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Latest Updates / High Tech
January 3, 2016
Finally, Crowdfunding comes to Israel
The social phenomena of crowdfunding, adopted by high-tech startups as an alternative means to raise funds, was previously limited in Israel by Israel’s Securities Law. Section 15 of the law dictates that any offer or sale of shares to the public (i.e. to more than 35 potential investors) requires the issuance of a prospectus approved by the Securities Authority; a timely and costly endeavor, rendering crowdfunding prohibitive in Israel.
December 14, 2015
Israeli private and public companies may submit documents to the Companies’ registrar in English
In an article published in The Lawyer and Lexology, Adv. Ariella Dreyfuss and Adv. Asaf Shalev explain that a new draft bill, published at the beginning of the month, proposes that Israeli private and public companies should be able to submit documents to the Israeli Companies Registrar in English. The aim of the bill is to ease the process for foreign parties interested in investing in Israeli business and participating in Israel’s high tech story.
December 13, 2015
The Israeli Registrar of Companies now in English - Increasing Certainty
The State of Israel has two official languages – Hebrew and Arabic. As a result, in recent years the Israeli Companies Registrar has held that all documents submitted to the Registrar have to be submitted in either of these official languages. If a document was submitted in English it would be rejected. Such documents include the constitutional documents – the articles of association of Israeli companies and debentures creating pledges over the assets of such companies.
December 9, 2015
Technology, Media & Telecommunications 2015 round table
Micky Barnea was one of nine experts from around the world who participated in the "Corporate Livewire" virtual round table. The subject of the event was Technology, Media Telecommunications 2015.
Micky discussed recent regulatory changes, key trends and Intellectual Property in the Media Industry.
November 8, 2015
New law Memorandum: New tax incentives for public high-tech companies and investors
In order to promote the technology and biomedical industries and to restore the Israeli stock exchange to its position as an efficient and attractive arena for capital raising to companies, an ad hoc committee was formed to analyze feasible tax incentives.
October 29, 2015
EU Court invalidates Safe Harbor Arrangement – repercussions for Israel
Recently, an official announcement was issued on behalf of the Law, Information and Technology Authority of the Israeli Ministry of Justice ("ILITA"), as a result of the ruling of the European Union’s Court of Justice invalidating the Safe Harbor Arrangement governing transfers of personal information from Europe to the United States – at this stage, the transfer of personal information from Israel to organizations in the United States on the basis of that arrangement is prohibited.
October 6, 2015
The new R & D Law in Israel
On July 29, 2015 the Knesset passed an Amendment to the Encouragement of RD in the Industry Law.
Micky Barnea, who specializes in advising companies of all sizes and from all industries: venture capital funds, entrepreneurs, and Israeli and international investors in technology and life sciences, refers in "Globes" on the benefits of the new R D Law.
October 6, 2015
Barnea & Co. represented Bruker Nano
Barnea represented Bruker Nano, an American company, traded on Nasdaq, in its acquisition of Jordan Valley Semiconductors for $53m.
The acquisition uniquely positions Bruker to offer unmatched solutions for advanced problems in nanotechnology research and semiconductor metrology.
Adv. Simon Jaffa and Adv. Daniel Lorber represented the client.
September 8, 2015
"Lishtot" wins StartUp Open Israel competition
The winner of the "Start up Open" competition is "Lishtot" an Israeli startup which has developed technology that indicates in 2 seconds if water is polluted, thereby reducing the risks of drinking polluted water. The event was held at Hansen House in Jerusalem.
Barnea was involved with the competition from inception for the second year, together with the Jerusalem Development Authority, JNext, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Prime Minister's Office, MIT Enterprise Forum of Israel and others.
August 17, 2015
New R&D Law – More Flexibility in Supporting Technological Innovation
On July 29, 2015 the Knesset passed the 7th Amendment to the Encouragement of Research and Development in the Industry Law. The purpose of the amendment is to allow the State of Israel to effectively and efficiently continue its support of the various companies which promote technological innovation and address the current challenges this industry faces in light of the importance of the high tech industry to the Israeli economy.
July 12, 2015
How to sprinkle star dust of the high-tech industry on the TASE?
The Israeli corporate governance rules discourage technology companies from listing on the TASE. However, with some simple steps this all can be changed. Israel's position as the Startup Nation is reflected in the fact that multiple local technology companies are listed on the US and London Stock Exchanges. However, the TASE has never managed to make itself an attractive target for Israeli high-tech companies. Thus, while many technology companies today prefer the purchase option of an initial public offering, such companies seeking to issue shares do not regard the TASE as an attractive or even relevant option. They prefer to turn to international exchanges.
June 3, 2015
StartUp Open Israel is underway
Global Entrepreneurship Network Israel, Barnea Co Law firm, The Jerusalem Development Authority, JNext, The Jerusalem Municipality, The MIT Enterprise Forum - Israel, Israel advanced technology industries, Made In Jerusalem and more leading hi-tech entities have organized for the 2nd time a competition for early stage startups.
The Israeli Company which wins StartUp Open will receive a package of services worth thousands of shekels and will automatically be entered into the list of the World's Top 50 Most Promising Startups, also known as the GEW50.
Registration for StartUp Open Israel 2015 will be open until July 13th , 2015. After a thorough process of judging, the final round of the StartUp Open competition in Israel will be held at Jerusalem on September 7th, 2015 in front of an audience consisting of entrepreneurs, managers, investors, researchers, and government representatives.
May 21, 2015
Barnea & Co. hosted a delegation from Peru
As part of our collaboration with Startau, Tel Aviv University's Entrepreneurship Center, our firm hosted today a student delegation from Peru. The event included lectures by Adv. Micky Barnea, managing partner and by Lior Weizman, Eco System development Manager Cloud, Start ups and Academia, From IBM.
May 14, 2015
Is the online financial trading industry part of Israeli high-tech?
Micky Barnea, Managing Partner and Head of the Technology department published an article in the IVC annual high-tech book. In the article, Micky asserts that although online financial trading is focused on financial tools, the ability to innovate is a key ingredient in the success of online financial trading companies. As such, they should be treated as high-tech companies.
May 7, 2015
Top FX figures meet venture capital firms in Tel Aviv: Is the age of funding here?
Senior industry figures from a host of FX companies met top venture capital investors in Tel Aviv, Israel today at the conference hosted by Barnea and the IVC. To read more, please click here
April 30, 2015
Joint interview – Micky Barnea and IVC CEO - Mr Koby Simana
Micky Barnea, managing partner of Barnea, and Koby Simana, CEO of IVC Online, in a joint interview focused on the area of financial trading platforms. In the interview Micky discusses the effects of the new Israeli regulations pertaining to the activities of trading platforms. These regulations will come into effect on May 26, 2015.
March 15, 2015
Barnea & Co. represented Athena SCS Limited
Barnea represented Athena SCS Limited, a UK based company, and its shareholders in the sale of the company to NXP Semiconductors NV, a Nasdaq listed company. Athena is an independent UK-based developer of state-of-the art smart card solutions for access, enterprise, eGovernment, transportation, payment and mobile solutions.
February 17, 2015
A hi tech attraction/ Israel special report
Despite the conflict in Gaza, 2014 was an extremely busy year for Israeli Hitech MA transactions. Several partners at leading law firms, including Simon Jaffa, were interviewed by "The Lawyer" to review last year’s results and discuss the technology market.
January 4, 2015
The Threats to the Foreign R&D Centers in Startup Nation
There is no doubt that Israel has a thriving high-tech industry. Israel has developed a high-tech eco-system that encompasses companies at various stages of development. It has also built up an extensive community of investors and development centers of international companies. The high-tech industry in the start-up nation has attracted and is attracting corporate giants from around the world to operate their development centers in Israel. This is done via the acquisition of Israeli companies or as part of a business strategy of creating a presence in Israel.
December 9, 2014
Israel’s 2nd Foreign Law Firms Conference
As an expert in the technology field, Micky Barnea was invited to lead the high-tech panel at the Israel’s 2nd Foreign Law Firms Conference. The panel: Start-Up Nation Vs. Exit Nation will deal with the effect of startup nation on the Israeli legal scene, the current trends in high-tech exit transactions, IPO's and the interface between Israeli and foreign law firms in high-tech legal work.