zk1109401.htm
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 3, 2011
     Registration No. 333-171912
 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
AMENDMENT NO.1
 
TO
 
FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Israel
 
Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
P.O. Box 619
Migdal Haemek, Israel, 23105
972-4-650-6611
(Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)

Tower Semiconductor USA
4300 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 175
San Jose, California 95129
Tel: 408-551-6500
Facsimile: 408-551-6509
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

Copies of all Correspondence to:
DAVID H. SCHAPIRO, ADV.
ELIRAN FURMAN, ADV.
SHELDON KRAUSE, ESQ.
Eilenberg & Krause  LLP
Yigal Arnon & Co.
11 East 44th Street
1 Azrieli Center
New York, NY 10017
Tel Aviv, 67021 Israel
Tel: 212-986-9700
Tel:  972-3-608-7856
 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: o

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box: x

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o

 
 

 
 
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
 
 
 

 
EXPLANTORY NOTE
 
This Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 is being filed solely to include a revised legal opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.
 
 
 

 
 

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


ITEM 8.                 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The Israeli Companies Law-1999, or the Companies Law, provides that a company may include in its articles of association provisions allowing it to:

1.
partially or fully, exempt in advance, an office holder of the company from his/her responsibility for damages caused by the breach of his/her duty of care to the company, except for damages caused to the Company due to any breach of such office holder's duty of care towards the company in a “distribution” (as defined in the Companies Law).
 
 
2.
enter into a contract to insure the liability of an office holder of the company by reason of acts or omissions committed in his/her capacity as an office holder of the company with respect to the following:

 
(a)
the breach of his/her duty of care to the company or any other person;

 
(b)
the breach of his/her fiduciary duty to the company to the extent he/she acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act or omission would not prejudice the interests of the company; and

 
(c)
monetary liabilities or obligations which may be imposed upon him/her in favor of other persons.

3.           indemnify an office holder of the company for:

 
(a)
monetary liabilities or obligations imposed upon, or actually incurred by, such officer holder in favor of other persons pursuant to a court judgment, including a compromise judgment or an arbitrator’s decision approved by a court, by reason of acts or omissions of such office holder in his or her capacity as an office holder of the company;

 
(b)
reasonable litigation expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually incurred by such office holder or imposed upon him or her by a court, in an action, suit or proceeding brought against him or her by or on behalf of us or by other persons, or in connection with a criminal action from which he or she was acquitted, or in connection with a criminal action which does not require criminal intent in which he/she was convicted, in each case by reason of acts or omissions of such office holder in his or her capacity as an office holder; and
 
 
(c)
reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually incurred by such office holder due to an investigation or a proceeding instituted against such office holder by an authority competent to administrate such an investigation or proceeding, and that was finalized without the filing of an indictment against such office holder and without any financial obligation imposed on such office holder in lieu of criminal proceedings, or that was finalized without the filing of an indictment against such office holder but with financial obligation imposed on such office holder in lieu of criminal proceedings of a crime which does not require proof of criminal intent, in each case by reason of acts of such office holder in his or her capacity as an office holder of the company.
 
 
II - 1

 
 
The Companies Law provides that a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of an office holder post-factum and may also provide that a company may undertake to indemnify an office holder in advance, as described in:

 
i.
sub-section 3(a) above, provided such undertaking is limited to and actually sets forth the occurrences, which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors based on the current activity of the company, are, at the time such undertaking is provided, foreseeable, and to an amount and degree that the board of directors has determined is reasonable for such indemnification under the circumstances; and
 
 
ii.
sub-sections 3(b) and 3(c) above.

The Companies Law provides that a company may not indemnify or exempt the liabilities of an office holder or enter into an insurance contract which would provide coverage for the liability of an office holder with respect to the following:

 
m
a breach of his/her fiduciary duty, except to the extent described above;

 
m
a breach of his/her duty of care, if such breach was done intentionally, recklessly or with disregard of the circumstances of the breach or its consequences, except if such breach is done only with negligence;

 
m
an act or omission done with the intent to unlawfully realize personal gain;  or

 
m
a fine or monetary settlement imposed upon him/her.

Under the Companies Law, the term "office holder" may include a director, managing director, general manager, chief executive officer, executive vice president, vice president, other managers directly subordinate to the managing director and any other person fulfilling or assuming any such position or responsibility without regard to such person’s title.

The grant of an exemption, an undertaking to indemnify or indemnification of, and procurement of insurance coverage for, an office holder of a company requires, pursuant to the Companies Law, the approval of our audit committee and board of directors, and, in certain circumstances, including if the office holder is a director, the approval of our shareholders.

We have entered into an insurance contract for directors and officers and have procured indemnification insurance for our office holders to the extent permitted by our articles of association.  We have never had the occasion to indemnify any of our office holders.

 
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ITEM 9.                 EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description of Document
3.1
Articles of Association of the Registrant, approved by shareholders on November 14, 2000, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form F-1, File No. 333-126909, "Form F-1 No. 333-126909").
3.2
Amendment to Articles of Association of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-117565 ("Form S-8 No. 333-117565").
3.3
Amendment to the Articles of Association of the Registrant (approved by shareholders on September 28, 2006) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-138837 (the "2006 Form S-8").
3.4
Amendment to Articles of Association of Registrant (approved by shareholders on September 24, 2008) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-153710 (the “2008 Form S-8”).
*5.1
Opinion of Yigal Arnon & Co.
*23.1
Consent of Yigal Arnon & Co. (contained in their opinion constituting Exhibit 5.1)
**23.2
Consent of Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co.
**24.1
Power of Attorney (included in signature page of original Registration Statement)
 

*
Filed herewith.
 
**
Previously filed.
 
ITEM 10.                         UNDERTAKINGS

  (a)               The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)     To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

(i)           To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii)           To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or any decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
 
 
II - 3

 
 
(iii)           To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2)        That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial  bona fide offering thereof.

(3)        To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4)        To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering.  Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 need not be furnished,  provided, that the Registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-X if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this Form F-3.

(5)       That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

    (i)           If the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

  (A)           Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
 
 
II - 4

 
 
  (B)           Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus.  As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.  Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
 
(ii)           If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
 
(6)      That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
 
(i)      Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
 
(ii)     Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
 
(iii)    The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
 
(iv)    Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
 
 
II - 5

 

(b)       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d)       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
(i)          For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
 
                                   (ii)          For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
 
II - 6

 
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form F-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Migdal Haemek, Israel, on February 3, 2011.

TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
 
 
By:
/s/ Russell C. Ellwanger  
   
Russell C. Ellwanger
 
   
Director and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
 
Signature
Title
Date
 
*                      
Amir Elstein
 
 
Chairman of the Board
 
 February 3, 2011
 
/s/Russell Ellwanger
Russell C. Ellwanger
 
Director and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 February 3, 2011
   
/s/Oren Shirazi
Oren Shirazi
 
Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
 February 3, 2011
 
_________
Nir Gilad   
 
 
Director
 
 
 February ___, 2011
 
 
 
 
II - 7

 
 
 
 
*                      
Ron Moskovitz
 
 
 
Director
 
 
 February 3, 2011
 
___________
Rami Guzman 
 
 
Director
 
 February___, 2011
 
*                      
Alex Kornhauser
 
Director
 
 February 3, 2011
 
*                      
Ilan Flato 
 
 
Director
 
 February 3, 2011
 
______________
Kalman Kaufman
 
 
Director
 
 February___, 2011
 
*                      
Dana Gross 
 
 
Director
 
 
 February 3, 2011
 
 
*By: /s/ Russell C. Ellwanger
Russell C. Ellwanger
Attorney- in- Fact
   
 February 3, 2011
 
 
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
 
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR USA, INC.
 
By:      /s/Russell C. Ellwanger
           Russell C. Ellwanger
           Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 February 3, 2011
 
 
II - 8

 
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description of Document
5.1
Opinion of Yigal Arnon & Co.
23.1
Consent of Yigal Arnon & Co. (contained in their opinion constituting Exhibit 5.1)
 
II - 9