EX-2.1 2 exhibit_2-1.htm DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

Exhibit 2.1
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
The descriptions of the securities contained herein summarize the material terms and provisions of the ordinary shares of Compugen Ltd. (the “Company”), registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
ORDINARY SHARES
Our authorized share capital is NIS 2,000,000 divided into 200,000,000 ordinary shares, nominal (par) value NIS 0.01 per share. Subject to our amended and restated articles of association, or our Articles, fully paid ordinary shares of the Company confer on the holders thereof rights to attend and to vote at general meetings of the shareholders. Subject to the rights of holders of shares with limited or preferred rights which may be issued in the future, the ordinary shares of the Company confer upon the holders thereof equal rights to vote, to receive dividends and to participate in the distribution of the assets of the Company upon its winding-up, in proportion to the amount paid up or credited as paid up on account of the nominal value of the shares held by them respectively and in respect of which such dividends are being paid or such distribution is being made, without regard to any premium paid in excess of the nominal value, if any. All outstanding ordinary shares are validly issued and fully paid.
The Nasdaq Global Market and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
Our ordinary shares are listed on each of The Nasdaq Global Market and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol “CGEN”.
Rights Attached to Our Shares
Subject to our Articles, fully paid ordinary shares confer on the holders thereof rights to attend and to vote at general meetings of the shareholders. Subject to the rights of holders of shares with limited or preferred rights which may be issued in the future, our ordinary shares confer upon the holders thereof equal rights to receive dividends and to participate in the distribution of our assets upon our winding-up, in proportion to the amount paid up or credited as paid up on account of the nominal value of the shares held by them respectively and in respect of which such dividends are being paid or such distribution is being made, without regard to any premium paid in excess of the nominal value, if any. No preferred shares are currently authorized. All outstanding ordinary shares are validly issued and fully paid.
Voting Rights
Subject to the provisions of our Articles, holders of ordinary shares have one vote for each ordinary share held by such shareholder of record, on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Shareholders may vote in person, by proxy or by proxy card. Alternatively, shareholders who hold shares through members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange may vote electronically via the electronic voting system of the Israel Securities Authority, or Electronic Vote. These voting rights may be affected by the grant of any special voting rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future. As our ordinary shares do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors, the holders of the majority of the shares present and voting at a shareholders meeting have the power to elect all of our directors. In the event that we cease meeting the Opt Out Criteria (as defined in the annual report on Form 20-F to which this Exhibit 2.1 is attached), or if our board of directors shall decide to opt in the requirement to elect and have external directors and comply with the composition criteria of the audit committee and compensation committee under the Companies Law, the external directors will be elected by a special majority vote, as set forth under the Companies Law.

Transfer of Shares
Our ordinary shares which have been fully paid-up are transferable by submission of a proper instrument of transfer together with the certificate of the shares to be transferred and such other evidence of title, as our board of directors may require, unless such transfer is prohibited by another instrument or by applicable securities laws.
Dividends
Under the Companies Law, dividends may be distributed only out of profits available for dividends as determined by the Companies Law, provided that there is no reasonable concern that the distribution will prevent the Company from being able to meet its existing and anticipated obligations when they become due. If the company does not meet the profit requirement, a court may nevertheless allow the company to distribute a dividend, as long as the court is convinced that there is no reasonable concern that such distribution will prevent the company from being able to meet its existing and anticipated obligations when they become due. Pursuant to our Articles, no dividend shall be paid other than out of the profits of the Company. Generally, under the Companies Law, the decision to distribute dividends and the amount to be distributed is made by a company’s board of directors.
Our Articles provide that our board of directors, may, subject to the Companies Law, from time to time, declare and cause the Company to pay such dividends as may appear to the board of directors to be justified by the profits of our Company. Subject to the rights of the holders of shares with preferential, special or deferred rights that may be authorized in the future, our profits which shall be declared as dividends shall be distributed according to the proportion of the nominal (par) value paid up or credited as paid up on account of the shares held at the date so appointed by the Company and in respect of which such dividend is being paid, without regard to the premium paid in excess of the nominal (par) value, if any. The declaration of dividends does not require shareholders’ approval.
To date, we have not declared or distributed any dividend and we do not intend to pay cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of our winding up on liquidation or dissolution, subject to applicable law and after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, our assets available for distribution among the shareholders shall be distributed to the holders of ordinary shares in proportion to the amount paid up or credited as paid up on account of the nominal value of the shares held by them respectively and in respect of which such distribution is being made, without regard to any premium paid in excess of the nominal value, if any. This liquidation right may be affected by the grant of limited or preferential rights as to liquidation to the holders of a class of shares that may be authorized in the future.
Redemption Provisions
We may, subject to applicable law and to our Articles, issue redeemable shares and redeem the same upon such terms and conditions as determined by our board of directors.
Limitation of Liability
Under our Articles, the liability of each shareholder for the Company’s obligations is limited to the unpaid sum, if any, owing to the Company in consideration for the issuance of the shares held by such shareholder.
Modification of Class Rights
Our amended and restated Memorandum of Association, or Memorandum, provides that we may amend the Memorandum in order to increase, consolidate or divide or otherwise amend our share capital by a simple majority of the voting power present at a shareholders meeting as currently provided in our Articles or by such other majority as shall be set forth in our Articles from time to time.
Pursuant to our Articles, if at any time our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class, unless otherwise provided by our Articles, may be modified or abrogated by the Company, subject to the consent in writing of, or sanction of a resolution passed by, the holders of a majority of the issued shares of such class at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of such class.

Limitations on the Rights to Own Securities
Our Articles and Israeli law do not restrict the ownership or voting of ordinary shares by non-residents or persons who are not citizens of Israel, though such ownership is prohibited under applicable law with respect to subjects of nations which are in a state of war with Israel.
Changes in Authorized Share Capital
Our Articles enable us, among others, to increase or reduce our authorized share capital. Any such changes are subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and our Articles and must be approved by a resolution duly passed by a simple majority of our shareholders at a general meeting by voting on such change in capital.
Shareholders’ Meetings and Resolutions
Our Articles and the Companies Law provide that our annual general meeting shall be held once in every calendar year at such time (within a period of not more than fifteen months after the last preceding annual general meeting), and place determined by our board of directors. Our board of directors may, in its discretion, convene additional special shareholders meetings and, pursuant to the Companies Law, must convene a meeting upon the demand of: (a) two directors or one quarter of the directors in office; or (b) the holder or holders of (i) 5% or more of our issued share capital and one percent or more of our voting rights; or (ii) 5% or more of our voting rights. All demands for shareholders meetings must set forth the items to be considered at that meeting. If the board of directors does not convene a meeting upon a valid demand of any of the above, then the persons who made the demand, and in the case of shareholders, part of such demanding shareholders holding at least half of the voting rights of such demanding shareholders, may convene a meeting of the shareholders to be held within three months of the demand. Alternatively, upon petition by the individuals making the demand, a court may order that a meeting be convened.
The chairman of the board of directors, or any other director or office holder of the Company which may be designated for this purpose by the board of directors, shall preside as chairman at each of our general meetings. If there is no such chairman, or if the appointed chairman is unwilling to take the chair, or if he shall have indicated in advance that he will not be attending, or if at any meeting such chairman is not present within thirty (30) minutes after the time fixed for holding the meeting, then those present at the meeting shall choose someone present to be chairman of the meeting. The office of chairman shall not, by itself, entitle the holder thereof to vote at any general meeting nor shall it entitle a second or casting vote.
According to regulations promulgated pursuant to the Companies Law and governing the terms of notice and publication of shareholder meetings of public companies, or the General Meeting Regulations, holder(s) of one percent or more of the Company’s voting rights may propose any matter appropriate for deliberation at a shareholder meeting to be included on the agenda of a shareholder meeting, generally by submitting a proposal within seven days of publicizing the convening of a shareholder meeting, or within fourteen days, if the Company publishes at least 21 days prior to publicizing the proxy materials for a shareholder meeting, a preliminary notice stating its intention to convene such meeting, the agenda thereof, shareholder’s right to propose a matter to be included on the agenda of such meeting and company’s right not to examine such proposals received upon termination of 14 day period from the publication of such notice. Any such proposal must further comply with the information requirements under applicable law and our Articles, and in the event that such shareholders propose to appoint directors for service on the Company’s board of directors, the proposal must include information regarding the director candidates as well as certain declarations of the director candidates, as required pursuant to the General Meeting Regulations. The agenda for a shareholder meeting is determined by the board of directors and must include matters in respect of which the convening of a shareholder meeting was demanded and any matter requested to be included by holder(s) of one percent of the Company’s voting rights, as detailed above.
Pursuant to the Companies Law and the General Meeting Regulations shareholder meetings generally require prior notice of not less than 21 days, and not less than 35 days in certain cases. Pursuant to our Articles, we are not required to deliver or serve notice of a general meeting or of any adjournments thereof to any shareholder. However, subject to applicable law and stock exchange rules and regulations, we will publicize the convening of a general meeting in any manner reasonably determined by us, and any such publication shall be deemed duly made, given and delivered to all shareholders on the date on which it is first made, posted, filed or published in the manner so determined by us in our sole discretion.

The function of the general meeting is to elect directors, receive and consider the profit and loss account, the balance sheet and the ordinary reports and accounts of the directors and auditors, appoint external auditor, approve certain interested party transactions requiring general meeting approval as provided in the Companies Law, approve the Company’s merger, exercise of the powers of the board of directors if the board of directors is unable to exercise its powers and the exercise of any of its powers is vital for our proper management, approve amendments of the Articles and transact any other business which under our Articles or applicable law may be transacted by the shareholders of the Company in a general meeting.
Pursuant to our Articles, the quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders, present in person, by proxy, by proxy card or by Electronic Vote and holding shares conferring in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the voting power of the Company. If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place or to such other later day, time and place as the board of directors may determine and specify in the publication with respect to the Meeting. At the adjourned meeting, any number of participants will constitute a quorum present, in person, by proxy, by proxy card or by Electronic Vote; provided, however, that special general meeting which was convened by the Board upon the demand of shareholders or directors then in office, as detailed above, or directly by such shareholders or directors, in accordance the terms of the Companies Law, shall be cancelled.
Generally, under the Companies Law and our Articles, shareholder resolutions are deemed adopted if approved by the holders of a simple majority of the voting rights represented at the meeting, in person, by proxy, by proxy card or by Electronic Vote, and voting on the matter, unless a different majority is required by law or pursuant to our Articles such as a resolution for the voluntary winding up of our Company which requires the approval of holders of 75% of the voting power presented and voting at the meeting, or resolutions concerning certain related party transactions as set forth in Sections 267 and 270-275 of the Companies Law.
Change of Control
Merger
Under the Companies Law, a merger is generally required to be approved by the shareholders and board of directors of each of the merging companies. If the share capital of the company that will not be the surviving company is divided into different classes of shares, the approval of each class is also required, unless determined otherwise by the court. Similarly, unless an Israeli court determines otherwise, a merger will not be approved if it is objected to by shareholders holding a majority of the voting rights participating and voting at the meeting (abstentions are disregarded), after excluding the shares held by the other party to the merger, by any person who holds 25% or more of the other party to the merger or by anyone on their behalf, including by the relatives of, or corporations controlled by, these persons. In approving a merger, the board of directors of both merging companies must determine that there is no reasonable concern that, as a result of the merger, the surviving company will not be able to satisfy its obligations to its creditors. Similarly, upon the request of a creditor of either party to the proposed merger, an Israeli court may prevent or delay the merger if it concludes that there exists a reasonable concern that, as a result of the merger, the surviving company will not be able to satisfy the obligations of the merging parties. A court may also issue other instructions for the protection of the creditors’ rights in connection with a merger. Further, a merger may not be completed unless at least (i) 50 days have passed from the time that the requisite proposals for the approval of the merger were filed with the Israeli registrar of companies; and (ii) 30 days have passed since the merger was approved by the shareholders of each party.

Special Tender Offer
The Companies Law provides that an acquisition of shares of an Israeli public company must be made by means of a special tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company. This rule does not apply if there is already another holder of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company. Similarly, the Companies Law provides that an acquisition of shares in a public company must be made by means of a special tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of more than 45% of the voting rights in the company, if there is no other shareholder of the company who holds more than 45% of the voting rights in the company. These requirements do not apply if the acquisition (i) occurs in the context of a private placement by the company that received shareholder approval for the purpose of allowing the purchaser to hold more than 25% of the voting rights in the company if there is no other holder of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company, or 45% of the voting rights in the company if there is no other holder of 45% or more of the voting rights in the company, as the case may be, (ii) was from a shareholder holding 25% or more of the voting rights in the company and resulted in the acquirer becoming a holder of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company, or (iii) was from a holder of more than 45% of the voting rights in the company and resulted in the acquirer becoming a holder of more than 45% of the voting rights in the company. A special tender offer may be consummated only if (i) at least 5% of the voting power attached to the company’s outstanding shares will be acquired by the offeror and (ii) the number of shares tendered in the offer exceeds the number of shares whose holders objected to the offer (excluding controlling shareholders, holders of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company and any person having a personal interest in the acceptance of the special tender offer).
In the event that a special tender offer is made, a company’s board of directors is required to express its opinion on the advisability of the offer, or shall abstain from expressing any opinion if it is unable to do so, provided that it gives the reasons for its abstention. An office holder in a target company who, in his or her capacity as an office holder, performs an action the purpose of which is to cause the failure of an existing or foreseeable special tender offer or is to impair the chances of its acceptance, is liable to the potential purchaser and shareholders for damages, unless such office holder acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to believe he or she was acting for the benefit of the company. However, office holders of the target company may negotiate with the potential purchaser in order to improve the terms of the special tender offer and may further negotiate with third parties in order to obtain a competing offer. Shares purchased in contradiction to the tender offer rules under the Companies Law will have no rights and will become dormant shares.
If a special tender offer is accepted, then shareholders who did not respond to or that had objected the offer may accept the offer within four days of the last day set for the acceptance of the offer. In the event that a special tender offer is accepted, then the purchaser or any person or entity controlling it or under common control with the purchaser or such controlling person or entity may not make a subsequent tender offer for the purchase of shares of the target company and may not enter into a merger with the target company for a period of one year from the date of the offer, unless the purchaser or such person or entity undertook to effect such an offer or merger in the initial special tender offer.
Full Tender Offer
Under the Companies Law, a person may not acquire shares in a public company if, after the acquisition, the acquirer will hold more than 90% of the shares or more than 90% of any class of shares of that company, unless a tender offer is made to purchase all of the shares or all of the shares of the particular class. The Companies Law also generally provides that as long as a shareholder in a public company holds more than 90% of the company’s shares or of a class of shares, that shareholder shall be precluded from purchasing any additional shares. In order for all of the shares that the purchaser offered to purchase be transferred to him by operation of law, one of the following needs to have occurred: (i) the shareholders who declined or do not respond to the tender offer hold less than 5% of the company’s outstanding share capital or of the relevant class of shares and the majority of offerees who do not have a personal interest in accepting the tender offer accepted the offer, or (ii) the shareholders who declined or do not respond to the tender offer hold less than 2% of the company’s outstanding share capital or of the relevant class of shares.
A shareholder that had his or her shares so transferred, whether he or she accepted the tender offer or not, has the right, within six months from the date of acceptance of the tender offer, to petition the court to determine that the tender offer was for less than fair value and that the fair value should be paid as determined by the court. However, the purchaser may provide in its offer that shareholders who accept the tender offer will not be entitled to such rights.
If the conditions set forth above are not met, the purchaser may not acquire additional shares of the company from shareholders who accepted the tender offer to the extent that following such acquisition, the purchaser would own more than 90% of the company’s issued and outstanding share capital. The above restrictions apply, in addition to the acquisition of shares, to the acquisition of voting power.