PainReform (PRFX) Risk Analysis

Pursuant to the investors' rights agreement among the Company and certain investors, we are required to comply with a demand that the Company register their registrable securities. The registration of these securities will permit the public resale of such securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares.

The trading price of our ordinary shares may be highly volatile. The stock market in general has experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result of this volatility, you may not be able to sell your ordinary shares at or above the initial public offering price. The following factors, in addition to other risk factors described in this section, may have a significant impact on the market price of our ordinary shares: - changes or developments in laws or regulations governing our business;- announcements of regulatory approvals or the failure to obtain them, or specific label indications or patient populations for their use, or changes or delays in the regulatory review process;- unsatisfactory results of preclinical studies or clinical trials;- adverse actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to our manufacturing supply chain or sales and marketing activities;- announcements of innovations or new products by us or our competitors;- any intellectual property infringement, misappropriation or other actions in which we may become involved;- any adverse changes to our relationships with manufacturers or suppliers;- announcements concerning our competitors;- achievement of expected product sales and profitability or our failure to meet expectations;- our commencement of, or involvement in, litigation; and - any changes in our board of directors or management. If our results fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the price of our ordinary shares could decline substantially. Furthermore, any fluctuations in our operating results may, in turn, cause the price of our shares to fluctuate substantially. We believe that quarterly comparisons of our financial results are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indication of our future performance. Further, the stock market in general may experience extreme price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our ordinary shares regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, a systemic decline in the financial markets and related factors beyond our control may cause our share price to decline rapidly and unexpectedly. Price volatility of our ordinary shares might be worse if the trading volume of our ordinary shares is low. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company's securities, securities class-action litigation often has been instituted against that company. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could cause us to incur substantial costs to defend such claims and divert management's attention and resources, which could seriously harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Moreover, the liquidity of our ordinary shares will be limited, not only in terms of the number of ordinary shares that can be bought and sold at a given price, but by potential delays in the timing of executing transactions in our ordinary shares and a reduction in security analyst and media's coverage of our company, if any. These factors may result in lower prices for our ordinary shares than might otherwise be obtained and could also result in a larger spread between the bid and ask prices for our ordinary shares. In addition, without a large float, our ordinary shares will be less liquid than the stock of companies with broader public ownership and, as a result, the trading prices of our ordinary shares may be more volatile. In the absence of an active public trading market, an investor may be unable to liquidate its investment in our ordinary shares. Trading of a relatively small volume of our ordinary shares may have a greater impact on the trading price of our ordinary shares than would be the case if our public float were larger. We cannot predict the prices at which our ordinary shares will trade in the future.

Generally, if for any taxable year, 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or at least 50% of the average value of our assets are held for the production of, or produce, passive income, we would be characterized as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We believe that we were not a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our 2020 taxable year. Because PFIC status is determined annually and is based on our income, assets and activities for the entire taxable year, it is not possible to determine with certainty whether we will be characterized as a PFIC for the 2021 taxable year until after the close of the year, and there can be no assurance that we will not be classified as a PFIC in any future year. In any taxable year in which we are characterized as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder, (as defined below) that owns ordinary shares could face adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences, including having gains realized on the sale of ordinary shares classified as ordinary income, rather than as capital gain, the loss of the preferential rate applicable to dividends received on ordinary shares by U.S. Holders who are individuals, and having interest charges apply to distributions by us and the proceeds of ordinary share sales. Certain adverse consequences of PFIC status may be alleviated if a U.S. Holder makes a "mark to market" election or an election to treat us as a qualified electing fund, or QEF.  These elections would result in an alternative treatment (such as mark-to-market treatment) of the ordinary shares. It is not expected that a U.S. Holder will be able to make a QEF election because we do not intend to provide U.S. Holders with the information necessary to make a QEF election.  If we are a PFIC in any year, U.S. Holders may be subject to additional Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, filing requirements, including the filing of IRS Form 8621, as a result of directly or indirectly owning stock of a PFIC.   U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules. For more information, see "10.E – Taxation – Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences."

As of March 15, 2021, our directors and executive officers collectively and beneficially own approximately 34% of our outstanding ordinary shares. The interests of such persons may differ from the interests of our other shareholders. As a result, in addition to their board seats and offices, such persons will have significant influence over and control all corporate actions requiring shareholder approval, irrespective of how our other shareholders may vote, including the following actions: - to elect or defeat the election of our directors;- amend or prevent amendment of our charter documents or by-laws;- effect or prevent a merger, sale of assets or other corporate transaction; and - to control the outcome of any other matter submitted to our shareholders for vote. Such persons' share ownership may discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company, which in turn could reduce our stock price or prevent our shareholders from realizing a premium over our share price.

Historically, we have operated as a private company. As a public company listed on a U.S. national securities exchange, particularly after we are no longer an emerging growth company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and rules implemented by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and the Nasdaq Capital Market, impose various requirements on public companies, including requirements to file annual reports with respect to our business and financial condition and operations and establish and maintain effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel have limited experience operating as a public company, which may result in operational inefficiencies or errors, or a failure to improve or maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures necessary to ensure timely and accurate reporting of operational and financial results. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time consuming and costly. In addition, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some public company required activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We intend to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and divert management's time and attention from revenue generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be harmed. We also expect that being listed on a U.S. national securities exchange and complying with applicable rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to incur substantially higher costs to obtain and maintain the same or similar coverage that is currently in place. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified executive officers and members of our board of directors. We have initially commenced evaluating whether our existing internal control over financial reporting is effectively operating, and we cannot provide any assurance that there are no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our existing internal controls. Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the related rules adopted by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or Section 404, starting with the second annual report that we file with the SEC following our initial public offering, our management will be required to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, once we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act and lose the ability to rely on the exemptions related thereto discussed above, our independent registered public accounting firm will also need to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404. We have only initially commenced the process of determining whether our existing internal controls over financial reporting systems are effectively operating and whether there are any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our existing internal controls. This process will require the investment of substantial time and resources, including by our Chief Financial Officer and other members of our senior management. As a result, this process may divert internal resources and take a significant amount of time and effort to complete. 31 In addition, we cannot predict the outcome of this determination and whether we will need to implement remedial actions in order to implement effective control over financial reporting. The determination and any remedial actions required could result in us incurring additional costs that we did not anticipate. Irrespective of compliance with Section 404, any failure of our internal controls could have a material adverse effect on our stated results of operations and harm our reputation. As a result, we may experience higher than anticipated operating expenses, as well as higher independent auditor fees during and after the implementation of these changes. If we are unable to implement any of the required changes to our internal control over financial reporting effectively or efficiently or are required to do so earlier than anticipated, it could adversely affect our operations, financial reporting and/or results of operations and could result in an adverse opinion on internal controls from our independent auditors.

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not applicable to emerging growth companies. For as long as we remain an emerging growth company we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not "emerging growth companies." These exemptions include: - being permitted to provide only three years of audited financial statements, in addition to any required unaudited condensed interim financial statements, with correspondingly reduced "Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations" disclosure;- not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting;- not being required to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor's report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements; and - reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation. We may take advantage of these provisions for up to five years or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earlier to occur of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more; (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (3) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced burdens, and therefore the information that we provide holders of our ordinary shares may be different than the information you might receive from other public companies in which you hold equity. In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. When we are no longer deemed to be an emerging growth company, we will not be entitled to the exemptions provided in the JOBS Act discussed above. We cannot predict if investors will find our ordinary shares less attractive as a result of our reliance on exemptions under the JOBS Act. If some investors find our ordinary shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our ordinary shares and our share price may be more volatile.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act as well as rule changes proposed and enacted by the SEC and the NASDAQ Stock Market as a result of Sarbanes-Oxley, require the implementation of various measures relating to corporate governance. These measures are designed to enhance the integrity of corporate management and the securities markets and apply to securities which are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Because we are not presently required to comply with many of the corporate governance provisions and because we chose to avoid incurring the substantial additional costs associated with such compliance any sooner than necessary, we have not yet adopted all of these measures. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 20-F, we are not in compliance with requirements relating to the distribution of annual and interim reports, the holding of shareholders meetings and solicitation of proxies for such meeting and requirements for shareholder approval for certain corporate actions. Regardless of whether such compliance is required, the absence of such standards of corporate governance may leave our shareholders without protections against interested director transactions, conflicts of interest and similar matters and investors may be reluctant to provide us with funds necessary to expand our operations.

We may issue additional shares of our ordinary shares in the future in connection with a financing or an acquisition. The issuance of a substantial number of shares of ordinary shares could have the effect of substantially diluting the interests of our existing shareholders and any subsequent sales or resales by our shareholders could have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet the Nasdaq Capital Market's continued listing requirement or maintain other listing standards. If our ordinary shares are delisted by the Nasdaq Capital Market, and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect our securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, then we could face significant material adverse consequences, including: - less liquid trading market for our securities;- more limited market quotations for our securities;- determination that our ordinary shares and/or warrants are a "penny stock" that requires brokers to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;- more limited research coverage by stock analysts;- loss of reputation; and - more difficult and more expensive equity financings in the future. The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as "covered securities." If our ordinary shares remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, our ordinary shares will be covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. If our securities were no longer listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and therefore not "covered securities," we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.

We are incorporated under Israeli law. The rights and responsibilities of the holders of our ordinary shares are governed by our Articles of Association and Israeli law. These rights and responsibilities differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in typical U.S.-based corporations. In particular, a shareholder of an Israeli company has a duty to act in good faith toward the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing its power in the company, including, among other things, in voting at the general meeting of shareholders on matters such as amendments to a company's articles of association, increases in a company's authorized share capital, mergers and acquisitions and interested party transactions requiring shareholder approval. In addition, a shareholder who knows that it possesses the power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote or to appoint or prevent the appointment of a director or executive officer in the company has a duty of fairness toward the company. There is limited case law available to assist us in understanding the implications of these provisions that govern shareholders' actions. These provisions may be interpreted to impose additional obligations and liabilities on holders of our ordinary shares that are not typically imposed on shareholders of U.S. corporations.

We are a "foreign private issuer" and are not subject to the same requirements that are imposed upon U.S. domestic issuers by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Under the Exchange Act, we will be subject to reporting obligations that, in certain respects, are less detailed and less frequent than those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. For example, we will not be required to issue quarterly reports or proxy statements that comply with the requirements applicable to U.S. domestic reporting companies. Furthermore, although under regulations promulgated under Israel's Companies Law, 5759-1999, as amended, or Companies Law, as an Israeli public company listed overseas we will be required to disclose the compensation of our five most highly compensated officer holders on an individual basis (rather than on an aggregate basis), this disclosure will not be as extensive as that required of U.S. domestic reporting companies. We will also have four months after the end of each fiscal year to file our annual reports with the SEC and will not be required to file current reports as frequently or promptly as U.S. domestic reporting companies. Furthermore, our officers, directors and principal shareholders will be exempt from the requirements to report transactions and short-swing profit recovery required by Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Also, as a "foreign private issuer," we are not subject to the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated under the Exchange Act. These exemptions and leniencies will reduce the frequency and scope of information and protections available to you in comparison to those applicable to a U.S. domestic reporting companies. In addition, as a "foreign private issuer," we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of those otherwise required under the listing rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market for domestic U.S. issuers. For instance, we follow home country practice in Israel with regard to, among other things, board of directors independence requirements, director nomination procedures, compensation committee matters. In addition, we will follow our home country law instead of the listing rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market that require that we obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events, such as the establishment or amendment of certain equity based compensation plans, an issuance that will result in a change of control of us, certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of a 20% or greater interest in the company, and certain acquisitions of the stock or assets of another company. We may in the future elect to follow home country corporate governance practices in Israel with regard to other matters. Following our home country corporate governance practices as opposed to the requirements that would otherwise apply to a U.S. company listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market may provide less protection to you than what is accorded to investors under the listing rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market applicable to domestic U.S. issuers. We would lose our foreign private issuer status if a majority of our shares are owned by U.S. residents and a majority of our directors or executive officers are U.S. citizens or residents or we fail to meet additional requirements necessary to avoid loss of foreign private issuer status. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher.

Service of process upon us, since we are incorporated in Israel, and upon our directors and officers, who reside outside the U.S., may be difficult to obtain within the U.S. In addition, because substantially all of our assets and most of our directors and officers are located outside the U.S., any judgment obtained in the U.S. against us or any of our directors and officers may not be collectible within the U.S. There is a doubt as to the enforceability of civil liabilities under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act pursuant to original actions instituted in Israel. Subject to particular time limitations and provided certain conditions are met, executory judgments of a U.S. court for monetary damages in civil matters may be enforced by an Israeli court.

As a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel, we are subject to Israeli corporate law which requires approval by the Israeli Registrar of Companies, or the Registrar, for merger transactions, imposes specific thresholders and criteria for tender offer acquisitions of shares, requires special approvals for transactions involving directors, officers or significant shareholders, and regulates other matters that may be relevant to these types of transactions. For example, a merger may not be consummated unless at least 50 days have passed from the date that a merger proposal was filed by each merging company with the Registrar and at least 30 days from the date that the shareholders of both merging companies approved the merger. In addition, the holder of a majority of each class of securities of the target company must approve a merger. Moreover, a full tender offer can only be completed if the acquirer receives at least 95% of the issued share capital (provided that a majority of the offerees that do not have a personal interest in such tender offer shall have approved the tender offer, except that if the total votes to reject the tender offer represent less than 2% of the company's issued and outstanding share capital, in the aggregate, approval by a majority of the offerees that do not have a personal interest in such tender offer is not required to complete the tender offer), and 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, petition the court to alter the consideration for the acquisition (unless the acquirer stipulated in the tender offer that a shareholder that accepts the offer may not seek appraisal rights). Furthermore, Israeli tax considerations may make potential transactions unappealing to us or to those of our shareholders whose country of residence does not have a tax treaty with Israel exempting such shareholders from Israeli tax. For example, Israeli tax law does not recognize tax-free share exchanges to the same extent as U.S. tax law. With respect to mergers, Israeli tax law allows for tax deferral in certain circumstances but makes the deferral contingent on the fulfillment of numerous conditions, including a holding period of two years from the date of the transaction during which sales and dispositions of shares of the participating companies are restricted. Moreover, with respect to certain share swap transactions, the tax deferral is limited in time, and when such time expires, the tax becomes payable even if no actual disposition of the shares has occurred. These and other similar provisions could delay, prevent or impede an acquisition of us or our merger with another company, even if such an acquisition or merger would be beneficial to us or to our shareholders.