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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

A. Government grants:

Microbot Israel has received grants from the IIA for participation in research and development since 2013 through December 31, 2023 totaling approximately $1,804. This amount includes amounts received in 2023 of approximately $304, which are a portion of an additional grant from the IIA in the amount of approximately NIS 1,620,000 (approximately $447) approved by the IIA on June 1, 2023, to further finance the development of the manufacturing process of the LIBERTY^® Endovascular Robotic Surgical System.

In addition, as a result of the agreement with CardioSert Ltd. (“CardioSert”) on January 4, 2018, Microbot Israel took over the liability to repay CardioSert’s IIA grants in the aggregate amount of approximately $530.

In addition, as a result of the agreement with Nitiloop, on October 6, 2022, Microbot Israel took over the liability to repay Nitiloop’s IIA grants in the aggregate amount of approximately $925.

In relation to the IIA grants described above, the Company is obligated to pay royalties amounting to 3.0%-5% of its future sales of the products relating to such grants.

The grants are linked to the exchange rate of the dollar to the New Israeli Shekel and bears interest of SOFR per year (SOFR is a benchmark interest rate which replaced LIBOR).

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.

On December 11, 2022, the Company received approval for a grant from the Ministry of Economy, in the amount of NIS 300,000 (approximately $83), for participation in expenses related to the LIBERTY^® Endovascular Robotic Surgical System in the U.S. market. As of December 31, 2023, the Company received approximately $27 of such grant. In relation with the Ministry of Economy grant, the Company is obligated to pay royalties amounting to 3% of future sales of the LIBERTY^® Endovascular Robotic Surgical System up to the grant amount plus interest.

B. 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 amended, the “License Agreement”) with respect to the Company’s Self-Cleaning Shunt (SCS) project and its TipCat assets in addition to certain technology relating to the Company’s LIBERTY^® Endovascular Robotic Surgical System. As partial consideration for the license, Microbot Israel shall pay TRDF royalties on net sales (between 1.5%-3.0%) and on sublicense income as detailed in the License Agreement.

In October 2022 the Company suspended the SCS project and as a result of the Company’s May 2023 implementation of its core-business focus program and cost reduction plan, the Company returned the licensed intellectual property for the TipCat back to TRDF in June 2023, and returned the licensed intellectual property for the SCS (ViRob) back to TRDF in July 2023.

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

C. Agreement with CardioSert Ltd.:

On January 4, 2018, Microbot Israel entered into an agreement with CardioSert (the “CardioSert Agreement”) to acquire certain of its patent-protected technology (the “Technology”). Pursuant to the CardioSert Agreement, Microbot Israel made aggregate payments of $300 in cash and 6,738 shares of common stock estimated at $74 to complete the acquisition.

The CardioSert 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 CardioSert 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. As of December 31, 2023, the 50 months period has expired and CardioSert can buy-back the Technology at any time.

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 (dollar not in thousands), upon 60 days prior written notice, but only 1 year after such termination events. Additionally, the CardioSert Agreement may be terminated by either party upon breach of the other (subject to cure). Until May 2023, Microbot Israel paid CardioSert a monthly consultation fee of NIS 40,000 (or approximately US$11, based on an exchange rate of NIS 3.7 to the dollar) covering up to 60 consulting hours per month, relating to the development of the Technology. As a result of its core-business focus program and its cost reduction plan enacted in May 2023, the Company has terminated the CardioSert Agreement effective as of August 17, 2023 and ceased its research and development and commercialization efforts for, and maintaining, the Technology, which subsequent to the balance sheet date resulted in CardioSert triggering its right to reacquire the Technology for nominal consideration. See Note 16E below.

D. ATM agreement:

On June 10, 2021, the Company entered into an At-the-Market Offering Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with H.C. Wainwright & Co. LLC (“Wainwright”), as sales agent, in connection with an “at the market offering” under which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time in its sole discretion, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $10,000 at market prices or as otherwise agreed with Wainwright. To date, we have not sold any shares of common stock pursuant to the ATM Agreement, and as of October 13, 2022, the Company suspended the ATM Agreement, which otherwise remains in full force and effect subject to reactivation.

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

E. Engagement letters with H.C. Wainwright:

In connection with registered direct and private placement offerings referred to in Note 10 below, the Company entered into engagement letters (the “Engagement Letters”) with Wainwright on October 3, 2022, on May 16, 2023 and on October 24, 2023, pursuant to which Wainwright agreed to serve as the exclusive placement agent for the issuance and sale of securities of the Company.

As compensation for such placement agent services, the Company has agreed to pay Wainwright an aggregate cash fee equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds received by the Company from offerings contemplated by the Engagement Letters, plus a management fee equal to 1.0% of the gross proceeds received by the Company from such offerings, as well as other reimbursable expenses. The Company has also agreed to issue to Wainwright or its designees preferred investment options upon the closing of such offerings, equal to five (5.0%) percent of the aggregate number of such shares of common stock in such offerings, including upon exercise for cash of any warrants issued to investors in such offering.

F. Acquisition of Nitiloop’s assets:

On October 6, 2022, Microbot Israel purchased substantially all of the assets, including intellectual property, devices, components and product related materials (the “Assets”), of Nitiloop Ltd., an Israeli limited liability company (“Nitiloop”). The Assets include intellectual property and technology in the field of intraluminal revascularization devices with anchoring mechanism and integrated microcatheter (the “Technology”) and the products or potential products incorporating the Technology owned by Nitiloop and designated by Nitiloop as “NovaCross”, “NovaCross Xtreme” and “NovaCross BTK” and any enhancements, modifications and improvements thereof (“Devices”). Microbot Israel did not assume any material liabilities of Nitiloop other than obligations Nitiloop has to the IIA and relating to certain renewal/maintenance fees for a European patent application.

In consideration for the acquisition of the Assets, Microbot Israel shall pay royalties to Nitiloop, which shall not, in the aggregate, exceed $8,000, as follows:

	●	Royalties at a rate of 3% of net revenue generated as a result of sales, license or other exploitation of the Devices; and
	●	Royalties at a rate of 1.5% of net revenue generated from the sale, license or other exploitation of commercialization of the technology as part of an integrated product.

Based on the Company’s analysis, the Company concluded that the acquisition of the assets does not meet the definition of a business for the purpose of applying SEC Rules (S-X Rules of 3-05, 8-04 and 11-01).

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

G. Litigation resulting from the 2017 financing:

The Company was named as the defendant in a lawsuit captioned Empery Asset Master Ltd., Empery Tax Efficient, LP, Empery Tax Efficient II, LP, Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd., (the “Plaintiffs”), against Microbot Medical Inc., Defendant, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (Index No. 651182/2020) (the “Lawsuit”). 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 “2017 Financing”), of which the Plaintiffs participated, and fraudulently induced Plaintiffs into signing the SPA. The complaint sought rescission of the SPA and return of the Plaintiffs’ $6,750 purchase price with respect to the 2017 Financing.

The Lawsuit was settled in January 2024. Refer to Note 16C below.

H. Mona litigation:

On April 28, 2019, the Company brought an action against Alliance Investment Management, Ltd. (“Alliance”), later amended to add Joseph Mona (“Mona”) as a defendant, in the Southern District of New York under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), to compel Alliance and/or Mona to disgorge short swing profits realized from purchases and sales of the Company’s securities within a period of less than six months. The amount of profits was estimated in the complaint to be approximately $468.

On March 31, 2021, the Court entered a judgment against Mona and in favor of the Company in the amount of approximately $485. Collection of the judgment was deferred pending resolution of Mona’s counterclaim.

On August 4, 2023, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report & Recommendation, which recommended that the District Court dismiss Mona’s Section 10(b) counterclaim in the entirety. On August 22, 2023, the District Court adopted the Report and Recommendation in full and dismissed the Section 10(b) counterclaim in its entirety. The time for appeal has expired and the Company is proceeding with collection efforts for the $485 judgment against Mona (the “Judgment”).

The Court has permitted the Company’s ongoing execution efforts to continue notwithstanding Mona’s purported appeal of the Court’s denial of his motion to vacate. On March 15, 2024, the Magistrate Judge issued an Order to Show Cause (“OTSC”) directing the liquidation of certain of Mona’s accounts, and the transfer of the sale proceeds to the Company in partial satisfaction of the Judgment. The OTSC hearing is scheduled to be held in the second quarter of 2024.

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)