Novartis and Gamida Cell sign Option and Investment Agreements

Elbit Imaging Ltd. ("EI" or the "Company") (TASE, NASDAQ: EMITF) announced today that Elbit Medical Technologies Ltd. ("Elbit Medical") (TASE: EMTC-M), a subsidiary of the Company in which it holds approximately 86% of the voting power, announced that on August 18, 2014, Gamida Cell Ltd., in which Elbit Medical holds approximately 30.8% of the voting power ("Gamida Cell") and a vast majority of Gamida Cell's shareholders (including Elbit Medical), signed Option and Investment Agreements (the "Agreements") with Novartis Pharma AG (Novartis).

Under the Agreements, Novartis will invest $35 million in Gamida Cell in exchange for approximately 15% of Gamida Cell's share capital and an option to purchase the holdings of the other shareholders in Gamida Cell (the "Option").

The Option is exercisable, for a limited period of time, following Gamida Cell achieving certain milestones relating to the development of NiCord (the "Product"). Gamida Cell estimates that these milestones will be met during 2015. In any event, the Option, if not exercised, will expire in first half of 2016.

Upon exercising the Option, Novartis would pay other shareholders in Gamida Cell (the "Sellers") cash payments of approximately $165 million, in accordance with the terms of the Agreements. In addition, the Sellers will be entitled to potential future payments which can reach a total of $435 million, depending on certain development and regulatory milestones and on sales of Gamida Cell's products.

Gamida Cell is currently conducting two Phase I/II trials using the Product to treat patients suffering from hematologic malignancies and Sickle Cell Disease.

Following completion of the investment under the Agreements (and prior to the exercise of the Option) Elbit Medical will hold about 24.7% in Gamida Cell. Elbit Medical is evaluating the accounting implications of the Agreements on its financial statements.

Completion of the transaction is subject to closing conditions as specified in the Agreements.

At this point in time, there is no certainty that the investment will be completed and/or that Novartis will exercise the Option and/or that the milestones will be achieved and/or the Product or any other of Gamida Cell's products will reach the market and generate earn-out payments from their sales.