XML 25 R14.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.2
Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
NOTE 5 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

    Government Grants:
     
    Microbot Israel obtained from the Israeli Innovation Authority (“IIA”) grants for participation in research and development for the years 2013 through June 30, 2019 in the total amount of approximately $1,500 and, in return, Microbot Israel is obligated to pay royalties amounting to 3%-3.5% of its future sales up to the amount of the grant. The grant is linked to the exchange rate of the dollar to the New Israeli Shekel and bears interest of Libor per annum.
     
    The repayment of the grants is contingent upon the successful completion of the Company’s research and development programs and generating sales. The Company has no obligation to repay these grants, if the project fails, is unsuccessful or aborted or if no sales are generated. The financial risk is assumed completely by the Government of Israel. The grants are received from the Government on a project-by-project basis.
     
    TRDF Agreement:
     
    Microbot Israel signed an agreement with the Technion Research and Development Foundation (“TRDF”) in June 2012 by which TRDF transferred to Microbot Israel a global, exclusive, royalty-bearing license. As partial consideration for the license, Microbot Israel shall pay TRDF royalties on net sales (between 1.5%-3%) and on sublicense income as detailed in the agreement.

 

    Contract Research Agreements:
     
    Agreement with Washington University
     
    On January 27, 2017, the Company entered into a Contract Research Agreement (the “Research Agreement”) with The Washington University (“Washington U.”), pursuant to which the parties are collaborating to determine the effectiveness of the Company’s self-cleaning shunt.
     
    The study in Washington U. includes several phases. The first phase (initial research) was completed. An agreement on the second phase was entered in September 2018 with total expected costs of approximately $248. As of June 30, 2019, his study is still on going and will be extended to continue until March 1, 2020. Pursuant to the Research Agreement, all rights, title and interest in the data, information and results obtained or arrived at by Washington U. in the performance of its services under the Research Agreement, as well as any patentable inventions obtained or arrived at in the performance of such services, will be jointly owned by the Company and Washington U., and each will have full right to practice and grant licenses in joint inventions. Additionally, Washington U. granted to the Company: (a) a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid-up, perpetual and irrevocable license to use and practice patentable inventions (other than joint inventions and improvements to Washington U.’s animal models) obtained or arrived at by Washington U. in the provision of its services under the Research Agreement (“University Inventions”) with respect to the self-cleaning shunt; and (b) an exclusive option to obtain an exclusive worldwide license in University Inventions, on terms to be negotiated between the parties.
     
    Agreement with Wayne State University
     
    On September 12, 2016, the Company entered into a research agreement (the “WSU Agreement”) with Wayne State University (“WSU”), pursuant to which the parties are collaborating to determine the efficacy of the Company’s self-cleaning shunt.
     
    The study in WSU includes several phases. The first phase (initial research) was completed. An agreement on the second phase was entered in April 2018 with total expected costs of approximately $130. In July 2018 the contract was updated to include phase 2.1 (preliminary phase to phase 2) with total expected costs of approximately $213. Pursuant to the WSU Agreement, WSU shall own all data generated by the research and the Company shall have unrestricted free right to use and disclose all the results, information and material generated from the WSU Agreement.
     
    Rights to inventions, improvements or discoveries, whether or not patentable or copyrightable made solely by the employees of the Company in the course of performance of the workplan agreed upon between the Company and WSU shall belong to the Company.
     
    Rights to inventions, improvements or discoveries, whether or not patentable or copyrightable made solely by the employees of WSU in the course of performance of the workplan agreed upon between the Company and WSU shall belong to WSU. WSU shall grant the Company with a worldwide non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free license to university inventions to use and practice patentable inventions.
     
    Rights to inventions, improvements or discoveries, whether or not patentable or copyrightable made by at least one employee of WSU and one employee of the Company in the course of performance of the workplan agreed upon between the Company and WSU shall belong to WSU and the Company jointly. Both the Company and WSU will be free to use and license to others the rights of joint inventions for any and all purposes without consultation or obligation to the other party. WSU granted the Company a first option to negotiate an exclusive license to use and practice WSU inventions and its interest in the joint inventions as detailed in the WSU Agreement.

 

    Litigation:
     
    Sabby Litigation
     
    The Company is named as the defendant in a lawsuit (the “Matter”), captioned Sabby Healthcare Master Fund Ltd. and Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund Ltd., Plaintiffs, against Microbot Medical Inc., Defendant, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (the “Court”) (Index No. 654581/2017). The complaint alleged, among other things, that the Company breached multiple representations and warranties contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) related to the Company’s June 8, 2017 equity financing (the “Financing”) of which the Plaintiffs participated. The complaint sought rescission of the SPA and return of the Plaintiffs’ $3,375 purchase price with respect to the Financing, and damages in an amount to be determined at trial but alleged to exceed $1,000. A trial was held on February 11, 2019. On February 28, 2019, the Court issued a Decision and Order After Trial to rescind the SPA. The rescission would require the Plaintiffs to transfer back to the Company the shares they purchased in the Financing, and for the Company to return to Plaintiffs their purchase price of $3,375. On March 27, 2019, the Company filed a Notice of Appeal and an Undertaking to stay execution of the judgment pending appeal.
     
    In accordance with New York law, in order to move forward with the appeal and to stay the lower court’s judgment, the Company placed approximately $4,200 in escrow with a surety bonding agent on March 26, 2019 in accordance with provisions set forth in the judgment from the Matter, which represents the judgment amount, plus interest and the fee to the bonding company. Accordingly, the Company recorded additional expenses of $101 with respect to interest from the judgement date and up until June 30, 2019.
     
    Tolling and Standstill Agreement
     
    On April 4, 2018, Microbot entered into a Tolling and Standstill Agreement with Empery Asset Master, Ltd., Empery Tax Efficient LP, Empery Tax Efficient II LP, and Hudson Bay Master Fund, Ltd., the other investors in the Financing (“Other Investors”). Pursuant to the Tolling Agreement, among other things, (a) the Other Investors agree not to bring any claims against Microbot arising out of the Matter, (b) the parties agree that if Microbot reaches an agreement to settle the claims asserted by the Sabby Funds in the above suit, Microbot will provide the same settlement terms on a pro rata basis to the Other Investors, and the Other Investors will either accept same or waive all of their claims and (c) the parties froze in time the rights and privileges of each party as of the effective date of the Tolling Agreement, until (i) an agreement to settle the suit is executed; (ii) a judgment in the suit is obtained; or (iii) the suit is otherwise dismissed with prejudice.
     
    No provision has been recorded with respect to the Tolling Agreement since no settlement was reached with respect to the Matter.
     
    Alliance Litigation
     
    On April 28, 2019, the Company brought an action against Alliance Investment Management, Ltd. (“Alliance”) in the Southern District of New York under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. 78p(b), to compel Alliance to disgorge short swing profits realized by Alliance from purchases and sales of the Company’s securities within a period of less than six months, while Alliance was a beneficial owner of more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding common stock and a statutory “insider” for purposes of the statute. The case is Microbot Medical Inc. v. Alliance Investment Management, Ltd., No. 19-cv-3782-GBD (SDNY).
     
    Agreement with CardioSert Ltd.:
     
    On January 4, 2018, Microbot Israel entered into an agreement with CardioSert Ltd. (“CardioSert”) to acquire certain patent-protected technology owned by CardioSert (the “Technology”).
     
    Pursuant to the Agreement, Microbot Israel made an initial payment of $50 to CardioSert and had 90-days to elect to complete the acquisition. At the end of the 90-day period, at Microbot Israel’s sole option, CardioSert shall assign and transfer the Technology to Microbot Israel and Microbot Israel shall pay to CardioSert additional amounts and securities as determined in the agreement.
     
    On April 10, 2018, Microbot delivered an Exercise Notice to CardioSert Ltd., notifying it that Microbot elected to exercise the option to acquire the Technology owned by CardioSert and therefore made an additional cash payment of $250 and 6,738 shares of common stock (100,000 shares of common stock before the Reverse Split) estimated at $74.

 

    The agreement may be terminated by Microbot Israel at any time for convenience upon 90-days’ notice. The agreement may be terminated by CardioSert in case the first commercial sale does not occur by the third anniversary of the date of signing of the agreement except if Microbot Israel has invested more than $2,000 in certain development stages, or the first commercial sale does not occur within 50 months. In each of the above termination events, or in case of breach by Microbot Israel, CardioSert shall have the right to buy back the Technology from Microbot Israel for $1.00, upon 60 days prior written notice, but only 1 year after such termination. Additionally, the agreement may be terminated by either party upon breach of the other (subject to cure).
     
    CardioSert agreed to assist Microbot Israel in the development of the Technology for a minimum of one year, for a monthly consultation fee of approximately $11, covering up to 60 consulting hours per month.
     
    Yehezkel (Hezi) Himelfarb Resignation:
     
    Effective as of February 1, 2019, Yehezkel (Hezi) Himelfarb, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, resigned from all positions with the Company. Effective as of February 1, 2019, Mr. Himelfarb also resigned from his position as General Manager of Microbot Medical Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. As a result of Mr. Himelfarb providing certain post-resignation transition services to the Company and the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Himelfarb continued to be paid his full salary and certain benefits for six months after resignation.