Amendment No. 1 to Form F-4
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 2003

Registration No. 333-110820


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


Amendment No. 1

to

FORM F-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter and translation of registrant’s name into English)

Israel   2834   N/A

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

5 Basel Street

P.O. Box 3190

Petach Tikva 49131

Israel

972-3-926-7267

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants’ principal executive offices)

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

1090 Horsham Road

North Wales, Pennsylvania 19454-1090

Attention: William A. Fletcher

(215) 591-3000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

With copies to:

Peter H. Jakes

Jeffrey S. Hochman

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019-6099

(212) 728-8000

 

Thomas E. Sparks, Jr.

Kenneth E. Adelsberg

Pillsbury Winthrop LLP

50 Fremont Street

San Francisco, California 94105-2228

(415) 983-1000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:    As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective and all other conditions to the merger described in this proxy statement/prospectus are satisfied or waived.

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) 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.  ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) 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.  ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

   Amount to be
Registered
   Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Unit (1)
   Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price
   Amount of
Registration Fee (2)

Ordinary Shares, par value NIS 0.10 each, of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

   N/A    N/A    $ 1,387,177,719    $ 112,223

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee and computed pursuant to Rules 457(f)(1) and 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the market value of the SICOR common stock to be exchanged in the merger, as the product of (1) $26.56, the average of the high and low sale prices of SICOR common stock on The NASDAQ National Market on November 24, 2003, and (2) the maximum possible number of shares of SICOR common stock to be canceled pursuant to the merger (calculated as 126,306,601, which is the sum of (a) 119,243,976 outstanding shares of SICOR common stock and (b) 7,062,625 shares of SICOR common stock issuable upon the exercise of employee and director options). Pursuant to Rule 457(f) of the Securities Act, the anticipated $1,967,525,604 of cash consideration to be paid by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited to the holders of SICOR common stock in the merger has been deducted from the value of the SICOR common stock to be exchanged in the merger.
(2) Previously paid.

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 this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.



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Information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This proxy statement/prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under securities laws of such state.

 

Subject to completion, dated December 12, 2003

LOGO

19 Hughes

Irvine, California 92618

(949) 455-4700

 

Dear Stockholder:

December 12, 2003

 

You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of stockholders of SICOR Inc., to be held at 11:00 a.m., local time, on Friday, January 16, 2004, at SICOR’s principal executive offices, located at 19 Hughes, Irvine, California 92618. Enclosed are a Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders, a proxy statement/prospectus and a proxy relating to the SICOR special meeting.

 

At the special meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon a proposal described in the proxy statement/prospectus to approve and adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 31, 2003, as amended, by and among SICOR, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited and Silicon Acquisition Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva, pursuant to which Silicon Acquisition Sub will merge with and into SICOR and SICOR will survive the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva. At the time the merger becomes effective, each share of SICOR common stock will be converted into the right to receive $16.50 in cash and 0.1906 Teva ordinary shares, which will trade in the United States in the form of American Depositary Shares, evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs. The Teva ADRs are quoted on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “TEVA.” The implied merger consideration of $27.50 per share, based on the closing price of Teva ADRs on October 30, 2003, represented a premium of approximately 32.3% over the closing price of SICOR common stock on October 21, 2003, the day before the initial news media reports regarding a possible transaction between SICOR and Teva and 35.3% over the average closing price of SICOR common stock for the 30 previous trading days ending on October 21, 2003. On December 11, 2003, the closing price for Teva ADRs was $58.59.

 

The board of directors of SICOR has unanimously determined the merger to be advisable and fair to and in the best interest of SICOR and its stockholders and approved the merger agreement. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AT THE SPECIAL MEETING.

 

Under Delaware law, if the merger is completed, SICOR stockholders of record who do not vote in favor of the merger will be entitled to exercise appraisal rights and obtain payment for the judicially determined fair value of their shares of SICOR common stock by following the specified procedures.

 

Detailed information concerning the proposed merger is set forth in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, which you are urged to read carefully and in its entirety. In particular, you should consider the “ Risk Factors” beginning on page 23.

 

After reading the proxy statement/prospectus, please return your proxy, by completing, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy in the prepaid envelope or by submitting your proxy by telephone or by the Internet, to ensure that your shares will be represented. YOUR SHARES CANNOT BE VOTED UNLESS YOU SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY OR ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING IN PERSON. If you have questions or requests for assistance in completing and submitting proxy cards, please contact D.F. King & Co., Inc. at toll-free 1-800-290-6429.

 

Sincerely yours,

LOGO

Marvin Samson

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved the ADRs to be issued by Teva under this proxy statement/prospectus or passed on the adequacy or accuracy of this proxy statement/prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus is dated December 12, 2003, and is being first mailed to stockholders on or about December 12, 2003.


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SICOR Inc.

 


 

Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders

to be held January 16, 2004

 


 

A special meeting of Stockholders of SICOR Inc. will be held at 11:00 a.m., local time, on Friday, January 16, 2004, at SICOR’s principal executive offices, located at 19 Hughes, Irvine, California 92618, and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

At the meeting you will be asked to:

 

  1. consider and vote upon the approval and adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 31, 2003, as amended, by and among SICOR Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited and Silicon Acquisition Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva, pursuant to which Silicon Acquisition Sub will merge with and into SICOR and SICOR will survive the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva; and

 

  2. act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

 

The accompanying proxy statement/prospectus describes the merger agreement and the proposed merger in detail.

 

SICOR’s board of directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote “FOR” the approval and adoption of the merger agreement.

 

The board of directors has set the close of business on December 9, 2003, as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

Under Delaware law, stockholders of record who do not vote in favor of the merger are entitled to appraisal rights if the merger is completed. If you exercise appraisal rights and follow the specified procedures set forth in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, you can receive the judicially determined fair value of your shares of SICOR common stock rather than the merger consideration to be paid under the merger agreement.

 

We will admit to the special meeting:

 

  all stockholders of record at the close of business on December 9, 2003;

 

  persons holding proof of beneficial ownership as of the record date, such as a letter or account statement from the person’s broker;

 

  persons who have been granted proxies; and

 

  such other persons that we, in our sole discretion, may elect to admit.

 

All persons wishing to be admitted must present photo identification. If you plan to attend the special meeting, please check the appropriate box on your proxy card or register your intention when voting by using the telephone or voting on the Internet, according to the instructions provided.

 

By order of the board of directors,

LOGO

Wesley N. Fach

Secretary

 

December 12, 2003

 

Your vote is important. Please return your proxy as soon as possible, whether or not you expect to attend the special meeting in person.

 

You may submit your proxy by telephone or by the Internet by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy or voting form or by completing, dating and signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage prepaid envelope. You may revoke your proxy at any time before the special meeting. If you attend the special meeting and vote in person, your proxy vote will not be used.

 

Please do not send your common stock certificates at this time. If the merger is consummated, you will be sent instructions regarding the surrender of your certificates.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER

   1

SUMMARY

   4

SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF TEVA

   12

SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF SICOR

   15

SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL DATA

   17

COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA

   20

STOCK PRICES AND DIVIDEND POLICY

   21

Teva Ordinary Shares

   21

Teva ADRs

   21

SICOR Common Stock

   21

Teva Dividend Policy

   22

RISK FACTORS

   23

SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   27

THE SPECIAL MEETING

   29

Date; Time and Place

   29

Purpose of the Special Meeting

   29

Record Date and Voting Power

   29

Required Vote and Quorum

   29

Abstentions and Nonvotes

   29

How to Vote

   30

Revocation of Proxy

   30

Expenses of Solicitation

   30

Miscellaneous

   31

THE MERGER

   32

General

   32

Background of the Merger

   32

Recommendation of the SICOR Board; Reasons for the Merger

   38

Opinion of Bear Stearns

   41

Teva’s Reasons for the Merger

   48

Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger

   49

Manner and Procedure for Exchanging Shares of SICOR Common Stock; No Fractional ADRs

   50

 

     Page

Governmental and Regulatory Approvals

   51

Merger Expenses, Fees and Costs

   51

Accounting Treatment

   52

Form of the Merger

   52

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger

   52

Federal Securities Laws—Resale Restrictions

   53

Trading Markets

   53

Appraisal Rights

   53

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

   57

Form of the Merger

   57

Merger Consideration

   57

Closing

   57

Effective Time

   57

Treatment of SICOR Stock Options

   57

Representations and Warranties

   58

Covenants and Agreements

   60

Conditions to the Merger

   64

Termination

   66

Effect of Termination

   67

Termination and Other Fees

   67

Amendment

   67

Stockholders Agreement

   67

DESCRIPTION OF TEVA ORDINARY SHARES

   69

Description of Teva Ordinary Shares

   69

Meetings of Stockholders

   69

Right of Non-Israeli Stockholders to Vote

   70

Change of Control

   70

DESCRIPTION OF TEVA AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

   71

American Depositary Receipts

   71

Deposit and Withdrawal of Ordinary Shares

   71

Dividends, Other Distributions and Rights

   72

Record Dates

   73

Reports and Other Communications

   73

Voting of the Underlying Ordinary Shares

   74

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

   74

Charges of Depositary

   75

Liability of Holders for Taxes, Duties or Other Charges

   75


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     Page

Transfer of American Depositary Receipts

   75

General

   76

COMPARATIVE RIGHTS OF TEVA AND SICOR STOCKHOLDERS

   77

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND ISRAELI TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF TEVA ADRs

   90

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

   90

Israeli Tax Considerations

   91

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   94

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING

   102

EXPERTS

   102

LEGAL MATTERS

   102

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

   102

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   103

Annexes

    

Annex A — Agreement and Plan of Merger

    

Annex B — Opinion of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

    

Annex C — Section 262 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

    

 

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER

 

Q1: What is the proposed transaction for which I am being asked to vote?

 

A1: You are being asked to vote to approve and adopt a merger agreement entered into among Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, SICOR Inc. and Silicon Acquisition Sub. Inc., a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Teva. In the merger, Silicon Acquisition Sub will be merged with and into SICOR. After the merger, SICOR will be the surviving corporation and will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva.

 

Q2: What do I receive in the merger ?

 

A2: In the merger, each share of your SICOR common stock will be exchanged for:

 

  0.1906 ordinary shares of Teva, which will trade in the United States in the form of American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs; and

 

  $16.50 in cash, without interest.

 

Based upon the closing price of Teva’s ADRs on the NASDAQ National Market on October 30, 2003, the date prior to the announcement of the transaction, the combined consideration for each outstanding share of SICOR common stock amounts to $27.50. On December 11, 2003, the most recent practicable date before the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus, the closing price on NASDAQ for Teva ADRs was $58.59. We urge you to obtain a current market quotation.

 

Q3: What vote is required for approval?

 

A3: The merger agreement must be approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of SICOR common stock. Therefore, if you abstain or fail to vote, it will have the same effect as voting against the merger agreement. You are entitled to vote on the merger agreement if you held SICOR common stock at the close of business on the record date, which is December 9, 2003. On that date, 119,700,267 shares of SICOR common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote.

 

Q4: How does the SICOR board of directors recommend that I vote my shares?

 

A4: After careful consideration, SICOR’s board of directors has unanimously determined that the merger is advisable and fair and in the best interests of SICOR and its stockholders and approved the merger agreement and the merger. Accordingly, SICOR’s board of directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposal to approve and adopt the merger agreement and approve the merger.

 

Q5: What are the United States federal income tax consequences of the merger for me?

 

A5: After the merger you will be treated as having sold or exchanged your SICOR common stock for cash and Teva ADRs. In general, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the merger consideration you receive and your aggregate adjusted tax basis in your SICOR common stock.

 

Q6: What will happen to SICOR’s outstanding options in the merger?

 

A6: SICOR’s outstanding options will be assumed by Teva in the merger. Each option so assumed will thereafter represent an option to purchase a number of Teva ADRs equal to the number of shares of SICOR common stock subject to the option immediately prior to the merger (whether or not vested) multiplied by the option exchange ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole Teva ADR. The option exchange ratio is equal to:

 

  the number of Teva ADRs that the holder of the SICOR option would have been entitled to receive pursuant to the merger if the holder had exercised its option in full immediately prior to the merger, plus

 

  the number of Teva ADRs, determined by dividing

 

   

the amount of cash that the holder of the SICOR option would have been entitled to receive pursuant to the merger if the

 

 

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holder had exercised its SICOR option in full immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by

 

    the closing price of the Teva ADRs on the business day immediately prior to the effective time of the merger as reported by the NASDAQ.

 

The exercise price per Teva ADR is equal to:

 

    the aggregate exercise price for the shares of SICOR common stock which otherwise could have been purchased pursuant to the SICOR option immediately prior to the effective time of the merger divided by

 

    the aggregate number of Teva ADRs deemed to be purchasable pursuant to the assumed SICOR option.

 

 

Other than with respect to the number of shares subject to the option and the exercise price, which will be adjusted as described above, the assumed options will continue to have the same terms and conditions (including option periods) under the plans from which they were granted as they had prior to their assumption. By virtue of the merger, each assumed SICOR option will become fully vested and exercisable.

 

Q7: When do you expect the merger to be completed?

 

A7: We expect to complete the merger promptly after we receive SICOR stockholder approval at the special meeting and after we receive all necessary regulatory approvals. We currently anticipate closing in the first quarter of 2004.

 

Q8: If my shares are held in “street name” by my broker, will my broker vote my shares for me?

 

A8: You should instruct your broker to vote your shares, following the directions your broker provides. If you do not instruct your broker, your broker will generally not have the discretion to vote your shares without your instructions. Because the proposals in this proxy statement/prospectus require an affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of SICOR common stock for approval, these so-called “broker non-votes” will have the same effect as votes cast against the merger agreement.

 

Q9: What do I need to do now?

 

A9: After carefully reading and considering the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, please fill out and sign the proxy card, and then mail your signed proxy card in the enclosed prepaid envelope or submit your proxy by telephone or by the Internet as soon as possible so that your shares may be voted at the special meeting. Your proxy card will instruct the persons named on the card to vote your shares at the stockholders meeting as you direct on the card. If you sign and send in your proxy card and do not indicate how you want to vote, your proxy will be voted “FOR” the adoption and approval of the merger agreement. If you do not vote or if you abstain, it will have the same effect as a vote against the merger agreement. YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

 

Q10: May I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy card?

 

A10: You may change your vote at any time before your proxy is voted at the special meeting. You can do this in one of four ways. First, you can send a written notice stating that you want to revoke your proxy. Second, you can complete and submit a new proxy card. If you choose either of these two methods, you must submit your notice of revocation or your new proxy card to:

 

Wesley N. Fach

Secretary

SICOR Inc.

19 Hughes

Irvine, California 92618

 

Third, you can submit a proxy by telephone or the Internet at a later time following instructions on the enclosed proxy card.

 

 

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Fourth, you can attend the SICOR special meeting and vote in person. Simply attending the meeting, however, will not revoke your proxy; you must vote at the meeting.

 

If you have instructed a broker to vote your shares, you must follow directions received from your broker to change your vote.

 

Q11: Am I entitled to appraisal rights?

 

A11: Yes. Under Delaware law, because a portion of the merger consideration is being paid in cash, SICOR stockholders may exercise appraisal rights in connection with the merger. The provisions of Delaware law governing appraisal rights are complex, and you should study them carefully if you wish to exercise appraisal rights. A stockholder may take actions that prevent that stockholder from successfully asserting these rights, and multiple steps must be taken to properly exercise and perfect the rights. A copy of Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex C. You should carefully review the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 53 of this proxy statement/prospectus for information regarding the actions that you must take in order to exercise appraisal rights.

 

Q12: Should I send in my stock certificates now?

 

A12: No. After the merger is completed, you will receive written instructions for exchanging your stock certificates.

 

Q13: Are there any risks related to the proposed transaction or any risks related to owning Teva ADRs?

 

A13: Yes. You should carefully review the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 23 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

Q14: Who can help answer my questions?

 

A14: If you have any questions about the merger or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy, you should contact:

 

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street

New York, NY 1005

1-800-290-6429

 

 

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SUMMARY

 

This summary is not intended to be complete and is qualified in all respects by the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. Stockholders are urged to review carefully the entire proxy statement/prospectus and the other information incorporated by reference.

 

You will receive 0.1906 Teva ADRs and $16.50 in cash in the merger for each share of SICOR common stock (page 57).

 

In the merger, each share of your SICOR common stock will be exchanged for

 

  0.1906 ordinary shares of Teva which will trade in the United States in the form of American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs; and

 

  $16.50 in cash, without interest.

 

Based upon the closing price of Teva ADRs on the NASDAQ National Market, which we refer to as NASDAQ, on October 30, 2003, the last trading day before the announcement of the transaction, the combined consideration for each outstanding share of SICOR common stock amounts to $27.50, or a total purchase price of approximately $3.4 billion. As a result of the transaction, SICOR’s stockholders will own approximately 7% of Teva on a fully diluted basis. The cash portion of the consideration will be funded by Teva through available cash and cash equivalents and third party financing, which may include committed credit facilities.

 

You will not receive any fractional Teva ADRs in the merger. Instead of any fractional ADRs, a cash payment will be made to you, representing the value of the aggregate fractional Teva ADRs that you otherwise would be entitled to receive.

 

Comparative market prices and share information (page 21).

 

Teva ordinary shares have been listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange since 1951. Teva ADRs are admitted to trading on NASDAQ under the symbol “TEVA.” Teva is part of the NASDAQ 100 Index. Each ADR represents one Teva ordinary share. SICOR’s common stock is listed and traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “SCRI.”

 

On October 21, 2003, the last trading day prior to reports in the news media regarding a possible transaction, the last sales price of Teva ADRs was $57.54 per ADR and the last sales price of SICOR common stock was $20.79 per share. On October 30, 2003, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the execution of the merger agreement, the last sales price of Teva ADRs was $57.71 per ADR and the last sales price of SICOR common stock was $24.97 per share.

 

On December 11, 2003, the most recent practicable trading day prior to the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus, the last sales price of Teva ADRs was $58.59 per ADR and the last sales price of SICOR common stock was $27.34 per share. We urge you to obtain current market quotations.

 

The merger will be a taxable transaction to the holders of SICOR common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes (page 52).

 

As a result of the merger, you will be treated as having sold or exchanged your shares of SICOR common stock for cash and Teva ADRs. In general, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between (a) the sum of the cash and the fair market value of the Teva ADRs you receive pursuant to the merger and (b) your aggregate adjusted tax basis in your shares of SICOR common stock.

 

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The SICOR board recommends that you vote “FOR” the merger (page 38).

 

On October 31, 2003, the SICOR board of directors unanimously:

 

  determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are advisable and are fair to and in the best interests of SICOR and its stockholders;

 

  approved the merger agreement; and

 

  resolved to recommend that its stockholders vote in favor of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

The SICOR board of directors recommends a vote “FOR” approval and adoption of the merger agreement and approval of the merger.

 

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. rendered an opinion, dated October 31, 2003, that the merger consideration is fair from a financial point of view to SICOR stockholders (page 41).

 

In deciding to approve the merger, the SICOR board of directors received an opinion from Bear Stearns that, as of the date of the opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in the opinion, the merger consideration of 0.1906 Teva ADRs and $16.50 in cash per share of SICOR common stock, with an aggregate implied value of $27.50 per share of SICOR common stock as of such date, is fair from a financial point of view to the SICOR stockholders. A copy of the fairness opinion is attached as Annex B to this proxy statement/prospectus. SICOR stockholders should read the opinion carefully and in its entirety.

 

Certain stockholders of SICOR have entered into a stockholders agreement (page 67).

 

Mr. Carlo Salvi, the vice chairman of SICOR, and certain of his affiliates are parties to a stockholders agreement, in which they have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the merger agreement and the merger at the special meeting. As of the record date, the parties to the stockholders agreement held 22,335,708 shares of SICOR common stock representing approximately 18.7% of the voting power of SICOR common stock.

 

There are differences between the rights of Teva stockholders and SICOR stockholders (page 77).

 

After the merger, SICOR stockholders will become Teva stockholders and their rights as stockholders will be governed by the memorandum and the articles of association of Teva, as well as the Israeli Companies Law. There are differences between Teva’s and SICOR’s governing documents as well as between the applicable governing laws. As a result, a SICOR stockholder will have different rights as a Teva stockholder than as a SICOR stockholder. The main differences have been summarized in this proxy statement/prospectus under “Comparative Rights of Teva and SICOR Stockholders.”

 

Dissenting SICOR stockholders will have appraisal rights (page 53).

 

Under Delaware law, SICOR stockholders of record who do not vote in favor of the merger will be entitled to exercise appraisal rights and obtain payment for the judicially determined fair value of their shares of SICOR common stock if the merger is completed. A discussion of these appraisal rights is included in this proxy statement/prospectus beginning on page 53 and the relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware are included as Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

The interests of some SICOR officers and directors in the merger may differ from yours (page 49).

 

When considering the recommendation by the SICOR board of directors to vote “FOR” the merger agreement, you should be aware that selected executive officers and members of the board of directors of SICOR

 

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have certain interests in the merger agreement and the merger that are different from, and may conflict with, your interests as a stockholder. The board of directors of SICOR was aware of and considered these interests when it considered and approved the merger agreement and the merger.

 

Existing employment and severance agreements with certain officers of SICOR provide for benefits upon a “change in control,” including severance payments due if the officer’s employment is terminated within a certain amount of time following the consummation of the merger. In addition, all outstanding options, including those held by officers and directors, will immediately vest in full upon consummation of the merger.

 

Following the merger, Carlo Salvi is expected to serve as a member of Teva’s board of directors. Teva has agreed to continue certain indemnity agreements of certain existing and former directors, officers and employees of SICOR. These agreements were amended and restated prior to the merger agreement to clarify that there is a presumption that the indemnified parties are entitled to indemnification and that the indemnified parties as a group are entitled to at least one counsel of their choosing. Finally, for six years following the merger, Teva will maintain the indemnification provisions for officers and directors contained in SICOR’s charter documents.

 

On the record date, which is December 9, 2003, the directors and executive officers of SICOR, and their affiliates, beneficially owned 22,826,902 shares of SICOR common stock which represented approximately 19.1% of the outstanding shares of SICOR common stock as of the record date. As of the record date, the parties to the stockholders agreement held a combined 22,335,708 shares of SICOR common stock representing approximately 18.7% of the voting power of SICOR common stock.

 

A variety of governmental approvals must be obtained prior to the consummation of the merger (page 51).

 

U.S. Antitrust Filing. Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, which we refer to as the HSR Act, the merger may not be consummated unless the requisite waiting period has expired or been terminated. On December 1, 2003, each of SICOR and Teva filed a pre-merger notification and report form pursuant to the HSR Act with the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, which we refer to as the Justice Department, and the Federal Trade Commission, which we refer to as the FTC. In the absence of the grant of early termination, a voluntary withdrawal and resubmission of the filing or the issuance by the Justice Department or FTC of a request for additional information or documentary material, the waiting period under the HSR Act will expire at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2003. Following discussions with the staff of the FTC, Teva has committed, in light of the upcoming holiday season, to voluntarily withdraw and resubmit its filing if necessary. Even if the waiting period expires, the Justice Department, the FTC or other regulatory authorities could take action under the antitrust laws with respect to the merger, including seeking to enjoin the consummation of the merger, to rescind the merger, or to require the divestiture of certain assets of SICOR or Teva.

 

Foreign Antitrust Filings. Pursuant to the German Act against Restraints of Competition, the merger may not be consummated unless it has been cleared by the German Federal Cartel Office or the applicable waiting periods have expired. The parties submitted their joint notification on December 12, 2003. The German Federal Cartel Office must notify the parties within one month from receipt of the notification if it intends to initiate an examination of the merger. Pursuant to the Mexican Antitrust Law, the Mexican Federal Competition Commission must be notified in advance of the merger. The parties submitted their joint notification on December 5, 2003. The Mexican Competition Commission has 45 days from the date of notification within which to object to the transaction. This period may be extended for an additional 60 days in complex cases. Pursuant to the Brazilian Antitrust Law, the Brazilian Administrative Council for Economic Defense must be notified within 15 business days of executing the merger agreement. The parties submitted their joint notification on November 21, 2003.

 

These U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities may challenge the merger on antitrust grounds and, if such a challenge is made, they may succeed in enjoining the merger as presently contemplated.

 

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The obligations of Teva and SICOR to close the merger are subject to a number of conditions (page 64).

 

The obligations of Teva and SICOR to complete the merger are conditioned upon:

 

  the other party’s representations and warranties being true and correct, except for failures that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on that party;

 

  the other party having complied in all material respects with its material obligations under the merger agreement; and

 

  the absence of any material adverse effect on the other party’s financial condition, business, assets or results of operations taken as a whole.

 

In addition, Teva’s and SICOR’s obligations are further conditioned on the following:

 

  the approval of the merger and the merger agreement by SICOR’s stockholders;

 

  the absence of any law, regulation, judgment, injunction or other order permanently prohibiting consummation of the merger or the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;

 

  the waiting period applicable to the merger under the HSR Act having expired or terminated;

 

  receipt of all required statutory approvals of the Mexican, German and Brazilian merger control authorities, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and the National Association of Securities Dealers; and

 

  the registration statement, of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, having been declared effective and no stop order having been issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as SEC, and all Israeli authorizations necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement having been obtained.

 

The obligation of SICOR to effect the merger is further subject to the fulfillment or waiver by SICOR of the following additional condition:

 

  the Teva ADSs to be issued in connection with the merger and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the assumed SICOR options having been approved for quotation on NASDAQ.

 

Under certain circumstances Teva and SICOR may terminate the merger agreement (page 66).

 

The merger agreement may be terminated and the merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the completion of the merger by mutual written consent of Teva and SICOR. The merger agreement also may be terminated by either Teva or SICOR:

 

  if the merger is not completed by April 30, 2004 (subject to an extension for six months if the delay is due to the failure to obtain regulatory approvals);

 

  if the stockholders of SICOR fail to approve the merger and the merger agreement at the special meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof; or

 

  if any governmental authority permanently restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the merger.

 

Additionally, SICOR may terminate the merger agreement if:

 

 

prior to the special meeting, the board of directors of SICOR determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that a bona fide unsolicited acquisition proposal is a superior proposal. However, SICOR will not take any such action relative to the superior proposal until at least three calendar days following Teva’s receipt of written notice. The notice will state that SICOR

 

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has received a superior proposal and specify the material terms and conditions of the superior proposal. Additionally, SICOR’s board of directors must conclude in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside counsel, that any counterproposal made by Teva is not as favorable (taking into account the termination fee payable under the merger agreement) to SICOR’s stockholders as the superior proposal; or

 

  prior to the effective time of the merger, Teva breaches a material representation, warranty, covenant or agreement such that SICOR’s closing conditions are not satisfied and that breach is either not capable of being cured or has not been cured within twenty days after written notice of such breach is given by SICOR to Teva.

 

If the merger agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, including if SICOR terminates the agreement to enter into an agreement with respect to a third party acquisition proposal and enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates a transaction contemplated by, an acquisition proposal within 12 months of such termination, SICOR must pay Teva a termination fee of $120 million. See “The Merger Agreement—Termination and Other Fees” for a complete discussion of the circumstances in which SICOR would be required to pay Teva’s expenses or the termination fee.

 

Teva may terminate the merger agreement if, at any time prior to the effective time of the merger:

 

  prior to the SICOR special meeting, the board of directors of SICOR determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel that a bona fide unsolicited acquisition proposal is a superior proposal and either adopts an agreement relating to the proposal or recommends the proposal to the SICOR stockholders;

 

  the board of directors of SICOR has withdrawn or materially and adversely modified its adoption of the merger agreement or its recommendation that the stockholders of SICOR approve this agreement;

 

  a tender offer or exchange offer is commenced that, if successful, would result in any third party becoming beneficial owner of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of SICOR common stock and the board of directors of SICOR recommends that the stockholders of SICOR tender their shares in the tender or exchange offer;

 

  SICOR fails to call or hold the special meeting within six months of the date of the merger agreement, unless Teva has breached in any material respect its obligations under the merger agreement in any manner that shall have caused the occurrence of the failure of the special meeting to be called or held; or

 

  SICOR materially breaches a material representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in the merger agreement such that Teva’s closing conditions are not satisfied and that breach is either not capable of being cured or has not been cured within twenty days after written notice of the breach is given by Teva to SICOR.

 

SICOR has agreed not to solicit third party acquisition proposals (page 62).

 

Subject to certain exceptions, the merger agreement precludes SICOR and its subsidiaries or any SICOR officer, director, employee, agent or representative from initiating, soliciting, encouraging or otherwise facilitating, directly or indirectly, any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer, with respect to:

 

  any merger, reorganization, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving SICOR or any of its significant subsidiaries;

 

  any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or purchase of the assets or equity securities of SICOR or any of its subsidiaries, in each case comprising 15% or more in value of SICOR and its subsidiaries; or

 

  any purchase or sale of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, 15% or more of the outstanding shares of SICOR common stock.

 

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Teva ADRs are traded on NASDAQ (page 53).

 

Teva ADRs received by SICOR stockholders in the merger will be traded on NASDAQ. After completion of the merger, the shares of SICOR common stock will no longer be listed or traded.

 

Information about the companies.

 

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

 

Investor Relations

5 Basel Street

P.O. Box 3190

Petach Tikva 49131 Israel

Telephone: 972-3-926-7554

Fax: 972-3-926-7519

E-mail: ir@teva.co.il

 

Teva is a global pharmaceutical company producing drugs in all major treatment categories, including both generic and proprietary pharmaceutical products. Teva is one of the world’s largest global generic drug companies and has a leading position in the U.S. generic market. Generic drugs are therapeutically equivalent versions of brand-name drugs no longer protected by patents, and are generally sold at prices significantly lower than branded products. Teva believes that the large volume of branded products losing patent protection over the next five years and the increased cost containment pressures facing health care providers should lead to continued expansion of the generic pharmaceuticals market. Teva has successfully used its production and research capabilities to establish a global pharmaceutical business focused on the growing demand for generic drugs and on the opportunities for proprietary branded products for specific niche categories.

 

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Teva’s principal subsidiary, is one of the leading generic drug companies in the United States. Teva USA markets approximately 150 generic products representing more than 500 dosage strengths and packaging sizes, which are distributed in the United States.

 

Teva is also participating in the growth and development of the European market for generic products. Through its European subsidiaries, Teva manufactures approximately 300 generic products representing over 1,700 dosage strengths and packaging sizes, which are sold primarily in The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Hungary and France. In June 2002, Teva completed the acquisition of the French generic operations of Bayer Pharma S.A.—Bayer Classics S.A., which was renamed Teva Classics S.A. Teva believes this acquisition enhances its competitive position in the emerging generic pharmaceutical market in France and its position among the leaders in the European generic pharmaceutical market.

 

In order to take advantage of the growth in the generic drug market, Teva also seeks to enter into strategic alliances and joint ventures. Teva currently has a marketing and product development agreement with Biovail Corporation International which provides Teva with exclusive U.S. marketing rights to Biovail’s controlled-release abbreviated new drug application product pipeline of eight generic versions of major branded pharmaceuticals. Teva also has a strategic alliance with IMPAX Laboratories, Inc. for the development and marketing of 12 controlled-release generic products, as well as a strategic alliance with Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. (formerly Bio-Technology General Corp.) for the development and worldwide commercialization of generic equivalents of certain biotechnology products.

 

The potential for future sales growth of Teva’s generic products lies in its pipeline of pending generic product registrations, as well as tentative approvals already granted. As of October 31, 2003, Teva had:

 

  68 product applications, including products developed by Biovail and IMPAX, awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which we refer to as the FDA, including twelve tentative FDA approvals. Collectively, the brand name versions of these products had corresponding U.S. annual sales, as of June 30, 2003, exceeding $55 billion; and

 

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  378 applications pending in Europe for 100 compounds in 213 formulations.

 

In the area of proprietary drugs, Teva uses access to major research institutions in Israel and a combination of its own research and development personnel to develop innovative drug products for selected niche markets. Teva’s efforts have focused on products for central nervous system disorders and autoimmune diseases, primarily the development of Copaxone® for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, which has been sold in the United States since 1997, and the development of rasagiline for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, which has been recently submitted for regulatory approval both to the FDA and the European Agency for Evaluation of Medicinal Products. In addition, Teva has innovative research projects in various clinical stages in the areas of Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, stroke and SLE, or Systemic Lupus Erythermatosus, as well as several projects in the pre-clinical stage, including in the area of cancer.

 

Copaxone® is the first non-interferon agent used in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a debilitating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Teva launched Copaxone® in Israel in December 1996 and in the United States in March 1997. In 1999, Copaxone® became Teva’s single largest product. In the first nine months of 2003, in-market global sales of Copaxone® amounted to $513 million, an increase of 34% from the comparable period in 2002. Copaxone® is reported to have the second largest market share among MS drugs in the United States. The pre-filled syringe, launched in the United States in April 2002, has substantially replaced the original vial presentation of Copaxone®. The ongoing growth in sales of Copaxone® in the United States has been enhanced by the continued penetration of Copaxone® in most European countries, with the most significant being Germany. Copaxone® has been approved for marketing in 42 countries, including the United States, the countries comprising the European Union, Israel, Australia, Canada, Argentina and Brazil.

 

In North America, Teva markets Copaxone® through Teva Neuroscience Inc., Teva’s wholly owned subsidiary, and distributes the product through Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. In Europe, Teva co-promotes Copaxone® with Aventis.

 

In September 2003, following the successful completion of the two phase III clinical trials in March, Teva submitted to the FDA a New Drug Application for rasagiline for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Teva and its strategic partner H. Lundbeck A/S recently submitted the rasagiline regulatory file to the European Agency for Evaluation of Medicinal Products. Teva expects to market rasagiline in Europe with H. Lundbeck A/S, and in the United States with its new strategic partner Eisai Inc.

 

Teva operates 18 finished dosage pharmaceutical plants in North America, Europe and Israel. The plants manufacture solid dosage forms, injectables, liquids and semi-solids. During 2002, Teva’s plants produced approximately 18 billion tablets and capsules.

 

Teva also possesses significant manufacturing operations for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients. As both a supplier and end user of pharmaceutical raw materials, Teva believes that its experience in complying with the stringent requirements of the FDA and proven manufacturing expertise are significant competitive advantages relative to many of its smaller competitors. With a leading global market share in certain major chemicals for generic pharmaceuticals, Teva’s active pharmaceutical ingredients business also facilitates its entry into new drug markets and offers a cost effective source of raw materials for its own pharmaceutical production.

 

Teva is the leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in Israel, where it is incorporated and maintains its headquarters. During the first nine months of 2003, Teva generated approximately 62% of its revenue in North America, 26% in Europe and 12% in the rest of the world, predominately in Israel.

 

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Silicon Acquisition Sub, Inc.

 

1090 Horsham Road

P.O. Box 1090

North Wales, PA 19454-1090

 

Silicon Acquisition Sub Inc., which we refer to as Merger Sub, is a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva. Merger Sub was organized on October 29, 2003 solely for the purpose of effecting the merger with SICOR. It has not carried on any activities other than in connection with the merger agreement.

 

SICOR Inc.

 

19 Hughes

Irvine, California 92618

(949) 455-4700

 

SICOR is a vertically integrated, multinational specialty pharmaceutical company that focuses on generic finished dosage injectable pharmaceuticals, active pharmaceutical ingredients, or APIs, and generic biopharmaceuticals. SICOR operates its business through several subsidiaries, with business units located in the United States, Italy, Mexico, Lithuania, and Switzerland. Manufacturing operations are conducted in eight facilities located in California, Italy, Mexico and Lithuania, with the capability to produce either APIs or finished dosage pharmaceuticals, including facilities that are specifically dedicated to the production of biopharmaceuticals, oncolytics and corticosteroids.

 

SICOR’s finished dosage injectable pharmaceutical products are primarily used in hospitals and clinics for critical care/anesthesiology and oncology, and are marketed through its own sales force and its marketing partners, as well as through relationships with hospital group purchasing organizations, managed care groups and other large healthcare purchasing organizations. The Irvine facility, SICOR’s largest and most diverse finished dosage facility, provides SICOR with the capability to formulate, fill, label and package finished dosage forms of injectable pharmaceutical products. Finished dosage injectable pharmaceuticals produced in the Irvine facility are principally sold in the United States. SICOR also operates a contract manufacturing business focused on manufacturing finished dosage injectable products for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies at its Irvine facility. SICOR’s Mexican pharmaceutical operation produces drugs in finished dosage form, including injectable oncolytic agents and critical care products. These products are sold in Mexico and exported to countries in Central and South America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

 

SICOR manufactures APIs for use in its own finished dosage manufacturing facilities, and for sale to other pharmaceutical companies located primarily in North America, the European Union and Asia for use in finished dosage pharmaceutical products, including anti-inflammatories, oncolytics, immunosuppressants, muscle relaxants and custom manufactured APIs for a variety of proprietary drug manufacturers. The majority of SICOR’s API production is carried out at two manufacturing sites in Italy. SICOR-Società Italiana Corticosteroidi S.p.A., a wholly owned subsidiary, is a major producer of oncolytic agents, steroids and certain other products in bulk drug form, which are manufactured through fermentation or chemical synthesis processes. SICOR’s Mexican API operation is located in Toluca, near Mexico City, and produces principally steroid products for export to various countries.

 

SICOR’s biopharmaceutical operations provide a platform for manufacturing and marketing biopharmaceutical products. SICOR Biotech U.A.B., a wholly owned subsidiary located in Lithuania, develops and manufactures generic recombinant protein products that are sold through agents and distributors in Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Korea, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Moldova. SICOR’s facilities in Lithuania offer bacterial fermentation and cell culture capabilities, including the production of proteins by biosynthesis in bacteria, yeast and mammalian cells, as well as research and development laboratories. SICOR’s finished dosage biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Toluca, Mexico became operational in the first quarter of 2002, and was designed to meet the regulatory requirements of the United States and the European Union.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF TEVA

 

The selected financial data for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 and at December 31, 2002 and 2001 are derived from Teva’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.

 

The selected financial data for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 1999 and at December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 are derived from other audited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

The selected unaudited financial data as of and for each of the nine months period ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 are derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. Such financial statements include, in Teva’s opinion, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the unaudited periods. You should not rely on interim results as being indicative of results Teva may expect for the full year.

 

The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations, and you should read the selected historical financial data together with Teva’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included in Teva’s Annual Report on Form 20-F and Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference.

 

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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

 

Operating Data

 

     For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,


    For the Year Ended December 31,

     2003

    2002

    2002

    2001

   2000

    1999

    1998

     (unaudited)                             
     U.S. dollars in millions (except ADR amounts)

Net sales

   $ 2,334.4     $ 1,748.4     $ 2,518.6     $ 2,077.4    $ 1,749.9     $ 1,282.4     $ 1,115.9

Cost of sales

     1,248.5       992.2       1,423.2       1,230.1      1,058.0       767.6       694.8
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Gross profit

     1,085.9       756.2       1,095.4       847.3      691.9       514.8       421.1

Research and development expenses:

                                                     

Total expenses

     166.2       131.3       192.6       168.6      132.3       91.6       75.6

Less participations and grants

     16.5       18.8       27.6       61.4      27.7       9.8       7.5
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Research and development-net

     149.7       112.5       165.0       107.2      104.6       81.8       68.1

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     377.9       297.6       406.4       358.1      301.0       223.2       199.1

Acquisition of research and development in process

     —         —         —         —        35.7       17.7       13.5

Income from GlaxoSmithKline litigation settlement

     100.0       —         —         —        —         —         —  

Restructuring expenses

     7.4       —         —         15.7      —         —         15.0
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Operating income

     650.9       346.1       524.0       366.3      250.6       192.1       125.4

Financial expenses-net

     14.1       18.1       24.6       26.0      42.2       30.1       23.3

Losses from realization of assets and discontinuation of activities

     —         —         —         —        —         —         3.3
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Income before income taxes

     636.8       328.0       499.4       340.3      208.4       162.0       98.8

Income taxes

     131.7       53.9       84.8       63.6      59.6       45.4       28.9
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

       505.1       274.1       414.6       276.7      148.8       116.6       69.9

Share in profits (losses) of associated companies – net

     0.6       0.8       (2.7 )     0.8      0.4       (0.6 )     0.9

Minority interests in (profits) losses of subsidiaries – net

     (1.0 )     (1.1 )     (1.6 )     0.7      (0.8 )     0.8       —  
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Net income

   $ 504.7     $ 273.8     $ 410.3     $ 278.2    $ 148.4     $ 116.8     $ 70.8
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Per ADR Data (1)

                                                     

Earnings per ADR:

                                                     

Basic

   $ 1.90     $ 1.04     $ 1.55     $ 1.05    $ 0.58     $ 0.48     $ 0.29
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Diluted

   $ 1.77     $ 1.02     $ 1.52     $ 1.02    $ 0.57     $ 0.48     $ 0.29
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Dividends declared per ADR (2)

   $ 0.22     $ 0.14     $ 0.20     $ 0.14    $ 0.12     $ 0.08     $ 0.08
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Book value per ADR - Basic

   $ 8.99     $ 6.24     $ 6.92     $ 5.22    $ 4.47     $ 3.05     $ 2.71
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Weighted average number of ADRs (3) (in millions):

                                                     

Basic

     265.5       264.4       264.5       264.5      257.9       245.2       245.2
    


 


 


 

  


 


 

Diluted

     291.2       280.6       280.8       280.9      263.7       246.6       246.2
    


 


 


 

  


 


 


(1) Adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock splits effected in December 2002 and February 2000.
(2) Dividends for the third quarter of 2003 have been declared but not yet paid.
(3) Each ADR represents one ordinary share.

 

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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

 

Balance Sheet Data

 

     As of September 30,

   As of December 31,

     2003

   2002

   2002

   2001

   2000

   1999

   1998

     (unaudited)                         
     U.S. dollars in millions

Working capital

   $ 1,126.7    $ 1,318.4    $ 1,377.2    $ 1,439.8    $ 825.1    $ 373.5    $ 241.0

Total assets

     5,426.4      3,893.8      4,626.8      3,460.2      2,855.6      1,755.3      1,475.3

Short-term credit, including current maturities:

                                                

Convertible senior debentures

     926.5      —        562.4      —        —        —        —  

Other

     232.3      164.3      176.1      206.5      341.5      276.3      324.5

Total short-term debt

     1,158.8      164.3      738.5      206.5      341.5      276.3      324.5

Long-term debt, net of current maturities:

                                                

Convertible senior debentures

     450.0      910.0      810.0      912.0      550.0      —        —  

Other

     359.7      344.8      351.4      334.9      263.9      391.4      201.7

Total long-term debt

     809.7      1,254.8      1,161.4      1,246.9      813.9      391.4      201.7

Minority interests

     6.1      3.9      4.9      2.2      1.6      —        0.8

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,387.8    $ 1,649.1    $ 1,829.4    $ 1,380.7    $ 1,151.3    $ 747.2    $ 664.8

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF SICOR

 

The selected financial data as of and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 and at December 31, 2002 and 2001 are derived from SICOR’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes which are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. The selected financial data as of and for each of the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 and at December 31, 1999 and 1998 are derived from SICOR’s audited financial statements which are not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

The selected unaudited financial data as of and for each of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 are derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. Such financial statements include, in SICOR’s opinion, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and operating results for the unaudited periods. You should not rely on interim results as being indicative of results SICOR may expect for the full year.

 

The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations, and you should read the selected historical financial data together with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in SICOR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference.

 

SICOR Inc.

 

Operating Data

 

     For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,


    For the Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

    2002

    2002

    2001

    2000

    1999

    1998

 
     (unaudited)                                
     U.S. dollars in millions (except per share amounts)  

Net revenues:

                                                        

Net product sales

   $ 405.0     $ 337.3     $ 456.0     $ 369.8     $ 293.8     $ 223.7     $ 168.1  

Contract research and license fees

     —         —         —         —         —         5.3       10.4  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total revenues

     405.0       337.3       456.0       369.8       293.8       229.0       178.5  

Cost and expenses:

                                                        

Cost of sales

     183.9       154.2       207.3       190.4       166.4       143.8       119.2  

Research and development

     24.5       16.3       23.3       21.0       18.3       15.8       23.2  

Selling, general and administrative

     58.5       46.0       64.6       60.3       51.7       41.0       36.0  

In-process research and development

     —         —         —         21.7       —         —         —    

Write-down of long-lived assets, investment and restructuring charge

     —         1.2       1.2       3.5       —         1.7       1.8  

Amortization of goodwill and intangibles

     3.2       2.8       3.8       6.2       5.9       6.1       6.0  

Interest and other, net

     0.3       (0.8 )     (2.0 )     1.1       6.4       7.2       6.7  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total costs and expenses

     270.4       219.7       298.2       304.2       248.7       215.6       192.9  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before income taxes

     134.6       117.6       157.8       65.6       45.1       13.4       (14.4 )

(Provision) credit for income taxes

     (51.3 )     (43.8 )     (29.6 )     13.6       (6.6 )     (1.7 )     (5.1 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before minority interest

     83.3       73.8       128.2       79.2       38.5       11.7       (19.5 )

Minority interest

     —         —         —         —         —         —         0.8  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principles

     83.3       73.8       128.2       79.2       38.5       11.7       (18.7 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of taxes

     —         —         —         —         (2.9 )     —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

     83.3       73.8       128.2       79.2       35.6       11.7       (18.7 )

Dividends on preferred stock

     —         (0.6 )     (0.6 )     (6.0 )     (6.0 )     (6.0 )     (6.0 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss) applicable to common shares

   $ 83.3     $ 73.2     $ 127.6     $ 73.2     $ 29.6     $ 5.7     $ (24.7 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

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Table of Contents

SICOR Inc.

 

     For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,


   For the Year Ended December 31,

 
     2003

   2002

   2002

   2001

   2000

   1999

   1998

 
     (unaudited)                           
     U.S. dollars in millions (except per share amounts)  

Per Share Data

                                                  

Net income (loss) applicable to common shares

   $ 83.3    $ 73.2    $ 127.6    $ 73.2    $ 29.6    $ 5.7    $ (24.7 )
    

  

  

  

  

  

  


Net income (loss) per common share:

                                                  

Basic

   $ 0.70    $ 0.63    $ 1.10    $ 0.70    $ 0.31    $ 0.07    $ (0.31 )

Diluted

   $ 0.69    $ 0.61    $ 1.06    $ 0.67    $ 0.29    $ 0.07    $ (0.31 )

Dividends declared per common share

     —        —        —        —        —        —        —    

Book value per common share - basic

   $ 6.65    $ 5.35    $ 5.89    $ 5.75    $ 2.88    $ 2.45    $ 2.13  

Shares used in calculating per share amounts:

                                                  

Basic

     118.4      116.2      116.5      103.9      94.9      85.3      79.5  

Diluted

     121.2      120.2      120.2      108.6      102.2      85.9      79.5  

 

Balance Sheet Data

 

     As of September 30,

    As of December 31,

 
     2003

    2002

    2002

    2001

    2000

    1999

    1998

 
     (unaudited)                                
     U.S. dollars in millions  

Total cash and investments

   $ 373.2     $ 313.8     $ 330.2     $ 290.3     $ 62.7     $ 47.5     $ 24.5  

Working capital

     381.0       223.6       267.1       327.0       79.2       42.3       18.3  

Total assets

     928.9       814.3       863.4       784.2       425.6       386.2       372.7  

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations

     7.6       25.6       24.0       30.4       16.2       38.1       52.3  

Accumulated deficit

     (21.8 )     (161.0 )     (105.2 )     (233.5 )     (312.7 )     (348.3 )     (360.0 )

Total stockholders’ equity

   $ 787.3     $ 621.2     $ 685.5     $ 597.9     $ 273.5     $ 208.9     $ 169.4  

 

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Table of Contents

SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial data present the effect of the merger between Teva and SICOR. The following selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed statements of income data is extracted from the historical consolidated statements of income of Teva and SICOR and combines them as if the merger had occurred on January 1, 2002. The following selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed balance sheet data is extracted from the historical consolidated balance sheet of Teva and the historical consolidated balance sheet of SICOR and combines them giving effect to the merger as if it had occurred on September 30, 2003.

 

The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial data were prepared using the purchase method of accounting. The allocation of the purchase price as reflected in these pro forma combined condensed financial data has been based upon preliminary estimates of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of merger. Management, with the assistance of independent valuation specialists, is currently assessing the fair values of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. This preliminary allocation of the purchase price is dependent upon certain estimates and assumptions, which are preliminary and have been made solely for the purpose of developing such pro forma combined condensed financial data.

 

A final determination of the fair values of SICOR’s assets and liabilities, which cannot be made prior to the completion of the transaction, will be based on the actual net tangible and intangible assets of SICOR that exist as of the date of completion of the merger and such valuations could change significantly upon the completion of further analyses and asset valuations from those used in the combined condensed pro forma financial data presented below.

 

The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial data do not include liabilities resulting from integration planning and adjustments in respect of possible settlements of outstanding litigation, as these are not presently estimable. Amounts preliminarily allocated to goodwill may significantly decrease and amounts allocated to intangible assets with definite lives may increase significantly, which could result in a material increase in amortization of acquired intangible assets. Therefore, the actual amounts recorded as of the completion of the transaction may differ materially from the information presented in the accompanying unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial data. In addition to the receipt of the final valuation, the impact of ongoing integration activities, the timing of completion of the transaction and other changes in SICOR’s net tangible and intangible assets that occur prior to completion of the transaction could cause material differences in the information presented.

 

The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial data are not necessarily an indication of the results that would have been achieved had the transaction been completed as of the dates indicated or that may be achieved in the future.

 

This selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial data should be read in conjunction with the Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Financial Statements and related notes included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus and with the historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes of Teva and SICOR and other financial information pertaining to Teva and SICOR including Teva’s “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included in Teva’s Annual Report on Form 20-F and Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, and SICOR’s “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in SICOR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

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Table of Contents

Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Statement of Income Data

 

     For the
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2003


    For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2002


 
     (unaudited)  
     (U.S. dollars in millions,
except ADR data)
 

Net sales

   $ 2,739.4     $ 2,969.5  

Cost of sales

     1,460.3       1,665.6  
    


 


Gross profit

     1,279.1       1,303.9  

Research and development expenses, net of participations and grants

     174.2       189.6  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     435.3       469.7  

Income from GlaxoSmithKline litigation settlement

     100.0          

Restructuring expenses

     7.4       1.2  
    


 


Operating income

     762.2       643.4  

Financial expenses – net

     47.7       68.7  
    


 


Income before income taxes

     714.5       574.7  

Income taxes

     164.2       84.0  
    


 


       550.3       490.7  

Share in profits (losses) of associated companies – net

     0.6       (2.7 )

Minority interests in profits of subsidiaries – net

     (1.0 )     (2.2 )
    


 


Net income

   $ 549.9     $ 485.8  
    


 


Earnings per ADR:

                

Basic

   $ 1.91     $ 1.69  

Diluted

   $ 1.78     $ 1.65  

Weighted average number of ADRs (in millions):

                

Basic

     288.2       287.2  

Diluted

     315.7       304.2  

 

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Table of Contents

Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Balance Sheet Data

 

     As of September 30, 2003

     (unaudited)
     (U.S. dollars in millions)

Current assets

   $ 2,674.7

Investments and other assets

     355.2

Property, plant and equipment

     993.4

Intangible assets and debt issuance costs, net

     913.6

Goodwill

     2,230.9

Total assets

     7,167.8

Current liabilities

     2,829.2

Long-term liabilities

     1,218.2

Minority interests

     6.1

Shareholders’ equity

     3,114.3

 

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Table of Contents

COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA

 

The following table presents historical per share data of Teva and SICOR, as well as similar information reflecting the combination of Teva and SICOR, which we refer to as “pro forma combined” information. The hypothetical SICOR equivalent per share data presented below is calculated by multiplying the pro forma combined amounts by the exchange ratio of 0.1906. Each share of SICOR common stock will also be entitled to receive cash consideration of $16.50 per share. The hypothetical SICOR equivalent per share data does not take into account the cash consideration.

 

The data presented below should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements of Teva and SICOR incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

     As of and for the
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2003


   For the Year
Ended
December 31, 2002


     (unaudited)

Basic Earnings Per Share

             

Teva historical

   $ 1.90    $ 1.55

SICOR historical

   $ 0.70    $ 1.10

Pro forma combined

   $ 1.91    $ 1.69

SICOR equivalent

   $ 0.36    $ 0.32

Diluted Earnings Per Share

             

Teva historical

   $ 1.77    $ 1.52

SICOR historical

   $ 0.69    $ 1.06

Pro forma combined

   $ 1.78    $ 1.65

SICOR equivalent

   $ 0.34    $ 0.31

Dividends Per Share

             

Teva historical

   $ 0.22    $ 0.20

SICOR historical

   $ —      $ —  

Pro forma combined

   $ 0.22    $ 0.20

SICOR equivalent

   $ 0.04    $ 0.04

Basic Book Value Per Share at Period End

             

Teva historical

   $ 8.99    $ 6.92

SICOR historical

   $ 6.65    $ 5.89

Pro forma combined

   $ 10.81      N/A

SICOR equivalent

   $ 2.06      N/A

 

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Table of Contents

STOCK PRICES AND DIVIDEND POLICY

 

Teva Ordinary Shares

 

Teva ordinary shares have been listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange since 1951. The table below sets forth in U.S. dollars the high and low reported sales prices of the Teva ordinary shares on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange during the periods specified as reported by the exchange. The translation into U.S. dollars is based on the daily representative rate of exchange published by the Bank of Israel then in effect.

 

In February 2000 and in December 2002, Teva effected a 2 for 1 stock split. Each holder of an ordinary share or ADR, as the case may be, was issued another share. All figures in this proxy statement/prospectus have been adjusted to reflect the stock splits.

 

Teva ADRs

 

Teva ADRs have been traded in the United States since early 1982 and were listed and admitted to trading on the NASDAQ in 1987. The ADRs are quoted under the symbol “TEVA.” The Bank of New York serves as depositary for the ADRs. In November 2002, Teva was added to the NASDAQ 100 Index. Each ADR represents one ordinary share. For a more detailed description of Teva ADSs and ADRs, see below under “Description of Teva American Depositary Shares.”

 

The American Stock Exchange, the Chicago Options Exchange and the Pacific Stock Exchange quote options on Teva ADRs under the symbol “TEVA.” Teva ADRs are also traded on SEAQ International in London and on exchanges in Frankfurt and Berlin.

 

The table below sets forth in U.S. dollars the high and low reported sales prices of the Teva ADRs on NASDAQ during the periods specified as reported by the market.

 

SICOR Common Stock

 

SICOR’s common stock is listed and traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “SCRI.” The following table sets forth in U.S. dollars the high and low reported sales prices of the SICOR common stock on NASDAQ during the periods as specified as reported by the market.

 

    

Teva Ordinary Shares

(in U.S. dollars)


  

Teva ADRs

(in U.S. dollars)


   SICOR Common Stock
(in U.S. dollars)


Period


   High

   Low

   High

   Low

   High

   Low

Last six months:

                             

December (until December 11)

   61.80    57.22    62.35    57.25    28.01    27.00

November 2003

   60.19    55.19    61.45    54.48    27.91    26.25

October 2003

   58.92    55.55    59.57    52.00    27.00    19.08

October 30, 2003 (1)

   58.51    57.66    58.25    55.40    25.76    24.64

September 2003

   60.65    56.24    61.56    54.55    21.55    19.05

August 2003

   58.84    54.49    59.95    52.50    20.85    17.54

July 2003

   60.25    52.43    60.25    52.20    21.88    18.85

June 2003

   58.28    49.52    58.41    49.25    22.79    18.96

Last eight quarters:

                             

Fourth Quarter 2003 (until December 11)

   61.80    55.19    62.35    52.00    28.01    19.08

Third Quarter 2003

   60.65    52.43    61.56    52.20    21.88    17.54

Second Quarter 2003

   58.28    42.07    58.41    42.01    22.79    16.74

First Quarter 2003

   43.31    34.65    43.95    34.50    17.50    13.69

Fourth Quarter 2002

   39.79    32.51    39.56    32.45    16.85    14.00

Third Quarter 2002

   34.54    29.31    34.97    28.58    18.70    12.55

Second Quarter 2002

   33.73    26.33    34.25    25.85    19.00    15.20

First Quarter 2002

   32.39    26.46    32.58    26.77    17.50    12.80

Last five years:

                             

2002

   39.79    26.54    39.56    25.95    19.00    12.55

2001

   36.36    25.83    37.17    24.25    27.25    9.94

2000

   36.79    16.33    39.00    16.06    17.00    6.25

1999

   17.21    9.91    17.92    9.97    8.63    2.63

1998

   12.44    8.05    12.50    8.03    6.13    2.56

(1) Last trading day prior to the announcement of the execution of the merger agreement.

 

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On October 21, 2003, the last trading day prior to reports in the news media regarding a possible transaction, the last sales price of Teva ordinary shares was $57.31 per share, the last sales price of Teva ADRs was $57.54 per ADR and the last sales price of SICOR common stock was $20.79 per share. On October 30, 2003, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the execution of the merger agreement, the last sales price of Teva ordinary shares was $57.86 per share, the last sales price of Teva ADRs was $57.71 per ADR and the last sales price of SICOR common stock was $24.97 per share.

 

On December 11, 2003, the most recent practicable trading day prior to the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus, the last sales price of Teva ordinary shares was $58.63 per share, the last sales price of Teva ADRs was $58.59 per ADR and the last sales price of SICOR common stock was $27.34 per share. The market prices of shares of Teva ordinary shares and ADRs and of SICOR shares of common stock are subject to fluctuation. As a result, we urge you to obtain current market quotations.

 

On December 10, 2003, the most recent practicable trading day prior to the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus, there were approximately 277,618,953 Teva ordinary shares outstanding and approximately 119,700,267 shares of SICOR common stock outstanding.

 

Teva Dividend Policy

 

For over 30 years Teva has paid dividends, and since 1987 it has paid dividends on a regular quarterly basis. Future dividend policy will be reviewed by its board of directors upon conditions then existing, including Teva’s earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors. Dividends are declared and paid in NIS. Dividends are converted into dollars and paid by the depositary of the ADRs for the benefit of owners of ADRs. For additional information regarding dividends paid per ADR, see “Selected Historical Financial Data of Teva—Per ADR Data.”

 

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Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

 

In addition to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus, you should carefully consider the matters described below in evaluating whether to approve and adopt the merger agreement. For additional factors affecting the combined company’s results, we urge you to carefully review the discussion of risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus as described below under “Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Because the market price of Teva ADRs may fluctuate, you cannot be certain of the precise value of the merger consideration that SICOR stockholders will receive in the merger.

 

Because the market price of Teva ADRs may fluctuate, you cannot be certain of the precise value of the merger consideration to be received at closing. Upon completion of the merger, each share of SICOR common stock will be converted into the right to receive

 

  0.1906 ordinary shares of Teva, which will trade in the United States in the form of ADSs, evidenced by ADRs, and

 

  $16.50 in cash, without interest.

 

The value of the merger consideration to be received at closing will vary depending on the market price of Teva ADRs on the date of the closing of the merger.

 

In addition, the prices of SICOR common stock and Teva ADRs at the closing of the merger may vary from their respective prices on the date the merger agreement was executed, on the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and on the date of the special meeting. For example, during 2003, Teva ADRs ranged from a low sales price of $34.50 per ADR to a high sales price of $62.35 per ADR, and SICOR common stock ranged from a low sales price of $13.69 per share to a high sales price of $28.01 per share. These variations in stock prices may be the result of various factors, including:

 

  changes in the business, operations or prospects of Teva, SICOR or the combined company;

 

  governmental, regulatory and/or litigation developments;

 

  market assessments as to whether and when the merger will be consummated;

 

  the timing of the consummation of the merger;

 

  governmental action affecting the pharmaceutical industry generally and the generic pharmaceutical industry in particular;

 

  increased competition in the generic pharmaceutical market;

 

  competition from other products; and

 

  general market, economic and political conditions.

 

At the time of the special meeting you will not know the precise value of the merger consideration you will receive on the day the merger closes. You are urged to obtain a current market quotation for Teva ADRs and SICOR common stock.

 

The market price for Teva ADRs may be affected by factors different from those affecting the shares of SICOR.

 

Upon completion of the merger, holders of SICOR common stock will become holders of Teva ADRs. Teva’s businesses differ from those of SICOR, and accordingly the results of operations of the combined company will be affected by factors different from those currently affecting the results of operations of SICOR.

 

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Table of Contents

For a discussion of the businesses of Teva and SICOR and of other factors to consider in connection with those businesses, you should carefully review the documents incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus and referred to under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Teva may experience difficulties in integrating SICOR’s business with the existing Teva businesses.

 

The merger involves the integration of two companies that have previously operated independently. The difficulties of combining the companies’ operations include:

 

  the necessity of coordinating and consolidating geographically separated organizations, systems and facilities; and

 

  integrating the management and personnel of SICOR and Teva, maintaining employee morale and retaining key employees.

 

The process of integrating operations could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of one or more of the combined company’s businesses and the loss of key personnel. The diversion of management’s attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the merger and the integration of the two companies’ operations could have an adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial conditions or prospects of the combined company after the merger.

 

Achieving the anticipated benefits of the merger will depend in part upon whether Teva and SICOR can integrate their businesses in an efficient and effective manner. For example, Teva does not currently have significant relationships with the U.S. hospital customer segment which is the principal customer base of SICOR, and Teva does not currently have a biogenerics business. Teva and SICOR may not accomplish this integration process smoothly or successfully. If management is unable to successfully integrate the operations of the two companies, the anticipated benefits of the merger may not be realized.

 

Teva may not achieve the revenue and cost synergies it has anticipated for the combined company.

 

Teva’s rationale for the merger is, in part, predicated on the projected ability of the combined company to realize certain revenue and cost synergies. Achieving these synergies is dependent upon a number of factors, some of which are beyond Teva’s control. These synergies may not be realized in the amount or time frame that is currently anticipated by Teva.

 

Uncertainties associated with the merger may cause SICOR to lose employees.

 

The success of the combined company after the merger will depend in part upon Teva’s and SICOR’s ability to retain key SICOR employees. Competition for qualified personnel in the generic pharmaceutical industry can be very intense. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the combined company will be able to retain key SICOR employees.

 

Failure to complete the merger will subject SICOR to financial risks and could negatively impact the market price of SICOR common stock.

 

If the merger is not completed for any reason, SICOR will be subject to a number of material risks, including:

 

  the provision in the merger agreement which provides that under specified circumstances SICOR could be required to pay to Teva a termination fee of $5 million as reimbursement of expenses relating to the merger, and $120 million should SICOR enter into an agreement for or consummate another acquisition transaction within 12 months of the termination, which fees could deter another interested party from seeking to negotiate such a transaction with SICOR after termination;

 

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Table of Contents
  the market price of SICOR common stock may decline to the extent that the current market price of such common stock reflects a market assumption that the merger will be completed;

 

  costs related to the merger, such as legal and accounting fees and a portion of the investment banking fees, must be paid even if the merger is not completed;

 

  benefits that SICOR expects to realize from the merger, such as potentially enhanced strategic position of the combined company, would not be realized; and

 

  the diversion of management attention from the day-to-day business of the companies, reduction in capital spending and the unavoidable disruption to their employees and their relationships with customers and suppliers during the period before completion of the merger, may make it difficult for SICOR to regain its financial and market position if the merger does not occur.

 

If the merger is terminated and SICOR’s board of directors seeks a different merger or business combination, SICOR stockholders cannot be certain that SICOR will be able to find a partner willing to pay an equivalent or more attractive price than the price to be paid by Teva in the merger.

 

Obtaining required approvals and satisfying closing conditions may delay or prevent completion of the merger.

 

Completion of the merger is conditioned upon the receipt of all material governmental authorizations, consents, orders and approvals, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods, and any extension of the waiting periods, under the HSR Act and from the German Federal Cartel Office, the Mexican Federal Competition Commission and Brazilian Administrative Council for Economic Defense. Teva and SICOR intend to pursue all required approvals in accordance with the merger agreement. The requirement for these approvals could delay the completion of the merger for a significant period of time after SICOR’s stockholders have approved the proposal relating to the merger at the special meeting. We cannot assure you, however, that these approvals will be obtained or that the required conditions to closing will be satisfied, and, if all such approvals are obtained and the conditions are satisfied, we cannot assure you as to the terms, conditions and timing of the approvals or that they will satisfy the terms of the merger agreement.

 

Some of the directors and executive officers of SICOR have interests and arrangements that could have affected their decision to support or approve the merger.

 

The interests of some of the directors and executive officers of SICOR in the merger and their participation in arrangements that are different from, or are in addition to, those of SICOR stockholders generally could have affected their decision to support or approve the merger. These interests include severance arrangements and the acceleration of vesting of certain stock options in connection with the merger. As a result, these directors and officers may be more likely to recommend the proposals relating to the merger than if they did not have these interests.

 

Charges to earnings resulting from the application of the purchase method of accounting could have a material adverse impact on the combined company’s results of operations.

 

In accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, the combined company will account for the merger using the purchase method of accounting. Under the purchase method of accounting, the combined company will allocate the total purchase price to SICOR’s net tangible assets, amortizable intangible assets, intangible assets with indefinite lives and in-process research and development, based on their fair values as of the date of completion of the merger. The combined company will record the excess of the purchase price over those fair values as goodwill. The portion of the estimated purchase price allocated to in-process research and development will be expensed by the combined company in the quarter in which the merger is completed. The preliminary estimate of the amount to be expensed in the quarter in which the merger is completed related to in-process research and development is $700 million. The combined company will incur additional depreciation

 

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and amortization expense over the useful lives of certain of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired in connection with the merger. Annual amortization of intangibles assets of SICOR, currently estimated at $3.8 million, will result in an estimated increase in amortization expense of $34.5 million on an annual basis. In addition, to the extent the value of goodwill or intangible assets becomes impaired in the future, the combined company may be required to incur material charges relating to the impairment of those assets. These amortization and in-process research and development and potential impairment charges could have a material impact on the combined company’s results of operations.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The disclosure and analysis in this proxy statement/prospectus, including those relating to Teva’s and SICOR’s strategies and other statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, contain or incorporate by reference some forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, referred to as the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements give Teva’s and SICOR’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Such statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these statements include, among other things, statements relating to:

 

  management forecasts;

 

  efficiencies/cost avoidance;

 

  cost savings;

 

  income and margins;

 

  earnings per share;

 

  growth;

 

  economies of scale;

 

  combined operations;

 

  the economy;

 

  future economic performance;

 

  conditions to, and the timetable for, completing the merger;

 

  future acquisitions and dispositions;

 

  litigation;

 

  potential and contingent liabilities;

 

  management’s plans;

 

  taxes;

 

  merger and integration-related expenses;

 

  the development of the combined company’s products; and

 

  product approvals and launches.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements which express the beliefs and expectations of management. Such statements are based on current expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the combined company’s future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include:

 

  the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation;

 

  the difficulty of predicting FDA and other regulatory authority approvals;

 

  the regulatory environment and changes in the health policies and structures of various countries;

 

  acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products and new therapies;

 

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  the impact of competitive products and pricing;

 

  uncertainties regarding market acceptance of innovative products newly launched, currently being sold or in development;

 

  the timing of the introduction of new products;

 

  the impact of restructuring of clients;

 

  reliance on strategic alliances;

 

  reliance on a strategy of acquiring companies;

 

  exposure to product liability claims and availability of product liability insurance;

 

  dependence on patent and other protections for the combined company’s innovative products;

 

  exposure to potential patent liability damages for products sold “at risk,” i.e., prior to the final adjudication of patent issues;

 

  ability to complete and integrate this and other acquisitions;

 

  strategic alliances and joint ventures;

 

  fluctuations in currency, exchange and interest rates, operating results and other factors that are discussed in this proxy statement/prospectus and in Teva’s and SICOR’s other filings made with the SEC; and

 

  the effect of changes in laws and regulations, including changes in accounting standards, trade, tax, price controls and other regulatory matters.

 

Neither Teva nor SICOR undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For more information concerning factors that could affect Teva’s future results and financial conditions, you should carefully review the section entitled “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” in Teva’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 20-F and Teva’s most recent Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K containing its quarterly results for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, which are incorporated by reference. For more information concerning factors that could affect SICOR’s future results and financial conditions, you should carefully review the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” in SICOR’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K and SICOR’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, which are incorporated by reference. You should also carefully review the discussion of risks and uncertainties under “Risk Factors” included in Teva’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and SICOR’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are incorporated by reference. These are factors that Teva and SICOR believe could cause each of their actual results to differ materially from expected results.

 

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THE SPECIAL MEETING

 

Date; Time and Place

 

This proxy statement/prospectus is being provided by, and the enclosed proxy is solicited by and on behalf of, SICOR’s board of directors for use at a special meeting of SICOR stockholders.

 

The special meeting is scheduled to be held at 11:00 a.m., local time, on Friday, January 16, 2004, at SICOR’s principal executive offices, located at 19 Hughes, Irvine, California 92618.

 

Purpose of the Special Meeting

 

The purpose of the special meeting is to consider and vote upon the approval and adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 31, 2003, as amended, among SICOR, Teva and Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva, and the approval of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger of Merger Sub with and into SICOR, and to transact any other business that is properly brought before the special meeting.

 

The SICOR board of directors recommends approval of the merger. On October 31, 2003, the SICOR board of directors unanimously:

 

  determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are advisable and are fair to and in the best interests of SICOR and its stockholders;

 

  approved the merger agreement; and

 

  resolved to recommend that its stockholders vote in favor of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

Record Date and Voting Power

 

Only holders of shares of SICOR common stock as of the close of business on December 9, 2003, which is the record date for the special meeting, will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Each share of SICOR common stock is entitled to one vote at the special meeting.

 

Required Vote and Quorum

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of SICOR common stock as of the record date is required to approve and adopt the merger agreement and the merger. As of the record date, there were  119,700,267 shares of SICOR common stock outstanding.

 

As of the record date, the directors and executive officers of SICOR, and their affiliates, beneficially owned 22,826,902 shares of SICOR common stock which represented approximately 19.1% of the outstanding shares of SICOR common stock as of the record date.

 

Mr. Carlo Salvi, the vice chairman of SICOR, and certain of his affiliates are parties to a stockholders agreement, in which they have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the merger agreement and the merger at the special meeting. As of the record date, the parties to the stockholders agreement held 22,335,708 shares of SICOR common stock representing approximately 18.7% of the voting power of SICOR common stock. For a more detailed description of the stockholders agreement, you should read the section entitled “The Merger—Stockholders Agreement.”

 

Abstentions and Nonvotes

 

Because the required vote of the stockholders with respect to the merger agreement is based upon the total number of outstanding shares of SICOR common stock, the failure to submit a proxy card, or to vote in person at the special meeting, or the abstention from voting by a stockholder will have the same effect as a vote against

 

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approval and adoption of the merger agreement. Brokers holding shares of SICOR common stock as nominees will not have discretionary authority to vote such shares in the absence of instructions from the beneficial owners thereof, so the failure to provide voting instructions to your broker will also have the same effect as a vote against the merger agreement.

 

The holders of a majority of the shares of the SICOR common stock outstanding on the record date must be present, either in person or by proxy, at the special meeting to constitute a quorum. In general, abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present or represented at the special meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum for the special meeting.

 

The obligation of SICOR and Teva to consummate the merger is subject to, among other things, the condition that the SICOR stockholders approve and adopt the merger agreement. If SICOR’s stockholders fail to approve and adopt the merger agreement and the merger at the special meeting, each of SICOR and Teva will have the right to terminate the merger agreement.

 

How to Vote

 

A stockholder may vote in person at the special meeting or by proxy without attending the special meeting. To vote by proxy, a stockholder must either:

 

  submit a proxy by telephone;

 

  submit a proxy on the Internet; or

 

  complete the enclosed proxy card, sign and date it and return it in the enclosed postage prepaid envelope.

 

A proxy card is enclosed for use by SICOR stockholders. The board of directors of SICOR requests that stockholders sign and return the proxy card in the accompanying envelope. No postage is required if mailed within the United States. The enclosed proxy card sets forth instructions for submitting a proxy by the telephone and the Internet. If you have questions or requests for assistance in completing and submitting proxy cards, please contact D.F. King & Co., Inc., a firm retained by SICOR that provides professional proxy solicitation services, at 1-800-290-6429.

 

Revocation of Proxy

 

All properly executed proxies that are not revoked will be voted at the special meeting as instructed on those proxies. Proxies containing no instructions will be voted in favor of the merger agreement and the merger. A stockholder who executes and returns a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted. A proxy may be revoked by either:

 

  giving written notice of revocation;

 

  executing and returning a new proxy bearing a later date;

 

  submitting a proxy by telephone or the Internet at a later date; or

 

  attending the special meeting and voting in person.

 

Revocation of a proxy by written notice or execution of a new proxy bearing a later date should be submitted to Wesley N. Fach, Secretary, SICOR Inc., 19 Hughes, Irvine, California 92618, or by attending the special meeting and voting in person.

 

Expenses of Solicitation

 

SICOR will bear the costs of soliciting proxies from its stockholders. However, SICOR and Teva have agreed to share equally the costs of filing, printing and mailing Teva’s registration statement and this proxy

 

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statement/prospectus, including SEC filing fees. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, directors, officers and employees of SICOR, without receiving additional compensation therefor, may solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile or in person. Arrangements may also be made with brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons, and SICOR will reimburse such brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection therewith. In addition, D.F. King & Co., Inc. may contact holders of shares of SICOR common stock by mail, telephone, facsimile, telegraph and personal interviews and may request brokers, dealers and other nominee stockholders to forward materials to beneficial owners of shares of SICOR common stock. D.F. King & Co., Inc. will receive reasonable and customary compensation for its services, which are estimated at $10,000, and will be reimbursed for certain reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Miscellaneous

 

It is not expected that any other matter will be presented for action at the special meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the special meeting, the persons named in the proxies will have discretion to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment. The grant of a proxy will also confer discretionary authority on the persons named in the proxy as proxy appointees to vote in accordance with their best judgment on matters incident to the conduct of the special meeting, including (except as stated in the following sentence) postponement or adjournment for the purpose of soliciting votes. However, shares represented by proxies that have been voted “AGAINST” the merger agreement and the merger will not be used to vote “FOR” postponement or adjournment of the special meeting to allow additional time to solicit additional votes “FOR” the approval and adoption of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

We will admit to the special meeting:

 

  all stockholders of record at the close of business on December 9, 2003;

 

  persons holding proof of beneficial ownership as of such date, such as a letter or account statement from the person’s broker;

 

  persons who have been granted proxies; and

 

  such other persons that we, in our sole discretion, may elect to admit.

 

All persons wishing to be admitted must present photo identification. If you plan to attend the special meeting, please check the appropriate box on your proxy card or register your intention when voting by using the telephone or voting on the Internet, according to the instructions provided.

 

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THE MERGER

 

General

 

On October 31, 2003, each of SICOR’s and Teva’s boards of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement, which provides for the acquisition by Teva of SICOR through a merger of Merger Sub, a newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary of Teva, with and into SICOR. After the merger, SICOR will be the surviving corporation and will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva. Upon completion of the merger, each share of SICOR common stock will be converted into the right to receive

 

  0.1906 ordinary shares of Teva, which will trade in the United States in the form of ADSs, evidenced by ADRs; and

 

  $16.50 in cash, without interest.

 

Based upon the closing price of Teva ADRs on NASDAQ on October 30, 2003, the combined consideration for each outstanding share of SICOR common stock amounts to $27.50, or a total purchase price of approximately $3.4 billion. As a result of the transaction, SICOR’s current stockholders will then own approximately 7% of Teva on a fully diluted basis. The cash portion of the consideration will be financed by Teva through available cash and cash equivalents and third party financing, which may include committed credit facilities.

 

Stockholders of SICOR will not receive any fractional Teva ADRs in the merger. Instead, a cash payment will be made to such stockholders as described more fully in the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “The Merger Agreement—Merger Consideration.”

 

Background of the Merger

 

During the last several years, SICOR’s board of directors has considered the possibility of a strategic transaction. Exploratory discussions were held with a limited number of companies.

 

At the end of 2002 and during the first two months of 2003, several members of SICOR’s senior management and board, including Carlo Salvi, vice chairman of the board, and Marvin Samson, president and chief executive officer, met with representatives of a limited number of companies and had preliminary discussions exploring the possibility of a business combination with SICOR.

 

At its regularly scheduled meeting on March 11, 2003, SICOR’s board discussed the possibility of a business combination and considered whether such a transaction would be in its stockholders’ best interest. The board also discussed various investment banking firms which might assist SICOR if it were to pursue a potential business combination.

 

At a special telephonic meeting on March 24, SICOR’s board established a special committee, consisting of Michael D. Casey, J. Sanford Miller, Donald E. Panoz, chairman of the board, and John J. Roberts, to exercise all of the powers and authority of the board as it related to the negotiation of a possible business combination and to report the results of those negotiations to the board for further review and consideration. The board also approved the engagement of Bear Stearns as SICOR’s financial advisor and authorized the special committee to further negotiate the terms of Bear Stearns’ compensation arrangements.

 

Between March and June, Bear Stearns was in contact with seven companies, including Teva and two pharmaceutical companies we refer to as Company A and Company B, respectively, to explore whether any of them might be interested in a business combination. Of the seven companies contacted, initially three companies, including Teva, Company A and Company B, expressed an interest in pursuing a dialogue regarding a possible business combination. During this period, the special committee met with management and Bear Stearns on multiple occasions and discussed various matters, including potential strategic alternatives. SICOR entered into confidentiality and standstill agreements with Company A and Company B.

 

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On May 2, George Barrett, president of Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Teva’s principal subsidiary, met with Mr. Samson in Philadelphia. At that meeting, Mr. Samson and Mr. Barrett discussed the possibility of exploring strategic alternatives, including the possibility of a business combination between Teva and SICOR.

 

In June, representatives of Company A, accompanied by members of SICOR’s management team, made brief visits to SICOR’s facilities in Irvine, Italy and Mexico.

 

On June 18, Israel Makov, president and chief executive officer of Teva, met with Mr. Samson in New York, to further explore the possibility of a business combination between SICOR and Teva. Following this meeting, on June 19, Teva entered into a confidentiality and standstill agreement with SICOR, covering information to be provided by SICOR to Teva and by Teva to SICOR. The possibility of a transaction with SICOR was discussed by Teva’s board at a meeting held on June 23.

 

On July 18, Mr. Samson and other executive officers of SICOR and its financial advisors met in New York with members of Teva’s senior management and its financial advisors to provide Teva with an introduction to the business and operations of SICOR and to discuss the broad parameters of a potential business combination.

 

The special committee met on July 24 and discussed potential business combination alternatives. Mr. Samson discussed with the special committee the results of the July 18 meeting with Teva.

 

Members of SICOR’s management team, along with Bear Stearns, met with members of Company A’s management team and their financial advisors on July 25 to discuss a potential acquisition transaction.

 

Mr. Makov updated Teva’s board as to the status of the discussions with SICOR at a meeting held on July 28.

 

On August 1, members of SICOR’s management team, along with Bear Stearns, met with members of Company B’s management team and their financial advisors to discuss a potential business combination.

 

On August 6, Teva submitted a preliminary non-binding indication of interest to SICOR outlining the proposed acquisition of SICOR by Teva. This proposal provided for consideration in the range of $23.50 to $26.50 per share, payable 50% in cash and 50% in Teva ADRs, subject to the satisfactory completion of due diligence and the negotiation and execution of appropriate agreements.

 

The special committee met on August 12 and discussed potential business combination alternatives, including Teva’s non-binding indication of interest.

 

Commencing on August 18, representatives of Teva were granted access to documents relating to SICOR and its subsidiaries for their due diligence review. Later in August and early September, similar access to documents was granted to representatives of Teva in Mexico City, as related to SICOR’s Mexican operations, and in Milan, as related to SICOR’s Italian and Lithuanian operations. Site visits to key SICOR facilities were also arranged during this time period in California, Mexico, Lithuania and Italy. Teva’s due diligence review continued through September.

 

On August 23, Pillsbury Winthrop LLP, counsel to SICOR, provided Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, counsel to Teva, an initial draft of the merger agreement for the proposed business combination.

 

Teva’s board met again on August 25. At the meeting, the board received an updated status report as to the negotiations with SICOR and discussed certain strategic advantages of a combination with SICOR.

 

The special committee met on August 26, and Mr. Samson reported on a recent meeting with Company A with respect to a potential acquisition of SICOR. Mr. Samson also noted that Company B had expressed interest in obtaining additional due diligence information on SICOR.

 

On August 31, Mr. Makov met with Mr. Salvi in London to provide Mr. Salvi with a better understanding of Teva’s business and the rationale behind a combination of the two companies.

 

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On September 3, members of SICOR’s management team, along with Bear Stearns, met with members of Company A’s management team and their financial advisors to discuss a potential transaction.

 

On September 5, the special committee met, and Mr. Samson and Bear Stearns reported on the meeting that had occurred on September 3 with Company A. The special committee authorized management and Bear Stearns to continue discussions with Company A and requested that Pillsbury Winthrop prepare a draft acquisition agreement.

 

At the September 5 meeting, the special committee also discussed the renewed interest by Company B in conducting additional due diligence on SICOR. The special committee noted that Company B had provided SICOR with a preliminary, non-binding indication of interest dated September 3 expressing Company B’s interest in acquiring SICOR for a price in the range of $23.00 to $25.00 per SICOR share, with 50% of the consideration being in cash and the balance to be paid in Company B stock at a fixed exchange ratio. The indication of interest was conditioned on the conduct and completion of satisfactory due diligence, negotiation of an acceptable acquisition agreement, the approval of Company B’s board and stockholders and receipt of all required regulatory and other consents. The special committee authorized management to provide additional information to Company B.

 

Company B commenced its due diligence review of SICOR on September 12 in New York, which continued through September 17. Company B also conducted a due diligence review of SICOR’s facilities and records in Irvine during the week of September 15. Members of SICOR’s management team made presentations to Company B’s representatives at the onsite facility tour.

 

During September and October, members of SICOR’s management team and SICOR’s advisors conducted a due diligence review of Teva, including a tour of Teva’s API facilities in Italy, Israel and Hungary and finished dosage facilities in Israel and Hungary. Additionally, during September and October, Pillsbury Winthrop and SICOR’s accountants conducted a due diligence review of Teva documents located in New York and Israel.

 

During September, the special committee met on several occasions and discussed the status of merger negotiations. Mr. Samson reported on a recent meeting with Company A with respect to a possible acquisition. The special committee authorized management to deliver a draft acquisition agreement to Company A. Mr. Samson also reported on Teva’s recently completed site visit of SICOR’s Irvine facilities and that SICOR had initiated its due diligence of Teva’s facilities in Italy, Hungary and Israel.

 

SICOR delivered a preliminary draft acquisition agreement to Company A on September 12.

 

On September 18, representatives of Company B and their financial advisors met with SICOR management and Bear Stearns to discuss a potential business combination.

 

On September 19, Mr. Makov and other members of Teva’s senior management made presentations in New York to certain members of the board of directors of SICOR, senior executives of SICOR and other SICOR representatives regarding Teva’s operations, business strategy and financial results.

 

On September 19, Company A provided SICOR with a preliminary non-binding indication of interest. The indication of interest expressed interest in acquiring SICOR for cash consideration in the range of $23.60 to $26.00 per SICOR share on a fully diluted basis. The indication of interest was conditioned on customary financial, operational, regulatory, accounting and legal due diligence, negotiation of an acceptable purchase agreement and approval of the purchase agreement by the appropriate boards of directors.

 

On September 23, Company A commenced a due diligence review in SICOR’s electronic data room in New York. Company A’s due diligence review continued through October.

 

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The special committee met on September 25, and Mr. Samson reported on his recent site visits of Teva’s finished dosage facilities in Hungary and Israel.

 

On September 30, 2003, Teva’s board of directors met and considered the proposed business combination with SICOR. At that meeting, the board received a presentation from management, including strategic and financial analyses, as well as a description of the current terms and conditions of the proposed business combination. The Teva board of directors posed questions to management regarding the proposed transaction and discussed, among other matters, the advisability of proceeding with the proposed transaction.

 

Between September 30 and October 6, Company A and its advisors conducted a due diligence review of SICOR’s facilities and records in Lithuania, Irvine, Mexico, Italy and Switzerland. Members of SICOR’s management team made presentations to Company A’s representatives at each of the onsite facility tours.

 

During October, the special committee continued to meet with SICOR management, Pillsbury Winthrop and Bear Stearns regarding acquisition discussions with third parties, including Teva and Company A. As a result of discussions with Company B, it had become apparent that Company B was not interested in actively pursuing a business combination with SICOR at that time.

 

On October 15, Teva provided SICOR with a revised draft of the merger agreement prepared by Willkie Farr, together with a draft of a stockholders agreement to be executed by Mr. Salvi and others. In its letter forwarding these materials, Teva stated that it was continuing to refine its financial model for the transaction and would provide pricing details of Teva’s proposal prior to SICOR’s board meeting on October 22.

 

On October 21, Company A provided SICOR with its comments to the draft acquisition agreement.

 

On October 21, Teva provided SICOR with a revised non-binding indication of interest expressing its interest in acquiring SICOR for consideration of approximately $25 per share, payable 50% in cash and 50% in Teva ADRs. The indication of interest was subject to the satisfactory completion of due diligence and the negotiation and execution of appropriate agreements.

 

After the close of business on October 21, 2003, the news media reported that SICOR and Teva were considering a potential transaction. SICOR issued a press release on October 22, 2003 disclosing that it was engaged in discussions concerning a potential business combination but not mentioning Teva or any other potential purchaser.

 

Senior management of Company A spoke with Mr. Panoz by telephone on October 22, and expressed Company A’s interest in acquiring SICOR for cash consideration in the range of $24.00 to $25.00 per SICOR share on a fully diluted basis, narrowing its previously proposed range of $23.60 to $26.00 per SICOR share. Company A’s indication of interest was subject to customary financial, operational, regulatory, accounting and legal due diligence, negotiation of an acceptable acquisition agreement and approval of the acquisition by its board.

 

At a special meeting on October 22, SICOR’s board reviewed with management and its legal and financial advisors the status of its discussions regarding a potential acquisition by Teva or Company A. Representatives of Pillsbury Winthrop provided an update with respect to the status of negotiations and outstanding issues with respect to the acquisition agreements with each of Teva and Company A. Representatives of Bear Stearns discussed with the board the proposed transactions with each of Teva and Company A. After extensive discussion and based on the presentations of its advisors, SICOR’s board authorized management and its advisors to continue to undertake contemporaneous negotiations with both Teva and Company A.

 

Representatives of Willkie Farr met with representatives of Pillsbury Winthrop on October 24, 2003 to negotiate the merger agreement.

 

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On October 26, the special committee met, and Mr. Samson discussed the interest another company, which we refer to as Company C, had in acquiring SICOR which had resulted from the recent reports in the news media regarding a possible transaction. The special committee discussed the status of the negotiations with Teva and Company A. The special committee also authorized SICOR to enter into a confidentiality and standstill agreement with Company C and to pursue further discussions. SICOR entered into such an agreement with Company C effective as of October 26.

 

During the week of October 27, SICOR management and its outside legal advisors engaged in extensive negotiations of the terms of the acquisition agreements and ancillary documents with the management and legal advisors of Teva and Company A. Willkie Farr and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel to Mr. Salvi, negotiated the stockholders agreement. On October 30, 2003, Teva and SICOR executed an amendment to their confidentiality and standstill agreement to allow for the disclosure of the tax treatment and tax structure of a transaction between the parties.

 

Company C commenced a due diligence review in SICOR’s data room during the week of October 27. Company C also met with members of SICOR’s management team and conducted a due diligence review of SICOR’s facilities and records in Irvine and Mexico during the week. Members of SICOR’s management team made presentations to Company C’s representatives at the onsite facility tours.

 

At approximately 6:00 p.m. on October 30, Messrs. Samson, Salvi and Panoz and SICOR’s financial and legal advisors met with a representative of Teva management and Teva’s financial and legal advisors in New York. At the meeting, Teva increased its proposed purchase price for SICOR to $26.50 per share, based on Teva’s closing price that day, consisting of 60% cash, or $15.90, and the balance to be paid in Teva stock with a fixed exchange ratio of 0.1837 Teva ADRs for each SICOR share.

 

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on October 30, Messrs. Samson, Salvi and Panoz and SICOR’s financial and legal advisors met with members of Company A’s management and advisors in New York. Company A confirmed its previous proposal expressing its interest in acquiring SICOR for cash consideration in the range of $24.00 to $25.00 per SICOR share on a fully diluted basis, subject to negotiation of an acceptable acquisition agreement. Mr. Panoz advised them that the proposal was unlikely to be considered adequate by SICOR’s board and requested that they reconsider the terms of their proposal.

 

Mr. Panoz then met separately with a member of Company A’s management. During that conversation, Mr. Panoz emphasized that the process had evolved to a point where Company A had to put its best offer forward. Company A increased its proposal and expressed its interest in acquiring SICOR for cash consideration of $26.00 per SICOR share on a fully diluted basis, subject to negotiation of an acceptable acquisition agreement.

 

SICOR’s board held a telephonic special meeting at 10:30 p.m. on October 30 to consider the acquisition proposals of Teva and Company A and the status of diligence and merger discussions with Company C. At the outset of the meeting, Bear Stearns informed the board that Bear Stearns had been contacted by Company C, which had indicated that it was not in a position to make a proposal at that time and did not expect to be in a position to sign a definitive agreement for several days.

 

During a brief recess of the meeting, Mr. Panoz spoke with a representative of Teva. Teva increased its proposal and expressed its interest in acquiring SICOR for a price of $27.00 per share, based on Teva’s closing price that day, consisting of 60% cash and the balance to be paid in Teva stock. Following the recess, Mr. Panoz informed the board of Teva’s increased offer.

 

Following his update to the board, Mr. Panoz contacted the chief financial officer of Company A and again emphasized that the process had evolved to a point where Company A had to put its best offer forward. The chief financial officer of Company A did not indicate an interest in increasing Company A’s offer.

 

SICOR management and financial and legal advisors reported to SICOR’s board on the status of the proposals and the key outstanding issues with respect to the acquisition agreements with each of Teva and

 

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Company A and the risks associated with each of the indications of interest. Outstanding issues with respect to the acquisition agreement with Company A included, among other things:

 

  operating restrictions on SICOR pending the merger;

 

  the breadth of representations and warranties;

 

  the parties required to enter into support agreements;

 

  termination fees;

 

  closing conditions (including closing conditions tied to general market conditions and international political developments);

 

  the ability of SICOR’s board to change its recommendation;

 

  SICOR’s non-solicitation covenant; and

 

  the scope of the fiduciary out provisions.

 

Outstanding issues with respect to the acquisition agreement with Teva included termination fees and certain minor items.

 

Bear Stearns discussed with SICOR’s board the financial terms of the proposed acquisition by each of Teva and Company A. The board concluded that it was more likely that an acquisition agreement could be finalized on favorable terms and in a timely manner with Teva rather than with Company A.

 

At the request of the board, Bear Stearns delivered its oral opinion that, as of that date and based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in its opinion, the proposed merger consideration of $16.20 in cash and 0.1871 Teva ADRs per SICOR share with an aggregate implied value of $27.00 per SICOR share to be received by the SICOR stockholders pursuant to the acquisition agreement with Teva was fair, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of SICOR. The board determined that, in light of all of the circumstances, a merger with Teva as contemplated by the acquisition agreement was fair and in the best interest of SICOR and its stockholders and approved the merger, the acquisition agreement and related transactions with Teva. The SICOR board authorized SICOR’s senior management to complete the negotiation of a definitive acquisition agreement with Teva.

 

Following the board meeting, at approximately 3:30 a.m. on October 31, Mr. Panoz left a courtesy message for the chief financial officer of Company A advising him that the SICOR board had decided to move forward with a different party.

 

At approximately 5:00 a.m. on October 31, Mr. Panoz was awakened in his hotel room by a phone call from the chief financial officer of Company A informing him that Company A had increased its offer for acquiring SICOR for cash consideration to $27.50 per SICOR share on a fully diluted basis. The offer was conditioned on negotiation of an acceptable acquisition agreement. The chief financial officer expressed a general desire to expedite the documentation process.

 

Mr. Panoz discussed the increased offer from Company A with Mr. Samson and SICOR’s financial and legal advisors.

 

Mr. Panoz then contacted a representative of Teva and informed him of the increased offer from Company A and that SICOR’s financial advisors had told him that it could be difficult to issue a fairness opinion with respect to Teva’s offer under the changed circumstances.

 

During the night of October 30 and the early morning of October 31, SICOR’s legal counsel continued to negotiate the terms of the acquisition agreement with Teva’s legal counsel. All open issues in the acquisition agreement were discussed and resolved during this period.

 

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At approximately 6:40 a.m. on October 31, a representative of Teva contacted Mr. Panoz and informed him that Teva had increased its offer to acquire SICOR to a price of $27.50 per share, based on Teva’s closing price on October 30, with 60% of the consideration being in cash, or $16.50, and the balance to be paid in Teva stock (a fixed exchange ratio of 0.1906 Teva ADRs for each SICOR share). The offer was conditioned on rapid completion and execution of an acceptable acquisition agreement by 8:00 a.m. that day. This final proposal was approved by Teva’s board of directors on October 31. As part of its approval of the revised consideration, the Teva board also approved the merger, the merger agreement and related documents.

 

The SICOR board reconvened at 7:00 a.m. on October 31, immediately after Mr. Panoz received Teva’s increased offer of $27.50 per SICOR share and discussed the revised offers from each of Teva and Company A. Pillsbury Winthrop advised the board of the progress with respect to the negotiation of the acquisition agreement with Teva and the resolution of all outstanding issues. The board and its legal and financial advisors again discussed the outstanding issues with respect to the acquisition agreement with Company A in light of the general desire to expedite the documentation process which had been expressed by Company A’s chief financial officer. None of the issues with respect to the acquisition agreement with Company A which the board had discussed earlier had been resolved and were all still outstanding. The board concluded that it was not possible to resolve the issues with respect to the acquisition agreement with Company A before 8:00 a.m. and that SICOR could potentially lose the Teva offer if SICOR did not accept it by 8:00 a.m. The board concluded that it was more likely that an acquisition agreement could be finalized on favorable terms and in a timely manner with Teva rather than with Company A.

 

At the request of the board, Bear Stearns delivered its oral opinion, which was subsequently confirmed in writing, that, as of that date and based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in its opinion, the merger consideration of $16.50 in cash and 0.1906 Teva ADRs per SICOR share with an aggregate implied value of $27.50 per SICOR share to be received by the SICOR stockholders pursuant to the merger agreement with Teva was fair, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of SICOR. The board unanimously determined that, in light of all of the circumstances, a merger with Teva as contemplated by the merger agreement was fair and in the best interest of SICOR and its stockholders and approved the merger, the merger agreement and related transactions with Teva. The SICOR board authorized the members of SICOR’s senior management to execute the definitive merger agreement with Teva.

 

Shortly after 8:00 a.m. on October 31, SICOR and Teva executed the merger agreement, and Teva and Mr. Salvi and certain of his affiliates contemporaneously executed the stockholders agreement. SICOR also amended its stockholders rights agreement effective as of October 31. That morning SICOR and Teva publicly announced the transaction before the opening of trading of the Teva and SICOR shares on NASDAQ.

 

On November 25, 2003, the parties executed an amended merger agreement, to make certain non-substantive corrections to the original merger agreement.

 

Recommendation of the SICOR Board; Reasons for the Merger

 

The SICOR board of directors has unanimously approved the merger agreement, has determined that the merger agreement and the merger are advisable and fair to and in the best interest of SICOR and the holders of SICOR common stock, and recommends that SICOR stockholders vote “FOR” approval and adoption of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

In reaching its determination to recommend approval and adoption of the merger agreement and the merger, the SICOR board consulted with management, as well as Bear Stearns, SICOR’s financial advisor, and Pillsbury Winthrop, SICOR’s outside legal counsel, and considered various material factors, which are discussed below. In view of the wide variety of factors considered in connection with the merger, the board did not consider it practicable to, nor did it attempt to, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific material factors it considered in reaching its decision.

 

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The Most Attractive Alternative. As part of the process, Bear Stearns contacted a number of potential buyers, including Teva. Four signed confidentiality and standstill agreements and conducted due diligence on SICOR, and three made non-binding offers. Following discussions and consultations with Bear Stearns, Pillsbury Winthrop and other advisors, SICOR’s board determined that the Teva offer was more attractive than the other offers received and the other alternatives available to SICOR in terms of the status of the acquisition agreements, timing of consideration being made available to SICOR stockholders, and structure and certainty of completion, as well as the strategic considerations discussed further below. The board considered the following in coming to this conclusion:

 

(a) The $16.50 in cash consideration together with the stock consideration in the form of Teva ADRs was equal to the total consideration offered by the other bidder based on the closing price of Teva ADRs on the day immediately preceding the announcement that the parties had entered into the merger agreement;

 

(b) Bear Stearns’ opinion described below, that as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth therein, the merger consideration is fair from a financial point of view to the stockholders of SICOR. For a more detailed discussion regarding the Bear Stearns opinion, please see the section below entitled “Opinion of Bear Stearns.”

 

(c) The combined consideration will allow SICOR’s stockholders to receive cash in an amount per share equal to almost 80% of the closing price of the SICOR common stock on October 21, 2003, the day before the initial news media reports regarding a possible transaction between SICOR and Teva, as well as a meaningful opportunity to participate in the potential growth and success of the combined company through ownership of approximately 7% of the combined company;

 

(d) The board’s review of historical market prices and trading information with respect to the SICOR common stock, which revealed that the implied merger consideration of $27.50 per share (based on the closing price of Teva ADRs on October 30, 2003) represented a premium of approximately:

 

  32.3% over the closing price of SICOR common stock on October 21, 2003, the day before the initial news media reports regarding a possible transaction between SICOR and Teva;

 

  35.3% over the average closing price of SICOR common stock for the 30 previous trading days ending on October 21, 2003; and

 

  36.4% over the average closing price of SICOR common stock for the 90 previous trading days ending on October 21, 2003.

 

(e) Although the SICOR board noted that the price of Teva ADRs has fluctuated in the past and that the value of the stock portion of the consideration to be received by SICOR’s stockholders will decline if the price of Teva ADRs declines, the board considered that this was mitigated by (1) provisions of the merger agreement allowing the board to respond to, and potentially to terminate the current merger agreement in order to accept, any unsolicited written proposal for an alternative business combination that the board determines in good faith constitutes a superior proposal and (2) the fact that the merger is subject to the approval of SICOR’s stockholders, allowing a majority of stockholders to reject the merger should the combined cash and stock consideration be, in their opinion, insufficient; and

 

(f) The SICOR board believed that, with the assistance of Bear Stearns, SICOR had conducted an extensive process in the course of which SICOR and Bear Stearns were in contact with numerous potentially interested parties on behalf of SICOR and that Teva was the most attractive alternative for SICOR stockholders resulting from the process.

 

Strategic Advantages of the Merger. Based on information about the potential future financial results of the combined company, the SICOR board believed that the merger would have a positive impact on the business, operations and financial results of the two companies. Specifically, SICOR’s board believed, in light of historical

 

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information concerning the business, financial performance and condition, market opportunity and position, technology and management of SICOR and Teva, that the following factors would have a positive effect on the businesses:

 

(a) Enhanced Strategic Position of Combined Company. The SICOR board believed that the combined company would be stronger than either company operating independently. In particular, the board considered the strategic benefits of combining Teva’s successful oral dose generic drugs franchise with SICOR’s leading generic injectable business, including potential improvement in long-term operating and financial results to be gained from:

 

  a broader spectrum of research and development activities based on the combination of the two companies’ research and development teams, pipelines and financial resources;

 

  enhanced manufacturing, sales and distribution capabilities and expanded customer base;

 

  increased diversification from existing and prospective collaborative agreements of the combined entities;

 

  expanded product offerings resulting from the companies’ complementary API businesses; and

 

  more extensive global presence and geographic reach.

 

(b) SICOR’s Business, Financial Condition and Prospects. The SICOR board considered information with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of SICOR, on both a historical and prospective basis, and current industry, economic and market conditions. In particular, the board considered:

 

  the benefits associated with a diversified product and pipeline portfolio of a combined company in light of the potential decline in sales of SICOR’s primary product, propofol, which the board expected would constitute a significant portion of SICOR’s total revenues for the foreseeable future;

 

  the benefits of the increased market penetration of a combined company as compared to SICOR’s more limited distribution channel;

 

  the increased potential to successfully develop and commercialize new generic versions of branded and off-patent pharmaceutical products for which the combined company could be either the first to market, or among the first to market;

 

  the increase in internal expertise and external collaboration in areas in which SICOR did not currently have substantial resources and personnel in order to expand SICOR’s focus beyond generic products and broaden its portfolio of product offerings to include proprietary product candidates; and

 

  SICOR’s difficulty in realizing its strategic growth objectives in a timely manner as an independent company in light of its current management systems and infrastructure.

 

In addition, the board evaluated the impact of the proposed merger on SICOR’s employees, particularly Teva’s statement that it did not anticipate significant reductions in force as well as its contractual assumption of stock and other employee benefit plans, and determined that the proposed merger was in the interests of the largest number of SICOR employees.

 

(c) Teva’s Business, Financial Condition and Prospects. The SICOR board considered information with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Teva, including the due diligence review by SICOR’s management and accounting and legal advisors regarding Teva’s financial condition and prospects. In particular, SICOR considered Teva’s relative position within the generic drug industry by revenue and depth of pipeline, its demonstrated ability to successfully integrate operations in business combinations, and its recent history of meeting or exceeding forecasts.

 

(d) Access to Teva’s API, Manufacturing Capabilities and Experience with Branded Products. SICOR’s board considered that access to Teva’s APIs as a source of supply will provide SICOR with enhanced and new

 

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drug development opportunities, and that Teva’s experience in the branded product market would allow SICOR earlier entry into that market than it would have realized operating independently. The board also considered that SICOR will benefit from the economies of scale resulting from the combined manufacturing capabilities of the two companies.

 

Risks of the Proposed Merger. Certain risks inherent in the proposed transaction were also considered by the board in conjunction with its advisors in the course of legal, accounting and business due diligence and during the negotiation of the merger agreement. The board considered each of the material risks, which were known to it:

 

(a) the risks associated with the fluctuating value of Teva ADRs as partial merger consideration, and the risk that, because the number of Teva ADRs to be issued in the merger is fixed and there is no contractual “minimum” value of the Teva ADRs below which additional consideration would be paid, SICOR stockholders may receive less total merger consideration than the board anticipated;

 

(b) the risks faced by SICOR stockholders associated with owning equity of a foreign corporation;

 

(c) the risk that the merger would not be completed, given the period of time between the signing of the merger agreement and the expected closing, during which a material change in SICOR’s business might occur, in which case Teva might have the right to terminate the merger agreement; and

 

(d) other risks described in this proxy statement/prospectus in the section entitled “Risk Factors.”

 

An additional negative factor considered by the board was the taxable nature of the structure of the merger transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

SICOR’s board of directors concluded that, on balance, the known potential benefits of the transaction with Teva outweighed the known potential risks, and the proposed transaction with Teva was more compelling than other available alternatives and was in the best interest of the SICOR stockholders.

 

Opinion of Bear Stearns

 

SICOR engaged Bear Stearns as its financial advisor in connection with the merger in accordance with the terms of an engagement letter between SICOR and Bear Stearns dated March 25, 2003. SICOR retained Bear Stearns based on Bear Stearns’ experience and expertise in similar transactions. Bear Stearns, as part of its investment banking business, is continuously engaged in the valuation of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive biddings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes.

 

In connection with Bear Stearns’ engagement, SICOR’s board of directors requested that Bear Stearns evaluate the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received pursuant to the merger, to SICOR’s stockholders. On October 31, 2003, Bear Stearns delivered its oral opinion to the board of directors of SICOR, which was subsequently confirmed in writing, that, as of such date, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in the opinion, the consideration of 0.1906 Teva ADRs and $16.50 in cash per share of SICOR common stock with an aggregate implied value of $27.50 per share of SICOR common stock to be received in the merger was fair, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of SICOR.

 

Attached as Annex B to this proxy statement/prospectus is the full text of Bear Stearns’ written opinion. SICOR stockholders are urged to read the opinion in its entirety. The opinion sets forth the assumptions made, the matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Bear Stearns, and is incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference. The summary of Bear Stearns’ opinion set forth

 

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below is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such opinion. In reading the discussion of the fairness opinion set forth below, SICOR stockholders should be aware that Bear Stearns’ opinion:

 

  was provided to SICOR’s board of directors for its benefit and use in its evaluation of the merger;

 

  did not constitute a recommendation to the board of directors of SICOR in connection with the merger;

 

  does not constitute a recommendation to any SICOR stockholder as to how to vote in connection with the merger;

 

  did not address SICOR’s underlying business decision to pursue the merger, the relative merits of the merger as compared to any alternative business strategies that might exist for SICOR or the relative effects of any alternative transaction in which SICOR might engage;

 

  did not express any opinion as to the price or range of prices at which the shares of SICOR common stock, Teva ordinary shares or Teva ADRs would trade subsequent to the announcement of the merger or as to the price or range of prices at which Teva ordinary shares or Teva ADRs may trade subsequent to the consummation of the merger; and

 

  was necessarily based on economic, market and other conditions, and the information made available to Bear Stearns by SICOR and Teva management, as of the date the opinion was delivered.

 

Bear Stearns’ Opinion

 

In arriving at its opinion Bear Stearns, among other things:

 

  reviewed a draft of the merger agreement which did not materially differ from the executed copy of such agreement;

 

  reviewed SICOR’s Annual Reports to Stockholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 1999 through 2002, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31 and June 30, 2003, its preliminary results for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 and its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC during the three years ended October 31, 2003;

 

  reviewed certain operating and financial information relating to SICOR’s business and prospects, including projections for the five years ended December 31, 2007, all as prepared and provided to Bear Stearns by SICOR’s management;

 

  met with certain members of SICOR’s senior management to discuss SICOR’s business, operations, historical and projected financial results and future prospects;

 

  reviewed Teva’s Annual Reports on Form 20-F for the years ended December 31, 1999 through 2002, its Reports of Foreign Private Issuer containing its quarterly reports on Form 6-K for the periods ended March 31 and June 30, 2003, and its other Reports on Form 6-K filed with the SEC during the three years ended October 31, 2003;

 

  reviewed certain operating and financial information relating to Teva’s business and prospects, including projections for the three years ended December 31, 2005, all as prepared and provided to Bear Stearns by Teva’s management;

 

  met with certain members of Teva’s senior management to discuss Teva’s business, operations, historical and projected financial results and future prospects;

 

  reviewed the historical prices, trading multiples and trading volumes of the SICOR common stock and Teva ADRs;

 

  reviewed publicly available financial data, stock market performance data and trading multiples of companies which Bear Stearns deemed generally comparable to SICOR and Teva, as appropriate;

 

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  reviewed the terms of recent mergers and acquisitions of companies which Bear Stearns deemed generally relevant to SICOR and the merger;

 

  performed discounted cash flow analyses based on the projections for SICOR furnished to Bear Stearns by SICOR’s management; and

 

  conducted such other studies, analyses, inquiries and investigations as Bear Stearns deemed appropriate.

 

Bear Stearns relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information provided to it by SICOR and Teva, including, without limitation, the projections for each company. With respect to SICOR’s and Teva’s projected financial results, Bear Stearns relied on representations that such projected financial results were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the senior management of SICOR and Teva, respectively, as to the expected future performance of SICOR and Teva, respectively. Bear Stearns has not assumed any responsibility for the independent verification of any such information, and Bear Stearns has further relied upon the assurances of the senior management of SICOR and Teva, respectively, that they are unaware of any facts that would make the information and projections and assumptions provided to Bear Stearns materially incomplete or misleading. Bear Stearns assumes no responsibility for updating or revising its opinion based on circumstances or events occurring after the date of the Bear Stearns opinion.

 

In arriving at its opinion, Bear Stearns did not perform or obtain any independent appraisal of the assets or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of SICOR or Teva, nor was Bear Stearns furnished with any such appraisals. During the course of its engagement, Bear Stearns was asked by the board of directors of SICOR to solicit indications of interest from various third parties regarding a transaction with SICOR, and Bear Stearns considered the results of such solicitation in rendering its opinion. Bear Stearns assumed that the merger would be consummated in a timely manner and in accordance with the terms of the draft copy of the merger agreement reviewed by Bear Stearns without any limitations, restrictions, conditions, amendments or modifications, regulatory or otherwise, that collectively would have a material effect on SICOR or Teva.

 

The following is a brief summary of the analyses used by Bear Stearns and presented to the board of directors of SICOR in connection with rendering its fairness opinion. Some of the summaries of financial analyses include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the financial analyses used by Bear Stearns, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not represent a complete description of the financial analyses.

 

Summary of Analyses

 

Implied Per Share Consideration. Based on the closing price of Teva ADRs of $57.71 on October 30, 2003, the implied value of the merger consideration was calculated to be $27.50. Because the exchange ratio is fixed, the merger consideration SICOR stockholders will receive may be more or less than $27.50 upon consummation of the merger.

 

Calculation of SICOR’s Enterprise Value at the Merger. Bear Stearns calculated the enterprise value for SICOR for purposes of analyzing the fairness of the merger consideration, referred to in this summary as Enterprise Value, by calculating the sum of the equity value of SICOR’s common stock (including the net value of in-the-money options after deducting the respective exercise proceeds), plus SICOR’s total debt outstanding as of September 30, 2003, minus SICOR’s cash and cash equivalents outstanding as of September 30, 2003.

 

Bear Stearns calculated multiples of SICOR’s stock price to SICOR’s earnings per share, referred to as EPS, for the last twelve months ended September 30, 2003 and estimated EPS for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, which were 30.6x, 27.5x and 23.7x, respectively. Bear Stearns calculated multiples of SICOR’s Enterprise Value to SICOR’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and

 

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amortization, referred to as EBITDA, for the last twelve months ended September 30, 2003 and estimated EBITDA for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, which were 15.0x, 13.8x and 11.4x, respectively. Bear Stearns calculated multiples of SICOR’s Enterprise Value to SICOR’s revenue for the last twelve months ended September 30, 2003 and estimated revenue for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, which were 5.83x, 5.48x and 4.54x, respectively. Bear Stearns calculated multiples of SICOR’s Enterprise Value to SICOR’s earnings before interest and taxes, referred to as EBIT, for the last twelve months ended September 30, 2003 and estimated EBIT for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, which were 17.3x, 15.8x and 12.7x, respectively.

 

Comparison of Merger Consideration to Unaffected and Historical Stock Prices. Bear Stearns compared the per share merger consideration to SICOR’s stock price as of October 21, 2003 (the day prior to reports in the news media regarding a possible transaction), and average stock prices one week, one month, three months, six months, one year and two years preceding October 21, 2003. The implied value of the merger consideration on October 30, 2003 of $27.50 per share to be received by SICOR stockholders represents a 32.3% premium to the October 21, 2003 closing price of $20.79.

 

Premium of merger consideration of $27.50 per share relative to


   Premium

 

October 21, 2003

   32.3 %

One Week average

   35.0 %

One Month average

   37.0 %

Three Month average

   38.5 %

Six Month average

   38.1 %

One Year average

   53.5 %

Two Year average

   60.7 %

 

All premiums in the table above are for periods prior to October 21, 2003.

 

Comparable Company Analysis. Bear Stearns analyzed selected historical and projected operating information provided by SICOR management, stock price performance data and valuation multiples for SICOR and compared projected data to that of twelve publicly traded companies deemed by Bear Stearns to be generally comparable to SICOR. Bear Stearns utilized the earnings forecasts for these companies from First Call and selected Wall Street equity research reports.

 

The companies included in the Bear Stearns analysis were:

 

  Alpharma Inc.;

 

  American Pharmaceutical Partners Inc.;

 

  Andrx Corp.;

 

  Barr Laboratories Inc.;

 

  Eon Labs Inc.;

 

  IVAX Corporation;

 

  KV Pharmaceutical Co.;

 

  Mylan Laboratories Inc.;

 

  Pharmaceutical Resources Inc.;

 

  Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Limited;

 

  Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited; and

 

  Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.

 

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Bear Stearns reviewed each comparable company’s (i) Enterprise Value to its estimated 2003 EBITDA, (ii) Enterprise Value to its estimated 2004 EBITDA, (iii) share price to its estimated 2003 EPS, (iv) share price to its estimated 2004 EPS, (v) share price to its estimated 2003 EPS as a multiple of the five year EPS growth rate or PEG, and (vi) share price to its 2004 estimated EPS as a multiple of the five year EPS growth rate or PEG. The multiples were based on closing stock prices for the comparable companies on October 29, 2003.

 

The table below summarizes the analysis.

 

Comparable Company Analysis

 

    

Enterprise

Value/EBITDA


    Price/EPS

    PEG Ratio

 
     2003E

    2004E

    2003E

    2004E

    2003E

    2004E

 

High

   22.8 x   18.3 x   32.3 x   27.6 x   1.62 x   1.42 x

Harmonic Mean

   13.1 x   11.1 x   25.6 x   20.5 x   1.31 x   1.05 x

Median

   14.4 x   12.4 x   26.8 x   21.3 x   1.34 x   1.07 x

Low

   7.8 x   6.5 x   19.1 x   14.5 x   0.96 x   0.73 x

 

“Harmonic Mean” is calculated based on the average of the reciprocals of the multiples and gives equal weight to equal dollar investments in the securities whose ratios are being averaged.

 

Bear Stearns compared the multiples implied in the merger at $27.50 per share of (i) 13.8x estimated 2003 EBITDA, (ii) 11.4x estimated 2004 EBITDA, (iii) 27.5x estimated 2003 EPS, (iv) 23.7x estimated 2004 EPS, (v) 1.68x estimated 2003 PEG and (vi) 1.45x estimated 2004 PEG with the range and harmonic mean of the comparable companies. Bear Stearns noted that all of the multiples implied in the merger at $27.50 per share were higher than the harmonic means of the comparable companies.

 

Comparable Precedent Transactions Analysis. Bear Stearns analyzed 27 merger and acquisition transactions involving companies in the generic pharmaceutical industry which Bear Stearns deemed generally relevant to SICOR and the merger. Four of the transactions analyzed involved companies in the generic injectable pharmaceutical industry. Bear Stearns reviewed, among other things, the ratio of the comparable companies’ enterprise value implied in the respective transactions to their (i) last twelve months (pre-acquisition) EBITDA, referred to as LTM EBITDA, (ii) last twelve months (pre-acquisition) revenue, referred to as LTM Revenue, (iii) last twelve months (pre-acquisition) EBIT, referred to as LTM EBIT, and (iv) estimated EBITDA, based on selected Wall Street equity research, for the calendar year following announcement of the precedent transaction, referred to as CY+1 EBITDA.

 

The precedent transactions in the Bear Stearns analysis were (the acquiror is identified first):

 

Generic Injectable M&A transactions

 

  Baxter Healthcare Corporation/ESI Lederle (Wyeth);

 

  The Intercare Group PLC/Macarthy Group Limited;

 

  Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited/Pharmachemie Group; and

 

  Schein Pharmaceutical Inc./Marsam Pharmaceuticals Inc.

 

Generic M&A transactions

 

  Bio-Technology General/Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Limited;

 

  Novartis AG/Lek Pharmaceutical & Chemical Company d.d.;

 

  PLIVA d.d./Sidmak Laboratories Inc. (Sobel Holdings Inc.);

 

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  Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited/Bayer Classics S.A.;

 

  Alpharma Inc./F H Faulding & Co Limited;

 

  Barr Laboratories Inc./Duramed Pharmaceuticals Inc.;

 

  IVAX Corporation/Laboratorio Chile S.A.;

 

  Novartis AG/BASF AG (European Generics Business);

 

  Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc./Schein Pharmaceutical Inc.;

 

  Ratiopharm GmbH/Technilab Pharmaceutical Inc.;

 

  Galen Holdings PLC/Warner Chilcott PLC;

 

  Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited/Novopharm Limited;

 

  Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited/Copley Pharmaceutical Inc.;

 

  Alpharma Inc./ISIS PHARMA Group (SCHWARZ PHARMA);

 

  Alpharma Inc./Cox Pharmaceuticals (Hoechst AG);

 

  Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc./The Rugby Group Inc.;

 

  Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc./Royce Laboratories Inc.;

 

  Novartis AG/Azupharma GmbH & Co.;

 

  Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited/Biocraft Laboratories Inc.;

 

  Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc./Circa Pharmaceuticals Inc.;

 

  IVAX Corporation/Zenith Laboratories Inc.;

 

  Miles Inc. (Bayer AG)/Schein Pharmaceutical Inc. (28.3% stake); and

 

  IVAX Corporation/McGaw Inc.

 

The tables below summarize the analysis.

 

Comparable Precedent Transactions Analysis: Generic Injectable

 

     Enterprise Value to

 
     LTM
Revenue


    LTM
EBITDA


    LTM
EBIT


    CY+1
EBITDA


 

High

   5.78 x   10.7 x   13.5 x   8.9 x

Harmonic Mean

   2.21 x   8.3 x   9.8 x   6.3 x

Median

   3.27 x   8.7 x   10.6 x   6.9 x

Low

   1.28 x   6.8 x   7.6 x   4.9 x

 

Comparable Precedent Transactions Analysis: Generic

 

     Enterprise Value to

 
     LTM
Revenue


    LTM
EBITDA


    LTM
EBIT


    CY+1
EBITDA


 

High

   6.75 x   30.6 x   49.3 x   14.2 x

Harmonic Mean

   2.04 x   13.5 x   18.8 x   11.2 x

Median

   2.33 x   13.0 x   20.1 x   12.3 x

Low

   0.89 x   8.2 x   10.4 x   8.1 x

 

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Bear Stearns compared the multiples implied in the merger at $27.50 per share of 5.83x LTM revenue, 15.0x LTM EBITDA, 17.3x LTM EBIT and 11.4x 2004 estimated EBITDA with the range and harmonic mean of the precedent transactions. Bear Stearns noted that all of the multiples implied in the merger at $27.50 per share exceeded the high end of the range of multiples for the precedent generic injectable transactions. In addition, the LTM revenue, LTM EBITDA and CY+1 EBITDA multiples implied in the merger at $27.50 per share exceeded the harmonic mean for the precedent generic transactions while the LTM EBIT multiple of 17.3x implied in the merger compared to a harmonic mean of 18.8x for the precedent generic transactions.

 

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Bear Stearns performed a discounted cash flow analysis which calculated the intrinsic value of SICOR’s business based on projections provided by SICOR management, an estimated cost of capital and an estimated perpetual growth rate of unlevered free cash flow. Bear Stearns calculated the estimated present value of the unlevered after-tax free cash flows for the four years ending December 31, 2007 based on projections provided to Bear Stearns by SICOR management. Bear Stearns then calculated an implied range of terminal values for SICOR by applying a range of perpetual growth rates of unlevered free cash flow of 3% to 4%. The present value of the free cash flows and terminal values were discounted using a range of discount rates of 11% to 13%. Bear Stearns also performed a sensitivity analysis based on SICOR achieving 80% to 100% of its stand-alone EBITDA forecast discounted at discount rates ranging from 11% to 13% with a 3.5% perpetual growth rate in free cash flow assumed in calculating terminal value. For purposes of calculating terminal value, Bear Stearns, based on SICOR management guidance, adjusted 2007 free cash flow to reflect a more reasonable steady-state contribution forecasted for a major generic product expected to be launched in 2006.

 

Bear Stearns compared the range of implied equity values per share for SICOR common stock to the implied merger consideration of $27.50 per share as follows:

 

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

 

     Implied Equity
Value per Share


Based on perpetual growth rates in unlevered free cash flow ranging from 3% to 4% and discount rates ranging from 11% to 13%

   $ 21.81 - $29.45

Based on perpetual growth rates in unlevered free cash flow of 3.5%, discount rates ranging from 11% to 13% and SICOR achieving 80% to 100% of its EBITDA projections

   $ 18.37 - $27.97

 

Bear Stearns also performed a sensitivity analysis by adjusting the 2006 and 2007 projections to exclude a major generic product which SICOR projected would launch in 2006. Bear Stearns then calculated an implied range of terminal values for SICOR by applying a range of perpetual growth rates of unlevered free cash flow of 3% to 4%. The present value of the free cash flows and terminal values were discounted using a range of discount rates of 11% to 13%. Bear Stearns also performed a sensitivity analysis on this sensitized case based on SICOR achieving 80% to 100% of its adjusted EBITDA forecast discounted at discount rates of 11% to 13% with a 3.5% perpetual growth rate assumed in calculating terminal value.

 

Bear Stearns compared the range of implied equity values per share for SICOR common stock in the sensitized case to the implied merger consideration of $27.50 per share as follows:

 

Sensitized Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

 

     Implied Equity
Value per Share


Excluding large generic product projected to launch in 2006 and based on perpetual growth rates in unlevered free cash flow ranging from 3% to 4% and discount rates ranging from 11% to 13%

   $ 20.02 - $26.83

Excluding large generic product projected to launch in 2006 and based on a perpetual growth rate in unlevered free cash flow of 3.5%, discount rates of 11% to 13% and SICOR achieving 80% to 100% of its adjusted EBITDA projections

   $ 16.84 - $25.51

 

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Other Analyses. Bear Stearns conducted other analyses as it deemed appropriate, including reviewing the historical stock performance and selected Wall Street equity research reports on SICOR and Teva and analyzing the historical and forecasted financial and operating performance of SICOR and Teva. In addition, Bear Stearns examined publicly available information relating to trends in the generic pharmaceuticals industry.

 

The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and involves various judgments and determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant assumptions and financial analyses and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances involved. Bear Stearns’ opinion is therefore not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. In arriving at its opinion, Bear Stearns made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor considered by it and did not attribute particular weight to any one analysis or factor. Bear Stearns did not form an opinion as to whether any individual analysis or factor, positive or negative, considered in isolation, supported or failed to support its opinion. Accordingly, Bear Stearns believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses without considering all analyses and factors or the narrative description of the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the processes underlying its analyses and opinion.

 

The analyses performed by Bear Stearns, particularly those based on estimates, are not necessarily indicative of actual values or actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those results suggested by the analyses. With respect to the analysis of comparable companies summarized above, no public company utilized as a comparison is identical to SICOR, and accordingly, Bear Stearns made judgments and assumptions with regard to industry performance, business, economic, market and financial conditions, as well as other matters that would necessarily affect the value of SICOR versus the value of any precedent transactions summarized above or the companies they involved. In addition, none of the precedent transactions or the companies they involve are identical to the merger or SICOR. In addition, analyses relating to the value of businesses or securities do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which businesses or securities actually may be sold. Accordingly, Bear Stearns’ analyses are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty. The analyses were prepared solely as part of Bear Stearns’ analysis of the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the merger consideration to the stockholders of SICOR.

 

Bear Stearns’ opinion and financial analyses were only one of many factors considered by SICOR’s board in its evaluation of the merger, and should not be viewed as determinative of the views of SICOR’s board or management with respect to its decision to recommend the merger.

 

In the ordinary course of business, Bear Stearns may actively trade debt and equity securities of SICOR and/or Teva for Bear Stearns’ own account and for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in those securities. In the ordinary course of business, Bear Stearns may enter into derivative transactions with SICOR or Teva as the counterparty.

 

Pursuant to an engagement letter between SICOR and Bear Stearns, SICOR has agreed to pay Bear Stearns an advisory fee, including $2.0 million which was payable upon SICOR and Teva entering into the merger agreement, and additional fees to be paid upon completion of the merger amounting to an additional $6.75 million and 0.50% of that portion of the aggregate merger consideration, as determined in accordance with the terms of the engagement letter, which exceeds $2.5 billion. In addition, SICOR agreed to reimburse Bear Stearns for certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Bear Stearns in connection with the merger, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its legal counsel. SICOR has also agreed to indemnify Bear Stearns against specific liabilities in connection with its engagement, including liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

Teva’s Reasons for the Merger

 

Teva’s board of directors, in reaching its decision to approve the merger, the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, considered favorably the following factors:

 

(a) Establish New Presence in the U.S. Hospital and Generic Injectables Market. Teva has had an interest for some time in expanding its presence in the U.S. market to include generic injectable products. While Teva

 

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sells such products in both Europe and Israel, it has not previously offered such products for sale in the United States. Through a business combination with SICOR, Teva would gain a leading position in the U.S. hospital and generic injectables market. In addition, the combination of the two companies should allow Teva to expand its offerings of selected oral dosage products into the U.S. hospital market.

 

(b) Create Global Platform for Generic Injectables Business. Teva believes that it can introduce SICOR’s injectable products and numerous other SICOR products into its product line in Europe and other jurisdictions in which Teva currently sells injectable products, thereby expanding the market for SICOR products. Conversely, Teva currently produces injectable products for the European market in FDA-approved facilities that it believes it will be able to add to SICOR’s existing product line in the United States. Thus, by combining the two businesses, Teva expects to create a truly global platform on which to further grow a leading generic injectables product business.

 

(c) Expand Central and South American Operations. To date, Teva has had only modest sales into Latin America, and Teva has only recently established a subsidiary in Mexico. The acquisition of SICOR would allow Teva to combine SICOR’s well-established Mexican operations with Teva’s new Mexican business, thereby substantially accelerating Teva’s expansion into Mexico and providing a new base of operations for sales of products elsewhere in Central and South America.

 

(d) Enhance API Operations. SICOR, like Teva, is a vertically integrated company with its own API operations, resulting in enhanced internal profitability and strategic depth. The acquisition of SICOR would provide Teva with an entry as a lead player in the steroids and oncology markets, thereby strengthening the combined company’s position as a leader in the generic API market. The transaction would enable Teva to offer a broader range of API products, to better cater to its customers’ needs and help grow its customer base. In addition, the combined company would have a strengthened API presence in the United States, Europe, where SICOR’s API facilities located in Italy in close proximity to Teva’s own API facilities, and elsewhere in the world.

 

(e) Expand Biogenerics Efforts. Several large biological products will be coming off patent within the next several years, and this trend is expected to accelerate over time. In order to enhance Teva’s leadership position in generics over the long term, Teva has stated its desire for a biotechnology platform. SICOR’s operations in Lithuania, which already produce several biological products for sale outside of North America and Western Europe, would provide Teva with new capabilities for the development of biological products and with a production facility for such products. Accordingly, a business combination with SICOR would enable Teva to gain an immediate foothold into this emerging field of biogenerics.

 

(f) Accretive Transaction/Synergies. Estimates of potential revenue and cost synergies of the combined business led Teva to believe the merger should become slightly accretive to Teva’s earnings per share within one year from the closing of the merger.

 

(g) Terms and Conditions of the Merger Agreement and Related Agreement. Teva also considered favorably the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and the agreements contemplated by the merger agreement, including the form and amount of the consideration and the representations, warranties, covenants, conditions to closing and termination rights contained in those agreements.

 

In view of the number and wide variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the merger, Teva’s board of directors did not consider it practicable to, and did not attempt to, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors it considered in reaching its determination.

 

Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger

 

Selected executive officers and members of the board of directors of SICOR have certain interests in the merger agreement and the merger that are different from and in addition to your interests as a stockholder. These

 

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interests exist based on “change in control” provisions of existing employment agreements and the vesting of stock option awards held by these individuals, both of which will be activated by the consummation of the merger, as well as certain provisions of the merger agreement itself. The board of directors of SICOR was aware of and considered these interests when it considered and approved the merger agreement and the merger.

 

Employment and Severance Agreements. Existing employment and severance agreements with certain officers of SICOR provide for benefits upon a “change in control,” including severance payments due if the officer’s employment is terminated within a certain amount of time following the consummation of the merger.

 

Option Vesting. All option grants made under to the SICOR 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan and certain option agreements issued under the SICOR Amended and Restated 1990 Stock Plan include “change in control” provisions, pursuant to which all unvested options will immediately vest in full upon consummation of the merger. Certain directors and officers hold option grants under these two plans, and will thus receive the benefit of the acceleration of their vesting schedule as a result of the merger. As of the record date for the special meeting, 2,808,330 shares of SICOR common stock were issuable to executive officers and directors of SICOR upon the exercise of outstanding SICOR options granted to those executive officers and directors of SICOR, including options for approximately 443,390 shares of SICOR common stock which will vest upon consummation of the merger. Each option will be converted to become exercisable for Teva ADRs at the effective time of the merger. For a more complete discussion of the conversion of options, please refer to the section below entitled “Treatment of SICOR Stock Options.”

 

Officer and Director Positions. Pursuant to the merger agreement, Teva has agreed to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the appointment of each of the existing executive officers of SICOR to the same position following consummation of the merger, until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the charter documents. Officers and directors receiving benefits under SICOR compensation and benefit plans will continue to be provided with benefits under employee benefit plans that are the same or substantially comparable in the aggregate either to those provided by SICOR or those provided by Teva to similarly situated employees. In addition, Teva has agreed to cause the Teva board of directors to duly appoint Carlo Salvi, the vice chairman of SICOR, to the Teva board of directors, to fill such position until his successor has been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the charter documents.

 

Continued Director and Officer Indemnification. As of the consummation of the merger and thereafter, Teva will indemnify certain existing and former directors, officers and employees of SICOR as required pursuant to existing indemnity agreements of SICOR, which agreements were amended and restated prior to the merger to clarify that there is a presumption that the indemnified parties are entitled to indemnification and that the indemnified parties as a group are entitled to at least one counsel of their choosing. In addition, Teva will, for a period of six years following the merger, maintain the same provisions regarding the indemnification of officers and directors currently contained in SICOR’s charter documents for claims arising from facts or events that occurred on or prior to the consummation of the merger.

 

Registration Rights. In connection with the merger, Teva has agreed to file a registration statement covering the resales of Teva ADRs received by persons who may be deemed affiliates of SICOR under Rule 145 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act, prior to the effective time of the merger.

 

Manner and Procedure for Exchanging Shares of SICOR Common Stock; No Fractional ADRs

 

Surrender of Certificates. As soon as reasonably practicable after the effective time of the merger, but in no event later than one business day after the effective time of the merger, the exchange agent will mail to each record holder of SICOR common stock (a) a letter of transmittal and (b) instructions for surrendering certificates formerly representing SICOR common stock in exchange for cash and a certificate or certificates representing Teva ADSs, into which the SICOR common stock will be converted pursuant to the merger. After receipt of these forms, holders of SICOR common stock will be able to surrender their certificates to the exchange agent, and receive the cash and certificates evidencing the number of whole Teva ADRs to which the holder is entitled,

 

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and any cash which may be payable in lieu of a fractional Teva ADRs. SICOR stockholders should not send their certificates until they receive the letter of transmittal.

 

Unless the holder of SICOR common stock has followed the procedures set forth below in “—Appraisal Rights”, after the effective time of the merger, each certificate that previously represented shares of SICOR common stock will represent the right to receive the cash and Teva ADRs into which those shares of SICOR common stock have been converted.

 

Teva will not pay dividends to holders of SICOR stock certificates with respect to the Teva ADRs, into which the SICOR shares represented by those certificates have been converted, until the SICOR stock certificates are surrendered to the exchange agent.

 

After the effective time of the merger, SICOR will not register any further transfers of SICOR shares. Any certificates evidencing SICOR shares that are presented for registration after the effective time of the merger will be exchanged for the cash and certificates evidencing the number of whole Teva ADRs to which they are entitled, and any cash which may be payable in lieu of a fractional ADRs of Teva.

 

Governmental and Regulatory Approvals

 

U.S. Antitrust Filing. Under the HSR Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the merger may not be consummated unless the applicable waiting period requirements have expired or been terminated. On December 1, 2003, each of SICOR and Teva filed a pre-merger notification and report form pursuant to the HSR Act with the Justice Department and the FTC. In the absence of the grant of early termination, a voluntary withdrawal and resubmission of the filing or the issuance by the Justice Department or FTC of a request for additional information or documentary material, the waiting period under the HSR Act will expire at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2003. Following discussions with the staff of the FTC, Teva has committed, in light of the upcoming holiday season, to voluntarily withdraw and resubmit its filing if necessary. Even if the waiting period expires, the Justice Department, the FTC or other regulatory authorities could take action under the antitrust laws with respect to the merger, including seeking to enjoin the consummation of the merger, to rescind the merger, or to require the divestiture of the assets of SICOR or Teva.

 

Foreign Antitrust Filings. Pursuant to the German Act against Restraints of Competition, the parties must notify the German Federal Cartel Office, or the FCO, before the merger can become effective. The parties submitted their joint notification to the FCO on December 12, 2003. Within one month after receipt of the notification, the FCO must either (a) grant clearance, (b) take no action (which is equivalent to clearance), or (c) inform the parties that it will conduct a further investigation. In the latter case, the FCO may take up to a total of four months after receipt of the notification to complete its investigation and either clear or prohibit the merger.

 

Pursuant to the Mexican Antitrust Law, the parties must notify the Mexican Federal Competition Commission, or MFCC, before the merger can become effective in Mexico. The parties submitted their joint notification to the MFCC on December 5, 2003. The MFCC has 45 days from the date of notification within which to object to the transaction. This period may be extended for an additional 60 days in complex cases.

 

Pursuant to Brazilian Law No. 8884/1994, the Brazilian Administrative Council for Economic Defense, or CADE, must be notified within 15 business days after the merger agreement has been executed. The parties submitted their joint notification to the CADE on November 21, 2003. The parties are permitted to consummate the merger before the Brazilian authorities have completed their review.

 

These U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities may challenge the merger on antitrust grounds and, if such a challenge is made, they may succeed in enjoining the merger as presently contemplated.

 

Merger Expenses, Fees and Costs

 

All expenses incurred in connection with the merger agreement and the related transactions will be paid by the party incurring the expense, except that Teva and SICOR have agreed to share equally the costs of filing,

 

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printing and mailing Teva’s registration statement on Form F-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, including SEC filing fees and foreign antitrust filing fees. The parties have agreed that in certain circumstances, however, SICOR will pay Teva’s expenses. For a more detailed discussion regarding the allocation of expenses, you should carefully review the section entitled “The Merger Agreement—Termination and Other Fees” below.

 

Accounting Treatment

 

Teva will account for the merger under the “purchase” method of accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Therefore, the total merger consideration paid by Teva, together with the direct costs of the merger, will be allocated to SICOR’s tangible and intangible assets and liabilities based on their fair market values, with any excess being applicable to goodwill. The assets, liabilities and results of operations of SICOR will be consolidated into the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Teva as of the closing date of the merger or within a reasonable period thereafter.

 

Form of the Merger

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and in accordance with Delaware law, at the effective time of the merger, Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva established to facilitate the acquisition of SICOR, will be merged with and into SICOR. SICOR will survive the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva and will continue its corporate existence under Delaware law under the name “SICOR Inc.”

 

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger to a stockholder of SICOR who holds shares of SICOR common stock as capital assets, which we refer to as a holder. The discussion is based on laws, regulations, rulings and decisions in effect on the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, and to differing interpretation. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be applicable to a holder subject to special treatment under the Internal Revenue Code (including, but not limited to, banks, partnerships and other pass- through entities, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, dealers in securities or foreign currency, holders who dissent and exercise appraisal rights, and holders who are not U.S. persons (as defined in section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code), who hold shares as part of a straddle or hedging or conversion transaction, or who acquired shares of SICOR common stock pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option or otherwise as compensation). In addition, the discussion does not address the non-income tax or state, local or foreign tax consequences of the merger. Each SICOR stockholder is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to the particular tax consequences of the merger.

 

The merger will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a taxable sale or exchange of SICOR common stock for cash and Teva ADRs. In general, you will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (a) the sum of the cash and the fair market value of the Teva ADRs you receive pursuant to the merger and (b) your aggregate adjusted tax basis in your shares of SICOR common stock exchanged therefor. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if your holding period for your SICOR common stock is more than one year as of the date of the merger. If you are a non-corporate holder, any such long-term capital gain generally will be taxed at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 15%. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Unless you comply with certain reporting or certification procedures or you are an “exempt recipient” (e.g., a corporation), you may be subject to a backup withholding tax of 28% with respect to the cash and the fair market value of the Teva ADRs you receive pursuant to the merger. You should consult your tax advisor with respect to the particular effects of the merger on your SICOR holdings.

 

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Federal Securities Laws—Resale Restrictions

 

The Teva ADRs to be issued in connection with the merger will be registered under the Securities Act and will be freely transferable, except for Teva ADRs issued to any person who is deemed to be an affiliate of SICOR prior to the merger. Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates of SICOR prior to the merger include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by, or are under common control of SICOR, prior to the merger, and may include officers and directors, as well as principal stockholders of SICOR, prior to the merger.

 

Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates of SICOR prior to the merger may not sell any of the Teva ADRs received by them in connection with the merger except pursuant to:

 

  an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the resale of those shares;

 

  an exemption under paragraph (d) of Rule 145 under the Securities Act; or

 

  any other applicable exemption under the Securities Act.

 

Teva’s registration statement on Form F-4, of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, does not cover the resale of shares of Teva ADRs to be received in connection with the merger by persons who may be deemed to be affiliates of SICOR prior to the merger. In connection with the merger, Teva has agreed to file a registration statement covering the resales of Teva ADRs received by persons who may be deemed affiliates of SICOR under Rule 145 of the Securities Act prior to the effective time of the merger.

 

Trading Markets

 

Teva ADRs received by SICOR stockholders in the merger will be tradable on NASDAQ. Teva ADRs are exchangeable in accordance with the terms of Teva’s depositary agreement at any time for Teva ordinary shares. Teva ordinary shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

 

If the merger is completed, SICOR common stock will be delisted from NASDAQ and will no longer be registered under the Exchange Act.

 

Appraisal Rights

 

In connection with the merger, record holders of SICOR common stock who comply with the procedures summarized below will be entitled to appraisal rights if the merger is completed. Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, SICOR stockholders may object to the merger and demand in writing that the surviving company pay the fair value of their shares. Determination of fair value is based on all relevant factors, but excludes any appreciation or depreciation resulting from the anticipation or accomplishment of the merger. Stockholders who elect to exercise appraisal rights must comply with all of the procedures to preserve those rights. A copy of Section 262 of the DGCL, which sets forth the appraisal rights, is attached as Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

Section 262 sets forth the procedures a stockholder requesting appraisal must follow. These procedures are complicated and must be followed completely. Failure to comply with these procedures may cause you to lose your appraisal rights. The following information is only a summary of the required procedures and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of Section 262. Please review Section 262 for the complete procedures. Neither Teva nor SICOR will give you any notice of your appraisal rights other than as described in this document and as required by the DGCL.

 

General Requirement. Section 262 generally requires the following:

 

 

You must deliver a written demand for appraisal to SICOR before the vote is taken at the SICOR special meeting. This written demand for appraisal must be separate from the proxy. In other words, failure to

 

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return the proxy or returning the proxy with a notation on it will not alone constitute demand for appraisal. Similarly, a vote against the merger will not satisfy your obligation to make written demand for appraisal. You should read the paragraphs below and Annex C for more details on making a demand for appraisal.

 

  You must not vote in favor of approval and adoption of the merger agreement or approval of the merger. If you return a properly executed proxy or otherwise vote in favor of approval and adoption of the merger agreement or approval of the merger, you will lose your right to appraisal, even if you previously filed a written demand for appraisal. You do not have to vote against the merger in order to preserve your appraisal rights.

 

  You must continuously hold your shares of SICOR stock from the date you make the demand for appraisal through the closing of the merger.

 

Requirements for Written Demand for Appraisal. A written demand for appraisal of SICOR stock is only effective if it is signed by, or for, the stockholder of record who owns the shares at the time the demand is made. The demand must be signed as the stockholder’s name appears on its stock certificate(s). If you are a beneficial owner of SICOR stock but not a stockholder of record, you must have the stockholder of record for your shares sign a demand for appraisal on your behalf.

 

If you own SICOR stock in a fiduciary capacity, such as a trustee, guardian or custodian, you must disclose the fact that you are signing the demand for appraisal in that capacity.

 

If you own SICOR stock with one or more other persons, such as in a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, all of the owners must sign, or have signed for them, the demand for appraisal. An authorized agent, which could include one or more of the owners, may sign the demand for appraisal for a stockholder of record; however, the agent must expressly disclose who the stockholder of record is and that he or she is signing the demand as that stockholder’s agent.

 

If you are a record owner, such as a broker, who holds SICOR stock as a nominee for others, you may exercise a right of appraisal with respect to the shares held for one or more beneficial owners, while not exercising that right for other beneficial owners. In such a case, you should specify in the written demand the number of shares as to which you wish to demand appraisal. If you do not specify the number of shares, it will be assumed that your written demand covers all the shares of SICOR stock that are in your name.

 

If you are an SICOR stockholder, you should address the written demand to SICOR Inc., 19 Hughes, Irvine, California 92618, Attention: Secretary. SICOR must receive your written demand before the vote concerning the merger is taken or you will lose your appraisal rights. As explained above, this written demand should be signed by, or on behalf of, the stockholder of record. The written demand for appraisal should specify the stockholder’s name and mailing address, the number of shares of stock owned, and that the stockholder is thereby demanding appraisal of such stockholder’s shares.

 

Written Notice. Within 10 days after the closing of the merger, the company surviving the merger must give written notice of the date that the merger became effective to each stockholder who has fully complied with the conditions of Section 262. Except as required by law, you will not be notified of any dates by which appraisal rights must be exercised.

 

Petition with the Chancery Court. Within 120 days after the closing of the merger, the company surviving the merger or any stockholder who has complied with the conditions of Section 262 may file a petition in the Delaware Court of Chancery. This petition should request that the Chancery Court determine the value of the shares of SICOR stock held by all of the stockholders who are entitled to appraisal rights. If you intend to exercise your rights of appraisal, you should file a petition in the Chancery Court. Neither SICOR nor Teva have any intention at this time to file a petition. Because neither SICOR nor Teva have an obligation to file a petition, if you do not file such a petition within 120 days after the closing, you will lose your rights of appraisal.

 

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Withdrawal of Demand. If you change your mind and decide you no longer want an appraisal, you may withdraw your demand for appraisal at any time within 60 days after the closing of the merger. You may also withdraw your demand for appraisal after 60 days after the closing of the merger, but only with the written consent of Teva. If you withdraw your demand for appraisal, you will receive the merger consideration provided in the merger agreement.

 

Request for Appraisal Rights Statement. If you have complied with the conditions of Section 262, you will be entitled to receive a statement setting forth the number of shares for which appraisal rights have been exercised and the number of stockholders who own those shares. In order to receive this statement, you must send a written request to Teva within 120 days after the closing of the merger. After the merger, Teva will have 10 days after receiving a request to mail the statement to the stockholder.

 

Chancery Court Procedures. If you properly file a petition for appraisal in the Chancery Court and deliver a copy to Teva, Teva will then have 20 days to provide the Chancery Court with a list of the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded appraisal and have not reached an agreement with Teva as to the value of their shares. If the Chancery Court decides it is appropriate, it will then send notice to all of the stockholders who have demanded appraisal. The Chancery Court has the power to conduct a hearing to determine whether the stockholders have fully complied with Section 262 of the DGCL and whether they are entitled to appraisal under that section. The Chancery Court may also require you to submit your stock certificates to the Registry in Chancery so that it can note on the certificates that an appraisal proceeding is pending. If you do not follow the Chancery Court’s directions, you may be dismissed from the proceeding.

 

Chancery Court Appraisal of SICOR Shares. After the Chancery Court determines which stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights, the Chancery Court will appraise the shares of stock. To determine the fair value of the shares, the Chancery Court will consider all relevant factors except for any appreciation or depreciation resulting from the anticipation or accomplishment of the merger. After the Chancery Court determines the fair value of the shares, it will direct Teva to pay that value to the stockholders who are entitled to appraisal. The Chancery Court can also direct Teva to pay interest, simple or compound, on that value if the Chancery Court determines that interest is appropriate. In order to receive the fair value for your shares, you must surrender your stock certificates to Teva.

 

The Chancery Court could determine that the fair value of shares of SICOR stock is more than, the same as, or less than the merger consideration. In other words, if you demand appraisal rights, you could receive less consideration than you would under the merger agreement.

 

Costs and Expenses of Appraisal Proceeding. The costs and expenses of the appraisal proceeding may be assessed against the company surviving the merger and the stockholders participating in the appraisal proceeding, as the Chancery Court deems equitable under the circumstances. You can request that the Chancery Court determine the amount of interest, if any, that the company surviving the merger should pay on the value of stock owned by stockholders entitled to the payment of interest. You may also request that the Chancery Court allocate the expenses of the appraisal action incurred by any stockholder pro rata against the value of all of the shares entitled to appraisal.

 

Loss of Stockholder’s Rights. If you demand appraisal, after the closing of the merger you will not be entitled to:

 

  vote your shares of stock, for any purpose, for which you have demanded appraisal;

 

  receive payment of dividends or any other distribution with respect to your shares, except for dividends or distributions, if any, that are payable to holders of record as of a record date before the effective time of the merger; or

 

  receive the payment of the consideration provided for in the merger agreement.

 

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However, you can regain these rights if no petition for an appraisal is filed within 120 days after the closing of the merger, or if you deliver to Teva a written withdrawal of your demand for an appraisal and your acceptance of the merger, either within 60 days after the closing of the merger or with the written consent of Teva. As explained above, these actions will also terminate your appraisal rights. However, an appraisal proceeding in the Chancery Court cannot be dismissed without the Chancery Court’s approval. The Chancery Court may condition its approval upon any terms that it deems just.

 

If you fail to comply strictly with these procedures you will lose your appraisal rights. Consequently, if you wish to exercise your appraisal rights, you are strongly urged to consult a legal advisor before attempting to exercise your appraisal rights.

 

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THE MERGER AGREEMENT

 

The following is a summary of material provisions of the merger agreement. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the merger agreement, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety and attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. We urge you to read carefully the merger agreement in its entirety for a more complete understanding of the merger.

 

Form of the Merger

 

If the holders of SICOR common stock approve and adopt the merger agreement, and all other conditions to the merger are satisfied or waived, Merger Sub, a newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary of Teva, will be merged with and into SICOR. After the merger, SICOR will be the surviving corporation and will continue its corporate existence under Delaware law as a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva.

 

Merger Consideration

 

Conversion Right. The merger agreement provides that each share of SICOR common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger (other than treasury stock of SICOR, SICOR common stock held by Teva or any subsidiary of Teva and other than SICOR common stock as to which appraisal rights have been properly demanded) will be converted into the right to receive:

 

  0.1906 ordinary shares (subject to adjustment as described below) of Teva, which will trade in the United States in the form of ADSs, evidenced by ADRs; and

 

  $16.50 in cash, without interest.

 

Shares Held by SICOR or Teva. Shares of SICOR common stock held by SICOR, Teva or any subsidiary of Teva will be canceled in the merger without consideration.

 

No Fractional Teva ADRs. Teva will not issue any fractional ADRs in the merger. Instead, holders of a SICOR common stock will receive a cash payment representing the value of the aggregate fractional Teva ADRs that such stockholder otherwise would be entitled to receive.

 

Adjustments to Prevent Dilution. If between the date of the merger agreement and the effective time of the merger, the number of outstanding shares of SICOR common stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of SICOR common stock) changes as a result of a reclassification, stock split, stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization, merger, subdivision, issuer tender offer or exchange offer, or other similar transaction, the merger agreement provides that the merger consideration will be equitably adjusted to reflect such change. If between the date of the merger agreement and the effective time of the merger, the number of outstanding Teva ordinary shares changes as a result of stock dividend, subdivisions, reclassification, split-up, combination or the like, the 0.1906 conversion number will be appropriately adjusted.

 

Closing

 

Unless the parties agree otherwise, the closing will occur on the first business day after the satisfaction or waiver of all closing conditions.

 

Effective Time

 

The merger will become effective on the date on which the merger agreement or the certificate of merger has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The filing of the certificate of merger will take place as promptly as practicable after the closing of the merger.

 

Treatment of SICOR Stock Options

 

SICOR Stock Options. Each option to acquire shares of SICOR common stock issued under SICOR stock plans and outstanding as of the effective time of the merger, whether or not exercisable or vested, which we refer

 

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to as SICOR options, will be assumed by Teva and will be automatically converted into an option to acquire Teva ADRs. Each assumed SICOR option will be subject to the same terms and conditions as under such SICOR option as of the effective time of the merger, except that each assumed SICOR option shall constitute an option to acquire that number of Teva ADRs (rounded down to the nearest number of whole ADRs on a holder-by-holder basis) equal to:

 

  the number of Teva ADRs that the holder of such SICOR option would have been entitled to receive pursuant to the merger if the holder had exercised its option in full immediately prior to the merger, plus

 

  the number of Teva ADRs, determined by dividing

 

    the amount of cash that the holder of the SICOR option would have been entitled to receive pursuant to the merger if the holder had exercised its SICOR option in full immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by

 

    the closing price of the Teva ADRs on the business day immediately prior to the effective time of the merger as reported by the NASDAQ,

 

at an exercise price per Teva ADR equal to:

 

  the aggregate exercise price for the shares of SICOR common stock which otherwise could have been purchased pursuant to the SICOR option immediately prior to the effective time of the merger divided by
  the aggregate number of Teva ADRs deemed to be purchasable pursuant to the assumed SICOR option.

 

By virtue of the merger, each assumed SICOR option will become fully vested and exercisable.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The merger agreement contains representations and warranties by SICOR relating to a number of matters, including the following:

 

  organization, valid existence, good standing and qualification to do business of SICOR and its significant subsidiaries;

 

  SICOR’s capital structure;

 

  SICOR’s corporate authorization, validity of the merger agreement and approval by SICOR’s board of directors of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;

 

  subject to certain exceptions set forth in the merger agreement, the absence of governmental filings and approvals necessary to complete the merger and the absence of any conflict with SICOR’s or of any of its significant subsidiaries’ certificates of incorporation or by-laws, with any agreement to which SICOR or any of its subsidiaries is a party, with applicable laws and with governmental or non-governmental authorizations;

 

  the documents filed with the SEC by SICOR, the accuracy of information contained in such documents and the conformity with generally accepted accounting principles of SICOR’s financial statements;

 

  the accuracy of information (other than as furnished by or on behalf of Teva) contained in this proxy statement/prospectus and information provided by SICOR for inclusion in the registration statement to be filed by Teva with the SEC;

 

  the absence of undisclosed material liabilities;

 

  the absence of certain adverse changes or events in SICOR’s financial condition, properties, assets or results of operations;

 

  the absence of material pending or threatened litigation;

 

  employee benefit plans;

 

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  SICOR’s and its subsidiaries’ compliance with all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, and SICOR’s and its subsidiaries’ possession of all material permits and regulatory approvals necessary to conduct its business;

 

  the inapplicability of anti-takeover statutes and of SICOR’s stockholder rights plan to the merger;

 

  various environmental matters, including material compliance with applicable environmental laws;

 

  tax matters and the payment of taxes;

 

  labor matters;

 

  ownership and validity of intellectual property rights;

 

  title to properties;

 

  material contracts;

 

  product liability;

 

  insurance coverage;

 

  the vote of the stockholders of SICOR required to complete the merger;

 

  relationships with suppliers;

 

  the absence of affiliate transactions;

 

  broker’s and finder’s fees related to the merger; and

 

  the receipt of the opinion of SICOR’s financial advisor as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the merger consideration to SICOR’s stockholders.

 

The merger agreement also contains representations and warranties by Teva and Merger Sub relating to a number of matters, including the following:

 

  organization, valid existence, good standing and qualification to do business of Teva and Merger Sub;

 

  Teva’s capital structure;

 

  Teva’s and Merger Sub’s corporate authorization, validity of the merger agreement and approval by Teva’s and Merger Sub’s boards of directors of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;

 

  subject to certain exceptions set forth in the merger agreement, the absence of governmental filings and approvals necessary to complete the merger and the absence of any conflict with Teva’s memorandum of association or articles of incorporation or Merger Sub’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or similar documents of any Teva subsidiaries, with any agreement to which Teva, Merger Sub or Teva’s subsidiaries is a party, with applicable laws and with governmental or non-governmental authorizations;

 

  the documents filed with the SEC by Teva, the accuracy of information contained in such documents and the conformity with generally accepted accounting principles of Teva’s financial statements;

 

  the accuracy of information (other than as provided by or on behalf of SICOR) contained in this proxy statement/prospectus and the compliance with the requirements of the securities laws of the registration statement to be filed by Teva with the SEC;

 

  the absence of undisclosed material liabilities;

 

  the absence of certain adverse changes or events in Teva’s financial condition, properties, assets or results of operations;

 

  the absence of material pending or threatened litigation;

 

  employee benefit plans;

 

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  Teva and its subsidiaries’ compliance with all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, and Teva’s and its subsidiaries’ possession of all material permits and regulatory approvals necessary to conduct its business;

 

  various environmental matters, including material compliance with applicable environmental laws;

 

  tax matters and the payment of taxes;

 

  labor matters;

 

  ownership and validity of intellectual property rights;

 

  title to properties;

 

  material contracts;

 

  product liability;

 

  insurance coverage;

 

  absence of any prior business activities by Merger Sub;

 

  the absence of any vote required by the stockholders of Teva to consummate the merger;

 

  absence of ownership by Teva, Merger Sub or any of their subsidiaries of SICOR common stock;

 

  the absence of affiliate transactions;

 

  broker’s and finder’s fees related to the merger;

 

  the receipt of the opinion of Teva’s financial advisors as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the merger consideration to Teva; and

 

  financial capacity of Teva to perform the merger.

 

Certain of SICOR’s and Teva’s representations and warranties are qualified as to materiality or “material adverse effect.” When used with respect to SICOR or Teva, “material adverse effect” means a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business, assets or results of operations of SICOR or Teva and their respective subsidiaries, in each case, taken as a whole, other than any such effect resulting from or arising out of:

 

  any change in law or U.S. GAAP or interpretations thereof;

 

  any change in economic or business conditions in the United States generally;

 

  any change in conditions generally affecting the pharmaceutical industry; or

 

  the execution and delivery of the merger agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

Covenants and Agreements

 

Conduct of SICOR’s Business Pending Merger. SICOR has agreed that, from the date of the merger agreement until the effective time of the merger, except as expressly permitted by the merger agreement, as required by law or to the extent agreed to by Teva, SICOR and its subsidiaries:

 

  shall conduct their respective businesses only in the ordinary and usual course and shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to (a) preserve its business organization intact and maintain its existing relations and goodwill with customers, suppliers, distributors, creditors, lessors, employees and business associates, (b) maintain and keep material properties and assets in good repair and condition and (c) maintain in effect all material governmental permits under which such party currently operates;

 

  shall not amend or otherwise change its certificates of incorporation or by-laws; split, combine or reclassify SICOR’s capital stock; declare, set aside or pay any dividend; or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any SICOR stock;

 

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  shall not issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any shares of, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or options or other commitments or rights to acquire, any shares of its capital stock or any voting debt or any other property or assets (other than in certain limited exceptions);

 

  shall not, other than in the ordinary and usual course of business and other than transactions not in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate in any calendar year, transfer, lease, license, guarantee, sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of or encumber any other property or assets;

 

  shall not make any acquisition of, or investment in, assets or stock in any transaction or any series of transactions for an aggregate purchase price or prices, including the assumption of any debt, in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate in any calendar year, except for acquisitions mandated by binding legal commitments existing on the date of the merger agreement;

 

  shall not, other than in the ordinary and usual course of business, (a) amend or terminate any contract that is material to SICOR and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) waive, release, relinquish or assign any such contract, right or claim or (c) cancel or forgive any material indebtedness owed to SICOR or any of its subsidiaries;

 

  shall not (a) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, recapitalization or other similar reorganization or (b) accelerate or delay collection of notes or accounts receivable in advance of or beyond their regular due dates, other than in the usual and ordinary course of business;

 

  shall not terminate, adopt or amend any compensation and benefit plans (other than in limited exceptions), or increase the compensation of any employees except for (a) grants or awards or increases occurring in the ordinary and usual course of business, (b) annual reestablishment of compensation and benefit plans and the provision of individual compensation or benefit plans and agreements for newly hired or appointed officers and employees or (c) actions necessary to satisfy existing contractual obligations under compensation and benefit plans or agreements existing as of the date of the merger agreement;

 

  shall maintain with financially responsible insurance companies (or through self-insurance) insurance in such amounts and against such risks and losses as are consistent with the insurance maintained by such party in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

  shall not change any accounting principle, practice or method in a manner that is inconsistent with past practice;

 

  shall not take any action that could reasonably be expected to result in (a) any representation or warranty of SICOR or its subsidiaries set forth in the merger agreement that is qualified by materiality becoming untrue, (b) any such representations and warranties that are not so qualified becoming untrue in any material respect, (c) any of the conditions to the merger not being satisfied or (d) otherwise prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of such party to consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;

 

  shall (a) file all material tax returns required to be filed with any taxing authority in accordance with all applicable laws, (b) timely pay all due and payable taxes and (c) promptly notify Teva of any action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit or claim initiated or pending against or with respect to SICOR or any of its subsidiaries in respect of any tax;

 

  shall not make any tax election or settle or compromise any income tax liability without the prior written consent of Teva;

 

  shall not redeem the rights outstanding under the stockholders rights plan, or amend, modify or terminate the stockholders rights plan or render it inapplicable other than to the execution, delivery and performance of the merger agreement and the merger;

 

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  shall not enter into any contract that purports to limit or prohibit in any respect SICOR or any of its subsidiaries (a) from competing with any other person, (b) from acquiring any product or other asset or any services from any other person, (c) from developing, selling, supplying, distributing, offering, supporting or servicing any product or any technology or other asset to or for any other person or (d) from transacting business or dealing in any other manner with any other person, except in certain limited circumstances; and

 

  shall not authorize or enter into an agreement to do anything prohibited by the foregoing actions.

 

Conduct of Teva’s Business Pending Merger. Teva has agreed that, from the date of the merger agreement until the effective time of the merger, except as expressly permitted by the merger agreement, as required by law or to the extent agreed to by SICOR, Teva and its subsidiaries:

 

  shall conduct their respective businesses only in the ordinary and usual course and shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to (a) preserve its business organization intact and maintain its existing relations and goodwill with customers, suppliers, distributors, creditors, lessors, employees and business associates, (b) maintain and keep material properties and assets in good repair and condition and (c) maintain in effect all material governmental permits under which such party currently operates;

 

  shall not amend or otherwise change its memorandum or articles of association; split, combine or reclassify Teva’s capital stock; declare, set aside or pay any dividend other than its regular quarterly dividend; or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Teva stock;

 

  shall not adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, recapitalization or other similar reorganization;

 

  shall not take any action that could reasonably be expected to result in (a) any representation or warranty of Teva or its subsidiaries qualified by materiality becoming untrue, (b) any such representations and warranties that are not so qualified becoming untrue in any material respect, (c) any of the conditions to the merger not being satisfied or (d) otherwise prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of Teva or its subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement; and

 

  shall not authorize or enter into an agreement to do anything prohibited by the foregoing actions.

 

Access. Subject to applicable law, Teva and SICOR have agreed to, and to cause their subsidiaries to, provide the other party’s representatives, during normal business hours during the period prior to the effective time of the merger, reasonable access to its officers, properties, books, contracts and records and, during such period, to each furnish promptly to the other all information concerning its business, properties and personnel as may reasonably be requested but only to the extent such access does not unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of such party.

 

No Solicitation. The merger agreement precludes SICOR and its subsidiaries or any officer, director, employee, agent or representative (including accountants, attorneys and investment bankers), directly or indirectly, from initiating, soliciting, encouraging or otherwise facilitating any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer, with respect to:

 

  any merger, reorganization, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving SICOR or any of its significant subsidiaries;

 

  any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or purchase of the assets or equity securities of SICOR or any of its subsidiaries, in each case comprising 15% or more in value of SICOR and its subsidiaries; or

 

  any purchase or sale of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, 15% or more of the outstanding shares of SICOR common stock.

 

We refer to any transaction in the above three bullet points as an acquisition proposal.

 

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Additionally, neither SICOR nor its subsidiaries, nor any of their representatives shall, directly or indirectly:

 

  engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information to, any person relating to a competing acquisition proposal, or otherwise facilitate any acquisition proposal;

 

  withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of the merger;

 

  approve, recommend or endorse an acquisition proposal; or

 

  enter into any letter of intent or similar document contemplating, or enter into any agreement with respect to an acquisition proposal.

 

The merger agreement provides that, prior to the approval of the merger by the SICOR stockholders, these restrictions do not prohibit SICOR from furnishing non-public information to, or negotiating with, a third party if those actions are a response to an unsolicited, bona fide written acquisition proposal from the third party to acquire directly or indirectly, for consideration consisting solely of cash and/or marketable securities, 30% or more of the outstanding SICOR common stock or 40% or more of the assets of SICOR and its subsidiaries that the SICOR board of directors determines in good faith, after consulting with outside counsel and its financial advisors, is (a) on terms more favorable to SICOR’s stockholders than those in the merger agreement and (b) reasonably capable of being consummated without undue delay, and that the SICOR board of directors shall have concluded in good faith that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the discharge of the board’s fiduciary duties under applicable law. We refer to such a proposal as a superior proposal. SICOR has agreed to provide Teva a written notice advising Teva of its receipt of such a superior proposal and specifying the material terms and conditions of the proposal.

 

If SICOR receives a superior proposal prior to the special meeting, SICOR’s board is permitted to withdraw or adversely modify or change its recommendation of the merger agreement to SICOR’s stockholders and recommend the superior proposal to its stockholders. However, SICOR may only withdraw or modify its recommendation if Teva has not made an offer within three calendar days after Teva’s receipt of the notice from SICOR that SICOR’s board of directors concludes in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside counsel, is as favorable (taking into account the termination fee payable under the merger agreement) to SICOR’s stockholders as the superior proposal. If the merger agreement is terminated, SICOR may be required to pay Teva a termination fee.

 

SICOR is required to advise Teva within one business day of the receipt of any material proposal, material discussion, material negotiation or material inquiry with respect to any acquisition proposal. Additionally, SICOR is required to immediately communicate to Teva the material terms of any proposal, discussions, negotiations or inquiry which it may receive as well as the identity of the person making such proposal or inquiry or engaging in such discussion or negotiation. SICOR is required to provide to Teva any non-public material information concerning SICOR provided to any other person that was not previously provided to Teva on the same day as the providing of any such information to any other person. SICOR will keep Teva reasonably informed of the status and details of any such acquisition proposal including any modifications or proposed modifications.

 

SICOR is also required to immediately cease any existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties with respect to any acquisition proposal. In addition, SICOR shall promptly request that each person who has executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with such an acquisition proposal return or destroy all confidential information furnished to such person in accordance with such confidentiality agreement. SICOR is not permitted to release any third party from, or waive any provision of, any such confidentiality agreement or any other confidentiality or standstill agreement to which SICOR is a party.

 

Special Meeting. The merger agreement requires SICOR to call and hold a special meeting to approve and adopt the merger agreement and the merger as promptly as practicable after this proxy statement/prospectus is

 

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mailed to SICOR’s stockholders. Additionally, subject to certain limitations related to its fiduciary duties in the event of a superior proposal, the board of directors of SICOR has agreed to recommend that SICOR’s stockholders vote in favor of the merger agreement and the merger.

 

Stock Exchange Listing. Teva has agreed to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Teva ADRs to be issued in the merger or reserved for issuance upon exercise of the assumed SICOR options to be approved for quotation on NASDAQ.

 

Affiliate Letters. SICOR has delivered to Teva a letter identifying all persons who, in the judgment of SICOR, may be deemed affiliates of SICOR for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act. SICOR will use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a written agreement from each such person identified by SICOR as soon as practicable and, in any event, at least ten days prior to the effective time of the merger to, among other things, abide by certain transfer restrictions imposed by Rule 145.

 

Employee Matters. Teva has agreed that, for two years after the effective time of the merger, the current and former SICOR employees who are receiving benefits under the SICOR compensation and benefit plans will continue to be provided with benefits under employee benefit plans that are the same or substantially comparable in the aggregate to either:

 

  those currently provided by SICOR to such employees as of the closing date; or

 

  those provided by Teva to similarly situated employees.

 

After the effective time of the merger, Teva shall take into account the service by SICOR employees for purposes of eligibility to participate, eligibility to commence benefits, vesting and, solely for purposes of severance and vacation benefits, benefit accruals under the compensation and benefit plans of Teva in which such employees participate. In addition, Teva has agreed to cause SICOR to honor all employee benefit obligations to current and former employees and directors under the SICOR compensation and benefit plans.

 

Furthermore, it is the present intention of Teva and SICOR that following the effective time of the merger, there will be no significant involuntary reductions in workforce at SICOR or its subsidiaries; however, if any significant reductions in workforce in respect of employees of SICOR and its subsidiaries become necessary, they shall be made on a fair and equitable basis, in light of the circumstances and the objectives to be achieved, to be determined by Teva in its reasonable discretion. Any workforce reductions carried out following the effective time of the merger by Teva or SICOR and their respective subsidiaries shall be done in accordance with all applicable collective bargaining agreements, and all laws and regulations governing the employment relationship and its termination.

 

Continued Director and Officer Indemnification. After the consummation of the merger, Teva will indemnify certain existing and former directors, officers and employees of SICOR as required pursuant to existing indemnity agreements of SICOR, which agreements were amended and restated prior to the merger agreement to clarify that there is a presumption that the indemnified parties are entitled to indemnification and that the indemnified parties as a group are entitled to at least one counsel of their choosing. In addition, Teva will, for a period of six years following the merger, maintain the same provisions regarding the indemnification of officers and directors currently contained in SICOR’s charter documents for claims arising from facts or events that occurred on or prior to the consummation of the merger.

 

Conditions to the Merger

 

The respective obligations of Teva, SICOR and Merger Sub to complete the merger are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.

 

Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The obligations of each party to complete the merger are subject to each of the following conditions being fulfilled (or waived by the parties):

 

  the approval of the merger and the merger agreement by SICOR’s stockholders;

 

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  the waiting period applicable to the merger under the HSR Act having expired or having been terminated;

 

  all required statutory approvals of the Mexican, German and Brazilian merger control authorities, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and the National Association of Securities Dealers having been obtained and having become final orders and no such final order shall impose terms or conditions that would have, or would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Teva or SICOR (together with their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole), respectively;

 

  the absence of any law, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction or other order that is in effect and permanently enjoins or otherwise prohibits consummation of the merger or the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;

 

  the registration statement, of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, having been declared effective by the SEC and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the SEC, and all Israeli authorizations necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement having been obtained.

 

Conditions to Obligations of Teva and Merger Sub to Effect the Merger. The obligations of Teva and Merger Sub to complete the merger are subject to each of the following additional conditions being fulfilled (or waived by Teva):

 

  the representations and warranties of SICOR having been true and correct as of the closing date as though made on and as of the closing date, except for failures to be true and correct that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on SICOR, and Teva having received a certificate of the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of SICOR to that effect;

 

  SICOR having performed in all material respects all material obligations required to be performed by the merger agreement at or prior to the closing date, and Teva having received a certificate of the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of SICOR to that effect; and

 

  the absence of any change or other event having a material adverse effect on SICOR and its subsidiaries’ financial condition, business, assets or results of operations taken as a whole.

 

Conditions to Obligation of SICOR to Effect the Merger. The obligation of SICOR to complete the merger is subject to each of the following additional conditions being fulfilled (or waived by SICOR):

 

  the representations and warranties of Teva and Merger Sub having been true and correct on the closing date as though made on and as of the closing date, except for failures to be true and correct that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on Teva or Merger Sub, and SICOR having received a certificate of the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Teva to that effect;

 

  Teva and Merger Sub having performed in all material respects all material obligations required to be performed by the merger agreement at or prior to the closing date, and SICOR having received a certificate of the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Teva to that effect;

 

  the absence of any change or other event having a material adverse effect on Teva and its subsidiaries’ financial condition, business, assets or results of operations taken as a whole; and

 

  the Teva ADRs to be issued in connection with the merger and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the assumed SICOR options having been approved for quotation on NASDAQ.

 

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Termination

 

The merger agreement may be terminated and the merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the completion of the merger:

 

  by mutual written consent of Teva and SICOR;

 

  by either Teva or SICOR if:

 

(1) the merger is not completed by April 30, 2004, unless the proximate cause of the failure of the merger to occur is the failure of the party seeking to terminate the merger agreement to perform any of its obligations under this merger agreement; such termination date shall be automatically extended for six months if the antitrust clearances and other regulatory approvals are the only conditions to the merger that have not been satisfied or waived and such approvals are being pursued diligently and in good faith;

 

(2) the SICOR stockholders do not adopt and approve the merger and the merger agreement; or

 

(3) any court or governmental authority has issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting completion of the merger that has become final and non-appealable after the applicable party has used all commercially reasonable efforts to have such order removed, repealed or overturned;

 

  by SICOR if:

 

(1) prior to the special meeting, the board of directors of SICOR determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that a bona fide unsolicited acquisition proposal is a superior proposal. However, SICOR will not take any such action relative to the superior proposal until at least three calendar days following Teva’s receipt of written notice. The notice will state that SICOR has received a superior proposal and specify the material terms and conditions of the superior proposal. Additionally, SICOR’s board of directors must conclude in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside counsel, that any counterproposal made by Teva is not as favorable (taking into account the termination fee payable under the merger agreement) to SICOR’s stockholders as the superior proposal; or

 

(2) prior to the effective time of the merger, Teva breaches a material representation, warranty, covenant or agreement such that SICOR’s closing conditions are not satisfied and that breach is either not capable of being cured or has not been cured within twenty days after written notice of such breach is given by SICOR to Teva.

 

  by Teva if:

 

(1) prior to the special meeting of the stockholders of SICOR, the board of directors of SICOR determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel that a bona fide unsolicited acquisition proposal is a superior proposal and either adopts an agreement relating to the proposal or recommends the proposal to SICOR stockholders;

 

(2) the board of directors of SICOR has withdrawn or materially and adversely modified its adoption of the merger agreement or its recommendation that the stockholders of SICOR approve this agreement;

 

(3) a tender offer or exchange offer is commenced that, if successful, would result in any third party becoming beneficial owner of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of SICOR common stock and the board of directors of SICOR recommends that the stockholders of SICOR tender their shares in the tender or exchange offer;

 

(4) SICOR fails to call or hold the special stockholders meeting within six months of the date of the merger agreement (subject to extension), unless Teva has breached in any material respect its obligations under the merger agreement in any manner that shall have caused the occurrence of the failure of the SICOR stockholders meeting to be called or held; or

 

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(5) SICOR materially breaches a material representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in the merger agreement such that Teva’s closing conditions are not satisfied and that breach is either not capable of being cured or has not been cured within twenty days after written notice of the breach is given by Teva to SICOR.

 

Effect of Termination

 

If the merger agreement is terminated as described in “—Termination” above, the agreement will be void, and there will be no liability or obligation of any party or its officers and directors except as to confidentiality and fees and expenses, including the termination and other fees described in the following section.

 

Termination and Other Fees

 

SICOR will pay Teva a fee in the amount of $5 million to reimburse Teva for expenses incurred in connection with the transaction if the merger agreement is terminated:

 

(1) by either party because the SICOR stockholders do not adopt the merger agreement at the special meeting, and at the time of the special meeting a third-party acquisition proposal exists or any other announcement of any intention with respect to such a third-party acquisition proposal has been made;

 

(2) by SICOR prior to the special meeting, if the board of directors of SICOR determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel that a bona fide unsolicited acquisition proposal is a superior proposal; or

 

(3) by Teva in the case of an event which entitles Teva to terminate the merger agreement as described above under the fourth bullet point under “—Termination,” except if there has been a material breach by SICOR of any material representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in the merger agreement.

 

In addition, if, within 12 months after any such termination, SICOR enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, a transaction contemplated by an acquisition proposal, then SICOR shall pay to Teva a termination fee (as liquidated damages) of $120 million (which includes charges and expenses incurred by Teva in connection with the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby).

 

Amendment

 

At any time prior to the effective time of the merger, the parties may modify or amend the merger agreement, by action of their respective boards of directors by written agreement executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the respective parties.

 

On November 25, 2003, the parties executed an amended merger agreement to make certain non-substantive corrections to the merger agreement.

 

Stockholders Agreement

 

Concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, Teva executed a stockholders agreement with Carlo Salvi, the vice chairman of SICOR, and certain of his affiliates. Pursuant to the stockholders agreement, and as further described below, those SICOR stockholders have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the merger agreement and merger at the special meeting of the stockholders of SICOR. As of the record date, the stockholders who are parties to the stockholders agreement held 22,335,708 shares, representing approximately 18.7% of the voting power of SICOR common stock as of the record date.

 

Voting of Shares. Until the termination of the stockholders agreement, each stockholder signatory to the stockholders agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of the stockholders agreement, has agreed to vote such stockholder’s shares (or cause to be voted any shares such stockholder controls) of SICOR

 

  in favor of adoption of the merger agreement and approval of the terms thereof and of the merger and each of the other transactions contemplated thereby;

 

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  against any competing acquisition proposal or transaction or occurrence that if proposed to SICOR or its stockholders would constitute a competing acquisition proposal; and

 

  against any amendments to the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or rights plan of SICOR or other proposal, action or transaction that would reasonably be expected to, prevent or materially impede or delay the consummation of the merger or the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of the common stock of SICOR.

 

Grant of Proxy. In furtherance of the stockholders agreement, each stockholder signatory to the stockholders agreement has granted an irrevocable proxy to designees of Teva to vote its shares of SICOR in the manner described in the bullet points above.

 

Transfer Restrictions. Each stockholder signatory to the stockholders agreement has agreed that, except as specifically permitted by the stockholders agreement, following its execution and until its termination, the stockholder will not sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement with respect to the transfer of, or the creation or offer of any derivative security in respect of, shares subject to the stockholders agreement other than pursuant to the merger. Except as specifically permitted by the stockholders agreement, the stockholders have also agreed not to enter into any voting arrangement with respect to shares subject to the stockholders agreement or to deposit any shares subject to the stockholders agreement into a voting trust. A stockholder may, with Teva’s consent, pledge or encumber shares subject to the stockholders agreement so long as such pledge or encumbrance would not impair such stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations under the stockholders agreement.

 

Termination. The stockholders agreement automatically terminates upon the earliest to occur of:

 

  the effective time of the merger;

 

  the date of the termination of the merger agreement; and

 

  the date of any material modification, waiver or amendment to the merger agreement that affects adversely the consideration payable to stockholders of SICOR in the merger.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF TEVA ORDINARY SHARES

 

Description of Teva Ordinary Shares

 

The par value of Teva ordinary shares is NIS 0.10 per share, and all issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Holders of paid-up ordinary shares are entitled to participate equally in the payment of dividends and other distributions and, in the event of liquidation, in all distributions after the discharge of liabilities to creditors.

 

Teva’s board of directors may declare interim dividends and propose the final dividend with respect to any fiscal year out of profits available for dividends after statutory appropriation to capital reserves. Declaration of a final dividend (not exceeding the amount proposed by the board) requires stockholder approval through the adoption of an ordinary resolution. Dividends are declared in NIS. All ordinary shares represented by the ADRs will be issued in registered form only. Ordinary shares do not entitle their holders to preemptive rights.

 

Voting is on the basis of one vote per share. An ordinary resolution (for example, resolutions for the approval of final dividends and the appointment of auditors) requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voting in person or by proxy. Certain resolutions (for example, resolutions amending the articles of association and authorizing changes in the rights of stockholders) require the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the shares voting in person or by proxy, and certain amendments of the articles of association require the affirmative vote of at least 85% of the shares voting in person or by proxy, unless a lower percentage shall have been established by the board of directors, approved by three-quarters of those persons voting, at a meeting of the board of directors which shall have taken place prior to that general meeting.

 

Meetings of Stockholders

 

Under the Israeli Companies Law, Teva is required to hold an annual meeting every year no later than fifteen months after the previous annual meeting. In addition, Teva is required to hold a special meeting:

 

  at the direction of the board of directors;

 

  if so requested by two directors or one-fourth of the serving directors; or

 

  upon the request of one or more stockholders who have at least 5% of the voting rights.

 

If the board of directors receives a demand to convene a special meeting, it must publicly announce the scheduling of the meeting within 21 days after the demand was delivered. The meeting must then be held no later than 35 days after the notice was made public.

 

The agenda at an annual meeting is determined by the board of directors. The agenda must also include proposals for which the convening of a special meeting was demanded, as well as any proposal requested by one or more stockholders who hold no less than 1% of the voting rights, as long as the proposal is one suitable for discussion at an annual meeting.

 

A notice of an annual meeting must be made public and delivered to every stockholder registered in the stockholders register at least 30 days before the meeting is convened. The stockholders entitled to participate and vote at the meeting are the stockholders as of the record date set in the decision to convene the meeting, provided that the record date is not more than 40 days, and not less than four days, before the date of the meeting, provided that notice of the general meeting was published prior to the record date.

 

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Under the Israeli Companies Law, a stockholder who intends to vote at a meeting must demonstrate that he owns shares in accordance with certain regulations. Under these regulations, a stockholder whose shares are registered with a member of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange must provide Teva with an authorization from such member regarding his ownership as of the record date.

 

Right of Non-Israeli Stockholders to Vote

 

Neither Teva’s memorandum nor its articles of association, nor the laws of the State of Israel restrict in any way the ownership or voting of Teva’s ordinary shares by nonresidents or persons who are not citizens of Israel, except with respect to citizens or residents of countries that are in a state of war with Israel.

 

Change of Control

 

Under the Israeli Companies Law, a merger requires approval by the board of directors and by the stockholders of each of the merging companies. In approving a merger, the board of directors must determine that there is no reasonable expectation that, as a result of the merger, the merged company will not be able to meet its obligations to its creditors. Creditors may also seek a court order to enjoin or delay the merger if there is an expectation that the merged company will not be able to meet its obligations to its creditors. A court may also issue other instructions for the protection of the creditors’ rights in connection with a merger.

 

Under the Israeli Companies Law, an acquisition of shares in a public company must be made by means of a purchase offer to all stockholders if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a 25% stockholder of the company. This rule does not apply if there is already another 25% stockholder of the company.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF TEVA AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

Set forth below is a summary of the deposit agreement, as amended, among Teva, The Bank of New York as depositary, which we refer to as the depositary, and the holders from time to time of ADRs. This summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the deposit agreement, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 filed with the SEC on February 15, 2000. Additional copies of the deposit agreement are available for inspection at the corporate trust office of the depositary, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, and at the principal Tel Aviv office of Bank Leumi Le-Israel Ltd., 2-4 Lilienblum Street, Tel Aviv, Israel, and the principal Tel Aviv office of Israel Discount Bank Limited, 27-31 Yehuda Halevi Street, Tel Aviv, Israel, which we refer to as, collectively, the custodian.

 

American Depositary Receipts

 

ADRs evidencing a specified number of ADSs are issuable by the depositary pursuant to the deposit agreement. Each ADS represents one ordinary share of Teva deposited with the custodian.

 

Deposit and Withdrawal of Ordinary Shares

 

The depositary has agreed that, upon deposit with the custodian of ordinary shares of Teva accompanied by an appropriate instrument or instruments of transfer or endorsement in form satisfactory to the custodian and any certificates as may be required by the depositary or the custodian, the depositary will execute and deliver at its corporate trust office, upon payment of the fees, charges and taxes provided in the deposit agreement, to or upon the written order of the person or persons entitled thereto, an ADR registered in the name of such person or persons for the number of ADSs issuable with respect to such deposit.

 

Every person depositing ordinary shares under the deposit agreement shall be deemed to represent and warrant that such ordinary shares are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable ordinary shares and that such person is duly authorized to make such deposit, and the deposit of such ordinary shares or sale of ADRs by that person is not restricted under the Securities Act.

 

Upon surrender of ADRs at the corporate trust office of the depositary, and upon payment of the fees provided in the deposit agreement, ADR holders are entitled to delivery to them or upon their order at the principal office of the custodian or at the corporate trust office of the depositary of certificates representing the ordinary shares and any other securities, property or cash that the surrendered ADRs evidence the right to receive. Delivery to the corporate trust office of the depositary shall be made at the risk and expense of the ADR holder surrendering ADRs.

 

The depositary may execute and deliver ADRs prior to the receipt of ordinary shares or “pre-release.” The depositary may deliver ordinary shares upon the receipt and cancellation of ADRs that have been pre-released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such pre-release or the depositary knows that such ADR has been pre-released. Each pre-release will be:

 

  accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom ordinary shares or ADRs are to be delivered that such person, or its customer, owns the ordinary shares or ADRs to be remitted, as the case may be;

 

  at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the depositary deems appropriate;

 

  terminable by the depositary with no more than 5 business days’ notice; and

 

  subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the depositary deems appropriate.

 

The number of ADRs outstanding at any time as a result of pre-releases will not normally exceed 30% of the ordinary shares deposited with the depositary; provided, however, that the depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.

 

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Dividends, Other Distributions and Rights

 

The depositary is required to convert or cause to be converted into U.S. dollars, to the extent that in its judgment it can reasonably do so and transfer the resulting U.S. dollars to the United States, all cash dividends and other cash distributions denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars that it receives in respect of the deposited ordinary shares, and to distribute the amount received, net of any expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with conversion, to the holders of ADRs. The amount distributed will be reduced by any amounts to be withheld by Teva or the depositary for applicable taxes, net of expenses of conversion into U.S. dollars. For a more detailed discussion regarding tax considerations, you should carefully review the section below entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Dividends.” If the depositary determines that any foreign currency received by it cannot be so converted on a reasonable basis and transferred, or if any required approval or license of any government or agency is denied or not obtained within a reasonable period of time, the depositary may distribute such foreign currency received by it or hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of the ADR holders. If any conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the holders of ADRs entitled thereto, the depositary may make such conversion and distribution in U.S. dollars to the extent permissible to such holders of ADRs and may distribute the balance of the currency received by the depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of such holders of ADRs.

 

If any distribution upon any ordinary shares deposited or deemed deposited under the deposit agreement consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, additional ordinary shares, the depositary shall, only if Teva so requests, distribute to the holders of outstanding ADRs, on a pro rata basis, additional ADRs that represent the number of additional ordinary shares received as such dividend or free distribution subject to the terms and conditions of the deposit agreement. In lieu of delivering fractional ADRs in the event of any such distribution, the depositary will sell the amount of additional ordinary shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and will distribute the net proceeds to holders of ADRs. If additional ADRs are not so distributed, each ADR shall thereafter also represent the additional ordinary shares distributed together with the ordinary shares represented by such ADR prior to such distribution.

 

If Teva offers or causes to be offered to the holders of ordinary shares any rights to subscribe for additional ordinary shares or any rights of any other nature, the depositary, after consultation with Teva, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to holders of ADRs or in disposing of such rights for the benefit of such holders and making the net proceeds available to such holders or, if the depositary may neither make such rights available to such holders nor dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such holders, the depositary shall allow the rights to lapse; provided, however, that the depositary will, if requested by Teva, take action as follows:

 

  if at the time of the offering of any rights the depositary determines in its discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all holders of ADRs or to certain holders of ADRs but not other holders of ADRs, the depositary may distribute to any holder of ADRs to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, on a pro rata basis, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate; or

 

  if the depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to certain holders of ADRs, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of ADRs held by the holder of ADRs to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the depositary and all taxes and governmental charges) for the account of such holders of ADRs otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such holders of ADRs because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any ADR or otherwise.

 

The depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful and feasible to make such rights available to holders of ADRs in general or any holder in particular.

 

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If a holder of ADRs requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the ADSs of such holder, the depositary will make such rights available to such holder upon written notice from Teva to the depositary that Teva has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and such holder has executed such documents as Teva has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law. Upon instruction pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the depositary from such holder to exercise such rights, upon payment by such holder to the depositary for the account of such holder of an amount equal to the purchase price of the ordinary shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the depositary as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the depositary shall, on behalf of such holder, exercise the rights and purchase the ordinary shares, and Teva shall cause the ordinary shares so purchased to be delivered to the depositary on behalf of such holder. As agent for such holder, the depositary will cause the ordinary shares so purchased to be deposited under the deposit agreement, and shall issue and deliver to such holder legended ADRs, restricted as to transfer under applicable securities laws.

 

The depositary will not offer to the holders of ADRs any rights to subscribe for additional ordinary shares or rights of any other nature, unless and until such a registration statement is in effect with respect to the rights and the securities to which they relate, or unless the offering and sale of such securities to the holders of such ADRs are exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act and an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the depositary and Teva has been obtained.

 

If the depositary determines that any distribution of property is subject to any tax or other governmental charge that the depositary is obligated to withhold, the depositary may by public or private sale in Israel dispose of all or a portion of such property in such amounts and in such manner as the depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges, and the depositary will distribute the net proceeds of any such sale and after deduction of any taxes or charges to the ADR holders entitled thereto.

 

Upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other reclassification of ordinary shares, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting Teva or to which it is a party, any securities that shall be received by the depositary or the custodian in exchange for or in conversion of or in respect of ordinary shares shall be treated as newly deposited ordinary shares under the deposit agreement, and ADRs shall thenceforth represent the new ordinary shares so received in respect of ordinary shares, unless additional ADRs are delivered or the depositary calls for the surrender of outstanding ADRs to be exchanged for new ADRs.

 

Record Dates

 

Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable, any distribution other than cash shall be made or rights shall be issued with respect to the ordinary shares, or whenever for any reason the depositary causes a change in the number of ordinary shares that are represented by each ADR, or whenever the depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of ordinary shares, the depositary shall fix a record date:

 

  for the determination of the holders of ADRs who shall be entitled

 

    to receive such dividend, distribution or rights, or the net proceeds of the sale, or

 

    to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting; or

 

  on or after which each ADS will represent the changed number of ordinary shares.

 

Reports and Other Communications

 

Teva will furnish to the depositary and the custodian all notices of stockholders’ meetings and other reports and communications that are made generally available to the holders of ordinary shares and English translations

 

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of the same. The depositary will make such notices, reports and communications available for inspection by ADR holders at its corporate trust office when furnished by Teva pursuant to the deposit agreement and, upon request by Teva, will mail such notices, reports and communications to ADR holders at Teva’s expense.

 

Voting of the Underlying Ordinary Shares

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies of holders of ordinary shares, if requested in writing, the depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the ADR holders a notice containing:

 

  such information as is contained in the notice received by the depositary; and

 

  a statement that the holders of ADRs as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to applicable law and the provisions of Teva’s memorandum and articles of association, to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of ordinary shares represented by their respective ADSs.

 

Upon the written request of an ADR holder on such record date, received on of before the date established by the depositary for such purpose, the depositary shall endeavor, insofar as is practicable and permitted under applicable law and the provisions of Teva’s memorandum and articles of association, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of ordinary shares represented by the ADRs in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. If no instructions are received by the depositary from a holder of an ADR, the depositary shall give a discretionary proxy for the ordinary shares represented by such holder’s ADR to a person designated by Teva.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

 

The form of the ADRs and the terms of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by written agreement between Teva and the depositary. Any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than taxes or other governmental charges), or that otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of ADRs shall, however, not become effective until the expiration of three months after notice of such amendment has been given to the holders of outstanding ADRs. Every holder of an ADR at the time such amendment becomes effective will be deemed, by continuing to hold such ADR, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended thereby. In no event will any amendment impair the right of any ADR holder to surrender the ADRs held by such holder and receive therefore the underlying ordinary shares and any other property represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.

 

Whenever so directed by Teva, the depositary has agreed to terminate the deposit agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the holders of all ADRs then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The depositary may likewise terminate the deposit agreement if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the depositary shall have delivered to the holders of all ADRs then outstanding and Teva a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment.

 

On and after the date of termination, an ADR holder, upon surrender of such ADR at the corporate trust office of the depositary, upon payment of the fees of the depositary, and upon payment of any applicable tax or governmental charges, will be entitled to delivery to him or upon his order of the amount of ordinary shares and other property represented by such ADR. If any ADRs remain outstanding after the date of termination, the depositary thereafter will discontinue the registration of transfers of ADRs, will suspend the distribution of dividends to the holders and will not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the deposit agreement, except:

 

  the collection of dividends and other distributions;

 

  the sale of rights and other property; and

 

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  the delivery of ordinary shares, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for surrendered ADRs, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement.

 

At any time after the expiration of one year from the date of termination, the depositary may sell the underlying ordinary shares and hold uninvested the net proceeds, together with any cash then held by it under the deposit agreement, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the holders of ADRs that have not theretofore surrendered their ADRs and such holders shall become general creditors of the depositary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the deposit agreement, except to account for net proceeds and other cash (after deducting fees of the depositary) and except for obligations for indemnification set forth in the deposit agreement. Upon the termination of the deposit agreement, Teva will also be discharged from all obligations thereunder, except for certain obligations to the depositary.

 

Charges of Depositary

 

Teva will pay the fees, reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket charges of the depositary and those of any registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the depositary and Teva from time to time. The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing ordinary shares or by any party surrendering ADRs or to whom ADRs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by Teva or an exchange of stock regarding the ADRs or deposited ordinary shares or a distribution of ADRs pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement):

 

  the fees of the depositary for the execution and delivery, transfer, or surrender of ADRs, or the making of any cash distribution, pursuant to the deposit agreement;

 

  any applicable taxes and other governmental charges;

 

  any applicable transfer or registration fees;

 

  certain cable, telex and facsimile transmission charges as provided in the deposit agreement;

 

  any expenses incurred in the conversion of foreign currency;

 

  a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 ADRs (or a portion of such amount of ADRs) for the delivery of ADRs in connection with the deposit of ordinary shares or distributions on ordinary shares on the surrender of ADRs; and

 

  a fee not in excess of $1.50 or less per certificate for an ADR or ADRs for transfers made pursuant to the deposit agreement.

 

The depositary may own and deal in any class of securities of Teva and its affiliates and in ADRs.

 

Liability of Holders for Taxes, Duties or Other Charges

 

Any tax or other governmental charge with respect to ADRs or any deposited ordinary shares represented by any ADR shall be payable by the holder of such ADR to the depositary. The depositary may refuse to effect transfer of such ADR or any withdrawal of deposited ordinary shares represented by such ADR until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions or may sell for the account of the holder any part or all of the deposited ordinary shares represented by such ADR and may apply such dividends or distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of any such tax or other governmental charge and the holder of such ADR shall remain liable for any deficiency.

 

Transfer of American Depositary Receipts

 

The ADRs are transferable on the books of the depositary, except during any period when the transfer books of the depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the depositary or Teva at

 

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any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission or under any provision of the deposit agreement. The surrender of outstanding ADRs and withdrawal of deposited ordinary shares may not be suspended subject only to:

 

  temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the depositary or Teva, the deposit of ordinary shares in connection with voting at a stockholders’ meeting or the payment of dividends;

 

  the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges; and

 

  compliance with the United States or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the ADRs or to the withdrawal of the deposited ordinary shares.

 

The depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the deposit agreement any ordinary shares required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such ordinary shares. As a condition to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination or surrender of any ADR or withdrawal of ordinary shares, the depositary, the custodian or the registrar may require payment from the person presenting the ADR or the depositor of the ordinary shares of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto, payment of any applicable fees payable by the holders of ADRs, may require the production of proof satisfactory to the depositary as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the deposit agreement. The depositary may refuse to execute and deliver ADRs, register the transfer of any ADR or make any distribution on, or related to, ordinary shares until it or the custodian has received proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval or other information as it may deem necessary or proper. Holders of ADRs may inspect the transfer books of the depositary at any reasonable time, provided, that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with holders of ADRs in the interest of a business or object other than Teva’s business or a matter related to the deposit agreement or ADRs.

 

General

 

Neither the depositary nor Teva nor any of their directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates will be liable to the holders of ADRs if by reason of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country or of any government or regulatory authority or any stock exchange, any provision, present or future, of Teva’s memorandum and articles of association or any circumstance beyond its control, the depositary or Teva or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates is prevented or delayed in performing its obligations or exercising its discretion under the deposit agreement or is subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of performing its obligations. The obligations of Teva and the depositary under the deposit agreement are expressly limited to performing their obligations specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith.

 

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COMPARATIVE RIGHTS OF TEVA AND SICOR STOCKHOLDERS

 

Teva is incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel. SICOR is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. If the merger is completed, SICOR stockholders will exchange their respective shares of SICOR common stock for cash and Teva ordinary shares which will trade in the United States in the form of ADSs evidenced by ADRs in accordance with the merger agreement. The following is a summary comparison of material differences between the rights of a SICOR common stockholder and a Teva ordinary stockholder arising from the differences between the laws of the State of Delaware and of the State of Israel and the governing instruments of the respective companies. As Teva’s ordinary shares are listed and traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and are traded on NASDAQ in the form of ADSs, evidenced by ADRs, Teva is subject to various United States and Israeli securities laws and regulations.

 

The following summary does not purport to be a complete statement of the rights of holders of Teva ordinary shares under the applicable provisions of the Israeli Companies Law, the Teva memorandum of association and the Teva articles of association or the rights of the holders of SICOR common stock under the applicable provisions of the DGCL, the SICOR certificate of incorporation and the SICOR by-laws, or a complete description of the specific provisions referred to herein. This summary contains a list of the material differences but is not meant to be relied upon as an exhaustive list or a detailed description of the provisions discussed and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the laws of Israel, Delaware or the United States, the Teva memorandum of association and the Teva articles of association or the SICOR certificate of incorporation and the SICOR by-laws.

 

Copies of such governing corporate instruments of Teva and SICOR are available, without charge, to any person, including any beneficial owner to whom this proxy statement/prospectus is delivered, by following the instructions listed under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

For a description of the Teva ordinary shares and the Teva ADRs and a discussion of the ways in which the rights of holders of Teva ADRs may differ from those of holders of Teva ordinary shares, you should read carefully the sections above entitled “Description of Teva Ordinary Shares” and “Description of Teva American Depositary Shares.”

 

Summary of Material Differences Between

the Rights of SICOR Stockholders and the Rights of Teva Stockholders

 

    

SICOR Stockholder Rights


  

Teva Stockholder Rights


Number of Directors:

   Under the DGCL, a corporation’s board of directors must consist of at least one member with the number fixed by the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the corporation. SICOR’s board of directors currently consists of ten directors. The number of directors is established from time to time by resolution of the board of directors. A shareholder’s agreement between SICOR and Rakepoll Finance N.V., which we refer to as Rakepoll, specifies certain designation of directors by Rakepoll and certain designation
   Under the Israeli Companies Law, a public company must have two statutory independent directors. Teva’s board of directors currently consists of thirteen directors (including the two statutory independent directors). Under Teva’s articles of association, there must be at least three and not more than sixteen directors on the board of directors, not including the two statutory independent directors. The board of directors is entitled to change the maximum number of directors to any number that is not less than 15 and whose division by

 

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     of directors by the management of SICOR as such existed at the timeof the shareholder’s agreement (November 12, 1996) which designation rights are related to Rakepoll’s ownership interest in SICOR. Under the shareholder’s agreement, SICOR currently has, from among a board of ten directors, three directors designated by Rakepoll, one of which is an independent director, and two directors designated by the management, one of which is an independent director.   

three is an integer, by the affirmative vote of three-quarters of the persons voting, as long as the number of the directors who are voting in favor of said resolution is not fewer than nine.

 

Unless Teva’s center of management is transferred to another country, the majority of the members of the board of directors have to be residents of Israel.

Election of Directors:

   Directors are elected at an annual meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present by a plurality vote.   

Directors are elected at an annual meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present by a majority of the participating votes cast by holders of shares present or represented by proxy. The statutory independent directors are elected by a qualified majority at a general meeting of stockholders. The votes cast in favor of the election of the independent directors must include at least one-third of the votes cast by stockholders who are not controlling stockholders of the company. In the alternative, the election of the independent directors is also valid if the votes cast against the election of the independent directors by stockholders who are not controlling stockholders of the company do not exceed 1% of the company’s total voting power.

The board of directors is entitled at any time to appoint the chief executive officer as a member of the board of directors.

Term and Classes of Directors:

   There are three classes of SICOR directors. Each class serves for a three-year term, with the term of one of the three classes of directors expiring each year.    In addition to the two statutory independent directors, there are three classes of Teva directors. Each class serves for a three-year term, with the term of one of the three classes of directors expiring

 

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          each year. Statutory independent directors are elected for a term of three years (with an optional extension for one additional three-year term).

Removal of Directors:

   Under the DGCL, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote in an election of directors, unless the certificate of incorporation limits such removal so that directors may only be removed for cause. SICOR’s certificate of incorporation does not so limit the removal of directors.    Directors, other than the two statutory independent directors, may be removed from office only upon: (a) death, (b) bankruptcy, (c) mental illness or if the director has been declared incompetent, (d) resignation, (e) the affirmative vote of the stockholders upon the director’s violation of his or her duty of care or fiduciary duty, (f) conviction of certain offenses, or (g) court order. Statutory independent directors may only be removed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Israeli Companies Law.

Vacancies on the Board:

   If any vacancies occur in SICOR’s board of directors, by reason of death, resignation, removal or if the authorized number of directors is increased, the directors then in office will continue to act and may fill any such vacancy by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum ; provided, however, that under its shareholder’s agreement, Rakepoll has the right to designate a replacement for any director designated by Rakepoll and the management directors have the right to designate a replacement for any management directors. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship will hold office until the next annual election at which the term of the class to which he or she has been elected expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.    If any vacancies occur in Teva’s board of directors, by reason of death, bankruptcy, incompetency, resignation, violation of duty of care or of fiduciary duty or by operation of law, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of the remaining directors then in office, and the directors so elected will hold office until the date on which the term in office of his or her predecessor would have expired. Vacancies occurring when the number of members of any class of directors becomes less than the maximum number of members of such class, may be filled by the board of directors, at any time and from time to time, up to the maximum number within such class and such appointed directors shall serve until the expiry of the term of office of the members of the class in question.

 

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Board Quorum and Vote Requirements:   

At any meeting of SICOR’s board of directors, the presence of a majority of the whole board of directors constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise required by law, SICOR’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient for the act of the board of directors.

  

The quorum required for a session of Teva’s board of directors is the majority of the members of the board then serving in office, but not fewer than three directors. Except as otherwise required by the Israeli Companies Law or Teva’s articles of association, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient for the act of the board of directors. If the votes are tied, the chairman of the board of directors is entitled to cast an additional vote.

Action of the Board of Directors Without a Meeting:   

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of SICOR’s board of directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board of directors consent thereto in writing, and if such writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board of directors.

  

Actions required or permitted to be taken by Teva’s board of directors may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board of directors that are entitled to vote on the applicable matter consent thereto.

Approval of Certain Transactions and Matters:   

At all times that Rakepoll’s interest is 50% or more of its initial interest (as it currently is), the approval of the directors designated by Rakepoll is required for the board of directors to approve certain transactions, including any merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of SICOR or its dissolution.

  

Teva’s center of management is to be maintained in Israel, unless decided otherwise by the board of directors upon the affirmative vote of three-quarters of the participating votes. Unless Teva’s center of management is transferred to another country, all of Teva’s general meetings of stockholders, and all sessions of the board of directors, are to be convened in Israel, the majority of the members of the board of directors have to be residents of Israel and the chief executive officer has to be a resident of Israel throughout the entire duration of his or her office.

 

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Stockholder Meetings:

   The annual meeting of SICOR’s stockholders is held at such date and time as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.    The annual meeting of Teva’s stockholders is held at such date and time as may be designated by the chairman of the board or the secretary of Teva, but no later than fifteen months after the last annual meeting.
     Under the DGCL, special meetings of stockholders may be called by the board of directors and by such other person or persons authorized to do so by the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws. Under SICOR’s by-laws, a special meeting of stockholders may be called by (a) the chairman of the board, (b) the President or (c) resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of board of directors. Business transacted at any special meeting is limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting. Written notice of any annual or special meeting stating the purpose, date, time and place must be delivered not less than ten and not more than 60 days before the meeting.    Under the Israeli Companies Law and Teva’s articles of association, special meetings of Teva’s stockholders may be called by the board of directors or by the request of (a) two directors, (b) one-quarter of the directors in office, or (c) stockholders holding at least five percent of Teva’s voting rights. Notice of the special meeting stating the agenda and proposed resolutions must be delivered to stockholders of record and published at least 30 days prior to the meeting. If the votes in any meeting of the stockholders are tied, the chairman of the stockholders’ meeting is entitled to cast an additional vote. The chairman of a stockholders’ meeting is the chairman of the board or anyone appointed by the board of directors or the stockholders for that purpose.
Quorum Requirements:    The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of a majority of shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at a meeting of SICOR stockholders constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.    The presence in person or by proxy of two or more stockholders who jointly hold 25% or more of Teva’s issued share capital at a stockholders meeting constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting. If no quorum is present within half an hour after the time set for the meeting, whether annual meeting or special meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned to one week from that date. If no quorum is present within half an hour after the time set for the adjourned meeting, the presence of any two or more stockholders who jointly hold 20% or more of the issued share capital constitutes a quorum.

 

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Action of Stockholders by Written Consent:   

Any action required or permitted to be taken by SICOR’s stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting and the ability of SICOR’s stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action is specifically denied.

  

The Israeli Companies Law does not provide for an action of stockholders of a public company by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Association:   

Under the DGCL, the charter of a corporation may be amended by resolution of the board of directors and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of voting stock then entitled to vote. Under SICOR’s certificate of incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, is required to amend the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws relating to: (a) the liability of the directors, (b) the staggered board of directors and (c) the prohibition on stockholders’ action by written consent.

  

Teva’s memorandum of association principally sets forth its purposes and therefore is unlikely to be changed. However, an amendment to the memorandum can be generally affected by the affirmative vote of the holders of 75% of the voting rights in Teva.

Amendment of By-laws, Articles of Association:   

The DGCL provides that the stockholders entitled to vote shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal by-laws. A corporation may, in its certificate of incorporation, confer such powers on the board of directors. SICOR’s by-laws provide that the by-laws may be amended (a) the board of directors, upon the vote of 66 2/3% of the total number of authorized directors or (ii) the stockholders, upon the vote of 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a

  

Under the Israeli Companies Law, the articles of association fill the role which includes substantially all of the elements that under the DGCL are split between the certificate of incorporation and the by-laws of a company.

 

Teva’s articles of association provide that an amendment to the articles of association relating to the location of the center of management in Israel and certain provisions relating to the board of directors and the chief executive officer requires the affirmative vote of 85% of the voting rights in

 

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     single class. The sections related to Rakepoll may not be amended without the Rakepoll directors’ consent (if approved by the board of directors) or Rakepoll’s approval (if approved by the stockholders) as long as Rakepoll holds more than 10% of its initial interest.    Teva represented at a stockholders’ meeting and voting thereon unless a lower percentage has been established by the board of directors upon the affirmative vote of three-quarters of the board of directors present at a board meeting and voting thereon. All other articles may be amended by the affirmative vote of three-quarters of the voting rights in Teva represented at a stockholders’ meeting and voting thereon unless a lower percentage has been established by the board of directors upon the affirmative vote of three-quarters of the board of directors present at a board meeting and voting thereon.
Exculpation of Directors:    Under the DGCL, a corporation may include in its certificate of incorporation a provision that limits or eliminates the personal liability of directors to the corporation and its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, a corporation may not limit or eliminate the personal liability of a director for: (a) any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (b) acts or omissions in bad faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (c) intentional or negligent payments of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemption; or (d) any transaction in which the director derives an improper personal benefit.    The Israeli Companies Law provides that a company cannot exculpate an officeholder (which is defined under the Israeli Companies Law to include a director, general manager, managing director, chief executive officer, executive vice president, vice president, other managers directly subordinate to the general manager and any other person fulfilling or assuming any of the foregoing positions or responsibilities without regard to such person’s title) from liability with respect to a breach of his or her duty of loyalty. However, the Israeli Companies Law allows companies to, and Teva articles of association provide that Teva may, exculpate in advance an officeholder from his or her liability to the company, in whole or in part, with respect to a breach of his or her duty of care, except for (a) a breach by the officeholder of his or her duty of care if such breach was done intentionally or in disregard of the circumstances of the breach or its consequences; (b) any act or omission done with the

 

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          intent to derive an illegal personal gain; or (c) a fine or monetary settlement imposed upon the officeholder.
Indemnification and Insurance of Directors, Officers and Employees:   

The DGCL permits a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to: (a) any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and reasonable settlement amounts if such person acted in good faith and reasonably believed that his or her actions were in or not opposed to the best interests of such corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful; (b) any derivative action or suit on behalf of such corporation against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if such person acted in good faith and reasonably believed that his or her actions were in or not opposed to the best interest of such corporation. In the event that a person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation in a derivative suit, the DGCL prohibits indemnification unless either the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such derivative suit was brought determines that such person is entitled to indemnification for those expenses which such court deems proper. To the extent that a representative of a corporation has been successful on the merits or

  

The Israeli Companies Law provides that a company may not exculpate or indemnify an officeholder, nor enter into an insurance contract which would provide coverage for any monetary liability incurred as a result of any of the following: (a) a breach by the officeholder of his or her duty of loyalty unless, with respect to insurance, the officeholder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not cause the company harm; (b) a breach by the officeholder of his or her duty of care if such breach was done intentionally or in disregard of the circumstances of the breach or its consequences; (c) any act or omission done with the intent to derive an illegal personal gain; or (d) a fine or monetary settlement imposed upon the officeholder. Teva’s articles of association provide that subject to the Israeli Companies Law, it is entitled to indemnify any officer, as a result of any of the following: (a) financial liability which shall be imposed upon said officer in favor of another person by virtue of a decision by a court of law, including a decision by way of compromise or a decision in arbitration which has been confirmed by a court of law, as a result of any action which was performed by said officer in his or her capacity as an officer of the company; (b) reasonable expenses with regard to litigation, including legal fees, which said officer shall have expended or shall have been obligated to expend by a court of

 

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otherwise in the defense of a third party or derivative action, indemnification for actual and reasonable expenses incurred is mandatory.

 

SICOR’s certificate of incorporation provides that SICOR shall indemnify its directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL. It further provides that SICOR may, at the discretion of its board, also indemnify employees and agents of SICOR.

   law, in any proceedings which shall have been filed against said officer by or on behalf of the company or by another person, or with regard to any criminal charge of which said officer was acquitted, or with regard to any criminal charge of which said officer was convicted which does not require proof of criminal intent, all as a result of any action which was performed by said officer in his or her capacity as an officer of the company. The indemnification is limited to the types of events, which, in the opinion of the board of directors, could have been foreseen at the time that the indemnification obligation was given, and to the amount determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances of the case. Teva’s articles of association provide that subject to the Israeli Companies Law, Teva may purchase insurance to cover the liability of any officer as a result of any of the following: (a) breach of a duty of care vis-a-vis the company or vis-a-vis another person; (b) breach of a fiduciary duty vis-a-vis the company, provided that the officer acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to believe that the action in question would not adversely affect the company; or (c) financial liability which shall be imposed upon said officer in favor of another person as a result of any action which was performed by said officer in his or her capacity as an officer of the company. Pursuant to the Israeli Companies Law, indemnification of, exculpation of and procurement of insurance coverage for, officeholders in a public company must be approved by the audit committee, the board of directors and, if the officeholder is a director, by the company’s stockholders.

 

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Conflict of Interest; Fiduciary Duty:   

The DGCL provides that no contract or transaction between a corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between a corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers, are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee of the board which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s votes are counted for such purpose, if: (a) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the board of directors or a committee of the board, and the board or committee of the board in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors may be less than a quorum; (b) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the board of directors, a committee of the board or the stockholders.

 

  

The Israeli Companies Law codifies the fiduciary duties that officeholders, including directors and executive officers, owe to a company. An officeholder’s fiduciary duties consist of a duty of care and a duty of loyalty. The duty of loyalty includes avoiding any conflict of interest between the officeholder’s position in the company and his personal affairs or other position, avoiding any competition with the company’s business, avoiding exploiting any business opportunity of the company in order to receive personal advantage for himself or others, and revealing to the company any information or documents relating to the company’s affairs which the officeholder has received due to his position as an officeholder. Under the Israeli Companies Law, compensation of officeholders who are not directors requires approval of the board of directors or of a committee designated by the board of directors. Compensation of directors requires the approval of the audit committee, the board of directors and the stockholders. The Israeli Companies Law requires that an officeholder promptly disclose any “personal interest” that he or she may have and all related material information known to him or her, in connection with any existing or proposed transaction by the company. In the case of a transaction with an officeholder or with another person in which an officeholder has a “personal interest” which is not an extraordinary transaction, subject to the officeholder’s disclosure of his or her interest, a board approval is sufficient for the approval of the transaction (or the

 

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     Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the board of directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.    approval of a committee of the board, if the articles of association of the company allows delegation of such powers to a committee of the board, such as in Teva’s case). The transaction must not be adverse to the company’s interest. If the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, then, in addition to any approval required by the articles of association, it must also be approved by the board of directors and the audit committee. An extraordinary transaction is defined as a transaction not in the ordinary course of the company’s business, not on market terms, or that is likely to have a material impact on the company’s profitability, property or obligations. Generally, an officeholder who has a personal interest in a matter that is considered at a meeting of the board of directors or the audit committee may not be present at the meeting or vote thereon. Under the Israeli Companies Law, a stockholder has a duty to act in good faith towards the company and the other stockholders and refrain from abusing his or her power in the company, including, among other things, when voting in the general meeting of stockholders on the following matters: (a) any amendment to the articles of association; (b) an increase of the company’s authorized share capital; (c) a merger; or (d) approval of certain acts and transactions, including interested party transactions that require stockholder approval, as specified in the Israeli Companies Law.
Business Combinations; Anti-Takeover Effects:   

Under Section 203 of the DGCL a Delaware corporation is prohibited from engaging in mergers, dispositions of 10% or more of its

  

The Israeli Companies Law does not have a provision directly comparable to Section 203 of the DGCL. However, if a person or

 

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     assets, certain issuances of stock and other transactions (“business combinations”) with a person or group that owns 15% or more of the voting stock of the corporation (an “interested stockholder”) for a period of three years after the interested stockholder crosses the 15% threshold. These restrictions on transactions involving an interested stockholder do not apply if (a) before the interested stockholder owned 15% or more of the voting stock, the board of directors approved the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the person or group becoming an interested stockholder, (b) in the transaction that resulted in the person or group becoming an interested stockholder, the person or group acquired at least 85% of the voting stock other than stock owned by directors who are also officers and certain employee stock plans, or (c) after the person or group became an interested stockholder, the board of directors and at least two-thirds of the voting stock (other than stock owned by the interested stockholder) approved the business combination at a meeting.   

entity holds 25% or more of the shares of an Israeli company then, in connection with any vote relating to a merger with such entity, or a corporation controlled by such person or entity, such merger must be approved by holders of a majority of the voting rights that are held by stockholders other than such person or entity.

 

Appraisal Right:    Under the DGCL, a stockholder of a constituent corporation in a merger may, under certain circumstances and upon meeting certain requirements, dissent from the merger by demanding payment in cash for his or her share equal to the “fair value” (excluding any appreciation or depreciation as a consequence or in expectation of the transaction) of such shares, as determined by agreement with the corporation or by an independent appraiser appointed by a court in action timely brought by the corporation or the dissenters.    The Israeli Companies Law does not provide for stockholders’ appraisal rights except for the appraisal by a court under limited circumstances in connection with the acquisition by means of a tender offer of over 90% of the shares of a publicly traded company.

 

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     Delaware law grants dissenters’ appraisal rights only in the case of certain mergers and not in the case of a sale or transfer of assets or a purchase of assets for stock regardless of the number of shares being issued. Delaware law does not grant appraisal rights in a merger to holders of shares listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders unless the plan of merger converts such shares into anything other than stock of the surviving corporation or stock of another corporation which is listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders (or cash in lieu of fractional shares or some combination of the above). For a more detailed discussion regarding appraisal rights, see the section above entitled “The Merger—Appraisal Rights.”     

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND ISRAELI TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF TEVA ADRs

 

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of ADRs by a holder that is one of the following, which we refer to as a U.S. holder:

 

  a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

  a corporation (or another entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof;

 

  an estate, the income of which is includable in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or

 

  a trust if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

 

This summary is based on laws, regulations, rulings and decisions in effect on the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, and to differing interpretation. The discussion set forth below is intended only as a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of ADRs and does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax consequences of owning ADRs. In particular, this discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be applicable to a U.S. holder subject to special treatment under the Internal Revenue Code (including, but not limited to, banks, partnerships and other pass-through entities, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, broker-dealers, U.S. holders subject to the alternative minimum tax, U.S. holders that actually or constructively own 10% or more of the voting securities of Teva, U.S. holders that hold ordinary shares or ADRs as part of a straddle or hedging or conversion transaction, or U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar). In addition, the discussion does not address the non-income tax or state, local or foreign tax consequences of owning ADRs. Each SICOR stockholder is urged to consult its own tax advisor with respect to the particular tax consequences to it of owning ADRs.

 

Holder for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes

 

For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code, a holder of ADRs will be treated as the beneficial owner of the underlying ordinary shares represented by the ADRs.

 

Taxation of Dividends

 

The amount of any distribution paid to a U.S. holder, including any Israeli taxes withheld from the amount of such distribution, will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation as ordinary income to the extent paid out of Teva’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, special rules apply to dividends paid to individuals with respect to taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008. Such a dividend will be subject to tax at the rates generally applicable to long-term capital gains for individuals (currently at a maximum rate of 15%), provided that the individual receiving the dividend satisfies certain holding period and other requirements. Dividends subject to these special rules are not actually treated as capital gains, however, and thus are not included in the computation of an individual’s net capital gain and generally cannot be used to offset capital losses.

 

The amount of any distribution of property other than cash will be the property’s fair market value on the date of the distribution. To the extent that an amount received by a U.S. holder exceeds that U.S. holder’s allocable share of Teva’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be applied first to reduce

 

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that U.S. holder’s tax basis in the ADRs and then, to the extent the distribution exceeds that U.S. holder’s tax basis, will be treated as capital gain. Any dividend received will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to U.S. corporations in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.

 

U.S. holders may claim the amount of any Israeli income taxes withheld as either a deduction from gross income or as a dollar-for-dollar credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability. Individuals who do not claim itemized deductions but instead utilize the standard deduction may not claim the amount of the Israeli income taxes withheld as a deduction from their gross income, but such amounts may be taken as a credit against the individual’s U.S. federal income tax liability. The Internal Revenue Code sets forth complex limitations on the amount of the credit, which varies in application from taxpayer to taxpayer. These limitations include rules which limit foreign tax credits allowable for specific classes of income to the amount of U.S. federal income taxes otherwise payable on each class of income. The total amount of allowable foreign tax credits in any year may not exceed the pre-credit U.S. tax liability for the year attributable to foreign source taxable income. However, pursuant to a de minimis exception certain individuals may claim a credit of up to $300 ($600 for joint filers) without being subject to these limitations.

 

U.S. tax law provides that foreign tax credits are not allowed for withholding taxes imposed in respect of short-term or hedged positions in securities or in respect of arrangements in which a U.S. holder’s expected economic benefit, after non-U.S. taxes, is insubstantial. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors concerning the application of these rules in light of their particular circumstances.

 

Taxation of the Disposition of ADRs

 

Upon the sale or exchange of ADRs, a U.S. holder will generally recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. holder’s aggregate adjusted tax basis in the ADRs. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if the ADRs were capital assets in the hands of the U.S. holder. There are different tax rates that may apply depending upon the date of sale, the holding period and the individual’s marginal rate of tax. In general, the capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. holder is subject to tax at ordinary income rates for ADRs held for one year or less and to a maximum capital gain tax rate of currently 15% for ADRs held for more than one year.

 

The surrender of ADRs in exchange for ordinary shares, or vice versa, will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and U.S. holders will not recognize any gain or loss upon such an exchange.

 

U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

A U.S. holder generally will be subject to information reporting with respect to dividends paid on, or proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, an ADR unless the U.S. holder is an “exempt recipient” (e.g., a corporation). If it is not an exempt recipient, a U.S. holder may also be subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%) with respect to dividends or proceeds from the sale or disposition of an ADR unless the U.S. holder provides its taxpayer identification number and the other applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules are complied with. Any amount withheld under these rules will be creditable against the U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability or refundable to the extent that it exceeds this liability, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

U.S. holders should review the summary below under “—Israeli Tax Considerations” for a discussion of the Israeli taxes which may be applicable to them.

 

Israeli Tax Considerations

 

Corporate Tax Rate

 

The regular corporate tax rate in Israel is 36% for undistributed earnings. However, Teva’s effective consolidated tax rates (before deduction of one-time charges) for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002 were 24.4%, 19.6% and 17.0%, respectively, since part of Teva’s income is derived from Approved Enterprises (as discussed below) and operations outside of Israel, where Teva has enjoyed lower tax rates.

 

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Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 1969, or the Industry Encouragement Law

 

Teva and certain of its Israeli subsidiaries currently qualify as Industrial Companies pursuant to the Industry Encouragement Law. As such, Teva and these subsidiaries qualify for certain tax benefits, including a deduction of 12.5% per annum of the purchase price of a good-faith acquisition of a patent or of certain other intangible property rights and the right to file consolidated tax returns. Currently, Teva files consolidated tax returns together with certain Israeli subsidiaries. The tax laws and regulations dealing with the adjustment of taxable income for local inflation provide that industrial enterprises such as those of Teva and its subsidiaries which qualify as Industrial Companies can claim special rates of depreciation such as up to 40% on a straight line basis for industrial equipment.

 

Eligibility for the benefits under the Industry Encouragement Law is not subject to receipt of prior approval from any government authority. Teva cannot assure you that Teva or any of its Israeli subsidiaries that presently qualify as Industrial Companies will continue to qualify as such in the future, or that the benefits will be granted in the future.

 

Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959, or the Investment Law

 

Industrial projects of Teva and certain of its Israeli subsidiaries have been granted the status of an Approved Enterprise under the Investment Law. This law provides that capital investments in production facilities may, upon application to the Israel Investment Center, be designated as an Approved Enterprise. Each certificate of approval for an Approved Enterprise relates to a specific investment program delineated both by its financial scope, including its capital sources, and by its physical characteristics, i.e., the equipment to be purchased and utilized pursuant to the program. The tax benefits derived from any such certificate of approval relate only to taxable profits attributable to the specific program, based upon criteria set in the certificate of approval. In addition, certain financial benefits are available (as discussed below). In the event that Teva and its subsidiaries which have been granted Approved Enterprise status are operating under more than one approval or that their capital investments are only partly approved, or a Mixed Enterprise, their effective corporate tax rate will be the result of a weighted combination of the various applicable rates.

 

Income derived from an Approved Enterprise is subject to a tax rate of 25%, rather than the usual rate of 36%, for a period of seven years, commencing with the year in which the Approved Enterprise first generates taxable income. This period cannot extend beyond 12 years from the year of commencement of operations or 14 years from the year in which approval was granted, whichever is earlier.

 

Teva is a Foreign Investors Company, or FIC, as defined by the Investment Law, and is entitled to further reductions in the tax rate normally applicable to Approved Enterprises. Because its current level of foreign ownership is more than 49%, its Approved Enterprise income is taxable at a 20% rate. The period of such benefit is ten years, commencing with the year in which the Approved Enterprise first generates taxable income. This ten-year period cannot extend beyond 12 years from the year of commencement of operations or 14 years from the year in which approval was granted, whichever is earlier. It cannot be assured that Teva will continue to qualify as an FIC in the future, or that the benefits will be granted in the future.

 

Unless extended, benefits under the Investment Law are granted to enterprises seeking approval not later than December 31, 2003.

 

Most of the projects of Teva and certain of its subsidiaries were granted Approved Enterprise status for which the companies elected to apply for alternative tax benefits — waiver of grants in return for tax exemptions on undistributed income. Upon distribution of such exempt income, the distributing company will be subject to corporate tax at the rate ordinarily applicable to the Approved Enterprise’s income. Such tax exemption on undistributed income is for a period limited to two to ten years, depending upon the location of the enterprises. During the remainder of the benefits period (until the expiration of ten years), a corporate tax rate of 20% as above will apply.

 

Dividends paid by companies owning Approved Enterprises, the source of which is income derived from an Approved Enterprise during the benefits period, are generally taxed at a rate of 15% (which is withheld and paid by the company paying the dividend) if such dividends are paid during the benefits period or at any time up to 12 years thereafter. The 12-year limitation does not apply to a FIC.

 

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Taxation of Non-Israeli Subsidiaries

 

Non-Israeli subsidiaries are generally taxed based upon tax laws applicable in their countries of residence.

 

Income Taxes on Dividends Distributed by Teva to Non-Israeli Residents

 

Dividends distributed by an Israeli company to non-Israeli residents are subject to a 25% tax to be withheld at source (15% in the case of dividends distributed from the taxable income attributable to an Approved Enterprise), unless a different rate is provided in a treaty between Israel and the stockholder’s country of residence.

 

Under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, the maximum Israeli tax and withholding tax on dividends paid to a holder of ordinary shares who is a resident of the United States is generally 25%, but is reduced to 12.5% if the dividends are paid to a corporation that holds in excess of 10% of the voting rights of Teva during Teva’s taxable year preceding the distribution of the dividend and the portion of Teva’s taxable year in which the dividend was distributed. Dividends of an Israeli company derived from the income of an Approved Enterprise will still be subject to a 15% dividend withholding tax. The withheld tax is the final tax in Israel on dividends paid to non-residents who do not conduct a business in Israel. The current rate of tax withheld on the dividends is 20%.

 

A non-resident of Israel who has interest or dividend income derived from or accrued in Israel, from which tax was withheld at the source, is generally exempt from the duty to file tax returns in Israel in respect of such income, provided such income was not derived from a business conducted in Israel by the taxpayer.

 

Capital Gains and Income Taxes Applicable to Non-Israeli Stockholders

 

Israeli law generally imposes a capital gains tax on the sale of securities and any other capital asset. The basic capital gains tax rate applicable to corporations effective until December 31, 2002 had been 36%, and the maximum tax rate for individuals had been 50%. Effective January 1, 2003, the capital gains tax rate imposed upon sale of capital assets acquired after that date has been reduced to 25%; capital gains accrued from assets acquired before that date are subject to a blended tax rate based on the relative periods of time before and after that date that the asset was held.

 

In addition, if the ordinary shares are traded on a stock exchange, gains on the sale of ordinary shares held by non-Israeli tax resident investors will generally be exempt from Israeli capital gains tax. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dealers in securities in Israel are taxed at regular tax rates applicable to business income.

 

The U.S.-Israeli Tax Treaty exempts U.S. residents who hold an interest of less than 10% in an Israeli company, including Teva, and who held an interest of less than 10% during the 12 months prior to a sale of their shares, from Israeli capital gains tax in connection with such sale. Certain other tax treaties to which Israel is a party also grant exemptions from Israeli capital gains taxes.

 

Recent Tax Reform Legislation

 

In July 2002, the Israeli Parliament approved a law enacting extensive changes to Israel’s tax law generally effective January 1, 2003. Among the key provisions of this reform legislation are (a) changes which may result in the imposition of taxes on dividends received by an Israeli company from its foreign subsidiaries; and (b) the introduction of the controlled foreign corporation concept according to which an Israeli company may become subject to Israeli taxes on certain income of a non-Israeli subsidiary if the subsidiary’s primary source of income is passive income (such as interest, dividends, royalties, rental income or capital gains). An Israeli company that is subject to Israeli taxes on the income of its non-Israeli subsidiaries will receive a credit for income taxes paid by the subsidiary in its country of residence.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The statements contained in this section may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based largely on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Neither Teva nor SICOR undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements. For a more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties, which may affect such forward-looking statements, please refer to the section entitled “Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” on page 27.

 

The unaudited combined condensed pro forma statements of income combine the historical consolidated statements of income of Teva and SICOR as if the merger had occurred on January 1, 2002. The unaudited combined condensed pro forma balance sheet combines the historical consolidated balance sheet of Teva and the historical consolidated balance sheet of SICOR giving effect to the merger as if it had occurred on September 30, 2003.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements were prepared using the purchase method of accounting. The allocation of the purchase price as reflected in these pro forma combined condensed financial statements has been based upon preliminary estimates of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of merger. Management, with the assistance of independent valuation specialists, is currently assessing the fair values of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. This preliminary allocation of the purchase price is dependent upon certain estimates and assumptions, which are preliminary and have been made solely for the purpose of developing such pro forma combined condensed financial statements.

 

A final determination of the fair values of SICOR’s assets and liabilities, which cannot be made prior to the completion of the transaction, will be based on the actual net tangible and intangible assets of SICOR that exist as of the date of completion of the merger and such valuations could change significantly upon the completion of further analyses and asset valuations from those used in the combined condensed pro forma financial statements presented below.

 

The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial statements do not include liabilities resulting from integration planning and adjustments in respect of possible settlements of outstanding litigation, as these are not presently estimable. Amounts preliminarily allocated to goodwill may significantly decrease and amounts allocated to intangible assets with definite lives may increase significantly, which could result in a material increase in amortization of acquired intangible assets. Therefore, the actual amounts recorded as of the completion of the transaction may differ materially from the information presented in the accompanying unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial statements. In addition to the receipt of the final valuation, the impact of ongoing integration activities, the timing of completion of the transaction and other changes in SICOR’s net tangible and intangible assets that occur prior to completion of the transaction could cause material differences in the information presented.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are not necessarily an indication of the results that would have been achieved had the transaction been completed as of the dates indicated or that may be achieved in the future. The unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the respective historical financial statements and the notes thereto of both Teva and SICOR, which are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Statement of Income

For the nine months ended September 30, 2003

(U.S. dollars in millions, except ADR data)

 

     Teva

    SICOR

   Adjustments

    Note

    Pro
forma


 

Net sales

   $ 2,334.4     $ 405.0                  $ 2,739.4  

Cost of sales

     1,248.5       183.9    $ 1.5     (1 )     1,460.3