over a period of the most recent two years, whichever amount is greater, provided that there is no reasonable concern that payment of a dividend will prevent us from satisfying our existing and foreseeable obligations as they become due. In the event that we do not meet the profit and surplus funds criteria, we can seek the approval of an Israeli court in order to distribute a dividend. The court may approve our request if it is convinced that there is no reasonable concern that the payment of a dividend will prevent us from satisfying our existing and foreseeable obligations as they become due. Due to the acquisition method of accounting utilized for the Stratasys-Objet merger under GAAP, pursuant to which we were deemed to have acquired Objet's assets, we will incur significant annual amounts of depreciation and amortization expense in respect of those assets (see note 2 to our consolidated financial statements appearing in the 2013 Annual Report for more information on the method of accounting for the Stratasys-Objet merger). These significant annual expenses under GAAP might reduce or eliminate our profits and surplus funds as determined under the Companies Law, and, hence, may restrict our ability to pay dividends (absent court approval).
We are furthermore restricted from distributing dividends under the terms of our credit agreement and related agreements that we entered into in November 2013 with Bank of America and the other lenders party thereto. See "Risks related to our business and financial conditionCovenants in our credit agreement may restrict our business in many ways" for more information.
In general, the payment of dividends may also be subject to Israeli withholding taxes. In addition, because we receive certain benefits under the Israeli law relating to "Approved Enterprise" and "Beneficiary Enterprise", our payment of dividends (out of tax-exempt income) may subject us to certain Israeli taxes to which we would not otherwise be subject. See "Risks related to our operations in IsraelThe government tax benefits that we currently receive require us to meet several conditions and may be terminated or reduced in the future, which would increase our costs."
We are a foreign private issuer under the rules and regulations of the Commission and are therefore exempt from a number of rules under the Exchange Act and are permitted to file less information with the Commission than a domestic U.S. reporting company, which will reduce the level and amount of disclosure that you receive.
As a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act, including the proxy rules, which impose certain disclosure and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the Commission as frequently or as promptly as domestic U.S. companies with securities registered under the Exchange Act; and are not required to comply with Regulation FD, which imposes certain restrictions on the selective disclosure of material information. In addition, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and "short-swing" profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules under the Exchange Act with respect to their purchases and sales of our ordinary shares. Accordingly, you receive less information about our company and
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trading in our shares by our affiliates than you would receive about a domestic U.S. company, and are afforded less protection under the U.S. federal securities laws than you would be afforded in holding securities of a domestic U.S. company.
As a foreign private issuer, we are also permitted, and have begun, to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of those otherwise required under the Listing Rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market for domestic U.S. issuers. We have informed NASDAQ that we follow home country practice in Israel with regard to, among other things, composition of our board of directors (whereby a majority of the members of our board of directors need not be "independent directors," as is generally required for domestic U.S. issuers), director nomination procedure and approval of compensation of officers. In addition, we have opted to follow home country law instead of the Listing Rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market that require that a listed company obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events, such as the establishment or amendment of certain equity-based compensation plans, an issuance that will result in a change of control of the company, certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of a 20% or greater interest in the company, and certain acquisitions of the stock or assets of another company. Following our home country governance practices as opposed to the requirements that would otherwise apply to a United States company listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market may provide our shareholders with less protection than they would have as shareholders of a domestic U.S. company.
Our status as a foreign private issuer is subject to an annual review and test, and will be tested again as of June 30, 2015 (the last business day of our second fiscal quarter of 2015). If we lose our status as a foreign private issuer, we will no longer be exempt from such rules. Among other things, beginning on January 1, 2016, we would be required to file periodic reports and financial statements as if we were a company incorporated in the U.S.
If we are unable to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as they apply to a foreign private issuer, or if our internal controls over financial reporting are not effective, the reliability of our financial statements may be questioned and our share price may suffer.
We are subject to the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404, which requires a company that is subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. securities laws to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its and its subsidiaries' internal controls over financial reporting. To comply with this statute, we are required to document and test our internal control procedures, and beginning with the filing of the 2013 Annual Report, our management was required to assess and issue a report concerning our internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm is required to issue an opinion on the effectiveness on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. These matters were first tested in connection with the filing of the 2013 Annual Report with the Commission. With regards to MakerBot's internal controls over financial reporting, we have elected the one year exemption available under Section 404 for acquisitions, such that those controls will not be subject to the Section 404 reporting until the filing of our annual report on Form 20-F for 2014 with the Commission in 2015. We may make a similar election for a one year exemption with respect to Solid Concept's and Harvest Technologies' internal controls over financial reporting as well.
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We have prepared for compliance with Section 404 by strengthening, assessing and testing our system of internal controls to provide the basis for our management's report. The continuous process of strengthening our internal controls and complying with Section 404 is complicated and time-consuming. As our business continues to grow internationally, our internal controls will become more complex and will require significantly more resources and attention to ensure that they remain effective overall. Over the course of testing our internal controls, our management may identify material weaknesses or significant deficiencies, which may not be remedied in a timely manner on an ongoing basis. If our management cannot favorably assess the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, or if our independent registered public accounting firm identifies material weaknesses in our internal controls, investor confidence in our financial results may weaken, and our share price may suffer.
If we are classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, our U.S. shareholders may suffer adverse tax consequences.
Generally, if for any taxable year, after applying certain look-through rules, 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or at least 50% of the value of our assets are held for the production of, or produce, passive income, we may be characterized as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Passive income for this purpose generally includes, among other things, certain dividends, interest, royalties, rents and gains from commodities and securities transactions and from the sale or exchange of property that gives rise to passive income. If we are a PFIC, gain realized by a U.S. shareholder on the sale of our ordinary shares may be taxed as ordinary income (rather than as capital gain income), and an interest charge added to the tax. Rules similar to those applicable to the taxation of gains realized on the disposition of our stock would apply to distributions exceeding certain thresholds.
Although we do not believe that we were a PFIC in 2013, we cannot assure you that the IRS will agree with that conclusion or that we will not become a PFIC in 2014 or in a subsequent year. The tests for determining PFIC status are applied annually, and it is difficult to make accurate predictions of our future income and the future value of our assets. U.S. shareholders should consult with their own U.S. tax advisors with respect to the U.S. tax consequences of investing in our ordinary shares. For a discussion of how we might be characterized as a PFIC and related tax consequences, please see Item 10.E, "Additional InformationTaxationU.S. Federal Income Tax ConsiderationsTax Consequences if We Are a Passive Foreign Investment Company" in our 2013 Annual Report.
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Also, documents that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, including documents that we subsequently file with the Commission, will contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "project," "plan," "assume" or other similar expressions, or negatives of those expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus regarding our future strategy, future operations, projected financial position, proposed products, estimated future revenues, projected costs, future prospects, the future of our industry and results that might be obtained by pursuing management's current plans and objectives are forward-looking statements.
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You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date on the cover of this prospectus supplement, the date of the accompanying prospectus (with respect to risks described therein), or, in the case of forward-looking statements incorporated by reference, the date of the filing that includes the statement. Over time, our actual results, performance or achievements may differ from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such difference might be significant and materially adverse to our security holders. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
We have identified some of the important factors that could cause future events to differ from our current expectations and they are described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and may be described in additional supplements to the prospectus (if any) under the caption "Risk Factors." They are also described in our recently filed 2013 Annual Report, including without limitation under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects," and in other documents that we may file with the Commission, all of which you should review carefully. Please consider our forward-looking statements in light of those risks as you read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
The selling shareholders named in this prospectus supplement may sell from time to time pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus an aggregate of up to 1,961,155 ordinary shares. The price per share of the ordinary shares that they will offer pursuant hereto will depend on a number of factors that may be relevant as of the time of offer (see "Plan of Distribution" below).
Since December 3, 2012 (the first trading day after the effective time of the Stratasys-Objet merger), our ordinary shares have traded (and, prior to that time, Stratasys, Inc. common stock was traded) on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol "SSYS." The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales prices of our ordinary shares (and for periods preceding the
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Stratasys-Objet merger, Stratasys, Inc. common stock) for the fiscal periods indicated below, as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
|
Price Range | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiscal Period:
|
High (U.S. $) |
Low (U.S. $) |
|||||
Six most recent complete months: |
|||||||
July 2014 |
116.28 | 100.58 | |||||
June 2014 |
113.63 | 89.96 | |||||
May 2014 |
99.05 | 88.04 | |||||
April 2014 |
112.32 | 94.26 | |||||
March 2014 |
123.99 | 103.64 | |||||
February 2014 |
127.61 | 110.75 | |||||
Two most recent full financial years and subsequent periods, by quarter: |
|||||||
Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2014 |
|||||||
April 1, 2014 - June 30, 2014 |
113.63 | 88.04 | |||||
January 1, 2014 - March 31, 2014 |
136.46 | 110.75 | |||||
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013 |
|||||||
October 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013 |
134.70 | 92.78 | |||||
July 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013 |
110.26 | 84.30 | |||||
April 1, 2013 - June 30, 2013 |
91.30 | 68.33 | |||||
January 1, 2013 - March 31, 2013 |
89.69 | 62.50 | |||||
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012 |
|||||||
October 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012 |
80.75 | 54.66 | |||||
July 1, 2012 - September 30, 2012 |
71.98 | 47.39 | |||||
April 1, 2012 - June 30, 2012 |
54.49 | 33.69 | |||||
January 1, 2012 - March 31, 2012 |
40.87 | 30.37 | |||||
Five most recent full financial years |
|||||||
2013 |
134.70 | 62.50 | |||||
2012 |
80.75 | 30.37 | |||||
2011 |
55.43 | 18.00 | |||||
2010 |
34.46 | 18.04 | |||||
2009 |
18.98 | 7.77 |
On August 4, 2014, the closing price of our ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $98.30.
We have never paid cash dividends on our ordinary shares and do not anticipate that we will pay any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain our earnings to finance the development of our business. Any future dividend policy will be determined by our board of directors based upon conditions then existing, including our earnings, financial condition, tax position and capital requirements, as well as such economic and other conditions as our board of directors may deem relevant.
REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The registration of the resale of the shares for the secondary offering by the selling shareholders hereunder is being carried out pursuant to our obligations under the Harvest Technologies stock purchase agreement. Under that agreement, we undertook to register the resale of all 175,456 ordinary shares that we initially issued to the selling stockholders of Harvest Technologies at the closing of the
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Harvest Technologies acquisition. Those ordinary shares were issued in exchange for 100% of the outstanding capital stock of Harvest Technologies. Under the Harvest Technologies stock purchase agreement, assuming that the relevant employment conditions are met, we will also be required to make retention payments to employees (including a former stockholder) of Harvest Technologies upon the 12, 24, 36 and 42 month anniversaries of the closing, which may be settled in cash or ordinary shares (at our discretion). If we settle those retention payment obligations by issuing ordinary shares, we have undertaken to register the resale of those shares. This prospectus supplement registers the resale of the maximum number of ordinary shares issuable pursuant to those retention payment obligations (consisting of 102,020 ordinary shares, in the aggregate, which assumes that all such obligations will be settled in ordinary shares, not cash). We refer to all shares covered by the foregoing registration obligations collectively as the registrable securities.
We have furthermore agreed in the Harvest Technologies stock purchase agreement to exert commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part as may be necessary to keep it effective until the first to occur of: (i) the date on which all of the registrable securities covered by the registration statement have been sold, and (ii) the date on which the registrable securities covered by the registration statement may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Any shares that may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act shall cease to be deemed registrable securities, and all of our obligations with respect to the registration of the resale of any such shares shall cease immediately.
This prospectus supplement, along with the registration statement of which it and the accompanying prospectus form a part, have all been filed with the Commission, thereby satisfying the foregoing registration obligations. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus cover the disposition by the selling shareholders, or their successors-in-interest, of an aggregate of up to 277,476 ordinary shares, which consist of (i) 175,456 ordinary shares that we initially issued to certain of the selling shareholders upon the closing of the Harvest Technologies acquisition and (ii) an additional 102,020 ordinary shares that may be issued to the selling shareholders as retention-related payments under the Harvest Technologies stock purchase agreement.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares, or interests therein, by the selling shareholders in the secondary offering.
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of March 31, 2014 on an actual basis (as updated to reflect securities issued through July 31, 2014).
You should read this information in conjunction with "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" set forth in Exhibit 99.2 to our Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K that we furnished to the Commission on May 9, 2014, and the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the three months ended March 31, 2014, appearing as Exhibit 99.1 to the
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foregoing Report, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
|
As of March 31, 2014 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
($ in thousands, other than per share data) |
Actual | |||
|
(unaudited) |
|||
Cash and cash equivalents |
407,168 | |||
Equity |
||||
Ordinary shares, NIS 0.01 nominal value, 180,000 shares authorized; 49,454 issued and outstanding* |
134 | |||
Additional paid-in capital |
2,420,211 | |||
Retained earnings |
89,636 | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
1,549 | |||
Total equity |
2,511,529 | |||
| | | | |
Total capitalization |
2,511,529 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
This prospectus supplement relates to the resale, in one or more offerings, of up to an aggregate of 277,476 ordinary shares held by, or potentially issuable to, our shareholders who received (or who may receive) such shares pursuant to the Solid Concepts merger agreement. The table below provides information about the beneficial ownership of each selling shareholder as to:
We cannot state with certainty the total number of ordinary shares that will actually be beneficially held by the selling shareholders prior to the offering under this prospectus, as the number of shares to actually be issued as retention-related payments under the Harvest Technologies stock purchase agreement has not been determined yet. For purposes of the below table, we have assumed that the maximum number of such shares will be issued to, and beneficially held by, each selling sharholder merely in order to show the maximum potential size of the offering. We also cannot state with certainty the number of ordinary shares that will be beneficially held by the selling shareholders after completion
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of this offering because they may sell or otherwise dispose of all, some or none of the ordinary shares beneficially held by them prior to this offering, and may subsequently acquire the beneficial ownership of other ordinary shares. Therefore, our registration of the below number of shares for resale by each selling shareholder does not necessarily mean that any selling shareholder will actually own all of those shares prior to, or dispose of any or all of those shares pursuant to, the offering.
The information provided in the table below as to number of shares beneficially owned prior to the offering is based on information provided by the selling shareholders. The information provided below is provided as of August 1, 2014 (immediately following the closing of the Harvest Technologies acquisition on that day), as of which 50,607,655 ordinary shares were outstanding, which includes the aggregate 175,456 ordinary shares that were issued to the selling shareholders pursuant to the closing of the Harvest Technologies acquisition on that day. The percentage ownership reflected for each selling shareholder in the below table also treats the additional 102,020 aggregate ordinary shares that are potentially issuable to the selling shareholders pursuant to retention-related payments under the Harvest Technologies stock purchase agreement as beneficially owned by the respective selling shareholders and as outstanding (such that the number of outstanding shares upon which the
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percentages are based is 50,709,675), although none of those additional ordinary shares has yet been issued and some of those additional ordinary shares may never be issued.
Name of selling shareholder(1)(2) |
Number of shares beneficially owned prior to the offering |
Percentage of outstanding ordinary shares prior to offering |
Number of ordinary shares offered hereby |
Percentage of outstanding ordinary shares represented by offered shares |
Number of shares beneficially owned following the offering |
Percentage of outstanding ordinary shares to be beneficially owned following the offering |
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David K. Leigh |
251,789 | (3) | 5.0 | % | 251,789 | 5.0 | % | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||
Bruce C. Thornton(4) |
3,509 | * | 3,509 | * | % | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||||
Gregory S. Reynolds |
3,371 | * | 3,371 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Ronald J. Clemons |
2,839 | * | 2,839 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Jason P. Morgan |
2,129 | * | 2,129 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Karen J. Przybylski |
2,129 | * | 2,129 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Larry D. Thompson |
1,065 | * | 1,065 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Stephanie M. Covington |
1,065 | * | 1,065 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Benjamin B. Ewan |
798 | * | 798 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Caleb N. Ferrell |
798 | * | 798 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Jacob M. Ferrell |
798 | * | 798 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Eric C. Jackson |
798 | * | 798 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Bryan J. Ketterman |
798 | * | 798 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Carlos Berumen |
798 | * | 798 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
John K. Broome |
532 | * | 532 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Robert A. Lindberg |
532 | * | 532 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Darnel C. Minor |
532 | * | 532 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Wendy L. Puccio |
532 | * | 532 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Hubert J. Self |
532 | * | 532 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
William B. Herring, Jr. |
266 | * | 266 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Tyson C. McLaughlin |
266 | * | 266 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Alberto Perez |
266 | * | 266 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Amanda K./Pratt |
266 | * | 266 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Michael Ramirez |
266 | * | 266 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Jeffrey L. Rodocker |
266 | * | 266 | * | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Lewis V. Simms |
266 | * | 266 | * | 0 | 0 | % |
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The selling shareholders, which, as used herein, includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling ordinary shares or interests in ordinary shares received after the date of this prospectus supplement from a selling shareholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their ordinary shares or interests in ordinary shares on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the ordinary shares are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.
The selling shareholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests therein:
The selling shareholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the ordinary shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the ordinary shares, from time to time, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus supplement and/or the accompanying prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act, amending the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgees, transferees or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The selling shareholders also may transfer the ordinary shares in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
In connection with the sale of ordinary shares or interests therein, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the ordinary shares in the course of hedging the positions that they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell ordinary shares short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge ordinary shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of ordinary shares offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, which ordinary shares such broker-dealer or other
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financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The aggregate proceeds to the selling shareholders from the sale of ordinary shares offered by them will be the purchase price of the ordinary shares less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the selling shareholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of ordinary shares to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.
The selling shareholders also may resell all or a portion of the ordinary shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.
The selling shareholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of ordinary shares or interests therein may be "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit that they earn on any resale of the ordinary shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Selling shareholders who are "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to any applicable prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the ordinary shares may be sold in those jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states ordinary shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
We have advised the selling shareholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of ordinary shares in the market and to the activities of the selling shareholders and their affiliates. In addition, we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling shareholders for the purpose of satisfying any applicable prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling shareholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the ordinary shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the ordinary shares offered under this prospectus.
We have agreed with the selling shareholders to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part effective until the earlier of (i) such time as all of the shares registered hereunder have been sold by the selling shareholders, or (ii) the date on which all of the shares registered hereunder may be resold by the selling shareholders without restriction by reason of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect.
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The following table sets forth our expenses in connection with the offering described in this prospectus supplement. We have agreed in the Solid Concepts merger agreement to bear all expenses relating to the registration for resale of the ordinary shares being offered pursuant hereto.
SEC registration fee |
$ | 3,519.21 | # | |
Printing, EDGAR and photocopying fees |
$ | 200 | ||
Legal fees and expenses |
$ | N/A | ||
Accounting fees and expenses |
$ | N/A | ||
Miscellaneous expenses |
$ | N/A | ||
Total |
$ | 3,719.21 |
The validity of the ordinary shares being offered hereby has been passed upon for us by Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal, Law Offices, Ramat-Gan, Israel. A trust for the benefit of partners in Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal holds options to purchase 3,759 of our ordinary shares.
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PROSPECTUS
STRATASYS LTD.
ORDINARY SHARES
WARRANTS TO PURCHASE ORDINARY SHARES
DEBT SECURITIES
We may from time to time offer to sell our ordinary shares, nominal value 0.01 New Israeli Shekels per share, warrants to purchase our ordinary shares, and debt securities, either separately or in combination. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. In addition, this prospectus may be used to offer ordinary shares for the account of persons other than us.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that apply to our securities. Each time we sell securities, the specific terms of the offering will be set forth in an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or in a supplement to this prospectus, or may be set forth in one or more documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Selling shareholders who may be named in a supplement to this prospectus may also from time to time offer and sell our ordinary shares, in one or more offerings. Selling shareholders may sell shares from time to time on or off the NASDAQ Global Select Market in regular brokerage transactions, in transactions directly with market makers or in privately negotiated transactions. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of those shares.
Our ordinary shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "SSYS". You should read both this prospectus, any supplement to this prospectus and the additional information described under the heading "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference," before you decide to invest in our securities.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 5 of this prospectus, in the documents incorporated by reference herein or in any applicable supplement to this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before purchasing our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed on completeness or the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is September 3, 2013
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This prospectus is part of an "automatic shelf" registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, as a "well-known seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, using a "shelf" registration process. Under this process, we may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, the securities described in this prospectus, and certain shareholders may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, the ordinary shares described in this prospectus. We sometimes refer to our ordinary shares as the "shares" throughout this prospectus.
When we or a selling shareholder sell securities, to the extent legally required, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that describes the specific amounts, prices and terms of such offering. Such a prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under "Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference."
This prospectus does not contain all of the information provided in the registration statement of which it is a part that we filed with the Commission. For further information about us or our ordinary shares, you should refer to that registration statement, which you can obtain from the Commission as described below under "Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference."
We are responsible for the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we prepare or authorize. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information that we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
We or any selling shareholders may sell our ordinary shares to underwriters (or, in the case of an offering by us, other securities referred to in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement) who will sell the shares or other securities to the public at a fixed offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. In that case, a prospectus supplement will contain the names of the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, together with the terms of the offering, and the compensation of those underwriters, dealers or agents. Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the offering may be deemed "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to:
"Stratasys," the "Company," the "Registrant," "us," "we" and "our" are to Stratasys Ltd., an Israeli company, and its consolidated subsidiaries.
"Our shares," "ordinary shares" and similar expressions refer to our Ordinary Shares, nominal value 0.01 New Israeli Shekels, or NIS, per share.
"Dollars", "US dollars" or "$" are to United States Dollars.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
About Stratasys Ltd.
We are a leading global provider of additive manufacturing, or AM, solutions for the creation of parts used in the processes of designing and manufacturing products and for the direct manufacture of end parts. Our solutions are sold under eight brands, including affordable desktop 3D printers for idea and design development (for professional purposes, as well as for personal applications), various systems for rapid prototyping, or RP, and large production systems for direct digital manufacturing, or DDM. We also develop, manufacture and sell materials for use with our systems and provide parts and various maintenance services to our customers. We believe that the range of more than 130 3D printing consumable materials that we offer is the widest in the industry. We have more than 1,500 employees and hold more than 500 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally.
Our legal and commercial name is Stratasys Ltd., and we are the product of the 2012 merger of two leading additive manufacturing companies, Stratasys, Inc. and Objet Ltd. Stratasys, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 1989, and Objet Ltd. was incorporated in Israel in 1998, under the name Objet Geometries Ltd. and subsequently changed its name in 2011 to Objet Ltd. On December 1, 2012, the two companies completed a merger, which we refer to as the Stratasys-Objet merger, pursuant to which Stratasys, Inc. became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Objet Ltd., and Objet Ltd. changed its name to Stratasys Ltd. Also, as part of that transaction, the ordinary shares of Stratasys Ltd. were listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol "SSYS", in place of the listing of the common stock of Stratasys, Inc., which had also traded under that symbol.
As described below, we have also more recently completed a transaction with MakerBot, a leader in desktop 3D printing, as a result of which MakerBot operates as a subsidiary of our company. This transaction has expanded our product offering to include affordable desktop 3D printers that enable an enhanced user experience, an area of 3D printing that has undergone rapid adoption. While MakerBot is undergoing integration with our company following the transaction, it nevertheless maintains its own identity, products and go-to-market strategy.
We have dual headquarters. One of our two principal places of business is located at 7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and our telephone number there is (952) 937-3000. Our registered office and our other principal place of business is located at 2 Holtzman Street, Science Park, P.O. Box 2496, Rehovot 76124, Israel, and our telephone number at that office is (+972)-74-745-4400. Our agent in the United States is S. Scott Crump, our Chairman of the Board, whose address is c/o Stratasys Inc. at the address of our Eden Prairie, Minnesota headquarters. Our World Wide Web address is www.stratasys.com. The information contained on that web site (or on our other web sites, including www.objet.com) is not a part of this prospectus. As an Israeli company, we operate under the provisions of Israel's Companies Law 5759-1999, or the Companies Law.
MakerBot Transaction
Description of Transaction
Since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, we have entered into and completed a merger transaction, which we refer to as the MakerBot transaction, whereby we acquired Cooperation Technology Corporation, or MakerBot, which was the direct parent company of MakerBot Industries, LLC, a leader in desktop 3D printing, and which owns and operates Thingiverse.com, a website dedicated to the sharing of user-created digital design files. The MakerBot transaction was consummated on August 15, 2013 pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 19, 2013, or the MakerBot merger agreement, by and among Stratasys, Baccio Merger Corporation, Baccio Corporation, Cooperation Technology Corporation and Shareholder Representative Services, LLC, as
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Seller Representative. Pursuant to the MakerBot merger agreement, a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of our company merged with and into MakerBot in a stock-for-stock transaction, with MakerBot surviving as a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of our company.
Pursuant to the MakerBot merger agreement, we issued, at the closing of the MakerBot transaction, 3,921,660 ordinary shares to MakerBot's stockholders in exchange for 100% of the outstanding capital stock of MakerBot. We may also issue up to an additional 3,010,347 ordinary shares in respect of periods through the end of 2014 to MakerBot's stockholders and certain MakerBot employees as of the effective time of the MakerBot transaction for performance-based earn-outs, awards under a Performance Bonus Plan and the release of holdback shares that secure MakerBot's indemnification obligations to us under the MakerBot merger agreement. Earn-out payments and Performance Bonus Plan awards, if earned, may also be paid in cash (in an amount reflecting the value of our ordinary shares that would otherwise be issuable at the relevant earn out determination date), or in a combination of our ordinary shares and cash, at our discretion.
Impact of Transaction on Our Business
MakerBot, founded in 2009, helped to develop the affordable desktop 3D printing market and has built the largest installed base of 3D printers in the category by making 3D printers highly accessible. MakerBot has sold more than 22,000 3D printers since 2009.
We believe that our combination with MakerBot will drive faster adoption of 3D printing for multiple applications and industries, as desktop 3D printers (upon which MakerBot focuses exclusively) are becoming a mainstream tool across many market segments. The MakerBot 3D Ecosystem drives the accessibility and rapid adoption of its desktop 3D printers. It includes Thingiverse.com, a collection of downloadable digital designs for making physical objects, and which is empowered by a growing community of makers and creators. The MakerBot 3D Ecosystem also includes MakerWare software, MakerCare service, MakerBot Filament, the MakerBot Retail Store and the MakerBot 3D Photo Booth.
We intend that MakerBot will operate as a separate subsidiary, preserving its existing brand and management, thereby preserving the relationships it has built with its users and partners. MakerBot, together with Stratasys, intends to continue to innovate, expand its product offering, provide attentive service to its users and make more 3D printing content available through Thingiverse.com.
We expect that Stratasys and MakerBot will jointly develop and implement strategies for building on their complementary strengths, intellectual property and technical know-how, and their respective assets and capabilities. We furthermore believe that we can leverage our extensive know-how in Fused Deposition Modeling, or FDM, to benefit MakerBot's product line.
Update to Property, Plants and Equipment due to Transaction
Our MakerBot subsidiary leases corporate headquarters, a production and storage facility that includes an administrative office, and an executive apartment suite in Brooklyn, New York, and a commercial retail space in the SoHo neighborhood of downtown Manhattan, New York. All such leased properties are subject to short-term to mid-term lease agreements and, except as indicated in the table below, are fully utilized by MakerBot.
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These real properties leased by MakerBot, the space that it occupies in each such property and the monthly rent associated with each such property are provided below:
Property Location and Use(s)
|
Monthly Lease Payment |
Approximate square feet |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
One Metrotech Center, 21st and 22nd Floors, Brooklyn, New York |
*Rent Period One: $70,312.00 *Rent Period Two: $83,137.50 *Rent Period Three: $76,822.92 *Rent Period Four: $95,454.17 |
21st Floor: 31,250 square feet 22nd Floor: 5,700 square feet |
||
|
*The lease breaks up |
|
||
148 39th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232, 1st and 2nd Floors |
$49,500 |
1st Floor: |
||
298 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012 |
$8,200 |
1,100 square feet |
||
314 - 316 Dean Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 |
$9,160 |
3,145 square feet |
||
537 Sackett Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 |
$6,800 |
Main space: |
||
|
Warehouse space: |
|||
111 Lawrence Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Apartment 24K |
$3,035 |
618 square feet |
The MakerBot transaction and MakerBot's business are described in our Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on June 20, 2013, June 24, 2013 (the second of three Forms 6-K that we furnished on June 24, 2013) and August 15, 2013, which are incorporated by reference herein (to the extent described below under "Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference").
Other Material Changes
We have also undergone other changes since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which are described in our Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K that are incorporated by reference herein (as described under "Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference" below).
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" in any prospectus supplement and those set forth in documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the Commission on March 7, 2013, and subsequent filings, as well as other information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, before purchasing any of our securities. Each of the risks described in these sections and documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a loss of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties known or not known to us or that we deem immaterial may also impair our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains, and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Also, documents that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus, including documents that we subsequently file with the Commission, will contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "project," "plan," "assume" or other similar expressions, or negatives of those expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement regarding our future strategy, future operations, projected financial position, proposed products, estimated future revenues, projected costs, future prospects, the future of our industry and results that might be obtained by pursuing management's current plans and objectives are forward-looking statements.
You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date on the cover of this prospectus, the date of any prospectus supplement, or, in the case of forward-looking statements incorporated by reference, the date of the filing that includes the statement. Over time, our actual results, performance or achievements may differ from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such difference might be significant and materially adverse to our security holders. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
We have identified some of the important factors that could cause future events to differ from our current expectations and they may be described in supplements to this prospectus (if any) under the caption "Risk Factors," as well as in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, including without limitation under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects," and in other documents that we may file with the Commission, all of which you should review carefully. Please consider our forward-looking statements in light of those risks as you read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement.
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
We will include in an applicable prospectus supplement or in other offering materials the statistics related to any primary offering by us of our securities, or secondary offering by selling shareholders of
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ordinary shares, under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and the expected timetable for any such offering. Any prospectus supplement or any other offering materials may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any other offering materials before you invest in any securities in any such offering.
REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we are conducting the primary offering hereunder for general capital raising purposes, and will use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities that we may offer hereunder for general corporate purposes. Such general corporate purposes may include, but are not limited to, financing possible acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures and redeeming outstanding securities. The prospectus supplement relating to an offering will contain a more detailed description of the reasons for the offering and use of proceeds of any specific offering of securities (if more specific than what is described in this paragraph).
Ordinary shares may be offered by selling shareholders under a supplement to this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares by the selling shareholders in any offering by them.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table contains our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. The table is qualified by the more detailed information appearing in the computation table found in Exhibit 12 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You should read these ratios in connection with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes to those financial statements, incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
|
For the Six Months Ended June 30, |
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(in thousands, except for ratios) (Unaudited) |
2013 | 2012 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges# |
* | 95.41 | 53.04 | 112.18 | 63.04 | 32.49 | 105.01 |
DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES
Our authorized share capital consists of (and consisted of, as of June 30, 2013) 180 million ordinary shares, nominal value NIS 0.01 per share. As of June 30, 2013, 39,023,488 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding, and as of August 15, 2013 (immediately following the consummation of the MakerBot transaction), 43,199,460 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding.
We may from time to time, by approval of a majority of our shareholders, increase our authorized share capital. Our fully paid ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are freely transferable under our amended and restated articles of association, as further amended (to which we refer herein as our amended articles). Under the Companies Law, we are required to maintain a major shareholder register listing for shareholders holding 5% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares.
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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.
Listing, Register Number and Purpose
Our ordinary shares are listed and traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol "SSYS."
Our registration number at the Israeli Registrar of Companies is 51-260769-8. Our purpose under our memorandum of association includes every lawful purpose.
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.
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 our board of directors may declare and distribute dividends without the approval of the shareholders.
In the event of liquidation, holders of our ordinary shares will have the right to share ratably in any assets remaining after payment of liabilities, in proportion to the paid-up nominal 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.
Shareholder Meetings
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.
All meetings other than the annual general meeting of shareholders are referred to as extraordinary general meetings. Our board of directors may call extraordinary general meetings whenever it sees fit, at such time and place, within or outside of Israel, as it may determine. In addition, the Companies Law and our amended articles provide that our board of directors is required to convene an extraordinary general meeting upon the written request of (i) any two of our directors or one-quarter of our board of directors or (ii) one or more shareholders holding, in the aggregate, either (a) 5% of our outstanding issued shares and 1% of our outstanding voting power or (b) 5% of our outstanding voting power. 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 vote at a general meeting in his capacity as Chairman.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder, shareholders that are entitled to participate and vote at general meetings are the shareholders of record on a date decided by our board of directors, which may be between four and 40 days prior to
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the date of the meeting. Furthermore, the Companies Law and the amended articles require that resolutions regarding the following matters must be passed at a general meeting of our shareholders:
The Companies Law and the amended articles require that a notice of any annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting be provided to shareholders at least 21 days prior to the meeting, and if the agenda of the meeting includes the appointment or removal of directors, the approval of transactions with office holders or interested or related parties, or an approval of a merger, notice must be provided at least 35 days prior to the meeting.
Under the Companies Law and the amended articles, shareholders are not permitted to take action via written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Voting Rights
Quorum requirements
Pursuant to our amended articles, holders of ordinary shares have one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote before the shareholders at a general meeting. The quorum required for a general meeting consists of at least two shareholders present in person, by proxy or written ballot who hold or represent between them at least a majority of the total outstanding voting rights. A meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum is generally adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place or to a later time/date if so specified in the summons or notice of the meeting. At the reconvened meeting, any two or more shareholders present in person or by proxy constitute a lawful quorum.
Vote requirements
Our amended articles provide that all resolutions of our shareholders require the approval of a majority of the voting power present and voting at a general meeting, in person or by proxy, unless otherwise required by the Companies Law or by the amended articles. Under the Companies Law, each of (i) the approval of an extraordinary transaction with a controlling shareholder and (ii) the terms of employment or other engagement of the controlling shareholder of the company or such controlling shareholder's relative (even if not extraordinary) require, in addition to approval by the audit committee and the board of directors, approval by a special majority of the shareholders that fulfills one of the following requirements:
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Under our amended articles, if the share capital is divided into classes, the alteration of the rights, privileges, preferences or obligations of any class of share capital will require approval by a majority of the voting power present and voting, in person or by proxy, at a class meeting of the class so affected (or such other percentage of the relevant class that may be set forth in the governing documents relevant to such class), in addition to the ordinary majority vote of all classes of shares voting together as a single class at a general meeting, as required under the Companies Law.
Under the amended articles, the approval of 75% of the voting power of our company is required for the amendment, suspension or replacement of any of the following provisions of the amended articles for the period beginning on the effective time of the Stratasys-Objet merger (which occurred on December 1, 2012) and ending on the second anniversary of such effective time, or the initial term:
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Israeli law provides that a shareholder of a public company may vote in a meeting and in a class meeting by means of a voting deed in which the shareholder indicates how he or she votes on resolutions relating to the following matters:
The provision allowing the vote by voting deed does not apply if, to the best knowledge of the company at the time of calling the general shareholders meeting, a controlling shareholder will hold on the record date for such shareholders meeting, voting power sufficient to determine the outcome of the vote.
The Companies Law provides that a shareholder, in exercising his or her rights and performing his or her obligations toward the company and its other shareholders, must act in good faith and in a customary manner, and avoid abusing his or her power. This is required when voting at general meetings on matters such as changes to the articles of association, increasing the company's registered capital, mergers and approval of related party transactions.
Access to Corporate Records
Under the Companies Law and our amended articles, shareholders are provided access to the following corporate records: minutes of our general meetings; our shareholders register and principal shareholders register, articles of association and financial statements; and any document that we are required by law to file publicly with the Israeli Companies Registrar or the Israel Securities Authority. In addition, shareholders may request to be provided with any document related to an action or transaction requiring shareholder approval under the related party transaction provisions of the Companies Law. We may deny this request if we believe it has not been submitted in good faith or if such denial is necessary to protect our interest or protect a trade secret or patent.
Modification of Class Rights
The rights attached to any class of shares, such as voting, liquidation and dividend rights, may be amended by adoption of a resolution by the holders of a majority of the shares of that class present at a separate class meeting, or otherwise in accordance with the rights attached to such class of shares, as set forth in our amended articles.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Our transfer agent and registrar in the United States is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Registration Rights
For a description of the registration rights that we granted to certain of Objet's preexisting significant shareholders as well as Objet's executive officers and directors, which apply to the registration of our shares following the Stratasys-Objet merger, please see "Agreements Entered into in
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Connection with the Merger AgreementRegistration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement" in Amendment No. 3 to our Registration Statement on Form F-4, Commission File No. 333-182025, filed with the Commission on August 6, 2012.
The registration rights that we granted to stockholders, option holders and warrant holder of MakerBot at the closing of the MakerBot transaction, pursuant to which we will be required to register for resale the ordinary shares received by them in the transaction, will be described in a separate supplement to this prospectus under which they may offer their shares for resale.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Under the Companies Law, we are allowed to create and issue shares having rights different from those attached to our ordinary shares, including shares providing certain preferred rights, distributions or other matters and shares having preemptive rights. No preferred shares are currently authorized under our amended articles. In the future, if we do authorize, create and issue a specific class of preferred shares, such class of shares, depending on the specific rights that may be attached to it, may have the ability to frustrate or prevent a takeover or otherwise prevent our shareholders from realizing a potential premium over the market value of their ordinary shares. The authorization and designation of a class of preferred shares will require an amendment to our amended articles, which requires the prior approval of the holders of a majority of the voting power present and voting, in person or by proxy, at the applicable general meeting of our shareholders. The convening of the meeting, the shareholders entitled to participate and the majority vote required to be obtained at such a meeting will be subject to the requirements set forth in the Companies Law as described above under "Voting Rights."
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES
We will set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement a description of any warrants to purchase our ordinary shares or debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. The general form of indenture pursuant to which such debt securities may be offered is set forth as Exhibit 4.4 to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
If the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is used by any selling shareholder for the resale of any ordinary shares registered thereunder, information about such selling shareholder, its beneficial ownership of our securities and its relationship with us will be set forth in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement, in a supplement to this prospectus, or in one or more documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may offer and sell our securities, and any selling shareholders may offer and sell shares, in offerings hereunder to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. We will provide the specific plan of distribution for any securities to be offered by us or by selling shareholders in a supplement to this prospectus.
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The following table sets forth our expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) in connection with the offering described in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part:
SEC registration fee |
$ | * | ||
Printing, EDGAR and photocopying fees |
$ | ** | ||
Legal fees and expenses |
$ | ** | ||
Accounting fees and expenses |
$ | ** | ||
Miscellaneous expenses |
$ | ** | ||
Total |
$ | ** | ||
| | | | |
The validity of the ordinary shares and warrants being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal, Law Offices, Ramat-Gan, Israel. A trust for the benefit of partners in Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal holds options to purchase 12,259 of our ordinary shares. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the debt securities offered by this prospectus, and any supplement thereto, will be passed upon for us by Cooley LLP, Palo Alto, California.
The consolidated financial statements of Stratasys Ltd. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012, incorporated into this prospectus by reference from the Stratasys Ltd. Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants, a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of Objet Ltd. (now known as Stratasys Ltd.) as of and for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011, incorporated into this prospectus by reference from a Stratasys Ltd. Registration Statement on Form F-4 (Commission File No. 333-182025), have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Kesselman & Kesselman, Certified Public Accountants, a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Stratasys Ltd. (formerly Stratasys, Inc.) as of December 31, 2011 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2011 incorporated by reference into this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
AND INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
We are an Israeli company and are a "foreign private issuer" as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act. As a result, (1) our proxy solicitations are not subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and (2) transactions in our equity securities by our officers and directors are exempt from Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
In addition, we are not required to file reports and financial statements with the Commission as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, we file with the Commission an Annual Report on Form 20-F containing financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm. We also furnish Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K containing unaudited financial information for the first three quarters of each fiscal year and other material information that we are required to make public in Israel, that we file with, and that is made public by, any stock exchange on which our shares are traded, or that we distribute, or that is required to be distributed by us, to our shareholders.
You can read and copy any materials we file with the Commission at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information about the operation of the Commission Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Commission also maintains a web site that contains information that we file electronically with the Commission, which you can access over the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. You may also access the information that we file electronically with the Commission through our website at http://www.stratasys.com. The information contained on, or linked from, our website does not form part of this prospectus.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 filed by us with the Commission under the Securities Act. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits thereto filed with the Commission. For further information with respect to us and the ordinary shares, warrants and debt securities that may be offered hereby by us, or the ordinary shares that may be offered by selling shareholders, you should refer to the complete registration statement on Form F-3, including any prospectus supplement, which may be obtained from the locations described above. Statements contained in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement about the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete. If we have filed any contract or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement or any other document incorporated by reference into the registration statement, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below, and any future Annual Reports on Form 20-F or Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K (to the extent that any such Form 6-K indicates that it is intended to by incorporated by reference herein) filed with or furnished to the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering. The documents that we incorporate by reference are:
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The information that we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the Commission will automatically be incorporated into, update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus. We shall provide you without charge, upon your written or oral request, a copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents which are not specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Please direct your written or telephone requests to us at Stratasys Ltd., c/o Stratasys, Inc., 7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344, Attention: Shane GlennVP Investor Relations, Telephone: (952) 294-3416.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
Service of process upon us and upon our directors and officers and the experts named in this prospectus, most of whom reside outside the United States, may be difficult to obtain within the United States. Furthermore, because a major portion of our assets and most of our directors and officers are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or any of our directors and officers may not be collectible within the United States.
There is doubt as to the enforceability of civil liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in original actions instituted in Israel. However, subject to specified time limitations, an Israeli court may declare a foreign civil judgment enforceable if it finds that:
Even if the above conditions are satisfied, an Israeli court will not enforce a foreign judgment if it was rendered in a state whose laws do not provide for the enforcement of judgments of Israeli courts (subject to exceptional cases) or if its enforcement is likely to prejudice the sovereignty or security of the State of Israel.
An Israeli court also will not declare a foreign judgment enforceable if:
If a foreign judgment is enforced by an Israel court, it generally will be payable in Israeli currency. Judgment creditors must bear the risk of unfavorable exchange rates.
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277,476 Ordinary Shares
Stratasys Ltd.
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
August 7, 2014