UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
 
 
FORM 20-F
 
 
 
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016                                                            Commission File number: 0-24790
_______________________________________________
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter and translation of registrant’s name into English)
________________________________________________________________________________
 
Israel
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Ramat Gavriel Industrial Park
P.O.  Box 619, Migdal Haemek 23105, Israel

(Address of principal executive offices)

Nati Somekh, +972-4-6506109, natiso@towersemi.com;
Ramat Gavriel Industrial Park  P.O. Box 619, Migdal Haemek 2310502, Israel

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
_____________________________________
 
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of Each Class
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Ordinary Shares, par value New Israeli
Shekels 15.00 per share
 
NASDAQ Global Select Market
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None
 
 
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:  None
 
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 92,984,626 Ordinary Shares.
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. 
 
Yes  ☒    No ☐
 
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 
 
Yes ☐   No ☒
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 
 
Yes  ☒    No ☐
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (section 229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).            
 
Yes  ☒    No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.         
 
Large accelerated filer  ☐                                        Accelerated filer  ☒                                        Non-accelerated filer  ☐
 
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
 
US GAAP ☒
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board  ☐
Other  ☐

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. 
 
Item 17 ☐    Item 18 ☐
 
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 
 
Yes ☐   No ☒
 
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This annual report on Form 20-F includes certain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The use of the words “projects,” “expects,” “may,” “plans” or “intends,” or words of similar import, identifies a statement as “forward-looking”.  There can be no assurance, however, that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations or projections.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations or projections include the risks and uncertainties relating to our business described in this annual report in “Item 3.  Key Information-Risk Factors”.
 
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
 
EXPLANATORY INFORMATION
 
 All references herein to “dollars”, "US dollars", “USD” or “$” are to United States dollars, all references to “JPY” is to the Japanese Yen and all references to “Shekels” or “NIS” are to New Israeli Shekels.
 
In 2008, we completed a merger with Jazz Technologies, Inc. (“Jazz Technologies”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Jazz Semiconductor, Inc. (“Jazz Semiconductor”), an independent semiconductor foundry focused on specialty process technologies for the manufacture of analog intensive mixed-signal semiconductor devices. As a result of this transaction, Jazz Technologies became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (“Tower”). In November 2015, Jazz Technologies (i) was re-named to become Tower US Holdings Inc. (“Tower US Holdings”) and (ii) transferred all of its liabilities and all of its assets, including its ownership of all of the shares of Jazz Semiconductor to Jazz US Holdings Inc. (“Jazz US Holdings”), a company registered under the laws of Delaware and fully owned by Tower US Holdings (the “November 2015 Jazz Restructure”). The November 2015 Jazz Restructure established Jazz US Holdings as an intermediate holding company, holding all of the shares of Jazz Semiconductor. Tower US Holdings remains 100% owned by Tower. As used in this report, “Jazz” refers to Jazz Technologies, including its subsidiaries, for the period preceding November 23, 2015, and to Jazz US Holdings, including its subsidiaries, following such date.

2

In 2011, we acquired a fabrication facility in Nishiwaki City, Hyogo, Japan from Micron Technology, Inc. ("Micron") which we held through a wholly-owned Japanese subsidiary, TowerJazz Japan, Ltd. (“TJP”). In July 2014, the operations of the facility in Nishiwaki ceased in the course of a restructuring of our activities and business in Japan and it completed its dissolution during the second half of 2016.

In March 2014, we acquired a 51% equity stake in TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co., Ltd., (“TPSCo”), a company formed by Panasonic Corporation (“Panasonic” or “Panasonic Corporation” or “PSCS”), holding three manufacturing facilities in Japan.
 
In February 2016, we acquired a fabrication facility in San Antonio, Texas, from Maxim Integrated Products Inc. (“Maxim”). The assets and related business that we acquired from Maxim are held and conducted through an indirect wholly owned US subsidiary, TowerJazz Texas Inc. ("TJT").  TJT is fully owned by Tower US Holdings.
 
The consolidated financial statements included in this annual report include the results and balances of Tower and the following companies from the applicable merger and acquisition dates: (i) Tower’s wholly-owned subsidiary Jazz, (ii) since March 31, 2014, its majority-owned subsidiary, TPSCo and (iii) since February 1, 2016 its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, TJT.
 
As used in this annual report, “Fab 1” means the semiconductor fabrication facility located in Migdal Haemek, Israel that Tower acquired from National Semiconductor Inc. (“National Semiconductor”) in 1993. “Fab 2” means the semiconductor fabrication facility located in Migdal Haemek, Israel that Tower established in 2003. “Fab 3” means the semiconductor fabrication facility Jazz operates in Newport Beach, California. “Fab 4” means the semiconductor fabrication facility TJP operated in Nishiwaki City, Hyogo, Japan until July 2014. “Arai E” means the semiconductor fabrication facility TPSCo operates in Kurihara 4-5-1, Myoko-shi, Niigata, Japan.  “Uozu E” means the semiconductor fabrication facility TPSCo operates in Higashiyama 800, Uozu-shi, Toyama, Japan. “Tonami CD” means the semiconductor fabrication facilities TPSCo operates in Higashi-Kaihotsu 271, Tonami-shi, Toyama, Japan. Fab 9 means the semiconductor fabrication facility in San Antonio, Texas that we acquired from Maxim.
 
As used in this annual report, as of any particular date, “we,” “us,” “our,” and “the Company” and words of similar import, refer collectively to Tower and its then owned and/or consolidated subsidiaries.
 
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
 
Manufacturing or production capacity refers to installed equipment capacity in our facilities and is a function of the process technology and product mix being manufactured because certain processes require more processing steps than others. All information herein with respect to the wafer capacity of our manufacturing facilities is based upon our estimate of the effectiveness of the manufacturing equipment and processes in use or expected to be in use during a period and the estimated or expected process technology and product mix for such period. Unless otherwise specifically stated, all references herein to “wafers” with respect to Fab 1 capacity are to 150-mm wafers, with respect to Fab 2, Fab 3, Fab 4, Arai E, Tonami CD and Fab 9 capacity are to 200-mm wafers, and with respect to Uozu E are to 300-mm wafers, ranging from 0.18 micron to 0.8 micron for the manufacture of products using CMOS and analog based technologies.
 
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
 
JAZZ SEMICONDUCTOR® is a registered trademark of Jazz Semiconductor, Inc. in the U.S.
TPSCO® and TPSCo ® (and design) are registered trademarks of TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
 
3

 
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4


PART I
 
ITEM 1.          IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 2.          OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 3.          KEY INFORMATION
 
Selected Consolidated Financial Data 
 
Our historical consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”) and are presented in U.S. dollars (“USD”). The selected historical audited consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements, and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this annual report.  The selected financial data as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for those years not included in this annual report.
 
Our audited consolidated financial statements include TJP’s results commencing June 3, 2011, TPSCo’s results commencing April 1, 2014, and TJT’s results commencing February 1, 2016. Our audited consolidated balance sheets include TJP’s balances since December 31, 2011, TPSCo’s balances since December 31, 2014, and TJT’s balances since December 31, 2016. As mentioned above, in July 2014, the operations of TJP in the Nishiwaki facility ceased in the course of a restructuring of our activities and business in Japan and it completed its dissolution during 2016.

Due to the acquisition of TPSCo and TJT and the cessation of operations of TJP, it may be difficult to compare the results of operations for the period subsequent to these transactions with prior periods. The selected historical consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in this annual report and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing elsewhere in this report. Our historical financial information may not be indicative of future performance.

5

 

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
Statement of Operations Data:
                             
Revenues          
 
$
1,249,634
   
$
960,561
   
$
828,008
   
$
505,009
   
$
638,831
 
Cost of revenues          
   
946,534
     
755,196
     
764,220
     
476,900
     
560,046
 
Gross profit          
   
303,100
     
205,365
     
63,788
     
28,109
     
78,785
 
Research and development          
   
63,134
     
61,669
     
51,841
     
33,064
     
31,093
 
Marketing, general and administrative
   
65,439
     
62,793
     
58,783
     
42,916
     
44,413
 
Nishiwaki Fab restructuring and impairment cost (income), net
   
(627
)
   
(991
)
   
55,500
     
--
     
--
 
Acquisition related costs          
   
--
     
--
     
1,229
     
--
     
5,789
 
Amortization related to a lease agreement early termination
   
--
     
--
     
--
     
7,464
     
--
 
Operating profit (loss)          
   
175,154
     
81,894
     
(103,565
)
   
(55,335
)
   
(2,510
)
Interest expense, net          
   
(11,857
)
   
(13,179
)
   
(33,409
)
   
(32,971
)
   
(31,808
)
Other non-cash financing expense, net
   
(12,492
)
   
(109,930
)
   
(55,404
)
   
(27,838
)
   
(27,583
)
Gain from acquisition, net
   
50,471
     
-
     
166,404
     
--
     
--
 
Other income (expense), net          
   
9,322
     
(190
)
   
(140
)
   
(904
)
   
(1,042
)
Income (loss) before income tax
   
210,598
     
(41,405
)
   
(26,114
)
   
(117,048
)
   
(62,943
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
   
(1,432
)
   
12,278
     
24,742
     
9,388
     
(7,326
)
Net Profit (loss)
   
209,166
     
(29,127
)
   
(1,372
)
   
(107,660
)
   
(70,269
)
Net loss (income) attributable to non controlling interest
   
(5,242
)
   
(520
)
   
5,635
     
--
     
--
 
Net Profit (loss) attributable to the Company
 
$
203,924
   
$
(29,647
)
 
$
4,263
   
$
(107,660
)
 
$
(70,269
)
Basic earnings (loss) per ordinary share
 
$
2.33
   
$
(0.40
)
 
$
0.08
   
$
(2.72
)
 
$
(3.17
)
Diluted earnings per ordinary share
 
$
2.09
           
$
0.07
                 
                                         
Other Financial Data:
                                       
Depreciation and amortization, including amortization of financing expenses and accretion
 
$
197,756
   
$
256,005
   
$
243,362
   
$
164,824
   
$
173,585
 

6

 
   
As of December 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
(Dollars and share data in thousands)
 
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
                             
Cash and cash equivalents, short-term interest-bearing deposits and designated deposits
 
$
389,377
   
$
205,575
   
$
187,167
   
$
122,871
   
$
133,398
 
Working capital          
   
450,883
     
235,608
     
93,759
     
150,498
     
128,787
 
Total assets          
   
1,379,884
     
965,368
     
884,146
     
705,887
     
814,241
 
Short-term bank debt and current maturities of loans and debentures
   
48,084
     
33,259
     
119,999
     
36,441
     
49,923
 
Loan from banks, net of current maturities
   
133,163
     
210,538
     
159,776
     
108,739
     
94,922
 
Debentures, net of current maturities          
   
162,981
     
45,481
     
107,311
     
208,146
     
193,962
 
Shareholders’ equity          
   
682,614
     
385,586
     
195,561
     
141,248
     
220,025
 
                                         
Number of shares outstanding as of December 31 of any year
   
92,985
     
82,058
     
58,034
     
47,870
     
22,312
 
 
 Risk Factors
 
Our business faces many risks. Any of the risks discussed below may have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results.
 
Risks Affecting Our Business

Demand for our foundry services is dependent on the demand in our customers’ end markets.  A material decrease in demand for products that contain semiconductors may decrease the demand for our services and products and a decrease in the selling prices of our customers’ products may reduce our profitability and business.
 
Our customers generally use the semiconductors produced in our fabs in a wide variety of applications. We derive a significant percentage of our operating revenues from customers who use our manufacturing services to make semiconductors for communication devices, consumer electronics, PCs and other electronic devices. Any significant decrease in the demand for these electronic devices or products may decrease the demand for our services and products. In addition, if the average selling prices of communication devices, consumer electronics, PCs or other electronic devices decline significantly, we may be pressured to reduce our selling prices, which may reduce our revenues and margins significantly. As demonstrated by downturns in demand for high technology products in the past, market conditions can change rapidly, without apparent warning or advance notice. In such instances, our customers may experience inventory buildup and/or difficulties in selling their products and, in turn, may reduce or cancel orders for wafers from us, which may harm our business and profitability. The timing, severity and recovery of these downturns cannot be predicted.
 
In order for demand for our wafer fabrication services to increase, the markets for the end products utilizing the integrated circuits that we manufacture must develop and expand. For example, the success of our imaging process technologies will depend, in part, on the growth of markets for certain image sensor product applications. Because our services may be used in many new applications, it is difficult to forecast demand. If demand is lower than expected, we may have excess capacity and our revenue may not be sufficient to cover all our costs and serve all our debt, which may adversely affect our financial results and financial position.

7

Over-demand for our foundry services and/or products may result in a loss of customers and revenues, which may adversely affect our profitability and business.
 
In periods during which demand for our foundry services exceeds our capacity and manufacturing capabilities, we may be (i) unable to fulfill customer demand in whole or in part, in a timely manner or at all; (ii) incapable to assure production of customers’ next generation of products; and/or (iii) unable to provide additional capacity from any of our geographic facilities through transfer of process technologies, successful implementation and timely qualification. As a result, we could lose one or more of our current and/or potential customers, which may adversely affect our revenues, profitability and business.
 
If we do not maintain our current customers and attract additional customers, our business and profitability may be adversely affected.
 
Loss or cancellation of business from, or decreases in the sales volume or sales prices to, our significant customers, or our failure to replace lost business with new customers, may seriously harm our financial results, revenues and business.
 
We have relationships with several customers that represent a material portion of our revenues. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we had four customers that contributed between 5% to 35% of our revenues. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we had three customers that each contributed between 6% to 40% of our revenues. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we had four customers that each contributed between 7% to 38% of our revenues. The loss or reduction in volume of any one of these customers, whether due to their insolvency or their unwillingness or inability to perform their obligations under their respective relationships with us, or if we are unable to renew our engagements with them on commercially reasonable terms, or attract additional customers to replace such lost business, may materially negatively impact our overall business and our consolidated financial position.
 
Panasonic Semiconductor Solutions Co., Ltd. ("PSCS"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation, , is a significant customer of TPSCo and Tower on a consolidated basis and is expected to continue to comprise a major portion of TPSCo's and Tower’s revenues under the five year volume manufacturing agreement with us from March 2014. We have commenced discussions with PSCS in regard to the terms of renewing the agreement beyond March 2019. 35% and 40% of our consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were from PSCS under said agreement.  Failure to maintain current or similar selling prices per wafer from PSCS when renewing the agreement as described above, may adversely affect our revenue and profitability and may have an adverse effect on the operations of one or more of TPSCo’s manufacturing facilities if its/their revenue will not cover in full its/their operating and other costs.

8


The production lines of our manufacturing fabrications may stop for short or long periods of time due to high utilization in certain areas, bottlenecks, power outages, water leaks, chemical leaks or other issues, which may adversely affect our cycle time, yield, and on schedule delivery. In addition, affected customers may elect to transfer their product orders to other fabs, thereby potentially causing an immediate loss of a potentially material amount of revenues for the applicable period, which would adversely affect our revenue, profitability and financial position.

There are many events that may occur which may adversely affect the manufacturing process running in a facility. From time to time, we experience high utilization rates in certain of our manufacturing lines and/or areas, which cause bottlenecks in the lines and/or specific areas and/or specific machines, power outages, water leaks, chemical leaks or other issues that may adversely affect our cycle time, yield and on schedule delivery.  We try to mitigate any potential damage caused by such events and have insurance coverage, which we believe to be sufficient. However, we cannot ensure that such events will not have a negative effect on the Company, such as late deliveries, which may cause customers to elect to transfer their product orders to other fabs, thereby potentially causing an immediate material loss of revenues for the applicable period, which may adversely affect our revenue, profitability and financial position.
  
Our operating results may fluctuate from quarter to quarter which makes it difficult to predict our future performance and such fluctuations may ultimately negatively affect our financial position.
 
Our revenues, expenses and operating results have varied significantly in the past and may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the future due to a number of factors, a portion of which are beyond our control. These factors include, among others:
 
·
The cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the volatility of the markets served by our customers;
 
·
Changes in the economic conditions of geographical regions where our customers and their markets are located;
 
·
Inventory and supply chain management of our customers;

·
The loss of a key customer, postponement of an order from a key customer or the rescheduling or cancellation of large orders;
 
·
The occurrence of accounts receivable write-offs, failure of a key customer to pay accounts receivable in a timely manner or the financial condition of our customers;

·
The occurrence of an unexpected event, such as environmental events or industrial accidents such as fire or explosions, electricity outage or misprocess, affecting the manufacturing process and our ability to recover the lost or damaged products and provide quality and timely production to our customers without charging them significant additional costs;
 
·
Completing capacity expansions and recruitment of personnel in a timely manner to address product demands by our customers;
 
·
Mergers and acquisitions in the semiconductor industry and their effect on our market share;

·
Our ability to satisfy our customers’ demand for quality and timely production;

·
The timing and volume of orders relative to our available production capacity;
 
·
Our ability to obtain raw materials and equipment on a timely and cost-effective basis;
 
·
Price erosion in the industry and our ability to negotiate prices with our current customers and new customers;
 
9

·
Our susceptibility to intellectual property rights’ disputes;
 
·
Our dependency on export licenses and other permits required for our operations and the sale of our products;
 
·
Our ability to maintain existing partners and to enter into new partnerships and technology and supply alliances on mutually beneficial terms;
 
·
Interest, price index and currency rate fluctuations that were not hedged;
 
·
Technological changes and short product life cycles;
 
·
Timing for the design and qualification of new products;
 
·
The possibility that integrated device manufacturers continue to design and manufacture integrated circuits in their own fabrication facilities or that in certain periods or under certain circumstances such as low demand, they will choose to manufacture their products in their facilities instead of manufacturing products at external foundries; and 
 
·
Changes in accounting rules affecting our results.
  
Due to the factors noted above and other risks discussed in this section, a portion of which are beyond our control, it may be difficult to predict our future performance and any such fluctuations may ultimately negatively affect our operating results and our financial position.
 
Our financial position and operations may be affected as a result of our long term debt.
 
As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately $346 million of consolidated long term debt outstanding, comprised as follows: (1) Tower had approximately $122 million outstanding debentures Series G, payable in seven semi-annual consecutive equal installments from March 2020 to March 2023; (2) Jazz had approximately $58 million of outstanding debentures, convertible into our ordinary shares, payable in December 2018, unless converted earlier; (3) TPSCo had loans amounting to approximately $126 million comprised of (i) approximately $53 million provided by JA Mitsui Leasing, Ltd. and Bank of Tokyo Lease Co., Ltd. (BOT), to be repaid in seven semi-annual equal installments payable between 2016 and June 2019; and (ii) approximately $73 million provided by JA Mitsui Leasing, Ltd. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Limited and Showa Leasing Co., Ltd., to be repaid in seven semi-annual equal installments between2017 and 2020; and (4) TJT had a loan amounting to $40 million from JA Mitsui Leasing, repayable in seven semi-annual installments between 2019 and 2022. Carrying such amount of long term debt may have significant negative consequences on our business, including:
 
·
limiting our ability to fulfill our debt obligations and other liabilities;
 
·
requiring the use of a substantial portion of our cash to service our indebtedness rather than investing our cash to fund our strategic growth opportunities and plans, working capital and capital expenditures;
 
·
increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions;
 
·
limiting our ability to obtain additional financing;
 
10

·
limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we compete;
 
·
placing us at a competitive disadvantage with respect to less leveraged competitors and competitors that have better access to capital resources;
 
·
volatility in our non-cash financing expenses due to increases in the fair value of our debt obligations;
 
·
fluctuations of the payable amounts in USD of TPSCo loans or other expenses which are denominated in JPY;
 
·
enforcement by the lenders of their liens against our respective assets, as applicable, at the occurrence of an event of default.
 
In order to service our debt and other liabilities and obligations and/or improve its terms and conditions and/or to invest in strategic opportunities for growth and/or business development activities, in addition to our cash on hand and expected cash flow generation from operating activities, we may decide to obtain funds from additional sources including debt vehicles and/or re-financing, sale of new securities, sale of intellectual property and/or intellectual property licensing, as well as additional financing alternatives.  However, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain sufficient funding, if at all, from the financing sources detailed above or other sources in a timely manner (or on commercially reasonable terms) in order to allow us to fund our growth plans and/or cover, in a timely manner, all our costs, capital expenditure investments and all of our scheduled debt detailed above, liabilities and obligations, which may adversely affect our financial position and operations.
 
Our success as a leading specialty foundry depends on our ability to continue to expand our business, customer base and market presence, including through acquisitions, such as in 2014 (three Japanese fabs) and 2016 (San Antonio fab), which involve various risks.  There is no assurance that we will be successful in executing our acquisitions,  utilizing the acquired facilities at least in an amount that may cover their costs, integrating them into our business and finding new customers and business in order to operate such acquired facilities profitably.
 
Our Company’s growth as a leading specialty foundry depends, to a significant degree, upon our ability to increase our presence in the specialty foundry field and gain more market share across the various specialty segments. In order to do so and thereby improve our financial position and operations, we need to expand our business, including through acquisitions, as we have done in 2014 by acquiring the three Japanese fabs from Panasonic and in 2016 by acquiring the San Antonio fab from Maxim, and attract new customers that will utilize our expanded capacity.
 
Our success at such expansion is dependent, in part, on finding suitable targets for acquisitions, successfully financing and consummating such acquisitions, integrating the acquired facilities into our business and loading them at least in an amount that may cover their operating and other costs.
 
Our reliance on acquisitions as a means of growth involves risks that may adversely affect our future revenues and operating results. For example:
 
·
We may fail to identify acquisitions that would enable us to execute our business strategy.
 
·
Other foundries may bid against us to acquire potential targets. This competition may result in decreased availability of, or increased prices for, suitable acquisition candidates.
 
11

·
We may not be able to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals, or we may not be able to obtain the necessary approvals from our lenders, and as a result, or for other reasons, we may fail to consummate certain acquisitions.
 
·
Potential acquisitions and integration require the dedication of substantial management effort, time and resources which may divert management’s attention, focus and resources from our existing business operations or other strategic opportunities, which may have a negative adverse effect on our business.
 
·
We may fail to integrate acquisitions successfully in accordance with our business strategy, achieve anticipated benefits depending in part on successfully consolidating functions and integrating operations, procedures and personnel in a timely and efficient manner, expected synergies, attract sufficient business to newly acquired facilities in a timely manner or realize the anticipated growth opportunities from integrating an acquired business into our existing business.
 
·
We may not be able to retain experienced management and skilled employees from the businesses we acquire and, if we cannot retain such personnel, we may not be able to attract new skilled employees and experienced management to replace them.
 
·
We may purchase a company with excessive unknown contingent liabilities, including, among others, patent infringement or product liability.
 
·
We may not be able to obtain sufficient financing which could limit our ability to engage in certain acquisitions.
 
·
The amount or terms of financing actually required before and after acquisition may vary from our expectations.
 
We cannot assure you that we will be successful in expanding our business, finding and successfully execute such acquisitions or that they will achieve the expected synergies.  Further, we cannot assure you that we will increase our market presence and attract new customers and business in order to operate such acquired facilities profitably. With respect to TPSCo’s three Japanese fabs, its ability to successfully operate and fund its operating and business is dependent primarily on the following: (i) continuation by PSCS  to order a sufficient number of wafers and manufacturing services from TPSCo; (ii) maintaining current or similar selling prices per wafer beyond the current agreement term (March 2019); and (iii) attracting new customers and successfully ramping to production existing and new customers’ products. We already commenced discussions with PSCS in regard to the terms of renewing said manufacturing agreement. Failure to significantly utilize TPSCo’s manufacturing capacity and generate sufficient revenues from PSCS and/or new customers in an amount which will cover TPSCo’s costs, as well as failure to maintain current or similar selling prices per wafer from PSCS when renewing said agreement, may adversely affect TPSCo’s and Tower’s revenue and profitability and may have an adverse effect on the operations of one or more of TPSCo’s manufacturing facilities if its revenue will not cover its full operating and other costs.

With regards to TJT’s fab, Maxim is expected to be a significant customer of TJT, based on a long term 15 year volume manufacturing agreement, at least during the initial five year period. While we have commenced to engage and develop business with third party foundry customers to initiate manufacturing at TJT, and have begun certain process technology transfers to enable ramp of customer products which currently require additional demand which cannot be fulfilled in our other facilities, implementation of new customer processes may take between one to three years to reach mass volume production, as customary in our industry.   Failure to generate sufficient revenues from Maxim and/or new customers in an amount which will cover TJT’s costs may adversely affect TJT’s and Tower’s revenue and profitability and may have an adverse effect on the operations of this facility if its revenue will not cover its full operating and other costs.

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If we are unable to manage fluctuations in cash flow, our business and financial position may be adversely affected.
 
 Our working capital requirements and cash flows are subject to quarterly and yearly fluctuations, depending on a number of factors. If we are unable to manage fluctuations in cash flow, our business, operating results and financial condition may be materially adversely affected. Factors which may lead us to suffer cash flow fluctuations include:
 
·
fluctuations in the level of revenues from our operating activities;

·
fluctuations in the collection of receivables;

·
iming and size of payables;

·
the timing and size of capital expenditures;

·
the net impact of JPY/ USD fluctuations on our JPY income and JPY expenses;

·
the repayment schedules of our debt service obligations;

·
our ability to fulfill our obligations and meet performance milestones under our agreements;

·
fluctuations in the LIBOR or TIBOR (Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate) rates which apply to our banks’ loans; and

·
fluctuations in the USD to NIS exchange rate.
 
We are required to comply with the terms of the Israeli Investment Center approved plan and regulations.
 
In 2011, we received an official approval certificate (“ktav ishur”) from the Israeli investment center (“Investment Center”), a governmental agency, for our expansion program pursuant to which we have received approximately $36 million to date for investments made commencing 2006 and through 2012.  The final investments report detailing all investments made in accordance with the approval has been filed with the Investment Center. Under our previous program approved in December 2000, we received $165 million of grants for capital expenditure investments made during the years 2001 through 2005. This plan was completed and approved by the Investment Center.
 
Eligibility for the above grants is subject to various conditions stipulated by the Israeli Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments - 1959 (“Investments Law”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as well as the criteria set forth in the certificates of approval. In the event we breach the various conditions and terms related thereto, we may be exposed to significant penalties by the Investment Center. In order to secure fulfillment of the conditions related to the receipt of investment grants, floating liens were registered in favor of the State of Israel on substantially all of Tower’s assets. These liens secure the Investment Center against a breach by us of the terms of the investments grant program.

13

If we do not receive orders from our customers with whom we have signed long-term contracts, we may have excess capacity. Failure to receive purchase orders currently expected may adversely affect our financial results, business and financial position.

We have committed a portion of our capacity for future orders from certain customers with whom we have signed long-term contracts.  If these customers do not place orders with us in accordance with their contractual loading and purchase commitments, and if we are unable to fill such unutilized capacity in a timely manner, our financial results may be adversely affected.
 
When our forecast with respect to customer demand is high, we may purchase machinery in order to install additional capacity and provide for expanded production.  In the event that purchase orders received from customers do not meet our expected loading forecast, our business and financial position may be adversely affected.
 
A global recession, unfavorable economic conditions and/or credit crisis may adversely affect our results and our ability to fulfill our debt obligations and other liabilities.
 
The effects of a downturn or a weakness in the semiconductor industry and/or in the global economy may include global decreased demand, downward price pressure, excess inventory and unutilized capacity worldwide, which may negatively impact consumer and customer demand for our products and the end products of our customers.  Such a downturn or a weakness may adversely affect our customer base and/or our customers' products base by adversely affecting our ability to attract new customers and new business to our fabs.  Such a downturn or weakness may also adversely affect our ability to increase the utilization rates in our manufacturing facilities and maintain them at a high level that would suffice to cover our substantial fixed costs, maintain commercial relationships with our customers, suppliers, and creditors, including our lenders, and continue our capacity growth.  In addition, such a downturn or weakness may negatively impact our ability to improve our future financial results and position, including our ability to raise funds in the capital markets, fulfill our debt obligations and other liabilities, refinance our debt and other liabilities and/or pay them in a timely manner. There is no assurance that such downturn will not occur.
 
 The lack of a significant backlog resulting from our customers not placing purchase orders far in advance makes it difficult for us to forecast our revenues in future periods.
 
Our customers generally do not place purchase orders far in advance, partly due to the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry. As a result, we do not typically operate with any significant backlog. The lack of a significant backlog makes it difficult for us to forecast our revenues in future periods. Moreover, since our expense levels are based in part on our expectations of future revenues, we may be unable to adjust costs in a timely manner to compensate for revenues shortfalls. We expect that, in the future, our revenues in any quarter will continue to be substantially dependent upon purchase orders received in that quarter and in the immediately preceding quarter. We cannot assure you that any of our customers will continue to place orders with us in the future at the same levels as in prior periods.

We may manufacture wafers based on forecasted demand, rather than actual orders from customers. If our forecasted demand exceeds actual demand, we may have obsolete inventory, which may have a negative impact on our financial results.
 
We target manufacturing wafers in an amount matching each customer’s specific purchase order. On occasion, we may produce wafers in excess of a customer's orders based on forecasted customer demand, because we may forecast future excess demand or because of future capacity constraints. If we manufacture more wafers than are actually ordered by customers, we may be left with excess inventory that may ultimately become obsolete and must be scrapped or sold at a significant discount. Significant amounts of obsolete inventory may have a negative impact on our financial results.
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Our financial results may be adversely affected if we are unable to operate our facilities at utilization rates that are high enough to reach revenue levels that would cover our costs and result in operating and net profits as currently expected.

As is common in our industry, a large portion of our total costs is comprised of fixed costs, associated mainly with our manufacturing facilities, while our variable costs are relatively small. Therefore, during periods when our facilities manufacture at high utilization rates, we are able to cover our costs.  However, at times when the utilization rate is low, the reduced revenues may not cover all of the costs since a large portion of them are fixed costs which remain constant, irrespective of the fact that fewer wafers were manufactured. In addition, our depreciation costs and capital expenditure investments, as common in our industry, are high. If customer demand for our products is not sufficient to enable us to operate our facilities consistently at high utilization rates, we may not be able to fully reach revenue levels that would cover all of our costs and result in operating and net profits as currently expected.
 
Our sales cycles are typically long, and orders ultimately received may not meet our expectations, which may adversely affect our operating results.
 
Our sales cycles, which we measure from first contact with a customer to first shipment of a product ordered by the customer, vary substantially and may last as long as two years or more, particularly for new technologies. In addition, even after we make initial shipments of prototype products, it may take several more months to reach full production of the product.  As a result of these long sales cycles, we may be required to invest substantial time and incur significant expenses before receiving any product order and related revenue. If orders ultimately received are significantly lower than our expectations, we will have excess capacity that we may not be able to fill within a short period of time, resulting in lower utilization of our facilities.  This may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition considering that in addition to the revenues loss, we may be unable to adjust our costs in a timely manner to align with the lower revenue, since a large portion of our cost is fixed cost which remains constant irrespective of the number of wafers actually manufactured.
 
The cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and any resulting periodic overcapacity may lead to erosion of sale prices, may make our business and operating results particularly vulnerable to economic downturns, and may reduce our revenues, earnings and margins.
 
The semiconductor industry has historically been highly cyclical and subject to significant and often rapid increases and decreases in product demand. Traditionally, companies in the semiconductor industry have expanded aggressively during periods of decreased demand in order to have the capacity needed to meet expected demand in future upturns. If actual demand does not increase or declines, or if companies in the industry expand too aggressively, the industry may experience a period in which industry-wide capacity exceeds demand. This could result in overcapacity and excess inventories, potentially leading to rapid erosion of average sales prices. The prices that we can charge our customers for our services are significantly related to the overall worldwide supply of integrated circuits and semiconductor products. The overall supply of semiconductor products is based in part on the capacity of other companies, which is outside of our control. In periods of overcapacity, despite the fact that we utilize niche technologies and manufacture specialty products, we may have to lower the prices we charge our customers for our services which may reduce our margins and weaken our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we cannot give assurance that an increase in the demand for foundry services in the future will not lead to under-capacity, which could result in the loss of customers and materially adversely affect our revenues, earnings and margins. Analysts believe that such patterns may repeat in the future. The overcapacity, under-utilization and downward price pressure characteristic of a downturn in the semiconductor market and/or in the global economy, as experienced several times in the past, may negatively impact consumer and customer demand for our products, the end products of our customers and the financial markets, which may adversely affect our business, our ability to raise funds, restructure and/or re-finance our debt and service our debt and other liabilities.

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If we do not maintain and develop our technology processes and services, we may lose customers and may be unable to attract new ones.
 
The semiconductor market is characterized by rapid change, including the following:
 
·
rapid technological developments;
 
·
evolving industry standards;
 
·
changes in customer and product end user requirements;
 
·
frequent new product introductions and enhancements; and
 
·
short product life cycles with declining prices as products mature.
 
Our ability to maintain our current customer base and attract new customers is dependent in part on our ability to continuously develop and introduce to production advanced specialized manufacturing process technologies and purchase the appropriate equipment. If we are unable to successfully develop and introduce these processes to production in a timely manner or at all, or if we are unable to purchase the appropriate equipment required for such processes, we may be unable to maintain our current customer base and may be unable to attract new customers.

The semiconductor foundry business is highly competitive; our competitors may have competitive advantages over us and our financial results may be adversely affected if we do not successfully compete in the industry.
 
The semiconductor foundry industry is highly competitive. We compete most directly in the specialty segments with certain independent dedicated foundries. We also compete with the pure play advanced technology node driven foundry service providers as they each have some capacity for specialty process technologies, and with IDMs that allocate a portion of their manufacturing capacity to foundry operations.

As our competitors continue to expand their manufacturing capacity, there could be an increase in specialty semiconductor capacity. As specialty capacity increases, there may be more competition and pricing pressure on our services, which may result in underutilization of our capacity, decrease of our profit margins, reduced earnings or increased losses.
 
In addition, some semiconductor companies have advanced their CMOS designs to smaller than 22 nanometer process geometries. These smaller process geometries may provide customers with performance and integration features that may be comparable to, or exceed, features offered by our specialty process technologies. The smaller process geometries may also be more cost-effective at higher production volumes for certain applications, such as when a large amount of digital content is required in a mixed-signal semiconductor and less analog content is then required. Our specialty processes will therefore compete with these more advanced CMOS processes and some of our potential and existing customers could elect to design these advanced CMOS processes into their next generation products. We are not currently capable, and do not currently plan to become capable, of providing CMOS processes at these smaller process geometries. If our potential or existing customers choose to design their products in  a manner whereby the percentage of digital content in specialty designs increases significantly and requires these advanced CMOS processes, our business may be negatively impacted.
 
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In addition, many of our competitors may have one or more of the following competitive advantages over us:
 
·
greater manufacturing capacity and /or availability of same;
 
·
a more diverse and established customer base;
 
·
greater financial, sales, marketing, distribution and other resources;
 
·
governmental funding or support;

·
a better cost structure; and/or
 
·
better operational performance, including cycle time and yields.
 
If we do not compete successfully, our business and financial results may be adversely affected.

If we experience difficulty in achieving acceptable device yields, product performance and delivery times, as a result of manufacturing problems, our business may be adversely harmed.
 
The process technology for the manufacture of semiconductor wafers is highly complex, requires advanced and costly equipment and is constantly being modified in an effort to improve device yields, product performance and delivery times.  Microscopic impurities such as dust and other contaminants, difficulties in the production process, defects in the key materials and tools used to manufacture wafers and other factors can cause wafers to be rejected or individual semiconductors on specific wafers to be non-functional. We may experience difficulty achieving acceptable device yields, product performance and product delivery times in the future as a result of manufacturing problems.  Although we continuously enhance our manufacturing capabilities and efficiency, from time to time we have experienced production difficulties that have caused delivery delays and quality control problems. Manufacturing issues we may face include the following:
 
·
difficulties in upgrading or expanding existing facilities;
 
·
unexpected breakdowns in our manufacturing equipment and/or related facility systems;
 
·
unexpected events, such as an electricity outage or misprocess, affecting the manufacturing process;
 
·
difficulties in changing or upgrading our process technologies;
 
·
raw material shortages or impurities;
 
·
delays in delivery or shortages of spare parts; and
 
·
difficulties in maintenance and upgrade of our equipment.

17

 
Should such problems occur to a material degree, we may suffer delays in delivery, loss of reputation and/or a loss of customers, any of which may adversely impact our business, revenues and financial condition.

If we are unable to purchase equipment and raw materials, we may not be able to manufacture our products in a timely fashion, which may result in a loss of existing and potential new customers and may have an adverse effect on our business and financial results.
 
To increase the production capability and maintain the quality of production in our facilities, we must procure additional equipment. In periods of high market demand, the lead times from order to delivery of manufacturing equipment could be as long as 12 to 18 months. We also procure used equipment which can take a long time to qualify into the manufacturing process, hence potentially delaying the manufacture of our products. In addition, our manufacturing processes use many raw materials, including silicon wafers, chemicals, gases and various metals, and require large amounts of fresh water and electricity.  Manufacturing equipment and raw materials generally are available from several suppliers. In several instances, however, we purchase equipment and raw materials from a single source.   Shortages in supplies of manufacturing equipment and raw materials could occur due to an interruption of supply or increased industry demand.  Any such shortages could result in production delays that may result in a loss of existing and potential new customers which may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
 
 Our exposure to currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations may impact our costs and financial results. 

We operate our fabs in three different regions: Japan, the United States and Israel. The functional currency of the entities operating the fabs in the United States and Israel is USD. The functional currency of our subsidiary in Japan is the JPY. Our expenses and costs are denominated mainly in NIS, USD, and JPY, our revenues are denominated mainly in USD and JPY and our cash from operations, investing and financing activities are denominated mainly in NIS, USD, and JPY. We are, therefore, exposed to the risk of currency exchange rate fluctuations in some of our entities.
 
The USD costs of our operations in Israel are influenced by changes in the USD to NIS exchange rate with respect to costs that are denominated in NIS. The fluctuation of USD against the NIS can affect our results of operations. Appreciation of the NIS has the effect of increasing the cost of some of our Israeli purchases and labor NIS denominated costs in USD terms, which may lead to erosion in our profit margins. We use foreign currency cylinder transactions to hedge a material portion, but not all of this currency exposure, to be contained within a pre-defined fixed range. In addition, we executed swap hedging transactions to fully hedge our exposure to the fluctuation of USD against the NIS as far as it relates to our non-convertible Series G debentures which are denominated in NIS.
 
The majority of TPSCo's revenues are denominated in JPY and the majority of the expenses of TPSCo are in JPY, which limits the exposure to fluctuations of the USD / JPY exchange rate on TPSCo’s results of operations as the impact on the revenues will be mostly offset by the impact on the expenses. In order to mitigate portion of the net exposure to the USD / JPY exchange rate over the net profit margins, we have entered into cylinder hedging transactions which limit our exposure to the currencies’ fluctuation to a pre-defined fixed range.
 
In addition to currency exchange fluctuations, we have exposure to interest rate fluctuations as Jazz, TJT and TPSCo’s borrowings under their respective credit facilities require payment of interest based on a floating LIBOR rate or TIBOR rate. Furthermore, if any of the respective banks incurs increased costs in financing the applicable credit facility due to changes in law or the unavailability of foreign currency, such bank may exercise its right to increase the interest rate on the credit facility or require us to bear such increased cost as provided for in the respective credit facility agreement.
 
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We regularly engage in various hedging strategies to reduce our exposure to these risks and intend to continue to do so in the future. However, despite any such hedging activity, we are likely to remain exposed to interest rate increases (mainly LIBOR and TIBOR rates) and exchange rate fluctuations (mainly NIS and JPY rates as compared to the US dollar),  which may have a material effect on our cost and financial results.
 
We depend on intellectual property to succeed in our business including intellectual property owned by us as well as intellectual property of third parties.  Failure to enforce our intellectual property rights as well as failure to maintain or acquire licenses to intellectual property of third parties may harm our business.
 
We depend on intellectual property in order for us to provide certain foundry services and design support to our customers. As of December 31, 2016, we held 248 patents in force. We intend to continue to file patent applications when appropriate. The process of applying for patents to obtain patent protection may take a long time and be expensive. We cannot assure you that patents will be issued from pending or future applications or that, if patents are issued, they will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented or that the rights granted under the patents will provide us with meaningful protection or any commercial advantage. In addition, we cannot assure you that other countries in which we market our services and products will respect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United States.  Effective intellectual property enforcement may be unavailable or limited in some countries. We cannot assure you that we will, at all times, enforce our patents or other intellectual property rights and it may be difficult for us to protect our intellectual property from misuse or infringement by other companies in certain countries.  Further, we cannot assure you that courts will uphold our intellectual property rights or enforce the contractual arrangements that we have entered into to protect our proprietary technology, which may reduce our opportunities to generate revenues. In the event that we are unable to enforce our intellectual property rights, our business may be harmed.

In addition, with respect to third party intellectual property that is required for the manufacture of our products, if problems or delays arise with respect to the timely development, quality and provision thereof to us, the design and production of our customers’ products may be delayed, resulting in underutilization of our capacity.  If any of our intellectual property vendors goes out of business, liquidates, merges with, or is acquired by, another company that discontinues the vendor’s previous line of business, or if we fail to maintain or acquire licenses to such intellectual property for any other reason, our business may be adversely affected.  
 
 From time to time, we are a party to litigation which may require management time and effort and adversely affect us by harming our business, image and financials.
 
From time to time, we are a party to litigation incidental to the conduct of our ongoing business, including class actions, disputes with customers, suppliers, landlords, or other third parties. Litigation usually requires a certain amount of management time and effort which may adversely affect our business by diverting management focus from business needs and development of future strategic opportunities.

In addition, our ability to compete successfully depends in part on our ability to operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of others and defending our intellectual property rights.  Because of the complexity of the technologies used and the multitude of patents, copyrights and other overlapping intellectual property rights, it is often difficult for semiconductor companies to determine infringement. Therefore, the semiconductor industry is characterized by frequent litigation regarding patent, trade secret and other intellectual property rights. We have been subject to intellectual property claims from time to time, some of which have been resolved through license agreements, the terms of which have not had a material effect on our business.
 
19

 
We may also be a party to infringement claims in the future. In the event any third party were to assert infringement claims against us or our customers, we may have to consider alternatives including, but not limited to:
 
·
negotiating cross-license agreements;
 
·
acquiring licenses to the allegedly infringed patents, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all;
 
·
discontinuing use of certain process technologies, architectures, or designs, which could cause us to stop manufacturing certain integrated circuits if we are unable to design around the allegedly infringed patents;
 
·
litigating the matter in court, incurring substantial legal fees and paying substantial monetary damages in the event we lose; or
 
·
developing non-infringing technologies, which may not be feasible.
 
Any one or several of these alternatives may place substantial financial and other burdens on us and hinder our business.  Litigation, which may result in substantial costs to us and diversion of our resources, may be necessary to enforce our patents or other intellectual property rights or to defend us or our customers against claimed infringement. If we fail to obtain certain licenses or if we will be involved in litigation relating to alleged patent infringement or other intellectual property matters, it may prevent us from manufacturing particular products or using particular technologies, which may reduce our opportunities to generate revenues.
 
Specifically with respect to the restructure of our activities and business in Japan, the cessation of the Nishiwaki fab operations in 2014, may result in future claims from vendors, employees’ unions or other third parties, which may negatively impact our financial results.

Furthermore, in January 2016, a short-selling focused firm issued a short sell thesis report which we believe contains false and misleading information about our strategy, business model and financials. Following this short sell thesis report, shareholder class actions were filed against the Company, certain of its officers, directors and its external independent auditor in the US and Israel. This short sell thesis analyst acknowledged at the time of the report that he shall be assumed to be in a short position in Tower’s shares. In July 2016, the US court-appointed lead plaintiff voluntarily withdrew the action and the US court approved the voluntary dismissal of the class action in the US. We believe the outstanding alleged claims in Israel, which are largely akin to the claims made and dismissed in the US, have no merit and will vigorously defend such actions if the court ultimately accepts such action as a class action. 
 
We could be harmed by failure to comply with environmental regulations.
 
Our business is subject to a variety of laws and governmental regulations in Israel, the U.S. and Japan relating to the use, discharge and disposal of toxic or otherwise hazardous materials used in Tower’s production processes in Israel,  in Jazz’s production processes in California, TJT’s production processes in Texas and in TPSCo’s facilities in Japan. If we fail to use, discharge or dispose of hazardous materials appropriately, or if applicable environmental laws or regulations change in the future, we may be subject to substantial liability or may be required to suspend or significantly modify our manufacturing operations.
 
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We are subject to risk of loss due to fire because the materials we use in our manufacturing processes are highly flammable.
 
We use highly flammable materials such as silane and hydrogen in our manufacturing processes and are therefore subject to risk of loss arising from fire. The risk of fire associated with these materials cannot be completely eliminated. Although we maintain insurance policies to reduce potential losses that may be caused by fire, including business interruption insurance, our insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all of our potential losses due to a fire. If any of our fabs were to be damaged and/or cease operations as a result of a fire, and if our insurance proves to be inadequate, it may reduce our manufacturing capacity and revenues. In addition, a power outage, even of very limited duration, caused by a fire or otherwise may result in a loss of wafers in production, deterioration of our fab yield, substantial downtime to reset equipment before resuming production and an adverse effect on our revenue and profits.

Possible product returns could harm our business.
 
Products manufactured by us may be returned within specified periods if they are defective or otherwise fail to meet customers’ prior agreed upon specifications. Although product returns have historically been less than 1% of revenues, future product returns in greater amounts may have an adverse effect on our business and financial results.

We are subject to risks related to our international operations.
 
We have generated our revenues from customers located in the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific.  Because of our international operations, we are vulnerable to the following risks:
 
·
JPY fluctuations against the USD, see above risk factor “Our exposure to currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations may impact our costs and financial results”;
 
·
the burden and cost of compliance with foreign government regulation, as well as compliance with a variety of foreign laws and potential new legislation under the Trump administration;
 
·
general geopolitical risks, such as political and economic instability, international terrorism, potential hostilities and changes in diplomatic and trade relationships;
 
·
natural disasters affecting the countries in which we conduct our business;
 
·
imposition of regulatory requirements, tariffs, import and export restrictions and other trade barriers and restrictions, including the timing and availability of export licenses and permits;
 
·
adverse foreign and international tax rules and regulations, such as withholding taxes deducted from amounts due to us may not be refunded to us by the tax authorities since we are not entitled to foreign tax credit in Israel;
 
·
weak protection of our intellectual property rights in certain foreign countries;
 
·
delays in product shipments due to local customs’ restrictions;
 
·
laws and business practices favoring local companies;
 
·
difficulties in collecting accounts receivable; and
 
·
difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations.

21

 
In addition, Israel, the United States, Japan and other foreign countries may implement quotas, duties, taxes or other charges or restrictions upon the importation or exportation of our products, leading to a reduction in sales and profitability in that country. The geographical distance between Israel, the United States, Japan and the rest of Asia and Europe also creates certain logistical and communication challenges. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sufficiently mitigate all the risks related to our international operations.
 
Our business could suffer if we are unable to retain and recruit qualified personnel.
 
We depend on the continued services of our senior executive officers, senior managers and skilled technical and other personnel. Our business could suffer if we lose the services of some of these personnel due to resignation, medical absence, illness or other reasons, and cannot find and integrate adequate replacement personnel into our senior management, business and operations in a timely manner. We seek to recruit highly qualified personnel and there is intense competition for the services of these personnel in the semiconductor industry. Competition for personnel may increase significantly in the future as new fabless semiconductor companies as well as new semiconductor manufacturing facilities are established. Our ability to retain existing personnel and attract new personnel is in part dependent on the compensation packages we offer.  As demand for qualified personnel increases, we may be forced to increase the compensation levels and to adjust the cash, equity and other components of compensation we offer our personnel.
 
Our business forecasts are premised on the increasing use of outsourced foundry services by both fabless semiconductor companies and integrated device manufacturers. Our business may not meet our forecasts if this trend does not continue to develop in the manner we expect.
 
We operate as an independent semiconductor foundry focused primarily on specialty process technologies. Our business model assumes that demand for these processes within the semiconductor industry will grow and follow the broader trend towards outsourcing foundry operations. If the broader trend to outsourced foundry services does not prove applicable to the specialty process technologies that we are focused on, our business and financial results may not meet our forecasts.
 
 If we are unable to collaborate successfully with electronic design automation vendors and third-party design service companies to meet our customers’ design needs, our business may be harmed.
 
We have established relationships with electronic design automation vendors and third-party design service companies. We work together with these vendors to develop complete design kits that our customers can use to meet their design needs using our process technologies. Our ability to meet our customers’ design needs successfully, including their schedule and budget requirements, depends in part on the availability and quality of the relevant services, tools and intellectual property provided by electronic design automation vendors and design service providers. Difficulties or delays in these areas may adversely affect our ability to meet our customers’ needs, and thereby harm our business.
 
Failure to comply with existing or future governmental regulations may reduce our sales or increase our manufacturing costs.
 
The export of semiconductors that we manufacture may be subject to U.S., Israeli and/or Japanese export control and other regulations established by other countries. Failure to comply with existing or evolving U.S., Israeli, Japanese or other applicable governmental regulation or to obtain timely domestic or foreign regulatory approvals or certificates may materially harm our business by reducing our sales, requiring extensive modifications to processes that we use in our product manufacturing, or requiring extensive modifications to our customers’ products.  We may not export products using or incorporating controlled technology without obtaining an export license. These restrictions may make foreign competitors facing less stringent controls on the export of their products more competitive in the global market.  The relevant government may not approve any pending or future export license requests. In addition, the list of products and countries for which export approval is required, and the regulatory policies with respect thereto, may be modified from time to time.
 
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If certain of the integrated circuits we manufacture are defective and integrated into products, we may be subject to product liability claims or other claims which could damage our reputation and harm our business.
 
Our customers integrate our custom integrated circuits into their products which they then sell to end users. If these products are defective or malfunction, we may be subject to product liability claims, as well as possible recalls, safety alerts or advisory notices relating to the product. We cannot assure you that our insurance policies will be adequate to satisfy claims that may be made against us. Also, we may be unable to obtain insurance in the future at satisfactory rates, with adequate coverage, or at all. Product liability claims or product recalls in the future, regardless of their ultimate outcome, may have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, financial condition and our ability to attract and retain customers.
 
A significant portion of Fab 3 and TPSCo’s workforce is unionized, and their operations may be adversely affected by work stoppages, strikes or other collective actions which may disrupt their production and adversely affect the yield of their fabs.
 
A significant portion of Fab 3’s employees at the Newport Beach, California fab are represented by a union and covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which was renewed for three additional years, effective as of July 1, 2015. Similarly, a significant portion of TPSCo’s employees at its fabs in Japan are represented by a union and covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We cannot predict the effect that continued union representation or future organizational activities will have on these fabs’ business. Specifically under TPSCo’s collective bargaining agreement, the union and the company are required to first negotiate any points of dispute before taking any action such as work stoppages, strikes or other collective actions. We cannot assure you that Fab 3 and TPSCo’s fabs will not experience a material work stoppage, strike or other collective action in the future, which may disrupt their production and adversely affect our customer relations and operational and financial results.
 
 Our production yields and business could be significantly harmed by natural disasters, particularly earthquakes.
 
Fab 1 and Fab 2 are located in an area near the Syrian-African rift valley, which is known to have seismic activity. Fab 3 is located in southern California, a region known for seismic activity. TPSCo’s fabs are located in Japan, which is generally susceptible to seismic activity. Due to the complex and delicate nature of our manufacturing processes, our facilities are particularly sensitive to the effects of vibrations associated with even minor earthquakes. Our business operations depend on our ability to maintain and protect our facilities, computer systems and personnel. We cannot be certain that precautions that any of our fabs have taken to seismically upgrade the fabs will be adequate to protect our facilities in the event of an earthquake.  Earthquakes may lead to fire in the fabs or other material damage, and any resulting damage could seriously disrupt production and result in reduced revenues. Although we maintain insurance policies to reduce potential losses that may be caused by earthquakes and other natural disasters, including business interruption insurance, our insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all of our potential losses. If any of our fabs were to be damaged or cease operations as a result thereof, and if our insurance proves to be inadequate, it may reduce our manufacturing capacity and revenues and may expose us to third party claims. A power outage, even of very limited duration, caused by an earthquake or other natural disaster may result in a loss of wafers in production, deterioration of our fab yield and substantial downtime to reset equipment before resuming production, and any such losses or damages incurred by us may have a material adverse effect on our business, revenue and profits.
 
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Climate change may negatively affect our business.
 
There is increasing concern that climate change is occurring and may have dramatic effects on human activity if no aggressive remediation steps are taken. Legislative developments with respect to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions may result in increased energy, transportation and raw material costs.
 
Scientific examination of, political attention to, and rules and regulations on, issues surrounding the existence and extent of climate change may result in increased production costs due to increase in the prices of energy and introduction of energy or carbon tax. A variety of regulatory developments have been introduced that focus on restricting or managing emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases. Enterprises may need to purchase new equipment at higher costs or raw materials with lower carbon footprints. These developments and further legislation that is likely to be enacted may adversely affect our operations. Changes in environmental regulations, such as those on the use of per fluorinated compounds, may increase our production costs, which may adversely affect our results of operation and financial condition.
 
In addition, more frequent droughts and floods, extreme weather conditions and rising sea levels may occur due to climate change. For example, transportation suspension caused by extreme weather conditions, including snow storms, may harm the distribution of our products. We cannot predict the economic impact, if any, of disasters resulting from climate change.
 
 Compliance with the US Conflict Minerals Law may affect our ability or the ability of our suppliers to purchase raw materials at an effective cost.

Many industries rely on materials which are subject to regulation concerning certain minerals sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC") or adjoining countries, which include Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Congo, and Central African Republic. These minerals are commonly referred to as conflict minerals. Conflict minerals which may be used in our industry or by our suppliers include Columbite-tantalite (derivative of tantalum [Ta]), Cassiterite (derivative of tin [Sn]), gold [Au], Wolframite (derivative of tungsten [W]), and Cobalt [Co]. We comply with the annual disclosure and reporting requirements adopted by the SEC with respect to use of conflict minerals mined from the DRC and adjoining countries. There may be costs associated with complying with these disclosure requirements, including for diligence to determine the sources of conflict minerals used in our products and other potential changes to products, processes or sources of supply as a consequence of such verification activities. Although we expect that we and our vendors will be able to continue to comply with these requirements, there can be no guarantee that we will be able to gather all the required information from our vendors. Although we believe our suppliers do not rely on such conflict minerals, either because the suppliers are located outside of the DRC and adjoining countries, or because our suppliers have been certified as “conflict-free” by an internationally-recognized validation scheme, there can be no guarantee that we will continue to be able to obtain adequate supplies of materials needed for our production from such suppliers. A failure to obtain necessary information or maintain adequate supplies of materials from supply chains outside the DRC and adjoining countries, or that have been certified as “conflict-free” by an internationally-recognized validation scheme, may delay our production, increasing the risk of losing customers and business.

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Risks relating to construction activities adjacent to Fab 3 and its fabrication facility lease.
 
Jazz leases its fabrication facilities and offices under lease contracts that Jazz can extend until 2027, through the exercise of an option at Jazz’s sole discretion to extend the lease period from 2022 to 2027. A few years ago, the landlord began a construction project adjacent to the fabrication facility.  It is possible that said project may adversely impact Jazz, including that construction activities adjacent to Jazz’s fabrication facility may  result in temporary reductions or interruptions in the supply of utilities to the property and that a portion or all of the fabrication facility may need to be idled temporarily during development. If construction activities limit or interrupt the supply of water, gas or electricity to Fab 3 or cause significant vibrations or other disruptions, it could limit or delay Fab 3’s production, which may adversely affect our business and operating results. In addition, an unplanned power outage caused by construction activities, even of very limited duration, may result in a loss of wafers in production, deterioration in Fab 3’s yield and on schedule delivery and substantial downtime to reset equipment before resuming production, which may cause customer dissatisfaction and cause customers to contemplate transferring their product orders to other fabs, which may adversely affect our revenues and financial results. In addition, the lease amendment sets forth certain obligations of Jazz and the landlord, including certain noise abatement actions at the fabrication facility.
 
Risks Related to Our Securities
 
Fluctuations in the market price of our traded securities may significantly affect our ability to raise new capital.
 
The capital markets, in general, have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of the traded companies. The share price of many companies in the semiconductor industry has experienced wide fluctuations, which has often been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies.  These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of Tower’s equity and debt traded securities, regardless of Tower’s actual operating performance.
 
In addition, it is possible that Tower’s operating results may differ from the expectations of public market analysts and investors, which may adversely affect the price of Tower’s securities.  Adverse impact to the market price of Tower’s securities may negatively impact our ability to raise new capital in order to finance our growth plans, obligations and liabilities and/or re-finance our debt, and/or may cause us to receive less favorable terms than expected to the extent we will decide to raise any capital.

 Market sales of Tower’s shares or conversion or exercise of a material portion of securities into shares or issuance of new ordinary shares, or even the perception that any such action may occur, may depress the market price of Tower’s shares, impair our ability to raise future capital through the financial markets and may limit our ability to fund our growth plans, debt and other liabilities.
 
Market sales of Tower’s shares, or a conversion or exercise of a material portion of our convertible securities (including notes, warrants and options), or issuance of new ordinary shares, or even the perception that such sales, conversions, exercises or issuances may occur, could depress the market price of Tower’s ordinary shares, may impair our ability to raise capital,  and may limit our ability to fund our growth plans and service our debt and other liabilities.
 
Any inability to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes−Oxley Act of 2002 regarding internal control attestation or any SEC filing requirement may adversely affect our financial position.
 
We are subject to the reporting and filing requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The SEC, as directed by Section 404(a) of the United States Sarbanes−Oxley Act of 2002, adopted rules requiring public companies to include a management report assessing the company’s effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and an attestation thereof by its auditors in its annual report. Our management and/or our auditors may conclude that our internal controls over financial reporting are not effective. Such a conclusion may result in a loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which may negatively impact us and our ability to access the capital markets. In addition, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulations thereunder applicable to foreign private issuers.  Failure by us to file reports and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulations thereunder may result in a deficiency and may negatively impact our financial position.
 
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Risks Related to Our Operations in Israel
 
Instability in Israel may harm our business.
 
Fab 1 and Fab 2 manufacturing facilities, Tower’s design center and certain of Tower’s corporate and sales offices are located in Israel. Accordingly, political, economic and military conditions in Israel may directly affect our business.
 
Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Israel has been and is subject to armed conflict with neighboring states and terrorist activity, with varying levels of severity.  Parties with whom we do business have sometimes declined to travel to Israel during periods of heightened unrest or tension, forcing us to make alternative arrangements where necessary. In addition, the political and security situation in Israel may result in parties with whom we have agreements claiming that they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions. We can give no assurance that security and political conditions will not adversely impact our business in the future. Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its present trading partners may adversely affect our operations and make it more difficult for us to do business and raise capital. Furthermore, we could experience serious disruption to our manufacturing in Israel if acts associated with said conflict result in any serious damage to said manufacturing facilities.  In addition, our business interruption insurance may not adequately compensate us for losses that we may incurred, and any losses or damages incurred by us may have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
In the event of severe unrest or other conflict, Israeli personnel could be required to serve in the military for extended periods of time.  In response to increases in terrorist activity, there have been periods of significant call-ups of Israeli military reservists, and it is possible that there will be additional call-ups in the future.  Many male Israeli citizens, including most of Tower's male employees under the age of 40, are subject to compulsory military reserve service and may be called to active duty under emergency circumstances. Our operations in Israel could be disrupted by the absence, for a significant period of time, of one or more of our key employees or a significant number of our other employees due to military service. Such disruption may harm our operations and/or our business.

If the exemption allowing us to operate our Israeli manufacturing facilities seven days a week and /or our business license is not renewed, our business may be adversely affected.
 
We operate our Israeli manufacturing facilities seven days a week pursuant to an exemption (which we need to renew every year) from the law that requires businesses in Israel to be closed from sundown on Friday evening through sundown on Saturday evening (“Saturday Exemption”). In addition, our business license certificate issued by Migdal Ha’emek municipality needs to be renewed annually. If our Saturday Exemption and/or our business license are not renewed in the future, our financial results and business may be harmed.
 
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It may be difficult to enforce a US judgment against us, our officers, directors and advisors or to assert US securities law claims in Israel.
 
Tower is incorporated in Israel. Most of Tower’s executive officers and directors are not residents of the United States (excluding the employees of its U.S. subsidiaries), and a majority of Tower’s assets (excluding its U.S. subsidiaries and their assets) are located outside the United States. Therefore, a judgment obtained in the United States against Tower or any of our executive officers and directors, including one based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws, may not be collectible in the United States (except to the extent that it relates to Tower’s US subsidiaries, its assets or employees) and may not be enforced by an Israeli court. Additionally, it may be difficult to enforce civil liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws claimed in original actions instituted in Israel.

Provisions of Israeli law may delay, prevent or otherwise impede a merger with, or an acquisition of, our company, which may prevent a change of control, even when the terms of such a transaction are favorable to us and our shareholders.
 
Israeli corporate law regulates mergers, requires tender offers for acquisitions of shares above specified thresholds, requires special approvals for transactions involving directors, officers or significant shareholders and regulates other matters that may be relevant to such types of transactions. For example, a merger may not be consummated unless at least 50 days have passed from the date on which a merger proposal is filed by each merging company with the Israel Registrar of Companies and at least 30 days have passed from the date on which the shareholders of both merging companies have approved the merger. In addition, a majority of each class of securities of the target company must approve a merger. Moreover, a tender offer for all of a company’s issued and outstanding shares can only be completed if the acquirer receives positive responses from the holders of at least 95% of the issued share capital. Completion of the tender offer also requires approval of a majority of the offerees that do not have a personal interest in the tender offer, unless, following consummation of the tender offer, the acquirer would hold at least 98% of Tower’s outstanding shares. Furthermore, the shareholders, including those who indicated their acceptance of the tender offer, may, at any time within six months following the completion of the tender offer, claim that the consideration for the acquisition of the shares does not reflect their fair market value, and petition an Israeli court to alter the consideration for the acquisition accordingly, unless the acquirer stipulated in its tender offer that a shareholder that accepts the offer may not seek such appraisal rights, and the acquirer or the company published all required information with respect to the tender offer prior to the tender offer’s  response date.  Furthermore, Israeli tax considerations may make potential transactions unappealing to Tower or to its shareholders whose country of residence does not have a tax treaty with Israel exempting such shareholders from Israeli tax.  These and other similar provisions may delay, prevent or impede a merger with or an acquisition of our company, even if such a merger or acquisition would be beneficial to Tower or its shareholders.
 
The rights and responsibilities of Tower's shareholders will be governed by Israeli law which differs in some material respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders of U.S. companies.
 
The rights and responsibilities of the holders of Tower's ordinary shares are governed by its articles of association and by Israeli law. These rights and responsibilities differ in some material respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in typical U.S. registered corporations. In particular, a shareholder of an Israeli company has certain duties to act in good faith and fairness towards the company and other shareholders, and to refrain from abusing its power in the company. There is limited case law available to assist Tower shareholders in understanding the nature of this duty or the implications of these provisions. These provisions may be interpreted to impose additional obligations and liabilities on holders of Tower's ordinary shares that are not typically imposed on shareholders of U.S. corporations.

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ITEM 4.          INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
 
A.     HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
 
We are a pure-play independent specialty foundry dedicated to the manufacture of semiconductors. Typically, pure-play foundries do not offer products of their own, but focus on producing integrated circuits, or ICs, based on the design specifications of their customers. We manufacture semiconductors for our customers primarily based on third party designs. We currently offer the process manufacture geometries of 0.35, 0.50, 0.55, 0.60, 0.80-micron and above on 150-mm wafers and 0.35, 0.18. 0.16, 0.13 and 0.11-micron on 200-mm wafers and 65 nanometer and 45 nanometer on 300-mm wafers. We also provide design support and complementary technical services.  ICs manufactured by us are incorporated into a wide range of products in diverse markets, including consumer electronics, personal computers, communications, automotive, industrial and medical device products.
 
We are focused on establishing leading market share in high-growth specialized markets by providing our customers with high-value wafer foundry services.  Our historical focus has been standard digital complementary metal oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”) process technology, which is the most widely used method of producing ICs.  We are currently focused on the emerging opportunities in specialized technologies including CMOS image sensors, wireless antenna switch Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI), mixed-signal, radio frequency CMOS (RFCMOS), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), and silicon-germanium BiCMOS (SiGe BiCMOS or SiGe), high voltage CMOS, radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies, MEMS and power management. To better serve our customers, we have developed and are continuously expanding our technology offerings in these fields. Through our experience and expertise gained over more than twenty years of operation, we differentiate ourselves by creating a high level of value for our clients through innovative technological processes, design and engineering support, competitive manufacturing indices, and dedicated customer service.
 
Tower was founded in 1993, with the acquisition of National Semiconductor’s 150-mm wafer fabrication facility located in Migdal Haemek, Israel, and commenced operations as an independent foundry. Since then, we have significantly upgraded our Fab 1 facility, equipment, capacity and technological capabilities with process geometries ranging from 1.0-micron to 0.35-micron and enhanced our process technologies to include CMOS image sensors, embedded flash, advanced analog, RF (radio frequency) and mixed-signal technologies.
 
In 2003, we commenced production in Fab 2, a wafer fabrication facility we established in Migdal Haemek, Israel. Fab 2 supports geometries ranging from 0.35 to 0.13-micron, using advanced CMOS technology, including CMOS image sensors, embedded flash, advanced analog, RF (radio frequency), power platforms and mixed-signal technologies.
 
In September 2008, we merged with Jazz. Jazz focuses on specialty process technologies for the manufacture of analog and mixed-signal semiconductor devices, and supports geometries ranging from 0.50 to 0.13-micron. Jazz's specialty process technologies include advanced analog, radio frequency, high voltage, bipolar and silicon germanium bipolar complementary metal oxide (“SiGe”) semiconductor processes. ICs manufactured by Jazz are incorporated into a wide range of products, including cellular phones, wireless local area networking devices, digital TVs, set-top boxes, gaming devices, switches, routers and broadband modems. Jazz operates Fab 3.
 
In June 2011, we acquired Fab 4 from Micron. The assets and related business that we acquired from Micron were held and conducted through a wholly owned Japanese subsidiary, TJP. In 2014, the operations of Fab 4 ceased in the course of restructuring our activities and business in Japan and during the second half of 2016, TJP completed its dissolution.
 
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In March 2014, we acquired from Panasonic 51% of a newly established company, TPSCo, that manufactures products for Panasonic and other third party customers, using Panasonic's three semiconductor manufacturing facilities located in Hokuriku Japan (Uozu E, Tonami CD and Arai E). Pursuant to the transaction, Panasonic transferred its semiconductor wafer manufacturing process and capacity tools (8 inch and 12 inch) at said three fabs to TPSCo, and entered into a five-year manufacturing agreement for the manufacture of products for Panasonic by TPSCo.
 
In February 2016, we acquired Fab 9 from Maxim. The assets and related business that we acquired from Maxim are held and conducted through a wholly owned US subsidiary, TJT. Fab 9 supports process geometries ranging from 0.18 to 0.8 for the manufacture of products using CMOS and analog based technologies.
 
Our executive offices and Israeli manufacturing facilities are located in the Ramat Gavriel Industrial Park, Shaul Amor Street, Post Office Box 619, Migdal Haemek, 2310502 Israel, and our telephone number is 972-4-650-6611. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Tower Semiconductor USA, Inc. located at 2570 North First Street, Suite 480 San Jose, CA  95131.
 
For more information about us, go to www.towerjazz.com. Information on our web site is not incorporated by reference in this annual report.
 
B.     BUSINESS OVERVIEW 
 
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
PROLIFERATION OF ANALOG AND MIXED-SIGNAL SEMICONDUCTORS AND THE GROWING NEED FOR SPECIALTY PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES

Semiconductor devices are responsible for the rapid growth of the electronics industry over the past fifty years.  They are critical components in a variety of applications, from computers, consumer electronics and communications, to industrial, military, medical and automotive applications.   Rapid changes in the semiconductor industry frequently make recently introduced devices and applications obsolete within a very short period of time.  With the increase in their performance and decrease in their size and cost, the use of semiconductors and the number of their applications have increased significantly.
 
Historically, the semiconductor industry was composed primarily of companies that designed and manufactured ICs in their own fabrication facilities.  These companies, such as Intel and Samsung, are known as integrated device manufacturers, or IDMs.  In the mid-1980s, fabless IC companies, which focused on IC design and used external manufacturing capacity, began to emerge.  Fabless companies initially outsourced production to IDMs, which filled this need through their excess capacity.  As the semiconductor industry continued to grow, increasing competition forced fabless companies and IDMs to seek reliable and dedicated sources of IC manufacturing services.  Use of external manufacturing capacity allowed IDMs to reduce their investment in their existing and next-generation manufacturing facilities and process technologies. This need for external manufacturing capacity led to the development of independent companies, known as foundries, which focus primarily on providing IC manufacturing services to semiconductor suppliers.  Foundry services are used by nearly all major semiconductor companies in the world, including IDMs, as part of a dual-source, risk-diversification and cost effectiveness strategy.
 
Semiconductor suppliers face increasing demands for new products that provide higher performance, greater functionality and smaller form factors at lower prices - all features that require increasingly complex ICs. The industry has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of applications that incorporate semiconductors.  Further, in order to compete successfully, semiconductor suppliers must minimize the time it takes to bring a product to market. As a result, fabless companies and IDMs have focused more on their core competencies, design and intellectual property, and tend to outsource manufacturing to foundries.
 
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The two basic functional technologies for semiconductor products are digital and analog. Digital semiconductors provide critical processing power and have helped enable many of the computing and communication advances of recent years. Analog semiconductors monitor and manipulate real world signals such as sound, light, pressure, motion, temperature, electrical current and radio waves, for use in a wide variety of electronic products such as digital still cameras, x-ray medical applications, flat panel displays, personal computers, cellular handsets, telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, automotive electronics and industrial electronics. Analog-digital, or mixed-signal, semiconductors combine analog and digital devices on a single chip which can process both analog and digital signals.
 
Integrating analog and digital components on a single, mixed-signal semiconductor enables the development of smaller, more highly integrated, power-efficient, feature-rich and cost-effective semiconductor devices but presents significant design and manufacturing challenges. For example, combining high-speed digital circuits with sensitive analog circuits on a single, mixed-signal semiconductor can increase electromagnetic interference and power consumption, both of which cause a higher amount of heat to be dissipated and decrease the overall performance of the semiconductor. Challenges associated with the design and manufacture of mixed-signal semiconductors increase as the industry moves toward more advanced process geometries. As a result, analog and mixed-signal semiconductors can be complex to manufacture and typically require sophisticated design expertise and strong application specific experience and intellectual property. In addition, today’s analog market is driven strongly by growing sensitivity to environmental requirements such as the conservation of energy, and human well being. This is seen in applications related to the Internet of Things (IoT) in particular in  products with embedded sensors, medical devices, applications focused on entertainment, infotainment and safety, all developed using analog technology.
 
Mixed-signal ICs are an essential part of any front-end electronic system. Our advanced analog CMOS process technologies have more features than standard analog CMOS process technologies and are well suited for higher performance or more highly integrated analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, such as high-speed analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog converters and mixed-signal semiconductors with integrated data converters. These process technologies generally incorporate higher density passive components, such as capacitors and resistors, as well as improved active components, such as native or low voltage devices, and improved isolation techniques, into standard analog CMOS process technologies.
 
The enormous costs associated with modern fabs, combined with the increasing demand for complex ICs, has created an expanding market for outsourced foundry manufacturing.  Foundries can cost-effectively supply advanced ICs to even the smallest fabless companies by creating economies of scale through pooling the demand of numerous customers.  In addition, customers whose IC designs require process technologies other than standard digital CMOS have created a market for independent foundries that focus on providing specialized process technologies. Specialty process technologies enable greater analog content and can reduce the die size of an analog or mixed-signal semiconductor, thereby increasing the number of dies that can be manufactured on a wafer and reducing final die cost. In addition, specialty process technologies can enable increased performance, superior noise reduction and improved power efficiency of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors compared to traditional standard CMOS processes. These specialty process technologies include advanced analog CMOS, specialized RF devices on SOI, radio frequency CMOS (RF CMOS), CMOS image sensors (CIS) and other types of original sensors , high voltage CMOS, bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium BiCMOS (SiGe BiCMOS), and bipolar CMOS double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (BCD).We have mastered the skills required to work in this technology intensive environment which is rapidly changing. We work closely with our customers to provide them with unique and specialized solutions needed for their business success.
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Foundries also offer competitive customer service through design, testing, and other technical services.
 
MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGIES

We manufacture ICs on silicon wafers, generally using the customer’s proprietary circuit designs.  In some cases, we provide our customers with third-party design elements or our own proprietary design elements.  The end product of our manufacturing process is a silicon wafer containing multiple identical ICs.  In most cases, our customer assumes responsibility for dicing, assembly, packaging and testing.
 
We provide wafer fabrication services to fabless IC companies and IDMs, as sole source or second source, and enable smooth integration of the semiconductor design and manufacturing processes. By doing so, we enable our customers to bring high-performance, highly integrated ICs to market rapidly and cost effectively.  We believe that our technological strengths and emphasis on customer service have allowed us to develop a unique position in large, high-growth specialized markets for CMOS image sensors, RF, power management and high performance mixed signal ICs.
 
We manufacture using specialty process technologies, mostly based on CMOS process platforms with added features to enable special and unique functionality, improved size, performance and cost characteristics for analog and mixed-signal semiconductors. Products made with our specialty process technologies are typically more complex to manufacture than products made using standard process technologies employing similar line widths. Generally, customers that use our specialty process technologies cannot easily transfer designs to another foundry because the analog characteristics of the design are dependent upon the specific process technology used for manufacturing. The specialty process design infrastructure is complex and includes design kits and device models that are specific to the foundry in which the process is implemented and to the process technology itself. In addition, the relatively small engineering community with specialty process expertise and the significant investment required for development or transfer and maintenance of specialty process technologies has limited the number of foundries capable of offering specialty process technologies.  We believe that our specialized process technologies combined with design enablement capabilities distinguish our IC manufacturing services and attract industry-leading customers.

We also offer process transfer services to integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) who wish to manufacture products using their own process and do not have sufficient capacity in their own fabs.  Existing or new fabs may engage us for such services in order to expand their technology offerings. Our process transfer services are also used by fabless companies that have proprietary process flows that they wish to manufacture at additional manufacturing sites for purposes of geographic diversity or require a new technology node which is very costly to build independent of other business commitments.  Our process services include development, transfer, and extensive optimization as defined by customer needs. 

With our world-class engineering team, well established transfer methodologies, and vast manufacturing experience, we offer state of the art production lines for core bulk CMOS and specialized technologies such as RF SOI9, back-end-of-line (BEOL) magnetic random access memory (MRAM)  and  MTJ (magnetic tunnel junction) sensors, SiGe and  MEMS, among others. With a combination of well known intellectual property protection and capacity flexibility commitment, we ensure customer confidence and satisfaction for low-risk services and fast time-to-market.

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We are a trusted, customer-oriented service provider that has built a solid reputation in the foundry industry over the last twenty years.  We have built strong relationships with customers, who continue to use our services, even as their demands evolve to smaller form factors and new applications.  Our consistent focus on providing high-quality, value added services, including engineering and design support, has allowed us to attract customers that seek to work with a proven provider of foundry solutions.  Our emphasis on working closely with customers and accelerating the time-to-market of our customers’ next-generation products has enabled us to maintain a high customer retention rate and increase the number of new customers and new products for production.

We derived a very significant amount of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 from our target specialized markets: RF CMOS, power IC and discrete devices, CMOS image sensors , wireless communication and high performance analog .  We are highly experienced in these markets, having been an early entrant and having developed unique proprietary technologies, including through licensing and joint development efforts with our customers and other technology companies.
 
The specific process technologies that we currently focus on include: radio frequency CMOS (RF CMOS), CMOS image sensors (CIS) and integration of other types of sensors, advanced analog CMOS, radio frequency identification (RFID), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe BiCMOS), high voltage CMOS, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) ,  LDMOS transistors and power  devices based on GaN (gallium nitride) technology.
 
CMOS Image Sensors
 
CMOS image sensors are ICs used to capture an image in a wide variety of consumer, communications, medical, automotive and industrial market applications, including camera-equipped cell phones, digital still and video cameras, security and surveillance cameras and video game consoles.  Our dedicated manufacturing and testing processes assure consistently high electro-optical performance of the integrated sensor through wafer-level characterization. Our CMOS image sensor processes have demonstrated superior optical characteristics, excellent spectral response and high resolution and sensitivity.  The ultra-low dark current, high efficiency and accurate spectral response of our photodiode enable faithful color reproduction and acute detail definition.
 
We are currently actively involved in the high-end sensor and applications specific markets, which include applications such as high end video, high end photography, industrial machine vision, dental x-ray, medical x-ray, automotive sensors, security sensors and three dimensional sensors for entertainment and industrial applications.
 
We recognized the market potential of using CMOS process technology for a digital camera-on-a-chip, which would integrate a CMOS image sensor, filters and digital circuitry.  Upon entering the CMOS image sensor foundry business, we utilized research and development work that had been ongoing since 1993.  Our services include a broad range of turnkey solutions and services, including silicon proven pixels services, optical characterization of a CMOS process, innovative patented stitching manufacturing technique and prototype packaging.  The CMOS image sensors that we manufacture deliver outstanding image quality for a broad spectrum of digital imaging applications.  Following the acquisition of TPSCo we are now offering even more advanced CMOS Image Sensor technology with technologies of 110nm on 200mm wafers and 65nm on 300mm wafers with pixel sizes down to 1.12 micron utilizing dual light pipe technology.
 
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Having this technology, we are now offering our customers state of the art pixels for a variety of new markets such as the high end smart phone camera or the rapidly growing security camera markets.
 
Specifically, our CIS portfolio includes pixels ranging from 1.12 micron up to 150 micron, all developed by us. We provide both rolling shutter and global shutter pixels. The latter are used mainly in the industrial sensor and in the three dimensional sensors markets. Our advanced photo diode (APD) technology used in CMOS image sensors enables improved optical and electrical performance such as low dark current, low noise, high well capacity, high quantum efficiency and high uniformity of pixels utilizing deep sub-micron process technologies, thus enabling the manufacturing of very sophisticated and high performance camera module solutions.
 
For the X-ray market, we offer our innovative patented “stitching” technology on 0.18-micron process as well as on 65nm technology on 300mm wafers and a variety of 15 to 150-micron pixels that are optimized for X-ray applications.  These pixels are used by our customers in dental and other medical X-ray products as well as in the industrial NDT (Not Destructive Testing) X-Ray market. Our stitching technology enables semiconductor exposure tools to manufacture single ultra high-resolution CMOS image sensors containing millions of pixels at sizes far larger than their existing field.  This technology is also used by us in the manufacturing of large sensors (up to one die per wafer) on 8” and 12” wafers and high end large format sensors with special pixels that we have developed specifically for this market.
 
We recently developed our near Infra-Red imaging technology, specially developed for gesture recognition systems designed by leading world computer manufacturers and a series of spectrally sensitive image sensors, including proximity sensors and sensors sensitive in the UV range.
 
RF CMOS
 
In recent years, more and more designers opt to develop high frequency products based on RF CMOS technologies. The superior cost structure of CMOS technologies enables high volume, low cost production of high frequency products.  We used our mixed signal expertise to leverage and develop processes and provide services for customers that utilize CMOS technologies and require high frequency performance.
 
Our RF CMOS process technologies have more features than advanced analog CMOS process technologies and are well suited for wireless semiconductors, such as highly integrated wireless transceivers, power amplifiers, and television tuners. These process technologies generally incorporate integrated inductors, high performance variable capacitors, or varactors, and RF laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductors into an advanced analog CMOS process technology. In addition to the process features, our RF offering includes design kits with RF models, device simulation and physical layouts tailored specifically for RF performance. We currently have RF CMOS process technologies in 0.25 micron, 0.18 micron, 0.13 micron and 65 nanometer.
 
Further, we have versions of our RF CMOS process built on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates (RF SOI). These RF SOI process technologies include devices optimized to deliver higher performance and improved isolation relative to devices in our RF CMOS process. We currently have RF SOI process technologies in 0.18 micron,0.13 micron and 65 nanometer lithography nodes and fabricate various devices including antenna switches with record FOM (figure of merit) and front end modules. Corresponding chips can be found in various products, including state-of-the-art smart-phones, manufactured by leading manufacturers.
 
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BiCMOS for RF and High Performance Analog
 
Our BiCMOS process technologies have more features than RF CMOS process technologies and are well suited for RF semiconductors, such as wireless transceivers and television tuners. These process technologies generally incorporate high-speed bipolar transistors into an RF CMOS process. The equipment requirements for BiCMOS manufacturing are specialized, and require enhanced tool capabilities to achieve high yield manufacturing.
 
Our SiGe BiCMOS process technologies have more features than BiCMOS processes and are well suited for more advanced RF and high performance analog semiconductors such as high-speed, low noise, highly integrated multi-band wireless transceivers, optical networking components, television tuners, automotive radar components, hard-disk drive pre-amplifiers, power amplifiers and low-noise amplifiers. These integrated circuits generally incorporate a silicon germanium bipolar transistor, which is formed by the deposition of a thin layer of silicon germanium within a bipolar transistor, to achieve higher speed, lower noise, and more efficient power performance than a BiCMOS process technology. It is also possible to achieve higher speed using SiGe BiCMOS process technologies equivalent to those demonstrated in standard CMOS processes that are two process generations smaller in line-width. For example, a 0.18 micron SiGe BiCMOS process is able to achieve speeds comparable to a 90 nanometer RF CMOS process. As a result, SiGe BiCMOS makes it possible to create analog products using a larger geometry process technology at a lower cost while achieving similar or superior performance to that achieved using a smaller geometry standard CMOS process technology. The equipment requirements for SiGe BiCMOS manufacturing are similar to the specialized equipment requirements for BiCMOS. We developed enhanced tool capabilities in conjunction with large semiconductor tool suppliers to achieve high yield SiGe manufacturing. We believe this equipment and related process expertise makes us one of the few integrated circuit manufacturers with demonstrated ability to deliver SiGe BiCMOS products. We currently have 0.35 micron, 0.18 micron and 0.13 SiGe BiCMOS micron technologies available.
 
Power and Power Management ICs
 
Our power technologies are generally divided into a low-voltage BCD offering and a 700V ultra-high voltage offering. Our low-voltage BCD process technologies have more features than advanced analog CMOS processes and are well suited for power and driver semiconductors, such as voltage regulators, battery chargers, power management products and audio amplifiers. These process technologies generally incorporate higher voltage CMOS devices such as 5V, 8V, 12V, 40V and 60V LDMOS devices, and, in the case of BCD, bipolar devices integrated into an advanced analog CMOS process. We currently have high voltage and low Rdson BCD offerings in 0.5 micron, 0.35 micron, 0.25 micron and 0.18 micron. We offer a cost effective and digital intensive power management platform, based on our 0.18um technology node with advanced isolation options that allow our customers to design high performance products as well as products with high levels of integration.
 
Our 700V ultra-high voltage platform supports the fast growing LED lighting market as well as serving the more established AC adaptor and motor driver markets.
 
In addition, we have developed a unique, zero mask adder NVM solution (Y-Flash) specifically for power and power management devices on our 0.18 micron platforms. We have developed a series of Y-flash based modules with record (for the single Poly embedded MTP technologies) memory densities of up to 16kbit, which have been integrated in various power management products of our customers.
 
We continue to invest in technology that improves performance and integration level and reduces the cost of analog and mixed-signal products. This includes improving the density of passive elements such as capacitors and inductors, including development of the new passive elements,  improving the analog performance and voltage handling capability of active devices, and integrating additional advanced features in our specialty CMOS processes. Examples of such technologies currently under development include GaN technologies and technologies aimed at integrating micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) devices with CMOS and scaling the features we offer today to the 0.13 micron process, including the integration of advanced SiGe transistors with 0.13 micron CMOS and copper metallization.

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CUSTOMERS, MARKETING AND SALES

Our marketing and sales strategy seeks to further solidify our position as the global specialty foundry leader, by increasing our market share at existing customers and aggressively expanding our global customer base.  We have marketing, sales, design support engineers, application engineers and customer support personnel in the United States, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, China and Israel.  In selected markets, including Europe, South America, Japan and India our marketing and sales staff is supported by independent sales representatives, who have been selected based on their industry experience, customer relationships and understanding of the semiconductor marketplace.
 
Our sales cycle is generally 8 to 26 months or longer for new customers and can be as short as 8 to 12 months for existing customers. The typical stages in the sales cycle process from initial contact until production are:
 
·
technical evaluation;
 
·
product design to our specifications, including integration of third party intellectual property;
 
·
photomask - design and third party photomask manufacturing;
 
·
silicon prototyping;
 
·
assembly and test;
 
·
validation and qualification; and
 
·
production.
 
The primary customers of our foundry and design services are fabless semiconductor companies and Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs). A portion of our product sales are made pursuant to long-term contracts with our customers, under which we agree to reserve manufacturing capacity at our production facilities for such customers. Our customers include many analog and mixed-signal industry leaders, serving a variety of end market segments. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we had four significant customers that each contributed between 5% to 35% of our revenues. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we had three significant customers that each contributed between 6% to 40% of our revenues. In 2014, we had four  significant customers that each contributed between 7% to 38% of our revenues.
 
The percentage of our revenues from customers located outside the United States was 51%, 56% and 55% in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015and 2014, respectively. The following table sets forth the geographical distribution, by percentage, of our net revenues for the periods indicated:
 
   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
 
United States          
   
49
%
   
44
%
   
45
%
Japan
   
36
%
   
41
%
   
40
%
Asia, excluding Japan          
   
12
%
   
11
%
   
11
%
Europe          
   
3
%
   
4
%
   
4
%
Total          
   
100
%
   
100
%
   
100
%
 
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We price our products on a per wafer basis, taking into account the unique value of our technology and its ability to enable customers to differentiate their products, complexity of the technology, prevailing market conditions, volume forecasts, the strength and history of our relationships with the customer and our current capacity utilization. Most of our customers usually place purchase orders between two to six months before shipment.
 
To promote our products, technology offering, and services we publish press releases, articles, technology journals, and white papers. In addition, we present and participate in panel sessions at industry conferences, hold a variety of regional and international technology seminars, and exhibit at various industry trade shows.  We discuss advances in our process technology portfolio and progress on specific relevant programs with our prospective and existing customers, as well as industry analysts and research analysts, on a regular basis. We publicly release any such information that we deem material or important to disclose and as required by law.
 
Our customers use our processes to design and market a broad range of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors for diverse end markets, including wired and wireless high-speed communications, consumer electronics, automotive and industrial applications. We manufacture products for a wide range of electronic systems, including but not limited to, high-performance applications, such as antenna switches, transceivers and power management circuits for cellular phones; transceivers and power amplifiers for wireless local area networking products; power management, audio amplifiers and driver integrated circuits for consumer electronics; tuners for digital televisions and set-top boxes; modem chipsets for broadband access devices and gaming devices; serializer/deserializers, or SerDes, for fiber optic transceivers; high end video cameras, dental and medical x-ray vision, industrial cameras, focal plane arrays for imaging applications; infra-red detectors for gesture recognition, controllers for power amplifier and switching chips in cellular phones and wireline interfaces for switches and routers.
 
Competition

The global semiconductor foundry industry is highly competitive. We compete most directly in the specialty segment with foundries such as Vanguard Semiconductor, DongBu, X-Fab, and HH Semi.  We also compete with the pure-play advanced technology node-driven foundry service providers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (“TSMC”), United Microelectronics Corporation (“UMC”), Global Foundries Inc. and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (“SMIC”). These four foundries primarily compete against one another and focus on 12 inch deep-submicron CMOS processing, though they each also have some capacity for specialty process technologies. The rest of the foundry industry generally targets either industry standard 8 inch CMOS processing or specialty process technologies. It includes existing Chinese, Korean and Malaysian foundries. We also compete with integrated device manufacturers that have internal semiconductor manufacturing capacity or foundry operations, such as ST, Intel, Samsung, and others that produce ICs for their own use and may allocate a portion of their manufacturing capacity to external foundry customers.  Most of the foundries with which we compete are located in Asia-Pacific and benefit from their close proximity to companies involved in the design of ICs and to the Asian customer base.
 
The principal elements of competition in the wafer foundry market are:
 
·
technology offering and future roadmap;
 
·
product performance;
 
·
system level technical expertise;
 
·
research and development capabilities;
 
·
access to intellectual property;
 
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·
customer technical support;
 
·
design services;
 
·
product development kits (PDKs);
 
·
manufacturing operational performance;
 
·
quality systems;
 
·
product quality;
 
·
manufacturing yields;
 
·
customer support and service;
 
·
pricing;
 
·
management expertise;
 
·
strategic customer relationships;
 
·
capacity availability; and
 
·
stability and reliability of supply.
 
Some of our competitors, notably the pure-play advanced technology node-driven foundry service providers,  have greater manufacturing capacity,  superior research and development capability, better cost structure and greater financial, marketing and other resources. As a result, these companies may be able to compete more aggressively over a longer period of time than us.

We seek to compete primarily on the basis of advanced specialty analog/mixed-signal technology, R&D, breadth of process offering, production quality, technical support, and our design, engineering and manufacturing services.  We have a highly differentiated specialty offering and proven track record in analog/mixed-signal markets, which enables us to effectively compete with larger foundry service providers.
 
Some semiconductor companies have advanced their CMOS designs to 22 nanometer or smaller geometries. These smaller geometries may provide customers with performance and integration features that may be comparable to, or exceed, features offered by our specialty process technologies, and may be more cost-effective at higher production volumes for certain applications, such as when a large amount of digital content is required in a mixed-signal semiconductor and less analog content is required. Our specialty process technologies will therefore compete with these advanced CMOS processes for customers and some of our potential and existing customers could elect to design these advanced CMOS processes into their next generation products. We are not currently capable, and do not currently plan to become capable, of providing CMOS processes at these smaller geometries.
 
WAFER FABRICATION SERVICES

Wafer fabrication is an intricate process that consists of constructing layers of conducting and insulating materials on raw wafers in intricate patterns that give the IC its function.  IC manufacturing requires hundreds of interrelated steps performed on different types of equipment, and each step must be completed with extreme accuracy for finished ICs to work properly.  The process can be summarized as follows:
 
Circuit Design.  IC production begins when a fabless IC company or IDM designs (or engages a third party or us) the layout of a device’s components and designates the interconnections between each component.  The result is a pattern of components and connections that defines the function of the IC.  In highly complex circuits, there may be more than 43 layers of electronic patterns.  After the IC design is completed, we provide these companies with IC manufacturing services.
 
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Mask Making.  The design for each layer of a semiconductor wafer is imprinted on a photographic negative, called a reticle or mask.  The mask is the blueprint for each specific layer of the semiconductor wafer. We engage external mask shops for the manufacturing and provision of such masks.
 
IC Manufacturing.  Transistors and other circuit elements comprising an IC are formed by repeating a series of processes in which photosensitive material is deposited on the wafer and exposed to light through a mask.  Advanced IC manufacturing processes consist of hundreds of steps, including photolithography, oxidation, etching and stripping of different layers and materials, ion implantation, deposition of thin film layers, chemical mechanical polishing and thermal processing.  The final step in the IC manufacturing process is wafer probing, which involves electronically inspecting each individual IC in order to identify those that are operable for assembly.  Our customers often use third party service providers for the performance of such services although we occasionally provide this service to certain customers.
 
Assembly and Test.  After IC manufacture, the wafers are transferred to assembly and test facilities.  In the assembly process, each wafer is cut into dies, or individual semiconductors, and tested.  Defective dies are discarded, while good dies are packaged and assembled.  Assembly protects the IC, facilitates its integration into electronic systems and enables heat dissipation.   Following assembly, the functionality, voltage, current and timing of each IC is tested.  After testing, the completed IC is shipped either to our customer or to their customer’s printed circuit board manufacturing facility. Our customers often use third party service providers for the performance of wafer assembly and testing, and to a smaller extent part of such process is performed independently by us.
 
PROCUREMENT AND SOURCING

Our manufacturing processes use many materials, including silicon wafers, chemicals, gases, photomasks and various metals.  These raw materials generally are available from several suppliers.  In many instances, we purchase raw materials from a single source to obtain preferred pricing.  In those cases, we generally also seek to identify, and in some cases qualify, alternative sources of supply.
 
In addition, we have agreements with several key material suppliers under which they hold certain levels of inventory for our use. We are not obliged under these agreements to purchase and pay for the raw material inventory that is held by our vendors at our sites until we actually use it, unless we hold the inventory beyond specified time limits.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Our future success depends, to a large degree, on our ability to continue to successfully develop and introduce to production advanced process technologies that meet our customers’ needs. Our process development strategy relies on CMOS process platforms that we license and transfer from third parties or develop ourselves.
 
From time to time, at a customer’s request, we develop a specialty process module, which in accordance with the applicable agreement may be used for such customer on an exclusive basis or added to our process offering. Such developments are very common in all of our special process technologies noted above.
 
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Our research and development activities have related primarily to our process, device and design development efforts in all specialty areas that were mentioned above, and have been sponsored and funded by us and in certain cases with some participation of the OCS. Accordingly, Tower is subject to restrictions set forth in Israeli law, as amended, which may limit the ability of a company to transfer technologies outside of Israel, if such technologies were developed with the funding of the OCS, or its replacement authority the IIA (Israeli Innovation Authority). In addition, we may be required to obtain export licenses before exporting certain technology or products to any third party and may be required to comply with Israeli, U.S. and other foreign export regulations as may be applicable.
 
Our research and development activities seek to upgrade and improve our manufacturing technologies and processes. We maintain a central research and development team primarily responsible for developing cost-effective technologies that can serve the manufacturing needs of our customers. A substantial portion of our research and development activities are undertaken in cooperation with our customers and equipment vendors. Due to the rapid changes in technology that characterize the semiconductor industry, effective research and development is essential to our success. We plan to continue to invest significantly in research and development activities in order to develop advanced process technologies for new applications.
 
Research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $63.1 million, $61.7 million and $51.8 million, respectively, net of government participation of $0.5 million, $0.6 million and $0.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2016, we employed 387 professionals in our research and development departments, 45 of whom have PhDs. In addition to our research and development departments located at our facilities in Migdal Haemek, Israel, Newport Beach, California, San Antonio, Texas and Hokuriku Japan, we maintain a design center in Netanya, Israel.
 
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
Intellectual Property and Licensing Agreements
 
Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain patents, licenses and other intellectual property rights covering our production processes.  To that end, we have obtained certain patents, acquired patent licenses and intend to continue to seek patents on our intellectual property.
 
As of December 31, 2016, we held 248 patents in force. We have entered into various patent and other technology license agreements with technology companies, including Synopsys, ARM, Cadence, Mentor Graphics and others, under which we have obtained rights to additional technologies and intellectual property.
 
We constantly seek to strengthen our technological expertise through relationships with technology companies. We seek to expand our core strengths in CMOS image sensors, embedded flash, power management, RF, SiGe, MEMS and mixed-signal technologies by continuous development in these areas. A main component of our process development strategy is to acquire licenses for standard CMOS technologies and cell libraries from leading providers, such as ARM and Synopsys, and further develop specialized processes through our internal design teams. The licensing of these technologies has significantly reduced our internal development costs.
 
In connection with the separation of Jazz Semiconductor’s business from Conexant in 2002, Conexant contributed to Jazz Semiconductor a substantial portion of its intellectual property, including software licenses, patents and intellectual property rights in know-how related to its business. Jazz agreed to license intellectual property rights relating to the intellectual property contributed to Jazz by Conexant back to Conexant and its affiliates. Conexant may use this license to have Conexant products produced by third-party manufacturers and sell such products, subject to obtaining Jazz’s prior consent.
 
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Panasonic granted a license to certain process technologies to TPSCo for the manufacture of products for Panasonic and third party foundry customers. TPSCo may, in certain circumstances, sub-license such technology to Tower or to other third parties for payment of royalties.  The term of the agreement is five years until March 2019, and he parties have already commenced discussions with regard to the terms of renewing the agreement. In connection with the acquisition of Fab 9, Maxim granted TJT a license to certain process technologies for the manufacture of products at Fab 9 by TJT, some of which can only be used for the manufacture of products for Maxim, as well as license to certain process software for the manufacture of products at Fab 9.
 
Our ability to compete depends on our ability to operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others. The semiconductor industry is generally characterized by frequent litigation over patent and other intellectual property rights. As is the case with many companies in the semiconductor industry, we have from time to time received communications from third parties asserting that their patents cover certain of our technologies or alleging infringement of intellectual property rights. We expect that we will receive similar communications in the future. Irrespective of the validity or the successful assertion of such claims, we could incur significant costs and devote significant management resources in defending these claims.
 
DESIGN SERVICES
 
To better serve our customers’ design needs using advanced CMOS and mixed-signal processes, we have entered into a series of agreements with leading providers of physical design libraries, mixed-signal and non volatile memory design components.  These components are basic design building blocks, such as standard cells, interface input-output (I/O) cells, software compilers for the generation of on-chip embedded memories arrays, mixed-signal and non-volatile memory design blocks.  To achieve optimal performance, all of these components must be customized to work with our manufacturing process. These components are used in most of our customers’ chip designs.
 
We interact closely with customers throughout the design development and prototyping process to assist them in the development of high performance and low power consumption semiconductor designs and to lower their final die, or individual semiconductor, costs through die size reductions and integration. We provide engineering support and services as well as manufacturing support in an effort to accelerate our customers’ design and qualification process so that our customers can achieve faster time to market. We have entered into alliances with Cadence Design Systems, Inc., Synopsys, Inc., Mentor Graphics Corp., and other suppliers of electronic design automation tools, and also licensed standard cells, I\O and memory technologies from ARM, Synopsys, Inc., and other leading providers of physical intellectual property components for the design and manufacture of ICs. Through these relationships, we provide our customers with the ability to simulate the behavior of their design in our processes using standard electronic design automation, or EDA tools.
 
The applications for which our specialty process technologies are targeted present challenges that require an in-depth set of simulation models. We provide these models as an integral part of our design support. At the initial design stage, our customers’ internal design teams use the proprietary design kits that we have developed to design semiconductors that can be successfully and cost-effectively manufactured using our specialty process technologies. These design kits, which collectively comprise our design library and design platform, allow our customers to quickly simulate the performance of a semiconductor design with our processes, enabling them to refine their product design to ensure alignment to our manufacturing process before actually manufacturing the semiconductor. Our engineers, who have significant experience with analog and mixed-signal semiconductor design and production, work closely with our customers’ design teams to provide design advice and help them optimize their designs for our processes and their performance requirements. After the initial design phase, we provide our customers with a multi-project wafer service to facilitate the early and rapid use of our specialty process technologies, which allows them to gain early access to actual samples of their designs. Under this multi-project wafer service, we schedule a bimonthly multi-project wafer run in which we manufacture several customers’ designs in a single mask set, providing our customers with an opportunity to reduce the cost and time required to test their designs. Our design center helps customers accelerate the design-to-silicon process and enhances first-time silicon success by providing them with the required design resources and capabilities.  Our design support can assist in all or part of the design flow. Our in-depth knowledge of the fab and processes provide a substantive advantage when implementing designs that reach the boundaries of technology.  In addition, our IP and design services can assist and relieve some of our customers' issues, providing the specific skills and expertise critical for successful implementation of our customers’ design on our manufacturing process.
 
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We believe that our circuit design expertise and our ability to accelerate our customers’ design cycle while reducing their design costs represent one of our competitive strengths.
 
SPECIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT WITH DSS
 
In connection with Jazz's aerospace and defense business, its facility security clearance and trusted foundry status, Tower and Jazz have worked with the Defense Security Service of the United States Department of Defense (“DSS”) to mitigate concern of foreign ownership, control or influence over the operations of Jazz specifically relating to protection of classified information and prevention of potential unauthorized access thereto by creating Jazz Semiconductor Trusted foundry (“JSTF”) as a subsidiary of Jazz and limiting possession of all classified information solely to JSTF. Tower and Jazz have further agreed to operate JSTF under a special security agreement signed with DSS. JSTF has been certified by the Defense Microelectronics Activity (“DMEA”) for participation in the Department of Defense’s accredited supplier program and has obtained a facility security clearance from DSS and accreditation by DMEA as a Category 1A and 1B accredited supplier.

C.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
 
The legal name of our company is Tower Semiconductor Ltd.  Tower was incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel in 1993. Tower directly operates our Fab 1 and Fab 2 facilities in Israel.   Tower’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Tower US Holdings Inc. owns all of the shares of Jazz US Holdings Inc., which owns all of the shares of Jazz Semiconductor, Inc. (all three companies are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware), which operates our Fab 3 facility. Tower’s wholly-owned subsidiary, TowerJazz Japan, Ltd. (incorporated in Japan) operated our Fab 4 facility in Japan, which, in the course of restructuring our activities and business in Japan, ceased its operations in July 2014 and completed its dissolution in 2016. Tower holds a 51% equity stake in TPSCo (and PSCS holds the remaining equity of TPSCo).  TPSCo is incorporated under the laws of Japan and operates three fabs Arai E, Uozo E and Tonami CD located in Japan. As of February 2016, TowerJazz Texas, Inc. (the shares of which are fully owned by Tower US Holdings), operates our Fab 9 facility in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
 
D.     PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT

Manufacturing Facilities
 
We manufacture semiconductor wafers at seven manufacturing facilities: Fab 1 and Fab 2 facilities in Israel, Fab 3 Jazz’s facility in Newport Beach, California in the U.S., TPSCo’s three fabs (Arai E, Uozo E and Tonami CD) in Japan, and Fab 9 TJT’s facility in San Antonio, Texas, U.S. The capacity in each of our facilities at any particular time varies and depends on the combination of the processes being used and the product mix being manufactured at such time.  Hence, it may be significantly lower at certain times as a result of certain combinations that may require more processing steps than others. We have the ability to rapidly change the mix of production processes in use in order to respond to changing customer needs and to maximize utilization of the fab. In general, our ability to increase our manufacturing capacity has been achieved through the addition of equipment, improvement in equipment utilization, the reconfiguration and expansion of existing clean rooms area.
 
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Capital expenditures in 2016 and 2015 were approximately $210 million and $165 million, respectively, net of proceeds from sale of equipment and fixed assets of approximately $8 million and $7 million, respectively.
 
Fab 1
 
We acquired our Fab 1 facility from National Semiconductor in 1993, which had operated the facility since 1986. The facility is located in Migdal Haemek, Israel. We occupy the facility under a long-term lease from the Israel Lands Authority which expires in 2032.
 
Due to the sensitivity and complexity of the semiconductor manufacturing process, a semiconductor manufacturing facility requires a special “clean room” in which most of the manufacturing functions are performed.  Our Fab 1 facility includes an approximately 51,900 square foot clean room.
 
Since we commenced manufacturing at Fab 1, we increased its manufacturing capacity and expanded the technologies qualified in the fab, including specialized processes.  Fab 1 supports geometries ranging from 1.0 micron to 0.35-micron.
 
Fab 2

In 2003, we commenced production in our Fab 2, also located in Migdal Haemek, Israel.  Fab 2 supports geometries ranging from 0.35 to 0.11-micron, using advanced CMOS technology, including CMOS image sensors, embedded flash, advanced analog, RF SOI, power platforms and mixed-signal technologies.  We have invested significantly in the purchase of fixed assets, primarily in connection with the construction of Fab 2, technology advancement and capacity expansion.

The land on which Fab 2 is located is subject to a long-term lease from the Israel Lands Authority that expires in 2049. The overall clean room area in Fab 2 is approximately 100,000 square feet.
 
Fab 3

Jazz’s manufacturing facilities and headquarters, which we refer to as Fab 3, are located in Newport Beach, California. Fab 3 supports geometries ranging from 0.80 to 0.13-micron. The manufacturing facility comprises 320,000 square feet, including 120,000 square feet of overall clean room area.
 
Jazz leases its fabrication facilities and offices under lease contracts that Jazz can extend until 2027.  In 2015, Jazz exercised its option to extend the lease term from 2017 to 2022, while maintaining the option to extend the lease term at its sole discretion from 2022 to 2027. Under Jazz amended leases, Jazz’s rental payments consist of  fixed base rent and fixed management fees and Jazz’s pro rata share of certain expenses incurred by the landlord in the ownership of these buildings, including property taxes, building insurance and common area maintenance.  Jazz and the landlord further amended the lease, setting forth certain obligations of Jazz and the landlord, including certain noise abatement actions at the fabrication facility.

42

 
Uozu E, Tonami CD and Arai E fabs
 
In March 2014, we acquired a 51% equity stake in TPSCo, a company formed by Panasonic Corporation, to manufacture products for Panasonic and other third party customers, using Panasonic's three semiconductor manufacturing facilities located in Hokuriku, Japan. Pursuant to the transaction, Panasonic transferred its semiconductor wafer manufacturing process and capacity tools (8 inch and 12 inch) at its three fabs located in Hokuriku (Uozu E, Tonami CD and Arai E) to TPSCo. The fabs support geometrics ranging down to 45 nanometer.
 
Fab 9
 
In February 2016, we acquired a fabrication facility in San Antonio Texas, USA from Maxim, which we refer to as Fab 9. The assets and related business that we acquired from Maxim are held and conducted through a wholly owned US subsidiary, TJT. Fab 9 supports process geometries ranging from 0.18 to 0.8 micron for the manufacture of products using CMOS and analog based technologies. Under the terms of this agreement, until the termination or expiration of the supply agreement signed between Maxim and TJT, Maxim has a right of first offer to re-purchase Fab 9 in the event Tower or any of its subsidiaries sell, transfer, dispose of, cease the operations of, close, transfer or relocate Fab 9, or if Tower or its operations at Fab 9 become subject to a petition of bankruptcy or liquidation.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY AND QUALITY MATTERS AND CERTIFICATIONS
 
We have placed significant emphasis on achieving and maintaining a high standard of manufacturing quality. All our facilities are ISO 9001 certified, an international quality standard that provides guidance to achieve an effective quality management system.  In addition, all our facilities are TS16949 certified, a more stringent automotive quality standard.
 
For environmental, our operations are subject to a variety of laws and governmental regulations relating to the use, discharge and disposal of toxic or otherwise hazardous materials used in our production processes.  Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could subject us to material costs and liabilities, including costs to clean up contamination caused by our operations. All of our facilities are ISO 14001 certified, an international standard that provides management guidance on how to achieve an effective environmental management system. Risks have been evaluated and mitigation plans are in place to prevent and control accidental spills and discharges. Procedures have also been established at all our locations to ensure all accidental spills and discharges are properly addressed. The environmental management system assists in evaluating compliance status with all applicable environmental laws and regulations as well as establishing loss prevention and control measures.  In addition, our facilities are subject to strict regulations and periodic monitoring by government agencies. With these systems, we believe we are currently in compliance in all material respects with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
 
For safety, all of our facilities are OHSAS 18001 certified, an international occupational health and safety standard that provides guidance on how to achieve an effective health and safety management system. The health and safety standard management system assists in evaluating compliance status with all applicable health and safety laws and regulations as well as establishing preventative and control measures. We believe we are currently in compliance with all applicable health and safety laws and regulations.
 
Our goal in implementing OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and TS16949  systems is to continually improve our environmental, health, safety and quality management systems.
 
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ITEM 4A.       UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not Applicable.
 
ITEM 5.          OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
 
A.     OPERATING RESULTS
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and related notes and the information contained elsewhere in this annual report. Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”).
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
Revenue Recognition.

Our revenues are generated principally from sales of semiconductor wafers and in addition we derive revenues from design support and other technical and support services, which are incidental to the sale of semiconductor wafers. The vast majority of our revenues is achieved through the efforts of our direct sales force.
 
In accordance with ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, we recognize revenues from sale of products when the following fundamental criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the price to the customer is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Generally, delivery occurs after products meet all of the customer’s acceptance criteria based on pre-shipment electronic, functional and quality tests.
 
We provide for sales returns allowance relating to specified yield or quality commitments as a reduction of revenues based on past experience and specific identification of events necessitating an allowance.
 
Our revenue recognition policy is significant because our revenues are a key component of our results of operations. We follow very specific and detailed guidelines in measuring revenues. Any changes in assumptions for determining the allowance for returns and other factors affecting revenue recognition may affect mainly the timing of our revenue recognition, which may affect our financial position and results of operations.
 
Depreciation and Amortization of Fixed Assets and Intangible Assets.
 
We are heavily capital oriented and the amount of depreciation is a significant amount of our yearly expenses. Changes to the useful lives assumption and hence the depreciation have a material impact on our results of operations. Fixed and intangible assets depreciation and amortization expenses in 2016 amounted to $180 million. Following changes that we implemented during 2015 in the estimated useful life of our machinery, equipment and facility infrastructure which are detailed below, we estimate that the expected economic life of our assets is as follows: (i) buildings (including facility infrastructure) –10 to 25 years; (ii) machinery and equipment, software and hardware – 3 to 15 years; and (iii) technology and other intangible assets – 4 to 19 years. The amounts attributed to intangible assets as part of the purchase price allocations for the acquisitions of our subsidiaries are amortized over the expected estimated economic lives of the intangible assets commonly used in the industry. Changes in our estimates regarding the expected economic life of our assets will affect our depreciation and amortization expenses.
 
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In connection with the periodic review of the estimated remaining useful lives of property and equipment at our foundry manufacturing facilities, it was determined in the second quarter of 2015, that the estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment should be extended to 15 years from 7 years and the useful lives of facility infrastructure should be extended to 25 years from 14 years. We extended the estimated useful lives of these assets as a result of the extended use of mature technologies, longer processes and product life cycles, the versatility of manufacturing equipment, facility systems and infrastructure to provide better flexibility to meet changes in customer demand and the ability to re-use equipment over several technology cycles significantly extending the estimated usage period of such assets. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the impact of these extended estimated useful lives was approximately $42 million of reduced depreciation expenses which resulted in a net decrease of approximately $27 million of the loss for the year and a decrease in basic loss per share by $0.37.  We believe that the current estimates of useful lives are reasonable, sustainable and better reflect the future anticipated usage of these assets.
 
Income Taxes.
 
We account for income taxes using an asset and liability approach as prescribed in ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes”. This topic prescribes the use of the liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are computed based on the tax rates anticipated (under applicable law as of the balance sheet date) to be in effect when the deferred taxes are expected to be paid or realized.
 
We evaluate how to realizeour deferred tax assets for each jurisdiction in which we operate at each reporting date, and establish valuation allowances when it is more likely than not that all or a part of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income of the same character and in the same jurisdiction. We consider all available positive and negative evidence in making this assessment, including, but not limited to, the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income. In circumstances where there is sufficient negative evidence indicating that our deferred tax assets are not more-likely-than-not realizable, we establish a valuation allowance.
 
ASC 740-10 prescribes a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return by assessing whether they are more-likely-than-not sustainable, based solely on their technical merits, upon examination and including resolution of any related appeals or litigation process. The second step is to measure the associated tax benefit of each position as the largest amount that we believe is more-likely-than-not realizable. Differences between the amount of tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in our income tax returns and the amount of tax benefits recognized in our financial statements represent our unrecognized income tax benefits. Our policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized income tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
 
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") amended the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition in Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, which amendment has been further amended several times, most  recently in  2016. The amendment is based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the value of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services if sold at the end of the calendar quarter. ASU 2014-09 is effective January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted, but not before January 1, 2017. The amendment may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application.  The Company is considering whether control over wafers in production, is transferred over time or at a certain point in time. The Company’s manufacturing of wafers creates an asset with no alternative use. In the event a customer cancels an order, the Company is entitled to recover its costs plus reasonable margin, in accordance with the engagement terms which generally apply  to most of its customers. Should it be determined that control over the goods is transferred over time, the Company may recognize revenue for such engagements based on the proportion of the manufacturing of the wafer that was completed. Such determination would result in earlier recognition of revenues over the time of production rather than upon delivery of a finished wafer.
 
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In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes”. ASU 2015-17 simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes and requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities, as well as any related valuation allowance, be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The update will apply to the Company as of the first quarter of 2017. The update is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
 
In April 2015, the FASB issued 2015-03, “Interest Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs”. This guidance changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. Under this ASU, an entity is required to present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs is reported as  a financing expense. The requirement to present debt issuance costs as a direct reduction of the related debt liability (rather than as an asset) is consistent with the presentation of debt discounts under US GAAP. In addition, it aligns the guidance in US GAAP with that in IFRS, under which transaction costs that are directly attributable to the issuance of a financial liability are treated as an adjustment to the initial carrying amount of the liability. As a result of the retrospective adoption of ASU 2015-03 effective January 1, 2016, deferred financing costs of approximately $0.9 million, previously classified within long-term assets were applied to reduce the related debt liabilities as of December 31, 2015. In 2016, issuance expenses relating to Series G Debentures and to the bank loan to TJT were deducted accordingly from the debt liability carrying amounts.
 
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The standard requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income. The provisions under this amendment are effective January 1, 2019, and for interim periods within that year. Early adoption is not permitted. The company is evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on it’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures and expects it would not have a material effect on its financial results.
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”, which primarily changes the leases accounting for operating leases by requiring recognition of lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. The amendments are effective January 1, 2019, and for interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements but expects it would not have a material effect on its financial results.
 
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718)”. This guidance identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for the annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The Company has early adopted the update as of January 1, 2016. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of excess tax benefits in the provision for income taxes rather than paid-in-capital of approximately $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. In addition, as of January 1, 2016, the Company accounts for forfeitures on a gross basis and recognizes actual forfeitures as they occur. The update requires that the adoption related to forfeitures be accounted for using the modified retrospective method where the effect of the change relating to previous years was to be recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The amount of the adjustment related to previous years is approximately $1.3 million.
 
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In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments Credit Losses”. This update requires a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. An entity must use judgment in determining the relevant information and estimation methods that are appropriate in its circumstances. The Company has previously incurred immaterial amount of bad debt and expecting no material impact from adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
 
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18 to require amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments are effective January 1, 2019, and for interim periods within that year. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of the amendments on its consolidated statement of cash flows and disclosures.
 
Results of Operations
 
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the financial statements and the related notes thereto included in this annual report. The following table sets forth certain statement of operations data as a percentage of total revenues for the years indicated.
 
   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
 
Statement of Operations Data:
                 
Revenues          
   
100
%
   
100
%
   
100
%
Cost of revenues          
   
75.7
     
78.6
     
92.3
 
Gross Profit          
   
24.3
     
21.4
     
7.7
 
Research and development expense          
   
5.1
     
6.4
     
6.3
 
Marketing, general and administrative expense          
   
5.2
     
6.5
     
7.1
 
Nishiwaki Fab restructuring and impairment cost (income), net
   
(0.1
)
   
(0.1
)
   
6.7
 
Acquisition related costs          
   
--
     
--
     
0.1
 
Operating profit (loss)          
   
14.1
     
8.6
     
(12.5
)
Interest expense, net          
   
(0.9
)
   
(1.4
)
   
(4.0
)
Other financing expense, net          
   
(1.0
)
   
(11.4
)
   
(6.7
)
Gain from acquisition, net          
   
4.0
     
--
     
20.1
 
Other income, net          
   
0.7
     
--
     
--
 
Profit (loss) before tax          
   
16.9
     
(4.2
)
   
(3.1
)
Income tax benefit (expense)          
   
(0.1
)
   
1.3
     
2.9
 
Net profit (loss)          
   
16.8
     
(2.9
)
   
(0.2
)
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest
   
(0.4
)
   
(0.1
)
   
0.7
 
Net profit (loss) attributable to the Company          
   
16.4
%
   
(3.0
)%
   
0.5
%

Our consolidated financial statements include TPSCo’s results from April 1, 2014 and TJT’s results from February 1, 2016, as detailed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

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Year ended December 31, 2016 compared to year ended December 31, 2015
 
Revenues. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased to $1,249.6 million, as compared to $960.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in revenues of $289.0 million is mainly due to a 27% increase in the number of wafers shipped and a 6% increase in the average selling price per wafer.
 
Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $946.5 million as compared to $755.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The $191.3 million increase in manufacturing cost resulted from the required incremental expenses to manufacture the increased number of wafers shipped as described above.
 
Gross Profit. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $303.1 million as compared to $205.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The $97.7 million increase in gross profit resulted from the increase of $289.0 million in revenues, partially offset by the increase in manufacturing cost of revenues as described above.
 
Research and Development. Research and development expense for the year ended December 31, 2016, amounted to $63.1 million as compared to $61.7 million recorded in the year ended December 31, 2015.
 
Marketing, General and Administrative. Marketing, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $65.4 million as compared to $62.8 million recorded in the year ended December 31, 2015.
 
Nishiwaki Fab Restructuring and Impairment Cost (Income), Net. Nishiwaki Fab restructuring and impairment income, net for the year ended December 31, 2016 of $0.6 million is related to the 2014 cessation of operations of the Nishiwaki Fab in Japan.
 
Operating Profit. Operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $175.2 million as compared to $81.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The $93.3 million increase in operating profit resulted mainly from the increased gross profit described above.
 
Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense, net of interest income for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased to $11.9 million as compared to $13.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 mainly due to our increased level of cash, cash equivalents and deposits and our reduced level of bank loans.
 
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Other Financing Expense, Net. Other financing expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased to $12.5 million as compared to other financing expense, net of $109.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, mainly due to approximately $88 million of non-cash financing expense which were recorded in the year ended December 31, 2015 mainly following the accelerated accretion and amortization costs resulted from the conversion of Series F debentures into ordinary shares of the Company during the year ended December 31, 2015, in accordance with US GAAP ASC 470-20. For the year ended December 31, 2016 such costs were immaterial.
 
Gain from Acquisition, Net. The Company recorded a net gain from the acquisition of the San Antonio fabrication facility. In February 2016, Tower acquired a fabrication facility in San Antonio, Texas through an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Tower, TowerJazz Texas, Inc. (“TJT”). The purchase price was $40 million, payable through the issuance of approximately 3.3 million ordinary shares of Tower, was $52.5 million lower than the fair value of the assets acquired, net of liabilities, thereby creating a gain from the acquisition. The net gain as presented in the statement of operations was $50.5 million after deduction of $2.0 million of acquisition related costs.
 
Other Income (Expense), Net. Other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $9.3 million attributable mainly to a $6.0 million gain resulted from an earn-out mechanism related to the San Antonio fab acquisition transaction as described in Note 3B to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016 and $5.0 million gain from sales of machinery and equipment.
 
Income Tax Benefit (Expense). Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $1.4 million as compared to $12.3 million income tax benefit in the year ended December 31, 2015. Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 resulted from the Company's subsidiaries’ profit before tax partially offset by income tax benefit of $6.5 million relating to completing the dissolution of TJP following the Nishiwaki Fab cessation of operations.
 
Income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2015 included mainly $11.2 million from the expiration of the statute of limitations of prior tax years and $6.4 million tax benefit due to reduced income tax rate in Japan, all of which were offset by tax expenses related to the Company's subsidiaries’ profit before tax.
 
Net Profit (Loss). Net profit for the year ended December 31, 2016 amounted to $203.9 million as compared to a net loss of $29.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in net profit in the amount of $233.6 million was mainly due to: (i) increase of $97.7 million in gross profit as a result of the increase in revenues as described above; (ii) decrease of $97.4 million in other financing expense net, mainly due to the non-cash accretion and amortization resulting from the accelerated conversion of Series F debentures in 2015 as detailed above; and (iii) $50.5 million net gain from the acquisition of the San Antonio facility as described above; all of which, were partially offset by higher tax expense of $13.7 million as detailed above.
 
Year ended December 31, 2015 compared to year ended December 31, 2014
 
Revenues. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased to $960.6 million, as compared to $828.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The net  increase in revenues of $132.6 million resulted from: (i) an increase of $72.3 million in revenues deriving from Panasonic, mainly due to the inclusion of TPSCo’s revenues for the full year in 2015, as compared to three quarters during 2014 following its establishment on April 1, 2014;  (ii) no revenues from Micron Technology, Inc. in 2015, as compared to $60.1 million of Micron revenues in 2014, prior to the cessation of operations of the Nishiwaki fab; and (iii) an increase of $120.4 million in revenues from other customers (excluding Panasonic and Micron), attributed mainly to an increase of 21% in number of wafer shipped and an increase of 8% in the average selling price.
 
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Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 amounted to $755.2 million, as compared to $764.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The $9 million decrease is comprised as follows: (a) a cost reduction of $74 million following the cessation of operations of the Nishiwaki fab; and (b) a decrease of $42 million in cost of revenues following the extended estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment, as described in Note 8A to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015; offset by (c) an increase of $107 million of variable manufacturing costs related to the increase in revenues under (i) and (iii) described above.
 
Gross Profit. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2015 amounted to $205.4 million as compared to $63.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. This $141.6 million increase in gross profit resulted from the $132.6 million increase in revenues and the $9 million decrease in cost of revenues as detailed above.
 
Research and Development. Research and development expense for the year ended December 31, 2015, amounted to $61.7 million, as compared to $51.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The main reasons for the increase are the inclusion of TPSCo’s research and development expenses starting April 1, 2014 and increase of research and development activities required for introducing new business at TPSCo.
 
 Marketing, General and Administrative Expense. Marketing, general and administrative expense amounted to $62.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to $58.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. The main reasons for the difference are the inclusion of TPSCo’s marketing, general and administrative expense starting upon its establishment in April 1, 2014.
 
Nishiwaki Fab Restructuring Costs and Impairment. Nishiwaki fab restructuring costs and impairment resulted from the cessation of the Nishiwaki fab operations in Japan as part of the re-organization of our business in Japan, mainly reflecting a non-cash fixed-assets impairment. See also Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015.
 
Operating Profit (Loss). Operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2015 amounted to $81.9 million as compared to a loss of $103.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. This $185.5 million better operating profit resulted from the same reasons as the increase in gross profit and from the Nishiwaki fab restructuring costs and impairment in 2014 as described above.
 
Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2015 was reduced to $13.2 million as compared to interest expense, net of $33.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 due to the reduction in our debt, including: (i) conversion during 2015 of $196 million of debentures Series F into shares; and (ii) the early redemption in January 2015 of Jazz’s notes, as described in Note 13D to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015.
 
Other Financing Expense, Net. Other financing expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2015 amounted to $109.9 million as compared to other financing expense, net of $55.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in other financing expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2015 is due to accelerated accretion and amortization costs of Debentures Series F, resulting from their conversion into shares during the year ended December 31, 2015. For more details, see Note 13C to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015.
 
Gain from Acquisition, Net. Gain from the acquisition of TPSCo, net in the amount of $166.4 million was included in the year ended December 31, 2014. As the fair value of the net assets acquired less the non-controlling interest exceeded the purchase price, we recognized a gain on the acquisition, net.  See also Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015.
 
Income Tax Benefit. Income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2015 amounted to $12.3 million as compared to $24.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. Income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2015 included: (i) $11 million from the reduction in the unrecognized tax benefit balance during 2015 due to the expiration of the statute of limitations of prior tax years for Jazz; and (ii) $8 million tax benefit mainly due to reduced income tax rates in Japan; offset by (iii) $7 million tax expenses related to the subsidiaries’ profit before tax. Income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2014 resulted mainly from the subsidiaries’ loss before tax and amounts related to the Nishiwaki Fab cessation of operation. See also Note 20 to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015.
 
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Net Profit (Loss). Loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 amounted to $29.6 million as compared to a net profit of $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The differences, which are detailed above, are mainly resulted from: (i) $54 million increase in other financing expense net, mainly due to the non-cash accretion and amortization resulting from the conversion of debentures Series F in 2015 as detailed above; (ii) gain from the acquisition of TPSCo, net of $166 million included in 2014; (iii) Nishiwaki fab restructuring costs and impairment of $56 million; and (iv) increase in gross profit and in operating profit as detailed above.
 
Impact of Inflation and Currency Fluctuations. 
 
We operate in three different regions: Japan, the United States and Israel. The functional currency of the entities operating in the United States and Israel is USD. The functional currency of our subsidiary in Japan is the JPY. Our expenses and costs are denominated mainly in NIS, USD, and JPY, our revenues are denominated mainly in USD and JPY and our cash from operations, investing and financing activities  is denominated mainly in NIS, USD, and JPY. We are, therefore, exposed to the risk of currency exchange rate fluctuations in some of our entities.
 
The USD costs of our operations in Israel are influenced by changes in the USD to NIS exchange rate with respect to costs that are denominated in NIS. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the USD depreciated against the NIS by 1.5%, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015 in which the USD appreciated against the NIS by 0.3%.
 
The fluctuation of USD against the NIS can affect our results of operations. Appreciation of the NIS has the effect of increasing the cost of some of our Israeli purchases and labor NIS denominated costs in USD terms, which may lead to erosion in our profit margins. We use foreign currency cylinder transactions to hedge a material portion of this currency exposure, to be contained within a pre-defined fixed range. In addition, we executed swap hedging transactions to fully hedge our exposure to the fluctuation of USD against the NIS as far as it relates to our non-convertible Series G debentures which are denominated in NIS.
 
The majority of TPSCo's revenues are denominated in JPY and the majority of the expenses of TPSCo are in JPY, which limits the exposure to fluctuations of the USD / JPY exchange rate on TPSCo’s results of operations as the impact on the revenues will be mostly offset by the impact on the expenses. In order to mitigate the net exposure to the USD / JPY exchange rate over the net profit margins, we have  entered into cylinder hedging transactions which contain the currency’s fluctuation within a pre-defined fixed range. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the USD depreciated against the JPY by 2.8%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, in which the USD appreciated against the JPY by 0.8%. The effect of USD depreciation on TPSCo’s assets and liabilities is presented in the Cumulative Translation Adjustment (CTA) as part of Other Comprehensive Income (OCI).

B.     LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
As of December 31, 2016, we had an aggregate amount of $389.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and short term deposits, as compared to $205.6 million as of December 31, 2015. The main cash activities during the year ended December 31, 2016 included:  $327.5 million cash generated from operating activities; $169.1 million net proceeds received from issuance of non-convertible Series G debentures and from other debt; $38.8 million net proceeds received from exercise of warrants and options; $217.5 million invested in property and equipment and of $7.9 million proceeds received from sales of equipment; $132.0 million debt repaid (including the early repayment of the Israeli banks’ loans of approximately $78.1 million); $2.6 million dividend paid to Panasonic by TPSCo; $13.0 million invested in long-term deposit and other investments; and $5.6 million was the effect of JPY foreign exchange rate change (which has been mostly offset by a similar impact on the Japanese loans’ balance).
 
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As of December 31, 2016, outstanding principal amount of bank loans was $166.4 million, of which $31.9 million was presented as short term. As of such date, we had an aggregate principal amount of $186.2 million in debentures on our balance sheet, of which $6.2 million were presented as short-term. As of December 31, 2016, we presented a carrying amount of $165.0 of bank loans and $169.2 million of debentures in our balance sheets.
 
Recent Financing Transactions
 
Tower Debentures Series G

In June 2016, Tower raised approximately $115 million through the issuance of long-term unsecured non-convertible debentures (“Series G Debentures”) payable in seven semi-annual consecutive equal installments from March 2020 to March 2023 and carrying annual interest rate of 2.79% payable in thirteen semi-annual consecutive equal installments from March 2017 to March 2023. The Series G Debentures aggregate principal amount is NIS 468 million as of December 31, 2016. The principal and interest amounts are denominated in NIS and are not linked to any index or to any other currency. The Company entered into hedging transactions to mitigate the foreign exchange rate differences on the principal and interest using a cross currency swap, see Note 14D in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Series G Debentures include customary financial and other terms and conditions, including a negative pledge and financial covenants. As of December 31, 2016, Tower was in compliance with the financial covenants thereunder.
 
Tower Banks’ Facility Agreement

In June 2016, following the issuance of the Series G Debentures as detailed above, Tower prepaid all of the then outstanding loans in the amount of approximately $78 million under the facility agreement with the two largest Israeli banks, Bank Leumi and Bank Ha’poalim, thereby releasing Tower from the extensive contractual restrictions and covenants under the facility agreement with the banks, as well as all fixed and floating liens that were charged on Tower’s assets (present and future) in favor of said banks.
 
Tower Debentures Series F

In 2010 and 2012, Tower issued un-secured and subordinated long-term convertible debentures in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $231 million, repayable in two equal installments in December 2015 and December 2016, unless converted earlier to shares.

During 2016, 2015 and 2014, a total of approximately $1 million, $196 million and $34 million of the debentures was converted into ordinary shares, and approximately $0 million, $88 million and $39 million were recorded, respectively, as accretion and amortization costs included in other financing expenses, net, which are associated with a contingent beneficial conversion feature ("BCF") existed at the commitment date of the debentures, in accordance with ASC 470-20 (formerly EITF 98-5 and EITF 00-27) and specifically the guidance over "Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios”. The   outstanding principal amount of Series F Debentures amounted to approximately $0.2 million and $0.9 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Series F Debentures were fully redeemed in January 2017.

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Wells Fargo Asset-Based Revolving Credit Line
 
In December 2013, Jazz entered into an agreement with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, part of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), for a five-year secured asset-based revolving credit line in the total amount of up to $70 million, maturing in December 2018 (the “Jazz Credit Line Agreement”).  Loans under the Jazz Credit Line Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to, at lender’s option, either the lender’s prime rate plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.0% or the LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.25% per annum and starting February 2016, interest is at a rate equal to, at lender’s option, either the lender’s prime rate plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 0.75% or the LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.5% to 2.0%  per annum.
 
The outstanding borrowing availability varies from time to time based on the levels of Jazz’s eligible accounts receivable, eligible equipment, eligible inventories and other terms and conditions described in the Jazz Credit Line Agreement. The obligations of Jazz under the Jazz Credit Line Agreement are secured by the assets of Jazz and its subsidiaries. The Jazz Credit Line Agreement contains customary covenants and other terms, including customary events of default. If any event of default occurs, Wells Fargo may declare due immediately all borrowings under the facility and foreclose on the collateral. Furthermore, an event of default under the Jazz Credit Line Agreement would result in an increase in the interest rate on any amounts outstanding. Jazz’s debt and obligations, including its obligations pursuant to the Jazz Credit Line Agreement, are not guaranteed by Tower or any of its affiliates.

As of December 31, 2016, borrowing availability under the Jazz Credit Line Agreement was approximately $62 million, of which approximately $1 million was utilized through letters of credit.

As of December 31, 2015, borrowing availability under the Jazz Credit Line Agreement, was approximately $49 million of which approximately $20 million has been utilized as of such date (including $19 million through loans and approximately $1 million through letters of credit).   As of December 31, 2015, outstanding principal amount of loans drawn under the Jazz Credit Line Agreement was approximately $19 million. No such loan amounts were outstanding as of December 31, 2016.
 
As of December 31, 2016, Jazz was in compliance with the financial covenants thereunder.
 
Notes Issued by Jazz in 2014

In March 2014, Jazz, together with certain of its domestic subsidiaries and Tower entered into an exchange agreement (the “2014 Exchange Agreement”) with certain holders of Jazz notes issued in 2010 (the “2010 Notes” and “2014 Participating Holders”, respectively) according to which Jazz issued un-secured convertible senior notes due December 2018 (the “2014 Notes” or the “Jazz Notes”) in exchange for approximately $45 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2010 Notes that were originally due June 2015.
 
In addition, in March 2014, Jazz, Tower and certain of the 2014 Participating Holders (the “Purchasers”) entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which the Purchasers agreed to purchase $10 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes for cash consideration.
 
Holders of the 2014 Notes may submit a conversion request with respect to their 2014 Notes to be settled at Jazz discretion through cash or ordinary shares of Tower. The conversion price is set to $10.07 per share. Interest on the 2014 Notes at a rate of 8% per annum is payable semiannually.
 
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The 2014 Notes are unsecured senior obligations of Jazz, rank equally with all other existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness of Jazz, and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future secured indebtedness of Jazz, including the Jazz Credit Line Agreement (see above) to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The 2014 Notes rank senior to all existing and future subordinated debt of Jazz. The 2014 Notes are not guaranteed by Tower.

The Indenture contains certain customary covenants including covenants restricting the ability of Jazz and the ability of its subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional debt, incur additional liens, make specified payments and make certain asset sales.

As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, approximately $58 million principal amount of 2014 Notes was outstanding. As of December 31, 2016, Jazz was in compliance with the financial covenants thereunder.
 
Long Term Loan Agreement from Japanese Institutions

 In June 2014, TPSCo entered into a long term loan agreement with JA Mitsui Leasing, Ltd. and Bank of Tokyo Lease Co., Ltd (BOT), under which it has borrowed approximately 8.8 billion JPY (outstanding principal amount was approximately $53 million and $73 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively).

The loan carries an annual interest of the TIBOR (Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate) six months’ rate plus 1.65% per annum with the principal amount payable between 2016 and 2019 (the “Term Loan”). The Term Loan is secured by an assignment of TPSCo’s right to receive any amounts under its manufacturing and production related services agreements with Panasonic. The Term Loan contains certain covenants, as well as definitions of events of default and acceleration terms of the repayment schedule. TPSCo’s obligations pursuant to the Term Loan are not guaranteed by Tower or any of its affiliates.

In December 2015, TPSCo and JA Mitsui Leasing, Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Limited and Showa Leasing Co., Ltd. (“JP Banks”) signed an asset based loan (“ABL”) agreement, according to which, TPSCo entered into a five year term loan agreement with JP Banks under which TPSCo borrowed an amount of 8.5 billion JPY outstanding principal amount was approximately $73 million and $71 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The ABL carries an interest equal to the six month TIBOR (Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate) plus 2.0% per annum with the principal amount payable between 2017 and 2020. The ABL is secured by a lien over the machinery and equipment of TPSCo located in Uozu and Tonami manufacturing facilities in Japan.

The ABL agreement also contains certain financial ratios and covenants, as well as definitions of event of defaults and acceleration of the repayment schedule. TPSCo’s obligations pursuant to the ABL are not guaranteed by Tower or any of its affiliates. As of December 31, 2016, TPSCo was in compliance with the financial covenants thereunder.

In July 2016, TJT entered into an asset based long-term loan agreement with JA Mitsui Leasing Capital Corporation (“JA Mitsui”) in the total amount of $40 million. The loan carries annual interest of LIBOR+2.0% and is repayable in seven semi-annual installments between 2019 and 2022. The loan is secured mainly by a lien over TJT’s fabrication machinery and equipment and an assignment of TJT’s right to receive any amounts under its manufacturing agreement with Maxim.

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This loan agreement contains customary terms, conditions and covenants, as well as customary events of default. TJT’s obligations pursuant to the loan agreement are not guaranteed by Tower or any of its affiliates. As of December 31, 2016, TPSCo was in compliance with the financial covenants thereunder.
 
Acquisition of a Manufacturing Facility in the U.S.

In February 2016, Tower completed the acquisition of a fabrication facility in San Antonio, Texas from Maxim. The acquisition was done through a new indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Tower, TJT.  The purchase price was $40 million payable through the issuance of approximately 3.3 million ordinary shares of Tower.

In addition, Tower and Maxim entered into a long term 15 year manufacturing agreement, pursuant to which Maxim is committed to buy products from TJT in quantities that will facilitate a gradual ramp of third-party products by TJT. For further details regarding the acquisition and the purchase price allocation, see Note 3B to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.
 
Tower Israeli Shelf Prospectus

In May 2016, Tower published an Israeli shelf prospectus pursuant to which Tower may, for a period of two years, issue the securities described in the prospectus to the public in Israel by means of shelf offering reports, subject to the terms set out in the shelf prospectus. Under said shelf prospectus, Tower issued Series G Debentures in June 2016 . For additional information regarding the Series G Debentures see Item "5B. Liquidity and Capital Resources – Debentures Series G."
 
C.     RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES
 
Our research and development activities are related primarily to our manufacturing process by way of improvements, upgrades and development for our use in manufacturing of our customers products and have been sponsored and funded by us with some participation by the Israeli government. Our research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $63.1 million, $61.7million and $51.8 million net of government participation of $0.5 million, $0.6 million and $0.6 million respectively.
 
For a description of our research & development policies and our patents and licenses, see “Item 4. Information on the Company-4.B. Business Overview”.
 
D.     TREND INFORMATION
 
The Company operates as a specialty foundry in the semiconductor industry. The semiconductor industry is historically characterized as highly cyclical, both seasonally and over the long term. Over time the market fluctuates, cycling through periods of weak demand, production excess capacity, excess inventory and price pressure, and periods of strong demand, full capacity utilization, and product shortages, commanding higher selling prices.
 
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There is a trend within the semiconductor industry toward ever-smaller features and ever-growing wafer sizes. State-of-the-art digital fabs are currently supporting process geometries of 14-28 nanometers and even below with 300mm wafers. As demand for smaller geometries increases, there is downward pressure on the pricing of larger geometry products, and potential underutilization of fabs that are limited to manufacturing these larger geometry products, which may result in reduced profitability for the associated manufacturers. However, our strategy to focus on specialty analog technologies within the nodes we offer, along with our deep applications knowledge and customer technical support, enable us to achieve higher product selling prices as compared to manufacturers of “commoditized” standard products. The Company currently offers process geometries of (i) 0.35, 0.50, 0.55, 0.60, 0.80-micron and above on 150-mm wafers; (ii) 0.35, 0.18. 0.16, 0.13 and 0.11-micron on 200-mm wafers; and (iii) 65 nanometer and 45 nanometer on 300-mm wafers. We continue to invest in our portfolio of specialty process technologies and Intellectual Property (IP) to address the key product and system requirements of our customers, thus enabling them to compete in their respective markets.
 
Another key element of our strategy is to target multiple large, growing and diversified end markets. We target end markets characterized by high growth and high performance, for which we believe our specialty process technologies offer a strong, compelling value proposition to our customers. Our target markets include the Internet of Things (IoT), machine-to-machine communication devices, ultra-low power mobile applications, wireless and high-speed wireline communications, consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial markets. For example, we believe that our specialty SOI and SiGe process technologies can provide performance and cost advantages over current GaAs solutions in the realization of switches and power amplifiers for wireless handsets. Our Power Management platforms enable the industry’s analog IC suppliers to differentiate their product offerings in the markets we serve. TowerJazz specialized CMOS image sensor platforms allow customers to fabricate ultra high sensitivity/low noise CIS products  for operation  in visible, infra-red ,ultra-violet and X-ray spectral ranges,  develop both ultra small-size cameras and imagers occupying the whole surface of a 200mm wafer. Our specialty products and target market strategy allow us to grow and diversify our business by attracting new customers, expanding our customer base, and grow our business at existing customers.
 
During recent years, we have accelerated our plans to expand manufacturing capacity. We have significantly increased capacity in Fab 1, Fab 2, Fab 3, and in Tonami CD Japan (for more details see “Our Operations in Japan”). In February 2016 we completed the acquisition of Maxim Integrated's San Antonio, Texas wafer fab plant to help us meet our customers’ demand. We are focused on a achieving successful integration of all our fabs globally and increasing the utilization of the acquired fabs, by attracting new customers and opportunities.
 
We seek to maintain capital efficiency by leveraging our capacity and manufacturing model to ensure cost-effective manufacturing. With a global manufacturing footprint, including seven fab in three continents, we are focused on sharing and applying best practices across the organization, to provide our customers with high quality solutions, along with the applications knowledge and technical support, that allows them to unlock their competitive edge in the market.
 
E.     OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We are not a party to any material off-balance sheet arrangements except for the purchase commitments, standby letters of credit and guarantees detailed in section F below.
 
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F.      TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
 
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2016:
 
   
Payment Due
 
   
Total
   
Less than
1 year
   
2 Years
   
3 Years
   
4 Years
   
5 Years
   
After 5
years
 
   
(in thousands of dollars)
 
Contractual Obligations
                                         
Short term liabilities (mainly trade accounts payable) (1)
   
163,423
     
163,423
     
--
     
--
     
--
     
--
     
--
 
Loans (2)          
   
187,105
     
45,948
     
51,225
     
44,984
     
33,230
     
11,718
     
--
 
Debentures (3)          
   
214,212
     
16,790
     
66,367
     
3,396
     
37,687
     
36,716
     
53,256
 
Operating leases          
   
45,353
     
17,106
     
16,654
     
6,256
     
2,430
     
2,430
     
477
 
Equipment purchase agreements (4)
   
19,424
     
19,424
     
--
     
--
     
--
     
--
     
--
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
13,406
     
743
     
845
     
925
     
1,009
     
1,066
     
8,818
 
Other Purchase obligations          
   
16,931
     
11,544
     
3,074
     
2,313
     
--
     
--
     
--
 
Total contractual obligations
   
659,854
     
274,978
     
138,165
     
57,874
     
74,356
     
51,930
     
62,551
 
 
(1)
Short-term liabilities include primarily our trade accounts payable for equipment, goods and services as well as payroll related commitments.
(2)
Loans include principal and interest payments in accordance with the terms of the loans agreements.
(3)
Debentures include total amount of principal and interest payments.
(4)
Equipment purchase agreements include amounts related to ordered equipment that has not yet been received.

In addition to these contractual obligations, we have committed approximately $1 million in standby letters of credit and guarantees.
 
The above table does not include other contractual obligations or commitments we have, such as undertakings pursuant to royalty agreements, commissions and service agreements.  We are unable to reasonably estimate the total amounts or the time table for such payments to be paid under the terms of these agreements, as the royalties, commissions and required services are a function of future revenues, the volume of business and hourly-based fees.  In addition, the above table does not include our liability with respect to our customers, which as of December 31, 2016, amounted to approximately $68.0 million that may be utilized by them against future purchases of products.  We are unable to reasonably estimate the total amounts that may be utilized by our customers since we cannot reasonably estimate their future orders in the periods set forth in the above chart. The table above reflects our commitments and contingencies which are known to us as of December 31, 2016. Any new developments in our business plans, our modification of engagements with supply and service providers as well as changes in our commitments and contingencies following the date hereof and actual payments may vary significantly from those presented above.
 
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ITEM 6 .          DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
 
A.     DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
 
Set forth below is information regarding our senior management and directors as of March 31, 2017:
 
Officer
 
 
Senior Managements’ Name
 
 
Age
 
 
Title
A
 
Russell C.  Ellwanger          
 
62
 
Chief Executive Officer and Director of Tower,  and  Chairman of the Board of Directors of its subsidiaries, Tower Semiconductor USA, Inc., Tower US Holdings, Inc., Jazz US Holdings, Inc., Jazz Semiconductor, Inc., TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co., Ltd. and TowerJazz Texas, Inc.
B
 
Oren Shirazi          
 
47
 
Chief Financial Officer, Senior  Vice President of Finance
C
 
Dr.  Itzhak Edrei          
 
57
 
President
D
 
Rafi Mor          
 
53
 
Chief Operating Officer
E
 
Nati Somekh          
 
42
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
F
 
Yossi Netzer
 
53
 
Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning
G
 
Dalit Dahan
 
48
 
Senior Vice President of Human Resources and IT
H
 
Ilan Rabinovich
 
60
 
Senior Vice President of Quality and Reliability
I
 
Dr. Marco Racanelli
 
 
50
 
Newport Beach Site Manager and Senior Vice President and General Manager of RF/High Performance Analog Business Group, General Manager of US Aerospace & Defense Business Unit 
J
 
Guy Eristoff
 
54
 
Chief Executive Officer of TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Company (TPSCo)
K
 
Gary Saunders
 
56
 
General Manager of Tower Semiconductor USA (TSU) and Senior Vice President of Sales
L
 
Dr. Avi Strum
 
55
 
Senior Vice President and General Manager of the CMOS Image Sensor Business Unit
M
 
Zmira Shternfeld-Lavie
 
51
 
Senior Vice President and General Manager of Transfer, Optimization and Development Process Services Business Unit (TOPS) and Head of Process Engineering R&D
 
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Directors’ Name*
 
Age
 
Title
N
 
Amir Elstein          
 
61
 
Chairman of the Board
O
 
Kalman Kaufman          
 
71
 
Director
P
 
Alex Kornhauser          
 
70
 
Director
Q
 
Dana Gross          
 
49
 
Director
R
 
Ilan Flato          
 
60
 
Director
S
 
Rami Guzman          
 
78
 
Director
T
 
Yoav Z. Chelouche          
 
63
 
Director
U
 
Rony Ross          
 
67
 
Director
V
 
Iris Avner          
 
52
 
Director

(*)Russell Ellwanger also serves as a director and his information is included under Senior Management above.  All of the directors other than Mr. Ellwanger meet the requirements for independent directors under SEC rules and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
 
Russell C. Ellwanger has served as our Chief Executive Officer since May 2005. Mr. Ellwanger has also served as a director since September 2016, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of our subsidiaries, Tower Semiconductor USA, Inc., Tower US Holdings, Inc., Jazz US Holdings, Inc., Jazz Semiconductor, Inc., TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co., Ltd. and TowerJazz Texas, Inc.    He also served as a director of the Company between May 2005 and April 2013.  From 1998 to 2005, Mr. Ellwanger served in various executive positions for Applied Materials Corporation, including Group Vice President, General Manager of the Applied Global Services (AGS), from 2004 to 2005, Group Vice President, General Manager of the CMP and Electroplating Business Group, from 2002 to 2004.  Mr. Ellwanger also served as Corporate Vice President, General Manager of the Metrology and Inspection Business Group, from 2000 to 2002, during which he was based in Israel.  From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Ellwanger served as Vice President of Applied Materials’ 300-mm Program Office, USA.  Mr. Ellwanger served as General Manager of Applied Materials’ Metal CVD Division from 1997 to 1998 and from 1996 to 1997, Mr. Ellwanger served as Managing Director of CVD Business Development, during which he was based in Singapore.  In addition, Mr. Ellwanger held various managerial positions in Novellus System from 1992 to 1996 and in Philips Semiconductors from 1980 to 1992.

Oren Shirazi has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Senior VP Finance since November 2004.  Mr. Shirazi serves as a board member of Jazz Semiconductor, Inc.  Mr. Shirazi joined us in October 1998, serving initially as vice controller and then as controller commencing in July 2000.  Prior to joining us, Mr. Shirazi was employed as an audit manager in the accounting firm of Ratzkovski-Fried & Co., which merged into Ernst & Young (Israel).  Mr. Shirazi is a Certified Public Accountant in Israel (CPA).  He has an MBA from the Graduate School of Business of Haifa University with honors and a B.A. in economics and accounting from the Haifa University.
 
Dr. Itzhak Edrei has served as our President since November 2011.  Prior thereto, Dr. Edrei served as Executive Vice President of Business Groups commencing in September 2008 and as Senior Vice President of Product Lines and Sales commencing in August 2005. Dr. Edrei serves as a board member of Jazz Semiconductor, Inc. and TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co., Ltd.  From August 2001 to August 2005, Dr. Edrei served as Vice President of Research and Development, having served as Director of Research and Development since 1996.  From 1994 to 1996, Dr. Edrei served as our Device and Yield Department Manager.  Prior to joining Tower, Dr. Edrei was employed by National Semiconductor as Device Section Head.  Dr. Edrei earned his Ph.D. in physics from Bar Ilan University and his post-doctorate from Rutgers University.
  
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Rafi Mor was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of TowerJazz in August 2014.  Mr. Mor serves as a board member of Jazz Semiconductor, Inc., Jazz US Holdings, TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co., Ltd. and TowerJazz Texas, Ltd. Previously, Mr. Mor served as Chief Executive Officer of TowerJazz Japan from  October 2011, after serving as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Jazz Semiconductor, Inc. since September 2008. In October 2010, Rafi was nominated to be the manager of our Newport Beach Fab, in addition to his GM role. Previously, Mr. Mor served in Tower Semiconductor Ltd. as Vice President of Business Development since April 2007, after serving as Vice President and Fab 2 Manager since August 2005, and as Fab 1 Manager since March 2003.  From November 2000 to March 2003, Mr. Mor served as Senior Director of Process Device & Yield of Fab 1. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Mor served as Director of Equipment Reliability & Support of Fab 1. Previously, Mr. Mor was employed by National Semiconductor in various engineering and management capacities.  Mr. Mor holds an M.A. and B.A. in chemical engineering from Ben Gurion University.

Dalit Dahan serves as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and IT after being appointed IT Manager in January 2008.  Prior thereto, Ms. Dahan served as Vice President of Human Resources commencing in April 2004.  Ms. Dahan joined us in November 1993 and served as Personnel Manager commencing in April 2000, after having served as Compensation & Benefits Manager and in various other positions in the Human Resources Department.  Prior to joining us, Ms. Dahan served as Manager of the North Branch of O.R.S - Manpower Company for three years.  Ms. Dahan holds a B.A. in social science from Haifa University and an MBA from the University of Derby.
 
Nati Somekh serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, after serving as Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary since September 2008, after serving as Corporate Secretary and General Counsel since March 2005, and as Associate General Counsel since May 2004.  From 2001 to 2004, Ms. Somekh was employed by Goldsobel & Kirshen, Adv. Ms. Somekh holds an LL.M. and J.D. from Boston University and a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University.  She is a member of the Israeli Bar Association and is admitted as an attorney in the State of New York.
 
Yossi Netzer was appointed Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning in July 2012 after serving as VP of Corporate Planning since November 2008, as General Manager of Mixed Signal, RF & Power Management Product Line since 2005 and as Director, FAB 2 Yield & Device Engineering Manager since 2000.  From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Netzer served in various engineering management positions within the R&D division dealing with CMOS, Mixed Signal, RF, and NVM Technologies. Prior to joining Tower, Mr. Netzer was employed at National Semiconductor and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.  Mr. Netzer holds a B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
 
Ilan Rabinovich was appointed Senior Vice President of Quality and Reliability in January 2015. Previously, Mr. Rabinovich served as Vice President, Customer Support and General Manager, CMOS Business Unit from December 2009. Prior to joining TowerJazz, from 2005 to 2009, Mr. Rabinovich served as Vice President of Operations, Opto Fab, Vishay Ltd. (formerly CyOptics Ltd.), a subsidiary of Vishay Intertechnology.  From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Rabinovich served as President and Vice President of Product Development at CyOptics Ltd. From 1995-2000, Mr. Rabinovich worked as a Process Engineering Manager and Director of Engineering for Tower Semiconductor Ltd. From 1983 to 1995, Mr. Rabinovich held various engineering and management positions in National Semiconductor Company and in Tower Semiconductor, Israel. Mr. Rabinovich holds an M.Sc. in Physics from Tel Aviv University and a B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics from Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

60

Dr. Marco Racanelli was appointed Newport Beach Site Manager in April 2014 and has also served as Senior Vice President since June 2012 and General Manager, RF & High Performance Analog Business Group and Aerospace & Defense Group since September 2008. Previously, he served as General Manager, Power Business Group from June 2012 until March 2016 and Vice President of Technology & Engineering, Aerospace & Defense General Manager for Jazz Semiconductor. Prior to Jazz, Dr. Racanelli held several positions at Conexant Systems and Rockwell Semiconductor since 1996 in the area of technology development where he helped establish industry leadership in SiGe and BiCMOS and MEMS technology, and built a strong design support organization. Prior to Rockwell, Dr. Racanelli worked at Motorola, Inc., where he contributed to bipolar, SiGe and SOI development for its Semiconductor Products Sector. Dr. Racanelli received a Ph.D. and a M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University. He holds over 35 U.S. patents.

Guy Eristoff was appointed Chief Executive Officer of TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Company Ltd. (TPSCo) at the time of its foundation in April 2014. Previously, he served as Vice President, Global Operational Excellence at Tower Semiconductor Ltd. Prior to this, he served in various positions in the semiconductor industry such as Director of 200mm Fabs Core Engineering at Global-Foundries (Technology Development, Marketing, Industrial Engineering & Central Engineering) for the 200mm Business Unit, (5 fabs), General Manager, Singapore and Asia Region at Intevac, Thin Films Section Manager, Thin Films Module Manager and Process Integration Deputy Director at Chartered Semiconductor and Process/Hardware Engineer and Field Service Manager at Applied Materials. Mr. Eristoff received his B.S. degree in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, (RPI) Troy New York.
 
Gary Saunders has served as Senior Vice President Worldwide Sales and General Manager of Tower Semiconductor USA (TSU) since 2015. Prior to TowerJazz, he spent five years at Cypress Semiconductor, most recently as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales. Previously, he served in executive positions at Spansion, including Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Wireless Sales and Market Development. Prior to Spansion, Mr. Saunders was employed by Fairchild Semiconductor International, National Semiconductor Corporation, and Texas Instruments in various management positions. Mr. Saunders received a B.S. in Computer Science, Magna Cum Laude from Union College, NY and completed the American Electronics Association Program for management of high technology companies at Stanford University Executive Institute, Stanford, CA.
 
Dr. Avi Strum serves as our Senior Vice President and General Manager of the CMOS Image Sensor Business Unit. Previously, Dr. Strum was Vice President and General Manager of the Specialty Business Unit, Vice President of Europe Sales, Head of the Design Center in Netanya and Device and Integration Department Manager. Prior to joining Tower, Dr. Strum served as the President and COO of TransChip Inc. and from 1996 to 2001, he served in various positions with Intel Corp., both in Israel and the US. From 1990 to 1996, he was the R&D Manager of SCD and was in charge of all the Infrared Detectors development in SCD. Dr. Strum received his Ph.D. and B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in 1990 and 1985 respectively.
 
Zmira Shternfeld-Lavie serves as our Senior Vice President and General Manager of Transfer, Optimization and Development Process Services Business Unit (TOPS) and Head of Process Engineering R&D. Ms. Lavie has over 25 years’ experience with silicon processing technologies, fabrication management and research and development. She joined the R&D Group as Thin Film Section Manager when it was established in 1996. In her current position, she is also leading the R&D Process Group, MEMS and manages the process transfer activity. Previously, Ms. Lavie served at National Semiconductor as Thin Film Process Engineer. She has expertise in thin films metallization and process integration and has several patents within this area. Ms. Lavie received a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.

61

Amir Elstein was appointed as Chairman of the Board in January 2009.  Mr. Elstein served as a Director of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. During 2010-2013, Mr. Elstein served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Israel Corporation. Mr. Elstein serves as Chairman of the Israel Democracy Institute, and as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Jerusalem College of Engineering. He also serves as chairman/member of the board of several non-governmental organizations in academic, scientific and educational, social and cultural institutions. Mr. Elstein was a member of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries senior management team from 2005 to 2008, where he ultimately held the position of the Executive Vice President at the Office of the CEO, overseeing Global Pharmaceutical Resources. Prior thereto, he was an executive at Intel Corporation, where he worked for 23 years, eventually serving as General Manager of Intel Electronics Ltd., an Israeli subsidiary of Intel.  Mr. Elstein received his B.Sc. in physics and mathematics from the Hebrew University in 1980 and his M.Sc. in the Solid State Physics Department of Applied Physics from the Hebrew University in 1982. In 1992, Mr. Elstein received his diploma of Senior Business Management from the Hebrew University.
 
Kalman Kaufman has served as an independent director since 2005 and as a member of our Stock Option and Compensation Committee from May 2008 until February 2013 and as chairman thereof from February 2011 until February 2013. Mr. Kaufman has served as a member of our Audit Committee from August 2005.  Mr. Kaufman served as Corporate Vice President at Applied Materials from 1994 to 2005.  Between 1985 and 1994, Mr. Kaufman served as President of KLA Instruments Israel, a company he founded, and General Manager of Kulicke and Soffa Israel.  Mr. Kaufman is currently the Chairman of the board of directors of Medasense and Invisia, serves as a director in Optimal Test and is a member of the management board of the Kinneret College.  He holds engineering degrees from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.
 
Alex Kornhauser has served as an external director until November 2016, when  when the Company availed itself of the exemption provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations following which he continues to serve as a director.  Mr. Kornhauser has served as a member of the Audit Committee since August 2008 and as chairman of the Audit Committee since January 2011.  Mr. Kornhauser has served as a member of the Compensation Committee since June 2009.  Mr. Kornhauser served as Senior VP, General Manager of Global Operations at Numonyx Corporation from March 2008 to August 2010. From January 1978 to March 2008, Mr. Kornhauser held many positions at Intel Corporation from design engineer, project manager, department manager, engineering manager and general manager of certain groups, segments and plants. More specifically, from August 2000 to May 2007, he served as Intel Israel Site GM, from January 2006 until March 2008, he served as VP of the Flash Memory Group, from December 2004 to December 2005, Mr. Kornhauser served as VP of TMG NVM Strategic Segment, from January 2001 to November 2004, he served as VP of TMG F18 Plant Manager and from January 1996 to December 2000, he served as F18 General Manager. Mr. Kornhauser holds a B.S. in electronics from Bucharest Polytechnic Institute in Romania.
 
Dana Gross has served as a director since November 2008, as a member of the Compensation Committee since February 2013 and has served as a director on the board of Jazz Semiconductor, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, since March 2009.  Mrs. Gross was the CFO of eToro, a FinTech company that developed a Social Investment network from 2014 to 2016, and the CEO of Btendo, a start-up company that developed MEMS based PICO projection solutions, until it was acquired by ST Microelectronic in 2012.  In 2008, Mrs. Gross joined Carmel Ventures, a leading Israeli Venture Capital firm as a Venture Partner. From 2006 to 2008, Mrs. Gross was a Senior VP, Israel Country Manager at SanDisk Corporation.  From 1992 to 2006, Mrs. Gross held various senior positions at M-Systems, including Chief Marketing Officer, VP World Wide Sales, President of M-Systems Inc. (US Subsidiary) and CFO, VP Finance and Administration.  In addition, Mrs. Gross served as a director of M-Systems Ltd., Audiocodes Ltd. and Power Dsine Ltd.  Mrs. Gross holds a B.Sc. in industrial engineering from Tel-Aviv University and an M.A. in business administration from San Jose State University.
 
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Ilan Flato has served as an external director until November 2016, when to the Company availed itself of the exemption provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations following which he continues to serve as a director.  Mr. Flato has served as a member of the Audit Committee since April 2009. Since 2012, Mr.  Flato has served as President of The Association of Publicly Traded Companies on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange since January 2012.  Since 2011, Mr. Flato has been a member of the Israeli Bar Association.  Since 2009, Mr.  Flato has served as director in two Provident Funds and also as Chairman of the Business Executive of Kibbutz Kfar Blum.  Since 2004, Mr. Flato has functioned as an independent financial adviser.   Until 2004, Mr. Flato served as the VP for planning, economics and online banking in United Mizrahi Bank and as the Chief Economist of the bank. From 1992 until 1996, Mr. Flato served as the Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel. Prior to that position, Mr. Flato has served in the Treasury Office as the deputy director of the budget department. In addition, Mr. Flato served as a member of the board of directors of many government-owned companies. Mr. Flato holds a B.A. in economics from Tel-Aviv University, an LL.B. from Netanya College, an M.A. in law from Bar-Ilan University and an MSIT from Clark University.
 
Rami Guzman has served as a director since February 2009 and has served as a member of our Audit Committee since August 2011.  Mr. Guzman held various senior positions at Motorola Inc. and Motorola Israel Ltd. since 1985, including VP of Motorola Inc. and Director of Motorola Israel Ltd. In addition, until July 2004, Mr. Guzman was the CFO of Motorola Israel Ltd. Prior to joining Motorola, Mr. Guzman worked for the Ministry of Finance first as senior assistant and deputy to the Director of the Budget and then as Government-wide MIS and IT Commissioner. Mr. Guzman is a member of professional committees in the Israel Credit Insurance Company and the Israel Infrastructure Fund, and consultant and advisor to technology based companies.  Mr. Guzman also serves since 2005 as a director in various entities, including Bank Leumi.  Mr. Guzman holds a B.A. in economics (1963) and an M.A. in business and public administration (1969) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was a Research Fellow at Stanford University and Stanford Research Institute, California, USA, and completed Ph.D. studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Yoav Z. Chelouche has served as a director since April 2016.  Mr. Chelouche serves as Managing Partner of Aviv Ventures since Aviv’s inception in 2001.  Between 1995 and 2001, Mr. Chelouche served as President & CEO of Scitex Corp.  Until 2015, he was co-chairman of Israel Advanced Technology Industries.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Checkpoint Software Technologies (NASDAQ:CHKP) and the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). He is currently a board member of Aviv’s portfolio companies: MGVS, Briefcam, ScaleMP  and Optimal Test.  Mr. Chelouche also previously served as Chairman of several public companies. He holds a B.A. in economics and statistics from Tel-Aviv University and an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.
 
Rony Ross has served as a director since May 2016.  Ms. Ross has served as chairperson of Panorama Software since 2003, after having served as chief executive officer of Panorama Software Systems from 1993 until 2003.  From 1988 until 1993, Ms. Ross served as VP of Development of Metalsoft, Inc. and later as chief executive officer of Metalsoft Israel, Ltd.  From 1983 to 1986, she served as business development manager of Contahal Ltd. and from 1980 until 1983, she served as computer systems and information technology manager in Kitan Ltd.  Ms. Ross previously served on several boards and board committees, including Israel Railways freight subsidiary Isorad, Ltd., Radcom, Fundtech and Clal Electronics Industries.  Ms. Ross holds a B.S. in mathematics from Tel-Aviv University, an M.Sc. in computer science from the Weitzman Institute, and an MBA from Tel-Aviv University.
 
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Iris Avner has served as an external  director until November 2016, when the Company availed itself of the exemption provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations following which she continues to serve as a director.  Ms. Avner serves as Chief Executive Officer of Nika Holdings, Ltd. From 2008 to 2015, Ms. Avner served as Managing Partner of Mustang Mezzanine Fund, L.P. and served on Mustang’s board of directors from 2014 until 2015.  From 1996 until 2008, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Mizrahi Tefahot Capital Markets Ltd. and from 1996 until 2005, served as Senior Credit Officer & Deputy CEO of Mizrahi Tefahot Bank. In addition, from 1997 until 2002, she served as Assistant Professor and external lecturer in the Executive MBA Program in Tel Aviv University.  From 1988 until 1996, Ms. Avner held various positions at Israeli Discount Bank including Senior Credit Officer and Senior Economist.   She previously served on several boards and board committees in Israel and abroad, both as director and chairperson.  Ms. Avner holds a B.A. in accounting and economics from Hebrew University and an MBA from Tel-Aviv University.

B.     COMPENSATION
 
For the year ended December 31, 2016, we paid to all our directors and senior management described in Item 6A. above, as a group, an aggregate of $8.3 million, in salaries, fees, payments upon termination and bonuses.  The total employer cost for personal vehicle, relocation expenses, amounts set aside or accrued to provide for insurance, severance, retirement, vacation and similar benefits for such persons was approximately $2.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2016. On June 30, 2016, our shareholders approved certain amendments to the employment agreement of our CEO, including an increase to our CEO’s base salary to $725,000 per annum (in addition to expenses and relocation related expenses reimbursement, equity grants and other compensation components to which he was entitled before).
 
As required by the Israeli Companies Law, during 2013, Tower adopted a compensation policy regarding the terms of office and employment of our office holders and directors, including compensation, equity-based awards, indemnification and insurance, severance and other benefits. This compensation policy was created by the Compensation Committee, recommended for approval by the Board of Directors, which approved it and then approved by the shareholders’ meeting in September 2013. The Israeli Companies Law requires that every compensation policy be reviewed, assessed and approved at least every three years. Accordingly, the compensation policy was reviewed and assessed by the Compensation Committee, which proposed and approved a few amendments thereto and recommended to the Board of Directors to approve it.  Thereafter, in June 2016, the amended compensation policy was approved by the shareholders.  Since the adoption of the compensation policy in 2013, as later revised in 2016, the terms of compensation of the Company's officers and directors are based on this policy. Our compensation policy is performance based and is designed to align our officers’ and directors' interests with those of the Company and its shareholders in order to enhance shareholder value. Its structure allows Tower to provide incentives that reflect short-term, mid-term and long-term goals and performance, as well as achieving a positive impact on Company targets, while providing compensation that is competitive in the global marketplace in which we recruit our senior management.
 
In December 2012, Amendment 20 to the Israeli Companies Law-1999 (“Amendment 20”) went into effect. Amendment 20 requires, among other provisions, that the board of directors of Israeli publicly traded companies appoint a Compensation Committee comprised of at least three members, , that all external directors be members of the Compensation Committee (unless the company follows the Amendment to the Relief Regulations as detailed below, in which case the board independence and composition requirements set forth by the SEC and in the Nasdaq Listing Rules shall apply, as further detailed below),that the following persons cannot be members of the Compensation Committee: (i) the chairman of the board of directors, (ii) any director employed by or otherwise providing services to the company or to the controlling shareholder or entity under such controlling shareholder's control, (iii) any director who derives his salary primarily from a controlling shareholder, (iv) a controlling shareholder, or (v) any relative of a controlling shareholder, and that the chairman of the Compensation Committee be an external director. Pursuant to Amendment 27 to the Companies Law, effective as of April 3, 2016 ("Amendment 27"), the audit committee may serve as the company's compensation committee, provided that it meets the composition requirements of the compensation committee.
 
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Under the SEC and Nasdaq Listing Rules, a company must have, and certify that it has and will continue to have, a compensation committee of at least two members. Each committee member must be an independent director as detailed below. In addition, in affirmatively determining the independence of any director who will serve on the compensation committee, the board of directors must consider all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to the company which is material to that director's ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member, including, but not limited to: (i) the source of compensation of such director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by the company to such director; and (ii) whether such director is affiliated with the company, a subsidiary of the company or an affiliate of a subsidiary of the company. In addition, when considering the sources of a director's compensation for the purpose of his independence, the board should consider whether the director receives compensation from any person or entity that would impair the director's ability to make independent judgments about the company's (or any parent or subsidiary of the company) executive compensation. Similarly, when considering any affiliate relationship a director has with the company, a subsidiary of the company, or an affiliate of a subsidiary of the company, in determining independence for purposes of compensation committee service, the board should consider whether the affiliate relationship places the director under the direct or indirect control of the company or its senior management, or creates a direct relationship between the director and members of senior management, in each case of a nature that would impair the director's ability to make independent judgments about the company's executive compensation. The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee include the following:

1.
To recommend to the Board of Directors as to a compensation policy for officers, as well as to recommend, once every three years to extend the compensation policy subject to receipt of the required corporate approvals;
 
2.
To recommend to the Board of Directors as to any updates to the compensation policy which may be required;
 
3.
To review the implementation of the compensation policy by the Company;
 
4.
To approve transactions relating to terms of office and employment of certain Company office holders, which require the approval of the Compensation Committee pursuant to the Companies Law; and
 
5.
To exempt, under certain circumstances, a transaction relating to terms of office and employment from the requirement of approval of the shareholders meeting.

Our Board of Directors appointed Mr. Ilan Flato, Mr. Alex Kornhauser, Ms. Dana Gross and Iris Avner as members of the Compensation Committee, and Mr. Ilan Flato as chairman of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has been charged by the board of directors to act in accordance with the powers and prerogatives delegated to it by the Israeli Companies Law and take any decisions and make any recommendations to the Board all as set forth in the Israeli Companies Law.  The board of directors also delegated to the Compensation Committee the review and approval of options and RSU grants to non-officer employees.
 
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Under Section 267B(a) and Parts A and B of Annex 1A of the Companies Law, which were legislated as part of Amendment 20, a company’s compensation policy shall be determined with consideration of the following parameters:

a.
advancement of the goals of the Company, its working plan and its long term policy;
 
b.
the creation of proper incentives for the office holders while taking into consideration, inter alia, the Company’s risk management policies;
 
c.
the Company’s size and nature of its operations;
 
d.
with respect to compensation paid to officers which includes variable components - the  contributions of the relevant office holders in achieving the goals of the Company and profit in the long term in light of their positions;
 
e.
the education, skills, expertise and achievements of the relevant office holders;
 
f.
the role of the office holders, areas of their responsibilities and their previous agreements regarding salary;  and
 
g.
the correlation of the proposed compensation with the compensation of other employees of the Company, and the effect of such differences in compensation on the employment relations in the company.

In addition, the compensation policy must set forth standards and rules on the following issues: (a) with respect to variable components of compensation - basing the compensation on long term performance and measurable criteria (though an insubstantial portion of the variable components can be discretion based awards taking into account the contribution of the officer holder to the company. Pursuant to Amendment 27, variable components in the amount of up to a three month salary of the relevant office holder, on an annual basis, shall be considered a non-material portion of the variable components; this limitation does not apply to office holders who qualify as such by virtue of being directly subordinated to the CEO); (b) establishing the appropriate ratio between variable components and fixed components and placing a cap on such variable components; (c) setting forth a rule requiring an office holder to return amounts paid, in the event that it is later revealed that such amounts were paid on the basis of data which prove to be erroneous and resulted in an amendment and restatement of the company’s financial statements; (d) determining minimum holding or vesting periods for equity based variable components of compensation, while taking into consideration appropriate long term incentives; and (e) setting a cap on grants or benefits paid upon termination.
 
The board of directors of a company is obligated to adopt a compensation policy after considering the recommendations of the compensation committee. The final adoption of the compensation policy is subject to the approval of the shareholders of the company, which such approval is subject to certain special majority requirements, as set forth in Amendment 20, pursuant to which one of the following must be met:
 
(i)
the majority of the votes includes at least a majority of all the votes of shareholders who are non-controlling shareholders of the company or who do not have a personal interest in the compensation policy and participating in the vote; abstentions shall not be included in the total of the votes of the aforesaid shareholders; or

(ii)
the total of opposing votes from among the shareholders described in subsection (i) above does not exceed 2% of all the voting rights in the company.

Nonetheless, even if the shareholders of the company do not approve the compensation policy, the board of directors of a company may approve the compensation policy, provided that the compensation committee and, thereafter, the board of directors resolved, based on detailed, documented, reasons and after a second review of the proposed compensation policy, that the approval of the compensation policy is for the benefit of the company.
 
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Our compensation committee and board of directors shall review and reassess the adequacy of this Policy from time to time, as required by the Companies Law, and in setting the compensation of the officers and directors, the compensation committee and the board of directors consider, among other things, the following factors:

·
the educational background, professional experience and achievements of the officer or director;
 
·
the officer or director's position, responsibilities and prior salary and compensation arrangements;
 
·
compensation data for comparably situated executives at peer companies, including companies in the industry and/or geographic market;
 
·
data of other senior executives of the Company;
 
·
macroeconomic environment;
 
·
Company's own performance;
 
·
the officer or director's expected contribution to the Company’s future growth and profitability;
 
·
global competition and environment in which the Company operates and recruits employees;
 
·
the relationship between the compensation paid to the officer or director and the average and median compensation of the Company’s employees and contractors, as well as whether such variation has an effect on employment relations; and
 
·
any other requirements prescribed by applicable law from time to time.
 
The policy’s objectives and goals are to maintain competitiveness by attracting, motivating and retaining highly talented and experienced personnel with the necessary capabilities to promote creativity and manage global operations. These abilities are critical to our short term as well as mid-tem and long-term success and in order to provide a leadership role for the Company, and enhance shareholder value, while supporting a performance culture that is based on merit, motivates individuals to perform at their highest level, differentiates and rewards excellent performance, and recognizes Tower's values.  Due to our unique position as an Israeli company with a global footprint, we aim to adopt compensation policies and procedures that match global companies of similar complexity, including semiconductor companies and other companies which compete with Tower for similar talent.

To that end, the compensation policy is designed, among others:

o
To align the interests of the officers and directors of the Company with those of Tower and its shareholders in order to enhance shareholder value;

o
To provide the officers and directors with a structured compensation package, including competitive salaries and performance-based cash and equity incentive programs;

o
To maintain and increase the level of motivation and ambition;

o
To provide appropriate awards for superior individual and corporate performance;

o
To improve the business results and increase income and profitability over time; and

o
To support the implementation of the Company's business strategy.

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Compensation instruments under our compensation policy may include the following:
 
·
Base salary;

·
Benefits and perquisites;

·
Performance-based cash bonuses;

·
Equity based compensation; and

·
Retirement, termination and other arrangements.

Our compensation policy aims to optimize the mix of fixed compensation and variable compensation  (both as defined therein) in order to, among other things, appropriately incentivize office holders to meet our goals while considering our management of business risks, and sets maximum ratios between the two types of compensation elements.

Under our compensation policy, the Board of Directors shall have the discretion to unilaterally reduce an office holder’s variable compensation.

All compensation arrangements of office holders are required to be approved in the manner prescribed by applicable law (including shareholder approval in certain cases – see Item 10 Additional Information - "The Companies Law"). In accordance with our compensation policy, office holders, including independent directors, may waive their entitlement to their compensation, subject to applicable law.

Specified below is the individual data outlining the actual compensation granted to our five most highly compensated officers and/ or directors with respect to the year ended December 31, 2016 (collectively referred to herein as the “Covered Officers”). The Covered Officers, consist of A, C, B, I and D who were granted total compensation (in cash and/or in equity values, including employer’s cost of all social benefits and relocation expenses) with respect to the year ended December 31, 2016 in the total amount of approximately $7.8 million.

The base salary varies between the different officers and directors, and is individually determined according to the past performance, educational background, place of residence, professional experience, qualifications, specializations, role, business responsibilities and achievements of the officer or director and the prior salary and compensation arrangements therewith.  Since a competitive base salary is essential to our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, in accordance with the compensation policy, Tower will seek to establish and maintain base salaries that are based on competitive market analyses.  The comparative peer group will include direct competitors, or companies that operate in similar industries, with similar market capitalization, enterprise value, and/or revenues, active in similar geographic locations.  Base salary (gross) granted by the Company to the Covered Officers A, C, B, I and D with respect to the year ended December 31, 2016, amounted to $0.73 million, $0.35 million, $0.29 million, $0.33 million and $0.24 million, respectively. Officers and directors are entitled to social and other benefits as per applicable law and based on the practice of peer companies, and may also be entitled to additional benefits, taking into consideration their rank, seniority in the territory they reside in, global market and local market practice and applicable law. Such additional benefits, which shall be subject to approval of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, may include, inter alia, annual vacation, sick leave, medical insurance, allocations to pensions, long term disability,  contribution to education fund (up to the maximum allowable by law), car expenses, contribution to managers' insurance, cellular phone and laptop computer, as well as taxes and expenses which may be incurred in relation to such benefits being borne by the Company. The cost to the Company of such social and other benefits granted to the Covered Officers A, C, B, I and D with respect to the year ended December 31, 2016, amounted to $0.19 million, $0.19 million, $0.16 million, $0.09 million, and $0.14 million, respectively. In addition, when relevant, and subject to approval of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors and the Company's shareholders as may be required under applicable law, Covered Officer A is entitled to relocation related and reimbursement expenses and/or other benefits, including housing costs, family flights, children’s tuition and other costs.   Such relocation related and reimbursement expenses granted to the Covered Officers A, C, B, I and D with respect to the year ended December 31, 2016, amounted to $0.28 million to Covered Officer A and $0 to the other Covered Officers.

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For purposes of attracting high quality personnel, we may offer an officer or director a sign-on bonus as an incentive to join the Company, which may be comprised of cash and/or equity and shall not exceed an amount equal to the officer's or director's  annual base salary. No such payment or accrual was made or earned in 2016.

Our policy is to allow annual cash bonuses, which may be awarded to the office holders upon the attainment of pre-set annual measurable objectives and personal performance, which are set in the first quarter of the year, and include minimum thresholds for performance.  The compensation policy sets forth a pre-defined mechanism which includes multiple sections with a range of weight (in percentage terms) of each group of component measures, which shall consist of bonus criteria based on measurable components and the weight (in percentage terms) of each measure as a portion of the annual criteria, as well as a minimum threshold below which no bonus will be awarded.  Office holders may also receive a special bonus for substantial achievements on certain types of special transactions that are unexpected when determining our annual management by objective plan up to 4 monthly base salaries. It is clarified that this special bonus mechanism will not be awarded as a matter of routine and will be granted only in situations where it is warranted as described below. The cash bonus gross amounts granted by the Company to the Covered Officers A, C, B, I and D during the year ended December 31, 2016, amounted to $1.52 million, $0.56 million, $0.46 million, $0.20 million and $0.32 million, respectively.

The equity based compensation offered by us is intended to be in a form of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and/or other equity forms, such as options, in accordance with our equity based compensation policies and programs in place from time to time and in accordance with the compensation policy.  The equity based compensation, shall be granted as either an annual grant and/or from time to time and be individually determined and awarded according to the performance, educational background, professional experience, qualifications, specializations, role, personal responsibilities and achievements of the officer or director and the prior salary and compensation arrangements therewith, and subject to legal limitations. As a general policy, options for our officers and directors shall gradually vest per passage of time over a period of one to 3 years (or more) and the RSUs shall be subject to time and/or performance based vesting.  There shall be no vesting before the end of the first year from date of grant.  We will calculate the fair market value of the equity based compensation for the officers and directors, at the time of grant according to the Black and Scholes model, binomial model or any other best practice or commonly accepted equity based compensation valuation model, when such award is approved by the Compensation Committee, Board of Directors and shareholders, as applicable, and will amortize such value over the applicable vesting schedule. The aggregate three year value of such calculated fair market value shall not exceed, (i) for an officer (not a director) three annual base salaries of such office holder, and; (ii) for a director $180,000 per 3 years, subject to applicable law and regulations.  The equity’s exercise price and expiration date shall be as set forth in Section 14 of the compensation policy. The exercise price of options granted to the office holders shall be equal to the arithmetic average closing price of Tower's shares, as quoted on the NASDAQ market (or if Tower's shares will not be traded on NASDAQ, the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange or any principal national securities exchange upon which Tower's shares are listed or traded) for the 30 trading days prior to the date of grant.  The equity granted may contain a mandatory exercise provision for vested equity which shall provide for an automatic exercise upon reaching a certain share price and may also trigger the sale of the underlying shares.  The expiration date of equity shall be seven years from date of grant. Total value of equity based compensation granted to the Covered Officers A, C, B, I and D during the year ended December 31, 2016 (calculated based on the total amortization cost recorded in the Company’s statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 with respect to all granted equity vehicles to said Covered Officers), amounted to $0.98 million, $0.22 million, $0.17 million, $0.26 million and $0.14 million, respectively.

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We may provide certain officers (not including directors) with a prior notice of termination of up to six (6) months but not less than three (3) months (unless termination is for cause), during which they may be entitled to all of the compensation elements, and to the continuation of vesting of their equity based compensation.  Officers (not including directors) shall provide us with prior notice of resignation of at least three (3) months.  During this advance notice period, at our discretion, such officers may be requested to remain on our payroll and provide services to us.  During this period, such officers shall be paid their base salary and benefits and may be entitled to a partial or full annual bonus, based on their actual period of service or employment within this period, and based on the Company's performance during the period, the contribution of such officer to achieving our targets and profits and the circumstances of the termination.  Upon resignation, such officers who are Israeli employees may receive severance pay according to Israeli law. All other employees shall receive severance pay according to the applicable local laws.   Upon dismissal, officers who are Israeli employees may receive under the compensation policy severance pay equal to his/her last monthly base salary multiplied by the number of years employed by us, subject to approvals as may be required. All other employees shall receive severance pay according to their local labor laws.  The total amount paid to such officers for the aforementioned severance compensation shall not exceed an amount of twenty-four (24) monthly base salaries, subject however to any amounts which would have to be paid to such officer in accordance with the local labor law. No such payment was made or earned in 2016.
 
Under the compensation policy, the Company may grant its officers (not including directors) a change of control bonus, subject to receipt of applicable corporate approvals as required by law. The change of control bonus would allow for a bonus in connection with a corporate transaction involving a change of control and subject to the termination of such officer upon the change of control. The change of control bonus may be in an amount of up to one annual base salary and acceleration of all unvested equity for exercise for the Company's chief executive officer and in an amount of up to nine (9) months' base salary and acceleration of all unvested equity for exercise for the other officers (excluding directors).  No such payment or accrual was made or earned in 2016.

In connection with a corporate transaction involving a change of control, the chairman of the board and other directors may be entitled to acceleration of all unvested equity for exercise.

In accordance with the compensation policy, the CEO is eligible for a termination grant upon termination of his employment.  Such termination grant shall be in an amount up to a lump sum of twelve (12) monthly base salaries without benefits.  The amount granted shall take into consideration the period of employment, his service and employment conditions in the course of said period, our performance during the period, his contribution to the achievement of our targets and profits and the circumstances surrounding the termination of employment. No such payment or accrual was made or earned in 2016.

On June 30, 2016, in addition to the change in base pay described above, our shareholders approved certain amendments to the employment agreement of our CEO, including an equity grant in a value of $1.18 million, which is comprised of 70% options and 30% time vested RSUs, both vesting over a three-year period; and performance-based RSUs in a value of $180,000 that will be earned by the CEO only in the event a financial corporate performance metric is attained. The performance metric was set at actual net profit for 2016, exceeding the net profit amount under the Company’s board approved annual operating plan for 2016 (“AOP”).  Actual net profit for 2016 was $204M, exceeding net profit under the AOP, therefore said performance RSUs were fully earned  For further details, see Tower’s proxy statement to its shareholders filed with the SEC on Form 6-K on May 25, 2016.

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The chairman of the board may be entitled to cash and/or equity based remuneration which in the aggregate that shall not exceed $600,000 on an annual basis (together with reimbursement of expenses) in accordance with our Compensation Policy.  The members of Tower's board may be entitled to remuneration and refund of expenses according to the provisions of the Companies Regulations (Rules on Remuneration and Expenses of Outside Directors), 2000, as amended by the Companies Regulations (Relief for Public Companies Traded in Stock Exchange Outside of Israel), 2000, as such regulations may be amended from time to time.

Directors shall be entitled to:

·
An annual fee which shall be capped at up to $60,000.

·
Per meeting fee shall be capped at up to $2,000.

·
Reasonable travel expenses.
 
Equity Incentive Plans

As set forth in the Company’s approved compensation policy, in 2013, the Company adopted a share incentive plan to directors, officers, employees and its subsidiaries’ employees (the "2013 Plan"). Options to be granted under this plan will bear an exercise price which equals an average of the closing price in the thirty trading days immediately prior to the date of grant, vest over up to a three year period and are not exercisable beyond seven years from the grant date. Under the 2013 Plan, employees shall not be liable to pay the nominal price of the shares underlying the RSUs.  In addition, the maximum number of equity grants under said Plan shall be equal to an amount of shares that shall not exceed 10% of the fully diluted share count of the Company as calculated at the time of grant (which fully diluted share count will be calculated pro-forma to include the proposed grants) minus the amount of shares to be issued under the outstanding equity grants at the time of the grant.
 
As of December 31, 2016, approximately 1.4 million options and RSUs were outstanding under the 2013 Plan to our directors and senior management, of which approximately 0.3 million were outstanding to our CEO and approximately 0.6 million were outstanding to our Chairman.  Further grants may be approved in accordance with a decision of the Compensation Committee, Board of Directors of the Company and/or shareholders, as applicable.
 
The abovementioned 0.6 million options and RSUs to our chairman of the board of directors under the 2013 Plan were approved by our shareholders in accordance with the Company’s approved compensation policy. The options and RSUs have a three year vesting schedule and are not exercisable beyond seven years from the grant date.
 
In April 2015, our shareholders approved the grant of 10,000 options to each of Ilan Flato, Alex Kornhauser, Rami Guzman, Dana Gross and Kalman Kaufman, effective as of the later of three years following each such director’s last grant of options, if any, from the Company or the date of approval by the shareholders, under the2013  Plan, in accordance with the Company’s approved compensation policy. The options have a three year vesting schedule, vesting 50% on the date of the second anniversary from the date of grant and 50% on the date of the third anniversary from the date of grant. The exercise price of these options shall be calculated based on the average closing price of Tower's ordinary shares as quoted on the NASDAQ market during the 30 trading days prior to the date of the grant but shall not be lower than the nominal value of Tower's ordinary shares, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions set forth in the option plan. The options so granted shall expire seven (7) years from date of grant.

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In June 2016, we granted the following equity awards to the CEO and directors under the 2013 Plan: (i) 197,890 options, 31,053 time vested RSUs and 15,790 performance-based RSUs to the CEO, for a total compensation value of approximately $1.4 million; (ii) 25,168 time vested RSUs to the chairman of the board of directors for a total compensation value of approximately $0.3 million; and (iii) 10,000 options to a new director (who was elected for service as an external director, prior to our decision to follow the exemption provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations)  and 3,334 time vested RSUs to each of two new other directors, for a total compensation value of approximately $0.1 million. These grants were approved by the shareholders on June 30, 2016. In addition, in 2016, the Company granted  0.1 million RSUs to some of its senior management under the 2013 Plan, vesting over a one-year period.
 
For further information concerning our employee equity plans and outstanding employee equity, see Note 17B to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 included in this report.
 
C.     BOARD PRACTICES
 
Our Articles of Association provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of at least five and no more than 11 members.  All directors, except for external directors, hold office until their successors are elected at the next annual general meeting of shareholders.
 
Our Articles of Association provide that any director may, by written notice to us and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, appoint another person to serve as an alternate director, and may cancel such appointment, by delivering written notice to the alternate director and to the Company.  Any person who is qualified to serve as a director, and who is not already a director may act as an alternate, and the same person may not act as the alternate for more than one director at a time.  The term of appointment of an alternate director may be for one meeting of the Board of Directors or for a specified period or until notice is given of the cancellation of the appointment or until the director who appointed the alternate ceases to serve as a director of the Company.
 
The Israeli Companies Law – 1999 (the “Companies Law”) requires Israeli companies with shares that have been offered to the public in or outside of Israel to appoint no less than two external directors, unless certain conditions are met by the company pursuant to a recently enacted amendment to the Companies Regulations (Relief for Companies Whose Shares are Registered for Trading Outside of Israel) – 2000 (the "Relief Regulations" and the "Amendment to the Relief Regulations", respectively), as further detailed below. No person may be appointed as an external director if the person or the person’s relative, partner, employer or any entity under the person’s control, has or had, on or within the two years preceding the date of the person’s appointment to serve as external director, any affiliation with the company or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the company.  The term “affiliation” includes:
 
·
an employment relationship;
 
·
a business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis;
 
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·
control; and
 
·
service as an office holder.
 
Relatives of the controlling shareholder may not be appointed as external directors of a company. If the company does not have a controlling shareholder or a shareholder who holds company shares entitling him to vote at least 25% of the votes in a shareholders meeting, no person may be appointed as an external director if the person or the person’s relative, partner, employer or any entity under the person’s control, has or had, on or within the two years preceding the date of the person’s appointment to serve as external director, any affiliation on the date of the person's appointment with the chairman of the Board, chief executive officer, substantial shareholder (who holds at least 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of the company or voting rights which entitle him to vote at least 5% of the votes in a shareholders meeting) or chief financial officer.
 
No person may serve as an external director if the person, the person’s relative, spouse, employer or any entity controlling or controlled by the person, has a business or professional relationship with someone with whom affiliation is prohibited, even if such relationship is not maintained on a regular basis, except negligible relationships. In addition, pursuant to the recently enacted amendment to the Companies Regulations (Matters Which do not Constitute Affiliation), 2006, effective as of April 3, 2016 (the "Amendment to the Affiliation Regulations"), business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis between the company and the external director will not constitute affiliation if the relationship commenced after the appointment of the external director for office, the company and the external director consider the relationship to be negligible and the audit committee approved, based on information presented to it, that the relationship is negligible, and the external director declared that he did not know and could not have reasonably know about the formation of the relationship and has no control over its existence or termination.
 
A public company, entity controlling or entity under common control with the company may not grant an external director, his/her spouse or child, any benefit, and may not appoint him/her, his/her spouse or child, to serve as an officer of the company or of an entity under common control with the company, may not employ or receive professional services in consideration from him/her or an entity controlled by him/her unless two years have passed as of the end of service as external director in the company, and regarding a relative who is not a spouse or child – one year as of the end of service as external director.
 
A person shall be qualified to serve as an external director only if he or she possesses accounting and financial expertise or professional qualifications.  At least one external director must possess accounting and financial expertise.  The conditions and criteria for possessing accounting and financial expertise and professional qualifications were determined in regulations promulgated by the Israeli Minister of Justice in consultation with the Israeli Securities Authority.   The regulations mandate that a person is deemed to have “expertise in finance and accounting” if his or her education, experience and qualifications provide him or her with expertise and understanding in business - accounting matters and financial statements, in a way that allows him or her to understand, in depth, the company’s financial statements and to encourage discussion about the manner in which the financial data is presented.
 
The company’s board of directors must evaluate the proposed external director’s expertise in finance and accounting, by considering, among other things, his or her education, experience and knowledge in the following: (i) accounting and auditing issues typical to the field in which the company operates and to companies of a size and complexity similar to such company; (ii) a company’s external public accountant’s duties and obligations; and (iii) preparing company financial statements and their approval in accordance with the Companies Law and the Israeli Securities Law.
 
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A director is deemed to be “professionally qualified” if he or she meets any of the following criteria: (i) has an academic degree in any of the following professions: economics, business administration, accounting, law or public administration; (ii) has a different academic degree or has completed higher education in a field that is the company’s main field of operations, or a field relevant to his or her position; or (iii) has at least five years experience in any of the following, or has a total of five years experience in at least two of the following: (A) a senior position in the business management of a corporation with significant operations, (B) a senior public position or a senior position in public service, or (C) a senior position in the company’s main field of operations.  The board of directors here too must evaluate the proposed external director’s “professional qualification” in accordance with the criteria set forth above.
 
The candidate to serve as an external director must sign a declaration stating that the abovementioned criteria are met as required by law for the appointment of such candidate as an external director.
 
No person may serve as an external director if the person’s position or other business activities create, or may create, a conflict of interest with the person’s responsibilities as an external director or may otherwise interfere with the person’s ability to serve as an external director.  If, at the time external directors are to be appointed, all current members of the board of directors who are not controlling shareholders or relatives of such shareholders are of the same gender, then at least one external director must be of the other gender.
 
External directors are to be elected by a majority vote at a shareholders’ meeting, provided that either:
 
·
the majority of shares voted at the meeting, including more than one-half of the shares held by non-controlling and disinterested shareholders that voted at the meeting, vote in favor of election of the director; or
 
·
the total number of shares held by non-controlling and disinterested shareholders that voted against the election of the director does not exceed two percent of the aggregate voting rights in the company.
 
The initial term of an external director is three years and may be extended twice for additional three year terms, provided that with respect to the appointment for each such additional three-year term, one of the following has occurred:  (i) the reappointment of the external director has been proposed by one or more shareholders holding together 1% or more of the aggregate voting rights in the company and the appointment was approved at the general meeting of the shareholders by a simple majority, provided that: (1)(x) in calculating the majority, votes of controlling shareholders or shareholders having a personal interest in the appointment as a result of an affiliation with a controlling shareholder and abstentions are disregarded and (y) the total number of votes of shareholders who do not have a personal interest in the appointment (other than an interest solely as a result of an affiliation with a controlling shareholder) or who are not controlling shareholders, present and voting in favor of the appointment exceed 2% of the aggregate voting rights in the company, and (2) pursuant to Amendment 22 to the Companies Law (“Amendment 22”), effective as of January 10, 2014, the external director who has been nominated in such fashion is not a linked or competing shareholder, and does not have or has not had, on or within the two years preceding the date of such person’s appointment to serve as another term as external director, any affiliation with a linked or competing shareholder. The term “linked or competing shareholder” means the shareholder(s) who nominated the external director for reappointment or a material shareholder of the company holding more than 5% of the shares in the company, provided that at the time of the reappointment, such shareholder(s) of the company, the controlling shareholder of such shareholder(s) of the company, or a company under such shareholder(s) of the company’s control, has a business relationship with the company or are competitors of the company; the Israeli Minister of Justice, in consultation with the Israeli Securities Authority, may determine that certain matters will not constitute a business relationship or competition with the company; or (ii) the reappointment of the external director has been proposed by the board of directors and the appointment was approved by the majority of shareholders required for the initial appointment of an external director; or (iii) pursuant to Amendment 26 to the Companies Law, effective as of November 25, 2014, the external director has proposed himself for reappointment and the reappointment was approved as provided in sub-section (i) above. The term of office for external directors for Israeli companies traded on certain foreign stock exchanges, including the NASDAQ Capital  Market, may be further extended, indefinitely, in increments of additional three-year terms, in each case provided that, in addition to re-election in such manner described above: (1) the audit committee and subsequently the board of directors of the company confirm that, in light of the external director’s expertise and special contribution to the work of the board of directors and its committees, the re-election for such additional period is beneficial to the company; and (2) prior to the approval of the reelection of the external director, the company’s shareholders have been informed of the term previously served by such nominee and of the reasons why the board of directors and audit committee recommended the extension of such nominee’s term. External directors may be removed only by the same majority required for their election as stipulated herein above, or by a court, and then only if the external directors cease to meet the statutory qualifications for their appointment or if they violate their duty of loyalty to the company.  Each committee of a company’s board of directors which has been granted any authority normally reserved for the board of directors must include at least one external director.
 
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The Israeli Companies Law – 1999 (the “Companies Law”) requires Israeli companies with shares that have been offered to the public in or outside of Israel to appoint no less than two external directors, unless certain conditions are met by the company pursuant to a recently enacted amendment to the Companies Regulations (Relief for Companies Whose Shares are Registered for Trading Outside of Israel) – 2000 (the "Relief Regulations" and the "Amendment to the Relief Regulations", respectively).  Pursuant to the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, a company may choose not to appoint external directors if it meets all of the following conditions:
 
·
The company's shares are listed on a foreign securities exchange which is referenced in Section 5A(c) of the Regulations, which includes, among others, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE); NASDAQ Global Select Market; and NASDAQ Global Market;
 
·
The Company does not have a controlling shareholder; and
 
·
The Company complies with the requirements of the foreign securities laws and stock exchange regulations relating to appointment of independent directors and composition of audit and compensation committees as applicable to companies which are incorporated under the laws of such foreign countries.
 
Pursuant to the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, Israeli companies which meet the above conditions may choose to opt to comply with the applicable foreign exchange rules governing the appointment of independent directors and composition of audit and compensation committees applicable to U.S. domestic issuers (which with respect to the Company are the Nasdaq Listing Rules and the rules set forth in the Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), as further detailed below) instead of complying with the Israeli Companies Law provisions relating to external directors. An external director who was elected to serve as such prior to the date on which the company opted to comply with the applicable foreign exchange rules governing the appointment of independent directors and the composition of the audit and compensation committees as set forth above, may continue to serve out his term as a director on the company's board of directors until the earlier of (i) the end of his three year term, or (ii) the second annual general meeting following the company's decision to comply with the said applicable foreign exchange rules, without any further action on the part of the Company or its shareholders. Such director may be elected to the board of directors by the Company's shareholders, but he/she would now be elected as a regular director (not an external director) and his/her election would be no different than the election of any other director.
 
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 In September 2016, the Company's board of directors determined that the Company meets the requirements set forth in the Amendment to the Relief Regulations for being exempt from the requirement to appoint at least two external directors and from the requirements relating to the composition of the audit committee and compensation committees set forth in the Companies Law, and that commencing on November 1, 2016, the Company shall follow the exemption provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulation, such that following such date, the Company shall ensure compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules governing the appointment of independent directors and the composition of the audit committee and compensation committee applicable to domestic US issuers, provided that the Company continues to meet the requisite requirements for said relief and unless the Company's board of directors determines otherwise. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a majority of the board of directors must be comprised of independent directors. An independent director is a person other than an Executive Officer (the company's president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer (or, if there is no such accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president of the company in charge of a principal business unit, division or function, any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions for the company, and  officers of the company's parents or subsidiaries (if they perform policy-making functions for the company)) or employee of the company or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the company's board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Family Member is defined as a person's spouse, parents, children and siblings, whether by blood, marriage or adoption, or anyone residing in such person's home. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the following persons shall not be considered independent: (i) a director who is, or at any time during the past three years was, employed by the company; (ii) a director who accepted or who has a Family Member who accepted any compensation from the company in excess of $120,000 during any period of twelve consecutive months within the three years preceding the determination of independence (with the exception of certain types of compensation and benefits); (iii) a director who is a Family Member of an individual who is, or at any time during the past three years was, employed by the company as an Executive Officer; (iv) a director who is, or has a Family Member who is, a partner in, or a controlling shareholder or an Executive Officer of, any organization to which the company made, or from which the company received, payments for property or services in the current or any of the past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipient's consolidated gross revenues for that year, or $200,000, whichever is more (with certain exceptions); (v) a director of the company who is, or has a Family Member who is, employed as an Executive Officer of another entity where at any time during the past three years any of the Executive Officers of the company serve on the compensation committee of such other entity; or (vi) a director who is, or has a Family Member who is, a current partner of the company's outside auditor, or was a partner or employee of the company's outside auditor who worked on the company's audit at any time during any of the past three years. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the board of directors has a responsibility to make an affirmative determination that no such relationships exist with respect to independent directors.
 
Mr. Ilan Flato, Mr. Alex Kornhauser  and Ms. Iris Avner, the Company's external directors prior to the determination to follow the relief provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, will continue serving as directors.
 
Following the Company's determination to follow the relief provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, our directors who were elected as external directors will continue to receive the compensation paid to them in their position as external directors.
 
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The Companies Law requires public companies to appoint an audit committee. Mr. Ilan Flato, Mr. Alex Kornhauser, Mr. Rami Guzman, Mrs. Iris Avner and Mr. Kalman Kaufman serve on Tower's audit committee, and Mr. Alex Kornhauser serves as the Audit Committee chairman. Under the Israeli Companies Law, the responsibilities of the audit committee include reviewing the company’s financial statements, monitoring the company’s independent auditors, identifying irregularities in the management of the company’s business and approving related party transactions as required by law, classifying company transactions as extraordinary transactions or non-extraordinary transactions and as material or non-material transactions in which an officer has an interest (which will have the effect of determining the kind of corporate approvals required for such transaction) and approving such interested party transactions, where the approval of the audit committee is required, assessing the proper function of the company’s internal audit regime and determining whether its internal auditor has the requisite tools and resources required to perform his role, and reviewing the work plan and the scope of work of the company’s independent accountants and their fees, and implementing a whistleblower protection plan with respect to employee complaints of business irregularities.  Pursuant to Amendment 22, the responsibilities of the audit committee under the Companies Law also include the following matters: (i) to establish procedures to be followed in respect of related party transactions with a controlling shareholder (where such are not extraordinary transactions), which may include, where applicable, the establishment of a competitive process for such transaction, under the supervision of the audit committee, or individual, or other committee or body selected by the audit committee, in accordance with criteria determined by the audit committee; and (ii) to determine procedures for approving certain related party transactions with a controlling shareholder, which were determined by the audit committee not to be extraordinary transactions, but which were also determined by the audit committee not to be negligible transactions.  An audit committee of an Israeli public company which does not follow the Amendment to the Relief Regulations must consist of at least three directors, and a majority of the members of the audit committee must be independent directors. The Companies Law defines independent directors as directors who: (1) (1) have been directors in the company for an uninterrupted duration of less than 9 years (and any interim period during which such person was not a director which is less than 2 years shall not be deemed to interrupt the duration), and (2) were classified as such by the company.  The chairman of the board of directors, any director employed by or otherwise providing services to a controlling shareholder or any corporation controlled by such controlling shareholder, any director who derives his salary primarily from the controlling shareholder, and a controlling shareholder or its relative, may not be a member of the audit committee.
 
The chairman of the audit committee must be an external director, and all audit committee decisions must be made by a majority of the committee members, of which the majority of members present are independent and external directors and at least one external director is present, unless the company chooses to opt in and follow the regime applicable to U.S. domestic issuers pursuant to the Amendment to the Relief Regulations as detailed above, in which case the audit committee must comply with the rules described below regarding its composition. Any person who is not eligible to serve on the audit committee is further restricted from participating in its meetings and votes, unless the chairman of the audit committee determines that such person’s presence is necessary in order to present a certain matter, provided however, that company employees who are not controlling shareholders or relatives of such shareholders may be present in the meetings but not in the actual votes and resolutions, and company counsel and secretary who are not controlling shareholders or relatives of such shareholders may be present in meetings and decisions if such presence is requested by the audit committee.
 
Following the Company's determination to follow the relief provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, the composition of our audit committee, including the person authorized to chair the committee, is governed by the rules set forth in the Nasdaq Listing Rules and the Exchange Act.
 
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Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules each company must have, and certify that it has and will continue to have, an audit committee of at least three members, each of whom must: (i) be an independent director as detailed above; (ii) meet the requirements for independence set forth in the Exchange Act (subject to certain exceptions for exceptional and limited circumstances applicable to the independence criteria); (iii) not have participated in the preparation of the financial statements of the company or any current subsidiary of the company at any time during the past three years; and (iv) be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company's balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. The independence criteria set forth in the Exchange Act require that: (a) each member of the audit committee be a member of the board of directors; and (b) each member of the audit committee be independent. In order to be considered to be independent under the Exchange Act, each member of the audit committee may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee: (A) accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the company or any subsidiary thereof, provided that compensatory fees do not include the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with the company (provided that such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service); or (B) be an affiliated person of the company or any subsidiary thereof. Additionally, under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the company must certify that it has, and will continue to have, at least one member of the audit committee who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual's financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities.
 
Under the Companies Law, the board of directors must appoint an internal auditor, who is recommended by the audit committee.  The role of the internal auditor is to examine, among other matters, whether the company’s actions comply with the law and orderly business procedure.  Under the Companies Law, the internal auditor may be an employee of the company but not an office holder, an interested party, or a relative of an office holder or interested party, and he may not be the company’s independent auditor or its representative. Joseph Ginossar of Fahn Kanne, an affiliate of Grant Thornton International, serves as our internal auditor.
 
D.     EMPLOYEES 
 
The following table sets forth for the last three fiscal years, the number of our employees engaged in the specified activities.

   
As of December 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
 
Process and product engineering, R&D and design
   
1,015
     
948
     
931
 
Manufacturing and operations          
   
3,895
     
3,118
     
2,654
 
Manufacturing support          
   
370
     
317
     
343
 
Sales and marketing, finance & administration
   
272
     
250
     
225
 
                         
Total          
   
5,552
     
4,633
     
4,153
 

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Except for an arrangement regarding pension contributions, Tower has no collective bargaining agreements with any of its Israeli employees. However, in Israel we are subject to certain labor statutes and national labor court precedent rulings, as well as to certain provisions of the collective bargaining agreements between the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) and the Coordination Bureau of Economic Organizations, by virtue of expansion orders issued in accordance with relevant labor laws by the Israeli Ministry of Labor and Welfare, and which apply such agreement provisions to our employees even though they are not directly part of a union that has signed a collective bargaining agreement.  The laws and labor court rulings that apply to our employees principally concern the minimum wage laws, procedures for dismissing employees, determination of severance pay, leaves of absence (such as annual vacation or maternity leave), sick pay and other conditions for employment. The expansion orders which apply to our employees principally concern the requirement for length of the work day and workweek, mandatory contributions to a pension fund, annual recreation allowance, travel expenses payment and other conditions of employment. In accordance with these provisions, the salaries of our employees are partially indexed to the Consumer Price Index in Israel.
 
Under the special collective bargaining agreement to which we are party in regard to our Israeli employees, we are required to contribute funds to an employee’s “Manager’s Insurance” fund and/or pension fund.  Such funds generally provide a combination of savings plans, insurance and severance pay benefits to the employee, securing his or her right to receive pension or giving the employee a lump sum payment upon retirement, under certain circumstances, if legally entitled, upon termination of employment.  To the Manager’s Insurance fund or pension fund,  Tower employee contributes an amount equal to between 6% to 7% of his or her wages and Tower contributes an additional 14.83% to 16.3% of his or her wages.  Israeli law generally requires severance pay upon the retirement or death of an employee or termination of employment without due cause. Under our special collective bargaining agreement, Section 14 to the Israeli Severance Pay Law, 5723-1963,applies to Tower, according to which the employer's contribution to severance pay shall replace payment of severance pay upon termination of employment.  Therefore, we are exempt from such severance pay upon termination as long as, and for the period during which, we contribute on a monthly basis the above mentioned benefits to such employee’s pension fund and/or Manager’s Insurance.
 
A portion of Jazz’s employees at its Newport Beach, California fab are represented by a union and covered by a collective bargaining agreement.  Jazz maintains a defined benefit pension plan for certain of its employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement that provides for monthly pension payments to eligible employees upon retirement. The pension benefits are based on years of service and specified benefit amounts. In addition, the bargaining agreement includes a post retirement medical plan to certain employees. For certain eligible bargaining unit employees who terminate employment, Jazz provides a lump-sum benefit payment.
 
Most of TPSCo’s employees at its Japan fabs are represented by a union and covered by a collective bargaining agreement. TPSCo established a Defined Contribution Retirement Plan (the “DC Plan”) for its employees through which TPSCo contributes approximately 10% with employee average match of 1% from employee base salary to the DC Plan. Such contribution releases the employer from further obligation to any payments upon termination of employment. The contribution is remitted either to third party benefits funds that are responsible to invest the funds based on employee preference, or directly, to those employees who elected not to enroll in the DC Plan.
 
E.      SHARE OWNERSHIP
 
As of March 31, 2017, our directors and senior managers held options and RSUs to purchase an aggregate of 1.2 million of our ordinary shares. The options have an average exercise price of $10.4 per share and the options expire between 2018 and 2023. No individual director or senior manager beneficially owns 1.00% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares
 
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ITEM 7.          MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
A.     MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
 
As of March 31, 2017, approximately 95.6 million ordinary shares were issued and outstanding.  The following set forth information as recently released by our major shareholders through form 13G during February 2017, unless otherwise noted below, concerning the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), and ownership on a diluted basis, of ordinary shares by any person who is known to own at least 5% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares.  The voting rights of our major shareholders do not differ from the voting rights of other holders of our ordinary shares.
 
 
Identity of Person or Group
 
Percent of
Class(1)
   
Percent of Class
(Diluted)(2)
 
             
Senvest Management, LLC (3)
   
7.90
%
   
7.04
%
 
(1)
Assumes the holder’s beneficial ownership of all Tower ordinary shares and all securities that the holder has a right to purchase within 60 days. Also assumes that no other exercisable or convertible securities held by other shareholders has been exercised or converted into shares of the Company.
 
(2)
Assumes that all currently outstanding securities to purchase ordinary shares, have been exercised by all holders.
 
(3)
Based on schedule 13G filed by Senvest Management on February 2017, it holds approximately 7.6 million shares as of December 31, 2016.
 
Tower's major shareholders do not have different voting rights from their shares holding percentage.
 
 As of March 31, 2017 there were a total of 14 holders of record of our ordinary shares, of which 8 were registered with addresses in the United States.  Such United States record holders (which include non-US shareholders) were, as of such date, the holders of record of approximately 66.4% of our outstanding ordinary shares. The number of record holders in the United States is not representative of the number of beneficial holders nor is it representative of where such beneficial holders are resident since many of these ordinary shares were held of record by brokers or other nominees (including one U.S. nominee company, CEDE & Co., which held approximately 66.4% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of said date, including those held for the benefit of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange clearing house as a member of Depository Trust Company).
 
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B.     RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 
 
For information related to transactions with related parties, see Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements.  The table presented in Note 21 includes $11.5 million relating to electricity purchased during the year ended December 31, 2015 from an affiliated company of a former major shareholder.
 
C.     INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 8.          FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
A.     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
See Item 18.
 
Legal Proceedings  
 
From time to time, we are a party to various litigation matters incidental to the conduct of our business.  
 
In January 2016, a short-selling focused firm issued a short sell thesis report which the Company believes contains false and misleading information about the Company's strategy, business model and financials. Following this short sell thesis report, shareholder class actions were filed against the Company, certain of its officers, directors and its external independent auditor in the US and Israel. This short sell thesis analyst acknowledged at the time of the report that he shall be assumed to be in a short position in Tower’s shares. In July 2016, the US court-appointed lead plaintiff voluntarily withdrew the action and the US court approved the voluntary dismissal of the class action in the US. The Company believes the outstanding alleged claims in Israel, which are largely akin to the claims made and dismissed in the US, have no merit and will vigorously defend such actions if the court ultimately accepts such action as a class action. 
 
B.     SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
 
No significant change has occurred since December 31, 2016, except as disclosed in this annual report.
 
ITEM 9.          THE OFFER AND LISTING 
 
Our ordinary shares are listed and traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market (on the NASDAQ Global Market through March 16, 2012, on the NASDAQ Capital Market from March 17, 2012 through September 6, 2012, and on the NASDAQ Global Select Market since that date) and on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) under the symbol “TSEM”.
 
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The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low reported sales prices of the ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Stock Market and Tel Aviv Stock Exchange:
 
   
NASDAQ Stock Market
   
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
 
   
High ($)
   
Low ($)
   
High (NIS)
   
Low (NIS)
 
Period
                       
                         
March 2017
   
23.65
     
22.35
     
86.51
     
81.55
 
February 2017
   
23.36
     
21.26
     
86.39
     
79.74
 
January 2017
   
21.50
     
19.02
     
81.50
     
73.17
 
December 2016
   
20.04
     
17.36
     
76.55
     
66.81
 
November 2016
   
18.61
     
15.22
     
71.53
     
57.41
 
October 2016
   
16.48
     
15.04
     
62.41
     
58.02
 
First quarter 2017
   
23.65
     
19.02
     
86.51
     
73.17
 
Fourth quarter 2016
   
20.04
     
15.04
     
76.55
     
57.41
 
Third quarter 2016
   
16.13
     
11.74
     
60.30
     
45.68
 
Second quarter 2016
   
13.59
     
11.03
     
52.40
     
40.32
 
First quarter 2016
   
14.50
     
10.36
     
56.89
     
42.70
 
Fourth quarter 2015
   
16.60
     
12.04
     
62.95
     
48.00
 
Third quarter 2015
   
15.77
     
10.68
     
59.81
     
41.85
 
Second quarter 2015
   
17.98
     
13.82
     
70.65
     
53.20
 
First quarter 2015
   
18.29
     
12.41
     
73.79
     
49.90
 
2016
   
20.04
     
10.36
     
76.55
     
40.32
 
2015
   
18.29
     
10.68
     
73.79
     
41.85
 
2014
   
14.26
     
5.44
     
56.00
     
19.20
 
2013
   
8.67
     
3.85
     
32.40
     
13.40
 
2012
   
15.30
     
6.75
     
57.90
     
27.58
 
 
ITEM 10.        ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
Articles of Association
 
Registration Number and Purposes
 
Our registration number with the Israeli Companies Registrar is 520041997. Pursuant to Section 4 of our Articles of Association (“Articles”), Tower’s objective is to engage in any lawful activity.
 
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Articles of Association
 
Our Articles were adopted in November 2000, and as amended most recently in May 2013, provide for an authorized share capital of 150 million ordinary shares with par value of NIS 15.00 each.   In August 2012, we effected a reverse share split of our outstanding ordinary shares in a ratio of 1:15. All our securities presented in this annual report were adjusted to reflect such reverse split. Tower has currently outstanding only one class of equity securities, ordinary shares, par value NIS 15.00 per share.  Holders of Tower ordinary shares have one vote per share, and are entitled to participate equally in the payment of dividends and share distributions and, in the event of liquidation of Tower, in the distribution of assets after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors.  No preferred shares are currently authorized.
 
Our Articles require that we hold our annual general meeting of shareholders each year no later than 15 months from the last annual meeting, at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors, upon at least 21 days’ prior notice to our shareholders.  Two or more shareholders holding at least 33% of the voting rights personally or by proxy will constitute a quorum for the meeting.  Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy, and are required to prove title to their shares as required by the Companies Law pursuant to procedures established by the Board of Directors.  Resolutions regarding the following matters shall be passed by an ordinary majority of those voting at the general meeting.
 
·
amendments to our Articles;
 
·
appointment and termination of our independent auditors;
 
·
appointment and dismissal of directors (except of external directors);
 
·
approval of acts and transactions requiring general meeting approval under the Companies Law;
 
·
increase or reduction of authorized share capital in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law or the rights of shareholders or a class of shareholders;
 
·
any merger as provided in section 320 of the Companies Law; and
 
·
the exercise of the Board of Directors’ powers by the general meeting, if the Board of Directors is unable to exercise its powers and the exercise of any of its powers is essential for Tower’s proper management, as provided in section 52(a) of the Companies Law.
 
A special meeting may be convened by the request of two directors or by the request of one or more shareholders holding at least 5% of our issued share capital and 1% of the voting rights or one or more shareholders holding at least 5% of the voting rights.  Shareholders requesting a special meeting must submit their proposed resolution with their request.  Within 21 days of receipt of the request, the Board must convene a special meeting and send out notices setting forth the date, time and place of the meeting. Subject to exceptions, such notice must be given at least 21 days but not more than 35 days prior to the special meeting.
 
Our ordinary shares may generally be freely transferred under the Articles, unless the transfer is restricted or prohibited by applicable law or the rules of the stock exchange on which the shares are traded. The ownership or voting of our ordinary shares by non-residents of Israel is not restricted in any way by our Articles or the laws of the State of Israel, except under certain circumstances for ownership by nationals of certain countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel.
 
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Exemption and Indemnification Agreements with Directors and Office Holders
 
Tower entered into exemption and indemnification agreements with the members of its Board of Directors and other Office Holders, which were amended to reflect certain amendments to the Israeli Securities Law and the Israeli Companies Law, pursuant to which, subject to the limitations set forth in the Israeli Companies Law, the Israeli Securities Law and the Articles, they will be exempt from liability for breaches of the duty of care owed by them to the Company or indemnified for certain costs, expenses and liabilities with respect to events specified in the exemption and indemnification agreements. Tower’s shareholders approved these amended exemption and indemnification agreements.
 
The Companies Law
 
We are subject to the provisions of the Companies Law.  The Companies Law codifies the fiduciary duties that “office holders,” including directors and executive officers, owe to a company.  An office holder, as defined in the Companies Law, is a general manager, chief business manager, deputy general manager, vice general manager, another manager directly subordinate to the general manager or any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of the foregoing positions without regard to such person’s title, or a director.  Each person listed in the table in “Item 6.  Directors, Senior Management and Employees” above is an office holder of the Company.
 
The Companies Law requires an office holder to 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 addition, if the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, the office holder must also disclose any personal interest held by the office holder’s spouse, siblings, parents, grandparents, descendants, and spouse’s descendants, siblings and parents, and the spouse of any of the foregoing, or any corporation in which the office holder is a 5% or greater shareholder, holder of 5% or more of the voting power, director or general manager or in which he or she has the right to appoint at least one director or the general manager.  An extraordinary transaction is defined as a transaction not in the ordinary course of business, not on market terms, or one that is likely to have a material impact on the company’s profitability, assets or liabilities.
 
The Companies Law requires that specific types of transactions, actions and arrangements be approved as provided for in a company’s articles of association and in some circumstances by the company’s audit committee or compensation committee, board of directors and shareholders.  For example, the Companies Law requires that agreements regarding the terms of compensation, insurance or indemnification of directors be approved by the company’s compensation committee, board of directors and shareholders. Agreements regarding the terms of compensation, insurance or indemnification of officers, and any amendment thereof, will need to be approved by the company’s compensation committee and board of directors, and in certain instances by shareholders as well. In the case of a transaction with an office holder that is not an extraordinary transaction, after the office holder complies with the above disclosure requirements, only board approval is required, unless the Articles provide otherwise. Pursuant to a recently enacted amendment to the Companies Regulations (Matters Which do not Constitute Affiliation), a company may define in its compensation policy a reasonable range for changes in the compensation of office holders who are subordinated to the CEO, which will only require CEO approval. The transaction must be in the company’s interests. If the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, then, in addition to any approval required by the Articles it must be approved first by the audit committee and then by the board of directors, and, in specific circumstances, by a meeting of the shareholders.  Subject to exceptions set forth in the Companies Law, an any individual 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 during the relevant discussion at such meeting or vote on such matter.
 
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The Companies Law applies the same disclosure requirements to a controlling shareholder of a public company.  The term “controlling shareholder” is defined as a shareholder who has the ability to direct the activities of a company, other than if this power derives solely from the shareholder’s position on the board of directors or any other position with the company, and the definition of "controlling shareholder" in connection with matters governing: (i) extraordinary transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, (ii) certain private placements in which the controlling shareholder has a personal interest, (iii) certain transactions with a controlling shareholder or relative with respect to services provided to or employment by the company, (iv) the terms of employment and compensation of the general manager, and (v) the terms of employment and compensation of office holders of the company when such terms deviate from the company’s compensation policy, also includes shareholders that hold 25% or more of the voting rights if no other shareholder owns more than 50% of the voting rights in the company (and the holdings of two or more shareholders which each have a personal interest in such matter will be aggregated for the purposes of determining such threshold). Extraordinary transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, require the approval of the audit committee, the board of directors and the shareholders of the company.  Agreements relating to the terms of office and employment of a controlling shareholder require the approval of the compensation committee, the board of directors and the shareholders of the company. The shareholder approval for the above noted matters must either include more than one-half of the shares held by disinterested shareholders who are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting, or, alternatively, the total shareholdings of the disinterested shareholders who vote against the transaction must not represent more than two percent of the voting rights in the company.
 
Extraordinary transactions between the Company and a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has personal interest and with duration exceeding three years are subject to re-approval once every three years by the audit committee (or compensation committee, as applicable), board of directors and the shareholders of the company. Extraordinary transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest may be approved in advance for a period exceeding three years if the audit committee determines such approval reasonable under the circumstances.
 
Pursuant to the Companies Law, the terms of office and employment of an office holder in a public company should be in accordance with the company’s compensation policy.  Nonetheless, provisions were established that allow a company, under special circumstances, to approve terms of office and employment that deviate from the approved compensation policy. Additionally, the Companies Law also sets forth the provisions governing the approval requirements for the compensation and/or terms of office of a specific office holder.
 
Terms of office and employment of office holders who are neither directors nor the general manager require approval by the (i) compensation committee; and (ii) the board of directors.  Approval of terms of office and employment for such office holders which do not comply with the compensation policy may nonetheless be approved subject to two cumulative conditions: (i) the compensation committee and thereafter the board of directors, approved the terms after having  taken into account the various policy considerations and mandatory requirements set forth in the Companies Law with respect to office holder compensation, and (ii) the shareholders of the company approved the terms of office and employment for such office holders by means of the special majority required for approving the compensation policy (as detailed above). Following the Amendment to the Affiliation Regulations, non-material changes to the terms of compensation of office holders who are subordinated to the company general manager will require only general manager approval, provided that the company's compensation policy includes a reasonable range for such non-material changes.
 
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Terms of office and employment of the general manager require approval by the (i) compensation committee; (ii) the board of directors and (iii) the shareholders of the company by means of the special majority required for approving the compensation policy (as detailed above). Approval of terms of office and employment for the general manager which do not comply with the compensation policy may nonetheless be approved subject to two cumulative conditions: (i) the compensation committee and thereafter the board of directors, approved the terms after having  taken into account the various policy considerations and mandatory requirements set forth in the Companies Law with respect to office holder compensation, and (ii) the shareholders of the company approved the terms of office and employment for the general manager which deviate from the compensation policy by means of the special majority required for approving the compensation policy (as detailed above).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a company may be exempted from receiving shareholder approval with respect to the terms of office and employment of a proposed candidate for general manager if such candidate meets certain independence criteria, the terms of office and employment are in line with the compensation policy, and the compensation committee has determined for specified reasons that presenting the matter for shareholder approval would thwart the proposed engagement. In addition, following the Amendment to the Affiliation Regulations, the terms of compensation of the general manager will not require shareholders approval when extending or re-approving the company's engagement with its general manager, provided that such terms are not more beneficial compared to his previous compensation terms approved by the shareholders pursuant to the Companies Law and provided that such terms comply with the company's compensation policy.
 
Terms of office and employment of office holders (including the general manager) who are not directors may nonetheless be approved by the company despite shareholder rejection (where shareholder approval is required), provided that a company’s compensation committee and thereafter the board of directors have determined to approve such terms of office and employment, based on detailed reasoning, after having re-examined the terms of office and employment, and having taken the shareholder rejection into consideration.
 
Terms of office and employment of directors require approval by the (i) compensation committee; (ii) the board of directors and (iii) the shareholders of the company. Approval of terms of office and employment for directors of a company which do not comply with the compensation policy may nonetheless be approved subject to two cumulative conditions: (i) the compensation committee and thereafter the board of directors, approved the terms after having taken into account the various policy considerations and mandatory requirements set forth in the Companies Law with respect to office holder compensation, and (ii) the shareholders of the company have approved the terms by means of the special majority required for approving the compensation policy (as detailed above). Terms of office and employment of directors can be approved without shareholders consent if such terms are either (i) only to the benefit of the company, or (ii) the compensation paid does not exceed the maximum compensation payable to external directors under applicable law, and the compensation committee and board of directors approved the foregoing.
 
In addition to approval by a company’s board of directors, a private placement in a public company requires approval by a company’s shareholders in the following cases:
 
·
A private placement that meets all of the following conditions:
 
o
20 percent or more of the voting rights in the company prior to such issuance are being offered;
 
o
The private placement will increase the relative holdings of a shareholder that holds five percent or more of the company’s outstanding share capital (assuming the exercise of all of the securities convertible into shares held by that person), or that will cause any person to become, as a result of the issuance, a holder of five percent or more of the company’s outstanding share capital; and
 
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o
All or part of the consideration for the offering is not cash or registered securities, or the private placement is not being offered at market terms.
 
·
A private placement which results in anyone becoming a controlling shareholder.
 
The above transactions must be for the benefit of the company.
 
Under the Companies Law, a shareholder has a duty to act in good faith towards the company and other shareholders and refrain from abusing his power in the company, including, among other things, vote in the general meeting of shareholders on the following matters:
 
·
any amendment to the Articles;
 
·
an increase of the company’s authorized share capital;
 
·
a merger; or
 
·
approval of interested party transactions that require shareholder approval.
 
In addition, any controlling shareholder, any shareholder who knows that it possesses power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote and any shareholder who has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment of an office holder in the company is under a duty to act with fairness towards the company.  The Companies Law does not describe the substance of this duty, but provides that laws applicable to a breach of contract, adjusted according to the circumstances shall apply to a breach of such duties. With respect to the obligation to refrain from acting discriminatorily, a shareholder that is discriminated against can petition the court to instruct the company to remove or prevent the discrimination, as well as provide instructions with respect to future actions.
 
Tender Offer.    A person wishing to acquire shares or any class of shares of a publicly traded Israeli company and who would as a result hold over 90% of the company’s issued and outstanding share capital or of a class of shares, is required by the Companies Law to make a tender offer to all of the company’s shareholders for the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the company.  If the shares represented by the shareholders who did not tender their shares in the tender offer constitute less than 5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company, and (following the Amendment Date) more than half of the shareholders without a personal interest in accepting the offer tendered their shares, then all of the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer by operation of law.  If the dissenting shareholders hold more than 5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company, the acquirer may not acquire additional shares of the company from shareholders who accepted the tender offer to the extent that following such acquisition the acquirer would then own over 90% of the company’s issued and outstanding share capital; provided, however, if the dissenting shareholders constitute less than 2% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company then the full tender will be accepted and all of the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer by operation of law. The Companies Law provides for an exception regarding this threshold requirement for a shareholder that on February 1, 2000 held over 90% of the public Israeli company’s issued and outstanding share capital.  Shareholders may petition the court to alter the consideration for the acquisition, provided, however, and subject to certain exceptions, the terms of the tender offer may state that a shareholder that accepts the offer waives such right.
 
The Companies Law provides that, subject to certain exceptions, an acquisition of shares of an Israeli public company must be made by means of a tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company.  This rule does not apply if there is already another shareholder of the company that holds 25% or more of the voting rights in the company.  Similarly, the Companies Law provides that, subject to certain exceptions, an acquisition of shares in a public company must be made by means of a tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of more than 45% of the voting rights in the company, if there is no shareholder that holds more than 45% of the voting rights in the company.
 
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Merger.  The Companies Law permits merger transactions if approved by each party’s board of directors and the majority of each party’s shares voted on the proposed merger at a shareholders’ meeting called on at least 35 days prior notice.  Under the Companies Law, merger transactions may be approved by holders of a simple majority of our shares present, in person or by proxy, at a general meeting and voting on the transaction.  In determining whether the required majority has approved the merger, if shares of a company are held by the other party to the merger, or by any person holding at least 25% of the outstanding voting shares or 25% of the means of appointing directors of the other party to the merger, then a vote against the merger by holders of the majority of the shares present and voting, excluding shares held by the other party or by such person, or anyone acting on behalf of either of them, is sufficient to reject the merger transaction, provided, however, if the transaction is an extraordinary transaction with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has an interest, then the  approvals required will be the corporate approvals under the Companies Law for such extraordinary transaction (i.e. approval of the audit committee, board of directors and shareholders vote, which shareholder approval must either include more than one-half of the shares held by disinterested shareholders who are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting, or, alternatively, the total shareholdings of the disinterested shareholders who vote against the transaction must not represent more than two percent).  If the transaction would have been approved but for the exclusion of the votes of certain shareholders as provided above, a court may still approve the merger upon the request of holders of at least 25% of the voting rights of a company, if the court holds that the merger is fair and reasonable, taking into account the value of the parties to the merger and the consideration offered to the shareholders.  Upon the request of a creditor of either party to the proposed merger, the court may delay or prevent the merger if it concludes that there exists a reasonable concern that, as a result of the merger, the surviving company will be unable to satisfy the obligations of any of the parties to the merger.  In addition, a merger may not be consummated unless at least 30 days have passed from the receipt of the shareholders’ approval and 50 days have passed from the time that a merger proposal has been filed with the Israeli Registrar of Companies.
 
Companies Law Amendments
 
As stated above, the Israeli legislature, the Knesset, approved Amendment 16 to the Israeli Companies Law which came into effect during 2011, Amendment 20 which came into effect at the end of 2012, Amendment 22 which came into effect at the beginning of 2014 and Amendment 26 which came into effect at the end of 2014. The purposes of these amendments to the Companies Law were to revise and enhance existing provisions governing corporate governance practices of Israeli companies, to regulate executive pay in Israeli publicly traded companies and to revise and enhance existing provisions governing approval of executive compensation. On February 17, 2016, Amendment 27 to the Companies Law came into effect, on April 3, 2016, certain amendments to the Companies Regulations came into effect and on April 17, 2016 the Amendment to the Relief Regulations came into effect. The purposes of these amendments were to provide certain relief with respect to the existing provisions governing corporate governance practices of Israeli companies in order to, among other things, encourage companies to offer securities to public in Israel.
 
 The principal provisions set forth in these amendments to the Companies Law are incorporated into the above discussions in Item 10 “The Companies Law” and Item 6.B. Additional material changes to the Companies Law pursuant to these recently passed amendments include:
 
·
Code of Corporate Conduct. A code of recommended corporate governance practices has been attached to the Companies Law.   In the explanatory notes to the legislation, the Knesset noted that an "adopt or disclose non-adoption" regulation would be issued by the Israeli Securities Authority with respect to such code. As of the date of this Annual Report, the Israeli Securities Authority has issued reporting instructions with respect to this code which are applicable only to publicly traded companies whose securities are traded solely on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and which report solely to the Israeli Securities Authority.
 
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·
Fines. The Israeli Securities Authority shall be authorized to impose fines on any person or company performing a violation, in connection with a publicly traded company which reports to the Israeli Securities Authority, and specifically designated as a violation under the Companies Law.
 
Although we expect to be in compliance with the Companies Law, there is no assurance that we will not be required to adjust our current corporate governance practices, as discussed in this annual report, pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Law and recently passed amendments to the Companies Law.
 
The Israeli Securities Law- 1968 and the Securities Law Amendment
 
On February 27, 2011, an amendment to the Israeli Securities Law- 1968 (the “Israeli Securities Law”) came into effect (the “Securities Law Amendment”), which applies to Israeli public companies, including companies the securities of which are also listed on NASDAQ Stock Market. The main purpose of the Securities Law Amendment is creating an administrative enforcement procedure to be used by the Israeli Securities Authority ("ISA") to enhance the efficacy of enforcement in the securities market in Israel. This administrative enforcement procedure may be applied to any company or person (including director, officer or shareholder of a company) performing any of the actions specifically designated as breaches of law under the Securities Law Amendment.
 
Furthermore, the Securities Law Amendment requires that the chief executive officer of a company supervise and take all reasonable measures to prevent the company or any of its employees from breaching the Israeli Securities Law. The chief executive officers is presumed to have fulfilled such supervisory duty if the company adopts internal enforcement procedures designed to prevent such breaches, appoints a representative to supervise the implementation of such procedures and takes measures to correct the breach and prevent its reoccurrence.  The Company is currently in the process of implementing an internal enforcement plan to allow for a higher level of monitoring compliance with the Israeli Securities Law.
 
Under the Securities Law Amendment, a company cannot obtain insurance against or indemnify a third party (including its officers and/or employees) for any administrative procedure and/or monetary fine (other than for payment of damages to an injured party).  The Securities Law Amendment permits insurance and/or indemnification for certain expenses related to an administrative procedure, such as reasonable legal fees, provided that it is permitted under the company's articles of association.
 
In June 2011, each of our Audit Committee and Board of Directors approved a new form of Indemnification Agreement with our directors and officers so as to reflect this amendment, subject to approval of our shareholders to the relevant changes required to our Articles of Association. Our shareholders approved these amendments to the Articles of Association and a revised form of Indemnification Agreement for directors at the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders held on August 11, 2011.  In addition, our approved Compensation Policy states that we shall indemnify our directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, for any liability and expense that may be imposed on the executive officer, as provided in the exemption and indemnification agreement between such individuals and the Company, all subject to applicable law.
 
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NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and Home Country Practices
 
As permitted by NASDAQ Listing Rule 5615(a)(3), in lieu of certain corporate governance requirements we have chosen to follow the practices of our home country with respect to the following:
 
·
We do not supply an annual report but make our audited financial statements available to our shareholders prior to our annual general meeting.
 
·
We currently satisfy the requirement to appoint a majority of directors who meet the definition of independence contained in the NASDAQ Listing Rules, following our determination to follow the exemption provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, we are exempt from the requirement to appoint at least two external directors pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Law, and are required, under the relief provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, to comply with the NASDAQ Listing Rules governing the appointment of independent directors applicable to US domestic issuers, as of November 1, 2016.
 
·
Our Board has not adopted a policy of conducting regularly scheduled meetings at which only our independent directors are present.
 
·
Following our determination to follow the exemption provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, the composition of our compensation committee is governed by the provisions of the NASDAQ Listing Rules applicable to US domestic issuers, as set forth in the Amendment to the Relief Regulations. However, consideration and approval of compensation for our chief executive officer and other executive officers will be taken by the compensation committee, the board of directors and the shareholders as appropriate under the applicable rules under the Companies Law which may differ from those provided for in the NASDAQ Listing Rules. In accordance with the Companies Law, the compensation of directors, the chief executive officer and all other officers requires the approval of our compensation committee and board of  directors, and under circumstances as detailed in this annual report, also requires the approval of our shareholders.  Such compensation must  either be consistent with our approved Compensation Policy or, in special circumstances, may deviate therefrom, taking into account certain considerations set forth in the Companies Law.  We are required to seek shareholder approval for certain corporate actions requiring such approval under the requirements of the Companies Law, including seeking prior approval of the shareholders for the Compensation Policy and for certain office holder compensation.
 
·
The process under which director nominees are selected, or recommended for the Board’s selection may not be in full compliance with the applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules. Our directors are elected for terms of one year or until the following annual meeting, by a general meeting of our shareholders. The nominations for director which are presented to our shareholders are generally made by our board of directors. The process under which director nominees are selected, or recommended for the Board’s selection is in compliance with the Companies Law but is not necessarily in full compliance with the NASDAQ Listing Rules.
 
·
Israeli law does not require the adoption of and our Board of Directors has not adopted a formal written charter or board resolution addressing the nomination process and such related matters as may be required under United States federal securities laws, as required by the NASDAQ Listing Rules.
 
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·
Although we have adopted a formal written audit committee charter, there is no requirement under the Companies Law to do so and the charter as adopted may not specify all the items enumerated in the NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(c)(1).
 
·
Although we have adopted a formal written compensation committee charter, there is no requirement under the Companies Law to do so and the charter as adopted may not specify all the items enumerated in the NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(d)(1).
 
·
Following our determination to follow the exemption provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, we are exempt from the requirement to appoint at least two external directors pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Law, and are required, under the relief provided under the Amendment to the Relief Regulations, to comply with the NASDAQ Listing Rules governing the composition of the audit committee, as of November 1, 2016.
 
·
Under Israeli law, a company is entitled to determine in its articles of association the number of shareholders and percentage of holdings required for a quorum at a shareholders meeting. Our articles of association do not provide for a quorum of not less than 33 1/3% of the outstanding shares of our voting ordinary shares for meetings of our ordinary shareholders, as required by the NASDAQ Listing Rules.  Our articles of association presently require a quorum consisting of two shareholders holding a combined 33% of our ordinary shares.
 
·
We review and approve all related party transactions in accordance with the requirements and procedures for approval of interested party acts and transactions, set forth in sections 268 to 275 the Companies Law, which do not fully reflect the requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Rules.
 
·
We seek shareholder approval for all corporate action requiring such approval, in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Law, which does not fully reflect the requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Rules.
 
·
We do not necessarily seek shareholder approval for the establishment of, and amendments to, stock option or equity compensation plans (as set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)), as such matters are not subject to shareholder approval under Israeli law. We will attempt to seek shareholder approval for our stock option or equity compensation plans (and the relevant annexes thereto) to the extent required in order to ensure they are tax qualified for our employees in the United States. However, even if such approval is not received, then the stock option or equity compensation plans will continue to be in effect, but the Company will be unable to grant options to its U.S. employees that qualify as Incentive Stock Options for U.S. federal tax purpose. Our stock option or other equity compensation plans are also available to our non-U.S. employees, and provide features necessary to comply with applicable non-U.S. tax laws.
 
Material Contracts
 
For information regarding material contracts see Notes 3, 8, 12, 13, 16 and 17 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the agreements described under the caption “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects - B. Liquidity and Capital Resources”.
 
TPSCo Agreements
 
In March 2014, we acquired a 51% equity stake in TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co., Ltd., (“TPSCo”), a company formed by Panasonic Corporation (“Panasonic” or “Panasonic Corporation” or “PSCS”).
 
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Panasonic transferred its semiconductor wafer manufacturing process and 8 inch and 12 inch capacity tools at its three fabs (Uozu E, Tonami CD and Arai E) to TPSCo, and entered into a manufacturing agreement for a period of at least five years of volume production.  We received 51% of the shares of TPSCo (with PSCS holding the remaining shares), and as consideration for our 51% equity holding in TPSCo, at the closing of the transaction, we issued to Panasonic 870,454 of our ordinary shares valued at approximately $7.4 million.
 
Several agreements were signed between Tower and/or TPSCo and Panasonic.
 
A shareholders’ agreement was signed by Tower and Panasonic, stating, among others, that Panasonic understands that the number of products to be manufactured for Panasonic by TPSCo will not be less than the minimum number of Panasonic products to be ordered by Panasonic per month as set forth in the agreement.
 
A manufacturing agreement was entered into between Panasonic and TPSCo which sets forth the terms under which TPSCo shall operate its fabs and manufacture semiconductor device wafer products for Panasonic. Panasonic will order such products by providing TPSCo with a six month rolling forecast.  The quantities set forth in such forecast shall be fully binding with respect to specific lead times (determined per each category of products). Panasonic will pay for such products (provided they meet specified yield rates) based on the pricing specified in the agreement.  The initial term of the manufacturing agreement is five years and thereafter it will renew for consecutive one year periods unless written notice is received terminating the agreement.

An intellectual property license agreement was entered into between Panasonic and TPSCo, to which Tower is a third party beneficiary, sets forth the terms pursuant to which Panasonic granted TPSCo a license to use Panasonic’s intellectual property rights to manufacture products for Panasonic and other third parties during the term of the agreement. The license to manufacture products for Panasonic is royalty free while TPSCo is required to pay royalties pursuant to the license agreement when manufacturing products for third parties. Under the terms of the agreement, TPSCo is allowed to sublicense the licenses granted to Tower and other third parties, subject in certain cases to the prior written consent of Panasonic, and subject to payment of royalties. The initial term of the agreement shall be for five years and may be extended with the parties’ consent.

A business transfer agreement was entered into between Panasonic and TPSCo designates the mechanism and process pursuant to which Panasonic assigned and transferred the joint venture assets, including the three fabrication facilities and their underlying assets, to TPSCo.

In addition to, and in connection with such transactions, additional ancillary agreements were entered into at the closing between Panasonic, TPSCo and/or Tower. In June 2014, Panasonic transferred its shares in TPSCo and its rights and obligations under the relevant ancillary agreements to PSCS, its wholly-owned subsidiary.
 
For details concerning Tower's Facility Agreement with the Lender Banks, its repayment and its debentures’ related contracts as well as Jazz’s credit line and its notes related contracts, see "Item 5. Operation and Financial Review – B. Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
For details concerning Tower's long term loan agreement with JA Mitsui Leasing, Ltd and Bank of Tokyo (BOT), see "Item 5. Operation and Financial Review – B. Liquidity and Capital Resources – Long Term Loan Agreement with JA Mitsui Leasing, Ltd. and Bank of Tokyo (BOT)."
 
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Exchange Controls
 
Under Israeli law, non-residents of Israel who purchase ordinary shares with certain non-Israeli currencies (including US dollars) may freely repatriate in such non-Israeli currencies all amounts received in Israeli currency in respect of the ordinary shares, whether as a dividend, as a liquidating distribution, or as proceeds from any sale in Israel of the ordinary shares, provided in each case that any applicable Israeli income tax is paid or withheld on such amounts.  The conversion into the non-Israeli currency must be made at the rate of exchange prevailing at the time of conversion.
 
There are currently no Israeli currency control restrictions on remittances of dividends on our ordinary shares, proceeds from the sale of the shares or interest or other payments to non-residents of Israel, except under certain circumstances, for shareholders who are subjects of countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel.
 
Taxation
 
The below discussion does not purport to be an official interpretation of the tax law provisions mentioned therein or to be a comprehensive description of all tax law provisions which might apply to our securities or to reflect the views of the relevant tax authorities, and it is not meant to replace professional advice in these matters.  The below discussion is based on current, applicable tax law, which may be changed by future legislation or reforms.  Non-residents should obtain professional tax advice with respect to the tax consequences of holding or selling our securities under the laws of their countries of residence of holding or selling our securities.
 
Israeli Taxation
 
An individual is subject to a tax at a rate of 25% on real capital gains derived from the sale of shares, as long as the individual is not a “substantial shareholder” (generally a shareholder with 10% or more of the right to profits, right to nominate a director or voting rights) in the company issuing the shares.
 
An individual who is a substantial shareholder is subject to tax at a rate of 30% in respect of real capital gains derived from the sale of shares issued by the company in which he or she is a substantial shareholder.  The determination of whether the individual is a substantial shareholder will be made on the date that the securities are sold.  In addition, the individual will be deemed to be a substantial shareholder if at any time during the 12 months preceding this date he or she had been a substantial shareholder.
 
An additional income tax at a rate of 3% will be imposed on high earners individuals whose annual income or gain exceeds NIS 640,000.
 
Corporations are subject to corporate tax with respect to total income, including capital gains, at a rate of 25% in 2016 (24% in 2017 and 23% from 2018 onwards). 

Non-Israeli residents are exempt from Israeli capital gains tax on any gains derived from the sale of shares in an Israeli corporation publicly traded on the TASE and/or on a foreign stock exchange, provided such gains do not derive from a permanent establishment of such shareholders in Israel and that such shareholders did not acquire their shares prior to the issuer’s initial public offering. However, non-Israeli corporations will not be entitled to such exemption if Israeli residents (i) have a controlling interest of more than 25% in such non-Israeli corporation, or (ii) are the beneficiaries of or is entitled to 25% or more of the revenues or profits of such non-Israeli corporation, whether directly or indirectly.
 
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In some instances where our shareholders may be liable to Israeli tax on the sale of their ordinary shares, the payment of the consideration may be subject to Israeli withholding tax.
 
Israeli Tax on Interest Income a