Exhibit 3.4
FORM NO. 2
BERMUDA
THE COMPANIES ACT 1981
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION OF
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
(Section 7(1) and (2))
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
TDS Investor (Bermuda) Ltd.
(hereinafter referred to as “the Company”)
1. The liability of the members of the Company is limited to the amount (if any) for the time being unpaid on the shares respectively held by them.
2. We, the undersigned, namely,
NAME |
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| BERMUDIAN |
| NATIONALITY |
| NUMBER OF |
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D.J. Doyle |
| Clarendon House 2 Church Street Hamilton HM II Bermuda |
| Yes |
| British |
| One |
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C.G. Garrad |
| “ |
| Yes |
| British |
| One |
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A.R. Guilfoyle |
| “ |
| No |
| British |
| One |
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do hereby respectively agree to take such number of shares of the Company as may be allotted to us respectively by the provisional directors of the Company, not exceeding the number of shares for which we have respectively subscribed, and to satisfy such calls as may be made by the directors, provisional directors or promoters of the Company in respect of the shares allotted to us respectively.
3. The Company is to be an exempted Company as defined by the Companies Act 1981.
4. The Company, with the consent of the Minister of Finance, has power to hold land situate in Bermuda not exceeding in all, including the following parcels:
N/A
5. The authorised share capital of the Company is US$12,000 divided into shares of US$1.00 each. The minimum subscribed share capital of the Company is US$12,000.
6. The objects for which the Company is formed and incorporated are -
(1) To acquire by purchase or otherwise, buy, own, hold, create, market, design, assemble, manufacture, repair, lease, hire, let, sell, dispose of (with or without consideration or benefit), maintain, improve, develop, manage, invent, build, construct, operate, package and otherwise trade, invest or deal in and with products, financial instruments, goods, and real and personal property of all kinds whatsoever and wheresoever situated, and enter into arrangements for or with respect to any of the foregoing;
(2) To perform, provide, procure, market and deal in services and undertakings of all kinds;
(3) To advise and act as consultants and managers of all kinds and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to provide investment and financial advice, consultation and management services;
(4) To research, create, develop, invent, improve, discover, design, collate and draft original works, software, inventions, designs, concepts, formulas, processes, strategies, methodologies and the like, and acquire, build, own, hold, sell, lease, license, dispose of (with or without consideration or benefit), market, franchise, and otherwise exploit and deal in or with all intellectual and intangible property rights pertaining thereto whether registered or not, including but not limited to trade and service marks, trade names, copyrights, computer software, inventions, designs, patents, provisional patents, utility models, trade secrets, confidential information, brow how, get-up and any other rights and privileges vesting in or attaching thereto;
(5) To explore for, drill for, mine for, quarry for, move, transport, and refine metals, minerals, fossil fuel, petroleum, hydrocarbon products including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, oil and oil products, and precious stones of all kinds and to prepare the same for sale or use;
(6) To enter into any guarantee, contract of indemnity or suretyship and to assure, support or secure with or without consideration or benefit the performance of any obligations of any
person or persons and to guarantee the fidelity of individuals filling or about to fill situations of trust or confidence;
(7) To own, manage, operate, act as agents with respect to, build, repair, acquire, own, sell, charter, or deal in ships and aircraft;
(8) To lend to or deposit with any person funds, property or assets and to provide collateral or credit enhancement for loans, leasing or other forms of financing, with or without consideration or benefit;
(9) To create, enter into, undertake, procure, arrange for, acquire by purchase or otherwise, buy, own, hold, sell or otherwise dispose of (with or without consideration or benefit), trade, invest and or otherwise deal in, whether on a speculative basis or otherwise, all and or any kind of (including without limitation all and or any combinations of and all and or any rights or interests under) instrument, agreement, contract, covenant and undertaking, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, derivative instrument, agreement or contract, option, swap option contract, bond, warrant, debenture, equity, forward exchange contract, forward rate contract, future, hedge, security, note, certificate of deposit, unit, guarantee and or financial instrument; and
(10) To carry on any trade or business which can, in the opinion of the board of directors, be advantageously carried on by the Company.
7. Powers of the Company
1, The Company shall, pursuant to Section 42 of the Companies Act 1981, have the power to issue preference shares which are, at the option of the holder, liable to be redeemed.
2. The Company shall, pursuant to Section 42A of the Companies Act 1981, have the power to purchase its own shares.
Signed by each subscriber in the presence of at least one witness attesting the signature thereof
/s/ Authorized Signatory |
| /s/ Rosane S. Viera |
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/s/ Authorized Signatory |
| /s/ Rosane S. Viera |
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/s/ Authorized Signatory |
| /s/ Rosane S. Viera |
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(Subscribers) |
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SUBSCRIBED this July 12th 2006.
THE COMPANIES ACT 1981
FIRST SCHEDULE
A company limited by shares, or other company having a share capital, may exercise all or any of the following powers subject to any provision of the law or its memorandum:
1. [Deleted]
2. to acquire or undertake the whole or any part of the business, property and liabilities of any person carrying on any business that the company is authorised to carry on;
3. to apply for register, purchase, lease, acquire, hold, use, control, licence, sell, assign or dispose of patents, patent rights, copyrights, trade makers, formulae, licences, inventions, processes, distinctive makers and similar rights;
4. to enter into partnership or into any arrangement for sharing of profits, union of interests, co-operation, joint venture, reciprocal concession or otherwise with any person carrying on or engaged in or about to carry on or engage in any business or transaction that the company is authorised to carry on or engage in or any business or transaction capable of being conducted so as to benefit the company;
5. to take or otherwise acquire and hold securities in any other body corporate having objects altogether or in part similar to those of the company or carrying on any business capable of being conducted so as to benefit the company;
6. subject to section 96 to lend money to any employee or to any person having dealings with the company or with whom the company proposes to have dealings or to any other body - corporate any of those shares are held by the company;
7. to apply for, secure or acquire by grant, legislative enactment, assignment, transfer, purchase or otherwise and to exercise, carry out and enjoy any charter, licence, power, authority, franchise, concession, right or privilege, that any government or authority or any body corporation or other public body may be empowered to grant, and to pay for, aid in and contribute toward carrying it into effect and to assume any liabilities or obligations incident& thereto;
8. to establish and support or aid in the establishment and support of associations, institutions, funds or trusts for the benefit of employees or former employees of the company or its predecessors, or the dependants or connections of such employees or former employees, and grant pensions and allowances, and make payments towards insurance or for any object similar to those set forth in this paragraph, and to subscribe or guarantee money for charitable, benevolent, educational and religious objects or for any exhibition or for any public, general or useful objects;
9. to promote any company for the purpose of acquiring or taking over any of the property and liabilities of the company or for any other purpose that may benefit the company;
10. to purchase, lease, take in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any personal property and any rights or privileges that the company considers necessary or convenient for the purposes of its business;
11. to construct, maintain, alter, renovate and demolish any buildings or works necessary or convenient for its objects;
12. to take land in Bermuda by way of lease or leasing agreement for a term not exceeding fifty years, being land “bona fide’ required for the purposes of the business of the company and with the consent of the Minister granted in his discretion to take land in Bermuda by way of lease or leasing agreement for a term not exceeding twenty-one years in order to provide accommodation or recreational facilities for its officers and employees and when no longer necessary for any of the above purposes to terminate or transfer the lease or letting agreement;
13. except to the extent, if any, as may be otherwise expressly provided in its incorporating Act or memorandum and subject to the provisions of this Act every company shall have power to invest the moneys of the Company by way of mortgage of real or personal property of every description in Bermuda or elsewhere and to sell, exchange, vary, or dispose of such mortgage as the company shall from time to time determine;
14. to construct, improve, maintain, ‘work, manage, carry out or control any roads, ways, tramways, branches or sidings, bridges, reservoirs, watercourses, wharves, factories, warehouses, electric works, shops, stores and other works and conveniences that may advance the interests of the company and contribute to, subsidise or otherwise assist or take part in the construction, improvement, maintenance, working, management, carrying out or control thereof;
15. to raise and assist in raising money for, and aid byway of bonus, loan, promise, endorsement, guarantee or otherwise, any person and guarantee the performance or fulfilment of any contracts or obligations of any person, and in particular guarantee the payment of the principal of and interest on the debt obligations of any such person;
16. to borrow or raise or secure the payment of money in such manner as the company may think fit;
17. to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue bills of exchange, promissory notes, bills of lading, warrants and other negotiable or transferable instruments;
18. when properly authorised to do so, to sell, lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of the undertaking of the company or any part thereof as an entirety or substantially as an entirety for such consideration as the company thinks fit;
19. to sell, improve, manage, develop, exchange, lease, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with the property of the company in the ordinary course of its business;
20. to adopt such means of making known the products of the company as may seem expedient, and in particular by advertising, by purchase and exhibition of works of art or interest, by publication of books and periodicals and by granting prizes and rewards and making donations;
21. to cause the company to be registered and recognised in any foreign jurisdiction, and designate persons therein according to the laws of that foreign jurisdiction or to represent the company and to accept service for and on behalf of the company of any process or suit;
22. to allot and issue fully-paid shares of the company in payment or part payment of any property purchase or otherwise acquired by the company or for any past services performed for the company;
23. to distribute among the members of the company in cash, kind, specie or otherwise as may be resolved, by way of dividend, bonus or in any other manner considered advisable, any property of the company, but not so as to decrease the capital of the company unless the distribution is made for the purpose of enabling the company to be dissolved or the distribution, apart from this paragraph, would be otherwise lawful;
24. to establish agencies and branches;
25. to take or hold mortgages, hypothecs, liens and charges to secure payment of the purchase price, or of any unpaid balance of the purchase price, of any part of the property of the company of whatsoever kind sold by the company, or for any money due to the company from purchasers and others and to sell or otherwise dispose of any such mortgage, hypothec, lien or charge;
26. to pay all costs and expenses of or incidental to the incorporation and organisation of the company;
27. to invest and deaf with the moneys of the company not immediately required for the objects of the company in such manner as may be determined;
28. to do any of the things authorised by this subsection and all things authorised by its memorandum as principals, agents, contractors, trustees or otherwise, and either alone or in conjunction with others;
29. to do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects and the exercise of the powers of the company.
Every company may exercise its powers beyond the boundaries of Bermuda to the extent to which the laws in force where the powers are sought to be exercised permit.
BYE-LAWS
of
TDS Investor (Bermuda) Ltd.
| /s/ T.W. Tucker Hall |
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| Name: T.W. Tucker Hall |
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| Title: Secretary |
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ADOPTED: 13th July, 2006.
BYE-LAWS
of
TDS Investor (Bermuda) Ltd.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTERPRETATION
1. Definitions
SHARES
2. Power to Issue Shares
3. Power of the Company to Purchase its Shares
4. Rights Attaching to Shares
5. Calls on Shares
6. Prohibition on Financial Assistance
7. Forfeiture of Shares
8. Share Certificates
9. Fractional Shares
REGISTRATION OF SHARES
10. Register of Members
11. Registered Holder Absolute Owner
12. Transfer of Registered Shares
13. Transmission of Registered Shares
ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL
14. Power to Alter Capital
15. Variation of Rights Attaching to Shares
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITALISATION
16. Dividends
17. Power to Set Aside Profits
18. Method of Payment
19. Capitalisation
MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
20. Annual General Meetings
21. Special General Meetings
22. Requisitioned General Meetings
23. Notice
24. Giving Notice
25. Postponement of General Meeting
26. Participating in Meetings by Telephone
27. Quorum at General Meetings
28. Chairman to Preside
29. Voting on Resolutions
30. Power to Demand a Vote on a Poll
31. Voting by Joint Holders of Shares
32. Instrument of Proxy
33. Representation of Corporate Member
34. Adjournment of General Meeting
35. Written Resolutions
36. Directors Attendance at General Meetings
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
37. Election of Directors
38. Number of Directors
39. Term of Office of Directors
40. Alternate Directors
41. Removal of Directors
42. Vacancy in the Office of Director
43. Remuneration of Directors
44. Defect in Appointment of Director
45. Directors to Manage Business
46. Powers of the Board of Directors The Board may:
47. Register of Directors and Officers
48. Officers
49. Appointment of Officers
50. Duties of Officers
51. Remuneration of Officers
52. Conflicts of Interest
53. Indemnification and Exculpation of Directors and Officers
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
54. Board Meetings
55. Notice of Board Meetings
56. Participation in Meetings by Telephone
57. Quorum at Board Meetings
58. Board to Continue in the Event of Vacancy
59. Chairman to Preside
60. Written Resolutions
61. Validity of Prior Acts of the Board
CORPORATE RECORDS
62. Minutes
63. Place Where Corporate Records Kept
64. Farm and Use of Seal
ACCOUNTS
65. Books of Account
66. Financial Year End
AUDITS
67. Annual Audit
68. Appointment of Auditor
69. Remuneration of Auditor
70. Duties of Auditor
71. Access to Records
72. Financial Statements
73. Distribution of Auditor’s Report
74. Vacancy in the Office of Auditor
VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP AND DISSOLUTION
75. Winding-Up
CHANGES TO CONSTITUTION
76. Changes to Bye-laws
77. Changes to the Memorandum of Association
78. Discontinuance
INTERPRETATION
1. Definitions
1.1 In these Bye-laws, the following words and expressions shall, where not inconsistent with the context, have the following meanings, respectively:
Act | the Companies Act 1981 as amended from time to time; |
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Alternate Director | an alternate director appointed in accordance with these Bye-laws; |
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Auditor | includes an individual or partnership; |
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Board | the board of directors appointed or elected pursuant to these Bye-laws and acting by resolution in accordance with the Act and these Bye-laws or the directors present at a meeting of directors at which there is a quorum; |
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Company | the company for which these Bye-laws are approved and confirmed; |
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Director | a director of the Company and shall include an Alternate Director; |
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Member | the person registered in the Register of Members as the holder of shares in the Company and, when two or more persons are so registered as joint holders of shares, means the person whose name stands first in the Register of Members as one of such joint holders or all of such persons, as the context so requires; |
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notice | written notice as further provided in these Bye-laws unless otherwise specifically stated; |
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Officer | any person appointed by the Board to hold an office in the Company; |
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Register of Directors |
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and Officers | the register of directors and officers referred to in these Bye-laws; |
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Register of Members | the register of members referred to in these Bye-laws; |
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Resident Representative | any person appointed to act as resident representative and includes any deputy or assistant resident representative; and |
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Secretary | the person appointed to perform any or all of the duties of secretary of the Company and includes any deputy or |
| assistant secretary and any person appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties of the Secretary. |
1.2 In these Bye-laws, where not inconsistent with the context,
(a) words denoting the plural number include the singular number and vice versa;
(b) words denoting the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter genders;
(c) words importing persons include companies, associations or bodies of persons whether corporate or not;
(d) the words:
(i) “may” shall be construed as permissive; and
(ii) “shall” shall be construed as imperative; and
(e) unless otherwise provided herein, words or expressions defined in the Act shall bear the same meaning in these Bye-laws.
1.3 In these Bye-laws expressions referring to writing or its cognates shall, unless the contrary intention appears, include facsimile. printing, lithography, photography, electronic mail and other modes of representing words in visible form.
1.4 Headings used in these Bye-laws are for convenience only and are not to be used or relied upon in the construction hereof,
SHARES
2. Power to Issue Shares
2.1 Subject to these Bye-laws and to any resolution of the Members to the contrary, and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any existing shares or class of shares, the Board shall have the power to issue any unissued shares of the Company on such terms and conditions as it may determine and any shares or class of shares may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital, or otherwise as the Company may by resolution of the Members prescribe.
2.2 Subject to the provisions of the Act, any preference shares may be issued or converted into shares that (at a determinable date or at the option of the Company or the holder) are liable to be redeemed on such terms and in such manner as may be determined by the Board (before the issue or conversion).
3. Power of the Company to Purchase its Shares
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The Company may purchase its own shares in accordance with the provisions of the Act on such terms as the Board shall think fit. The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase all or any part of its own shares in accordance with the Act.
4. Rights Attaching to Shares
Subject to any resolution of the Members to the contrary (and without prejudice to any special rights conferred thereby on the holders of any other shares or class of shares), the share capital of the Company shall be divided into shares of a single class the holders of which shall, subject to the provisions of these Bye-laws:
(a) be entitled to one vote per share;
(b) be entitled to such dividends as the Board may from time to time declare;
(c) in the event of a winding-up or dissolution of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or for the purpose of a reorganisation or otherwise or upon any distribution of capital, be entitled to the surplus assets of the Company; and
(d) generally be entitled to enjoy all of the rights attaching to shares.
5. Calls on Shares
5.1 The Board may make such calls as it thinks fit upon the Members in respect of any monies (whether in respect of nominal value or premium) unpaid on the shares allotted to or held by such Members and, if a call is not paid on or before the day appointed for payment thereof, the Member may at the discretion of the Board be liable to pay the Company interest on the amount of such call at such rate as the Board may determine, from the date when such call was payable up to the actual date of payment. The Board may differentiate between the holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment of such calls.
5.2 The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.
5.3 The Company may accept from any Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on any shares held by him, although no part of that amount has been called up,
6. Prohibition on Financial Assistance
The Company shall not give, whether directly or indirectly, whether by means of loan, guarantee, provision of security or otherwise, any financial assistance for the purpose of the acquisition or proposed acquisition by any person of any shares in the Company, but nothing in this Bye-law shall prohibit transactions permitted under the Act.
7. Forfeiture of Shares
7.1 If any Member fails to pay, on the day appointed for payment thereof, any call in respect of any share allotted to or held by such Member, the Board may, at any time thereafter during such time
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as the call remains unpaid, direct the Secretary to forward such Member a notice in writing in the form, or as near thereto as circumstances admit, of the following:
Notice of Liability to Forfeiture for Non-Payment of Call
• (the “Company”)
You have failed to pay the call of [amount of call] made on the [ ] day of [ ], 200[ 3, in respect of the [number] share(s) [number in figures] standing in your name in the Register of Members of the Company, on the [ ] day of [ ], 209[ ], the day appointed for payment of such call. You are hereby notified that unless you pay such call together with interest thereon at the rate of [ ] per annum computed from the said [ ] day of j ], 200[ j at the registered office of the Company the share(s) will he liable to be forfeited.
Dated this [ ] day of [ ], 200[ ]
[Signature of Secretary] By Order of the Board
7.2 If the requirements of such notice are not complied with, any such share may at any time thereafter before the payment of such call and the interest due in respect thereof be forfeited by a resolution of the Board to that effect, and such share shall thereupon become the property of the Company and may be disposed of as the Board shall determine. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the disposal may take place by sale, repurchase, redemption or any other method of disposal permitted by and consistent with these Bye-laws and the Act.
7.3 A Member whose share or shares have been forfeited as aforesaid shall, notwithstanding such forfeiture, he liable to pay to the Company all calls owing on such share or shares at the time of the forfeiture and all interest due thereon.
7.4 The Board may accept the surrender of any shares which it is in a position to forfeit on such terms and conditions as may be agreed. Subject to those terms and conditions, a surrendered share shall be treated as if it had been forfeited.
8. Share Certificates
8.1 Every Member shall be entitled to a certificate under the seal of the Company (or a facsimile thereof) specifying the number and, where appropriate, the class of shares held by such Member and whether the same are fully paid up and, if not, specifying the amount paid on such shares. The Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in a particular case, that any or all signatures on certificates may be printed thereon or affixed by mechanical means.
8.2 The Company shall be under no obligation to complete and deliver a share certificate unless specifically called upon to do so by the person to whom the shares have been allotted.
8.3 If any share certificate shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Board to have been worn out, lost, mislaid, or destroyed the Board may cause a new certificate to be issued and request an indemnity for the lost certificate if it sees fit.
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9. Fractional Shares
The Company may issue its shares in fractional denominations and deal with such fractions to the same extent as its whole shares and shares in fractional denominations shall have in proportion to the respective fractions represented thereby all of the rights of whole shares including (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing) the right to vote, to receive dividends and distributions and to participate in a winding-up.
REGISTRATION OF SHARES
10. Register of Members
10.1 The Board shall cause to be kept in one or more books a Register of Members and shall enter therein the particulars required by the Act.
10.2 The Register of Members shall be open to inspection at the registered office of the Company on every business day, subject to such reasonable restrictions as the Board may impose, so that not less than two hours in each business day be allowed for inspection. The Register of Members may, after notice has been given in accordance with the Act, be closed for any time or times not exceeding in the whole thirty days in each year.
11. Registered Holder Absolute Owner
The Company shall be entitled to treat the registered holder of any share as the absolute owner thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognise any equitable claim or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the part of any other person.
12. Transfer of Registered Shares
12.1 An instrument of transfer shall be in writing in the form of the following, or as near thereto as circumstances admit, or in such other form as the Board may accept;
Transfer of a Share or Shares
• (the “Company”)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED [amount], I, [name of transferor] hereby sell, assign and transfer unto [transferee] of [address), [number] of shares of the Company.
DATED this [ ] day of [ ], 200[ ]
Signed by: |
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Transferor |
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Transferee |
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12.2 Such instrument of transfer shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and transferee, provided that, in the case of a fully paid share, the Board may accept the instrument signed by or on behalf of the transferor alone. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of such share until the same has been transferred to the transferee in the Register of Members.
12.3 The Board may refuse to recognise any instrument of transfer unless it is accompanied by the certificate in respect of the shares to which it relates and by such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer.
12.4 The joint holders of any share may transfer such shame to one or more of such joint holders, and the surviving holder or holders of any share previously held by them jointly with a deceased Member may transfer any such share to the executors or administrators of such deceased Member.
12.5 The Board may in its absolute discretion and without assigning any reason therefor refuse to register the transfer of a share. The Board shall refuse to register a transfer unless all applicable consents, authorisations and permissions of any governmental body or agency in Bermuda have been obtained. If the Board refuses to register a transfer of any share the Secretary shall, within three months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company, send to the transferor and transferee notice of the refusal.
13. Transmission of Registered Shares
13.1 In the case of the death of a Member, the survivor or survivors where the deceased Member was a joint holder, and the legal personal representatives of the deceased Member where the deceased Member was a sole holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Member’s interest in the shares. Nothing herein contained shall release the estate of a deceased joint holder from any liability in respect of any share which had been jointly held by such deceased Member with other persons. Subject to the provisions of the Act, for the purpose of this Bye-law, legal personal representative means the executor or administrator of a deceased Member or such other person as the Board may, in its absolute discretion, decide as being properly authorised to deal with the shares of a deceased Member.
13.2 Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of any Member may be registered as a Member upon such evidence as the Board may deem sufficient or may elect to nominate some person to be registered as a transferee of such share, and in such case the person becoming entitled shall execute in favour of such nominee an instrument of transfer in writing in the form, or as near thereto as circumstances admit, of the following:
Transfer by a Person Becoming Entitled an Death/Bankruptcy of a Member
s (the “Company’)
I/We, having become entitled in consequence of the [death/bankruptcy] of [name and address of deceased/bankrupt Member) to [number] share(s) standing in the Register of Members of the Company in the name of the said [name of deceased/bankrupt Member] instead of being registered myselt7ourselves, elect to have [name of transferee] (the “Transferee”) registered as a transferee of such share(s) and I/we do hereby accordingly transfer the said share(s) to the Transferee to hold the same unto the Transferee, his or her executors, administrators axed assigns, subject to the conditions on which the same were held at the time of the execution hereof; and the Transferee does hereby agree to take the said share(s) subject to the same conditions.
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DATED this [ ] day of [ ], 200[ ]
Signed by: |
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Transferee |
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13.3 On the presentation of the foregoing materials to the Board, accompanied by such evidence as the Board may require to prove the title of the transferor, the transferee shall be registered as a Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall, in any case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as it would have had in the case of a transfer’ of the share by that Member before such Member’s death or bankruptcy, as the case may be.
13.4 Where two or more persons are registered as joint holders of a share or shares, then in the event of the death of any joint bolder or holders the remaining joint holder or holders shall be absolutely entitled to the said share or shares and the Company shall recognise no claim in respect of the estate of any joint holder except in the case of the last survivor of such joint holders.
ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL
14. Power to Alter Capital
14.1 The company may if authorised by resolution of the Members increase, divide, consolidate, subdivide, change the currency denomination of, diminish or otherwise alter or reduce its share capital in any manner permitted by the Act.
14.2 Where, on any alteration or reduction of share capital, fractions of shares or some other difficulty would arise, the Board may deal with or resolve the same in such manner as it thinks fit.
15. Variation of Rights Attaching to Shares
If at any time, the share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound-up, be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of the class at which meeting the necessary quorum shall be two persons at least holding or representing by proxy one-third of the issued shares of the class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of airy class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith.
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DIVIDENDS AND CAPITALISATION
16. Dividends
16.1 The Board may, subject to these Bye-laws and in accordance with the Act, declare a dividend to be paid to the Members, in proportion to the number of shares held by them, and such dividend may be paid in cash or wholly or partly in specie in which case the Board may fix the value for distribution in, specie of any assets. No unpaid dividend shall bear interest as against the Company.
16.2 The Board may fix any date as the record date for determining the Members entitled to receive any dividend.
16.3 The Company may pay dividends in proportion to the amount paid up on each share where a larger amount is paid up on some shares that on others.
16.4 The Board may declare and make such other distributions (in cash or in specie) to the Members as may be lawfully made out of the assets of the Company. No unpaid distribution shall bear interest as against the Company.
17. Power to Set Aside Profits
The Board may, before declaring a dividend, set aside out of the surplus or profits of the Company, such sum as it thinks proper as a reserve to be used to meet contingencies or for equalising dividends or for any other purpose.
18. Method of Payment
18.1 Any dividend, interest, or other monies payable in cash in respect of the shares may be paid by cheque or draft sent through the post directed to the Member at such Member’s address in the Register of Members, or to such person and to such address as the holder may in writing direct.
18.2 In the case of joint holders of shares, any dividend, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of shares may be paid by cheque or draft sent through the post directed to the address of the holder first named in the Register of Members, or to such person and to such address as the joint holders may in writing direct. If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any shares any one can give an effectual receipt for any dividend paid in respect of such shares.
18.3 The Board may deduct from the dividends or distributions payable to any Member all monies due from such Member to the Company on account of calls or otherwise.
19. Capitalisation
19.1 The Board may resolve to capitalise any sum for the time being standing to the credit of any of the Company’s share premium or other reserve accounts or to the credit of the profit and loss
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account or otherwise available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up unissued shares to be allotted as fully paid bonus shares pro rate to the Members.
19.2 The Board may resolve to capitalise any sum for the time being standing to the credit of a reserve account or sums otherwise available for dividend or distribution by applying such amounts in paying up in full partly paid or nil paid shares of those Members who would have been entitled to such sums if they were distributed by way of dividend or distribution,
MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
20. Annual General Meetings
The annual general meeting of the Company shall be held in each year (other than the year of incorporation) at such time and place as the President or the Chairman or any two Directors or any Director and the Secretary or the Board shall appoint,
21. Special General Meetings
The President or the Chairman or any two Directors or any Director and the Secretary or the Board may convene a special general meeting of the Company whenever in their judgment such a meeting is necessary.
22. Requisitioned General Meetings
The Board shall, on the requisition. of Members holding at the date of the deposit of the requisition not less than one-tenth of such of the paid-up share capital of the Company as at the date of the deposit carries the right to vote at genera’ meetings of the Company, forthwith proceed to convene a special general meeting of the Company and the provisions of the Act shall apply.
23. Notice
23.1 At least five days’ notice of an annual general meeting shall be given to each Member entitled to attend and vote thereat, stating the date, place and time at which the meeting is to be held, that the election of Directors will take place thereat, and as far as practicable, the other business to be conducted at the meeting.
23.2 At least five days’ notice of a special general meeting shall be given to each Member entitled to attend and vote thereat, stating the date, time, place and the general nature of the business to be considered at the meeting.
23.3 The Board may fix any date as the record date for determining the Members entitled to receive notice of and to vote at any general meeting of the Company.
23.4 A general meeting of the Company shall, notwithstanding that it is called on shorter notice than that specified in these Bye-laws, be deemed to have been properly called if it is so agreed by (i) all the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat in the case of an annual general meeting; and (ii) by a majority in number of the Members having the right to attend and vote at the meeting,
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being a majority together holding not less than 95% in nominal value of the shares giving a right to attend and vote thereat in the case of a special general meeting.
23.5 The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non-receipt of a notice of a general meeting by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
24. Giving Notice
24.1 A notice may be given by the Company to any Member either by delivering it to such Member in person or by sending it to such Member’s address in the Register of Members or to such other address given for the purpose. For the purposes of this Bye-law, a notice may be sent by letter mail, courier service, cable, telex, telecopier, facsimile, electronic mail or other mode of representing words in a legible form,
24.2 Any notice required to be given to a Member shall, with respect to any shares held jointly by two or more persons, be given to whichever of such persons is named first in the Register of Members and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the holders of such shares.
24.3 Any notice shall be deemed to have been served at the time when the same would be delivered in the ordinary course of transmission and, in proving such service, it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice was properly addressed and prepaid, if posted, and the time when it was posted, delivered to the courier or to the cable company or transmitted by telex, facsimile, electronic mail, or such other method as the case may be.
25. Postponement of General Meeting
The Secretary may postpone any general meeting called in accordance with the provisions of these Bye-laws (other than a meeting requisitioned under these Bye-laws) provided that notice of postponement is given to each Member before the time for such meeting. Fresh notice of the date, time and place for the postponed meeting shall be given to each Member in accordance with the provisions of these Bye-laws.
26. Participating in Meetings by Telephone
Members may participate in any general meeting by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
27. Quorum at General Meetings
27.1 At any general meeting of the Company two or more persons present in person and representing in person or by proxy in excess of 50% of the total issued voting shares in the Company throughout the meeting shall ferns a quorum for the transaction of business, provided that if the Company shall at any time have only one Member, one Member present in person or by proxy shall form a quorum for the transaction of business at any general meeting of the Company held during such time.
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27.2 If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, then, in the case of a meeting convened on a requisition, the meeting shall be deemed cancelled and, in any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day one week later, at the same time and place or to such other day, time or place as the Secretary may determine. If the meeting shall be adjourned to the same day one week later or the Secretary shall determine that the meeting is adjourned to a specific date, time and plane, it is not necessary to give notice of the adjourned meeting other than by announcement at the meeting being adjourned. If the Secretary shall determine that the meeting be adjourned to an unspecified date, time or place, fresh notice of the resumption of the meeting shall be given to each Member entitled to attend and vote thereat in accordance with the provisions of these Bye-laws.
28. Chairman to Preside
Unless otherwise agreed by a majority of those attending and entitled to vote thereat, the Chairman, if there be one, and if not the President, shall act as chairman at all meetings of the Members at which such person is present. In their absence, the Deputy Chairman or Vice President, if present, shall act as chairman and in the absence of all of them a chairman shall be appointed or elected by those present at the meeting and entitled to vote.
29. Voting on Resolutions
29.1 Subject to the provisions of the Act and these Bye-laws, any question proposed for the consideration of the Members at any general meeting shall be decided by the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast in accordance with the provisions of these Bye-laws and in the case of an equality of votes the resolution shall fail.
29.2 No Member shall be entitled to vote at a general meeting unless such Member has paid all the calls on all shares held by such Member.
29.3 At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall, in the first instance, be voted upon by a show of hands and, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being lawfully attached to any class of shares and subject to the provisions of these Bye-laws, every Member present in person and every person holding a valid proxy at such meeting shall be entitled to one vote and shall cast such vote by raising his or her hand.
29.4 At any general meeting if an amendment shall be proposed to any resolution under consideration and the chairman of the meeting shall rule on whether the proposed amendment is out of order, the proceedings on the substantive resolution shall not be invalidated by any error in such ruling.
29.5 At any general meeting a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a question proposed for consideration has, on a show of hands, been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in a book containing the minutes of the proceedings of the Company shall, subject to the provisions of these Bye-laws, be conclusive evidence of that fact.
30. Power to Demand a Vote on a Poll
30.1 Notwithstanding the foregoing, a poll may be demanded by any of the following persons:
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(a) the chairman of such meeting; or
(b) at least three Members present in person or represented by proxy; or
(c) any Member or Members present in person or represented by proxy and holding between them not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the Members having the right to vote at such meeting; or
(d) any Member or Members present in person or represented by proxy holding shares in the Company conferring the right to vote at such meeting, being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one tenth of the total sum paid up on all such shaves conferring such right.
30.2 Where a poll is demanded, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being lawfully attached to any class of shares, every person present at such meeting shall have one vote for each share of which such person is the holder or for which such person holds a proxy and such vote shall be counted by ballot as described herein; or in the case of a general meeting at which one or more Members are present by telephone, in such manner as the chairman of the meeting may direct and the result of such poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded and shall replace any previous resolution upon the same matter which has been the subject of a show of hands. A person entitled to more than one vote need not use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.
30.3 A poll demanded for the purpose of electing a chairman of the meeting or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith and a poll demanded on any other question shall be taken in such manner and at such time and place at such meeting as the chairman (or acting chairman) of the meeting may direct and any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded may be proceeded with pending the taking of the poll,
30.4 Where a vote is taken by poll, each person present and entitled to vote shall be furnished with a ballot paper on which such person shall record his vote in such manner as shall be determined at the meeting having regard to the nature of the question on which the vote is taken, and each ballot paper shall be signed or initialed or otherwise marked so as to identify the voter and the registered holder in the case of a proxy. At the conclusion of the poll, the ballot papers shall be examined and counted by a committee of not less than two Members or proxy holders appointed by the chairman for the purpose and the result of the poll shall be declared by the chairman.
31. Voting by Joint Holders of Shares
In the case of joint holders, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote (whether in person or by proxy) shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register of Members.
32. Instrument of Proxy
32.1 An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing or transmitted by electronic mail in substantially the following form or such other form as the chairman of the meeting shall accept:
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Proxy
• (the “Company”)
I/We, [insert names here], being a Member of the Company with [Number] shares, HEREBY APPOINT Inane] of [address] or failing him, [name] of [address] to be my/our proxy to vote for metes at the meeting of the Members to be held on the [ ] day of [ ], 200[ ] and at any adjournment thereof. (Any restrictions on eating to be inserted here.)
Signed this [ ] day of [ ], 200[ ]
|
|
Member(s) |
32.2 The instrument of proxy shall be signed or, in the case of a transmission by electronic mail, electronically signed in a manner acceptable to the chairman, by the appointor or by the appointor’s attorney duly authorised in writing, or if the appointor is a corporation, either under its seal or signed or, in the case of a transmission by electronic mail, electronically signed in a manner acceptable to the chairman, by a duly authorised officer or attorney.
32.3 A Member who is the holder of two or more shares may appoint more than one proxy to represent him and vote on his behalf.
32.4 The decision of’ the chairman of any general meeting as to the validity of any appointment of a proxy shall be final.
33. Representation of Corporate Member
33.1 A corporation which is a Member may, by written instrument, authorise such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Members and any person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which such person represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member, and that Member shall be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting attended by its authorised representative or representatives.
33.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the chairman of the meeting may accept such assurances as he thinks fit as to the right of any person to attend and vote at general meetings on behalf of a corporation which is a Member,
34. Adjournment of General Meeting
The chairman of a general meeting may, with the consent of the Members at any general meeting at which a quorum is present, and shall if so directed, adjourn the meeting. Unless the meeting is adjourned to a specific date, place and time announced at the meeting being adjourned, fresh notice of the date, place and time for the resumption of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Member entitled to attend and vote thereat in accordance with the provisions of these Bye-laws.
35. Written Resolutions
35.1 Subject to the following, anything which may be done by resolution of the Company in general meeting or by resolution of a meeting of any class of the Members may, without a meeting and without any previous notice being required, be done by resolution in writing signed by, or in the
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case of a Member that is a corporation whether or not a company within the meaning of the Act, on behalf of, all the Members who at the date of the resolution would be entitled to attend the meeting and vote on the resolution.
35.2 A resolution in writing may be signed by, or in the case of a Member that is a corporation whether or not a company within the meaning of the Act, on behalf of, all the Members, or all the Members of the relevant class thereof, in as many counterparts as may be necessary,
35.3 A resolution in writing made in accordance with this Bye-law is as valid as if it had been passed by the Company in general meeting or by a meeting of the relevant class of Members, as the case may be, and any reference in any Bye-law to a meeting at which a resolution is passed or to Members voting in favour of a resolution shall be construed accordingly.
35.4 A resolution in writing made in accordance with this Bye-law shall constitute minutes for the purposes of the Act.
35.5 This Bye-law shall not apply to:
(a) a resolution passed to remove an auditor from office before the expiration of his term of office; or
(b) a resolution passed for the purpose of removing a Director before the expiration of his term of office.
35.6 For the purposes of this Bye-law, the date of the resolution is the date when the resolution is signed by, or in the case of a Member that is a corporation whether or not a company within the meaning of the Act, on behalf of, the last Member to sign and any reference in any Bye-law to the date of passing of a resolution is, in relation to a resolution made in accordance with this Bye-law, a reference to such date.
36. Directors Attendance at General Meetings
The Directors of the Company shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and be heard at any general meeting.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
37. Election of Directors
37.1 The Board of Directors shall be elected or appointed in the first place at the statutory meeting of the Company and thereafter, except in the case of a casual vacancy, at the annual general meeting or at any special general meeting called for that purpose.
37.2 At any general meeting the Members may authorise the Board to fill any vacancy in their number left unfilled at a general meeting.
38. Number of Directors
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The Board shall consist of not less than two Directors or such number in excess thereof as the Members may determine.
39. Term of Office of Directors
Directors shall hold office for such term as the Members may determine or, in the absence of such determination, until the next annual general meeting or until their successors are elected or appointed or their office is otherwise vacated.
40. Alternate Directors
40.1 At any general meeting of the Company, the Members may elect a person or persons to act as a Director in the alternative to any one or more Directors of the Company or may authorise the Board to appoint such Alternate Directors.
40.2 Unless the Members otherwise resolve, any Director may appoint a person or persons to act as a Director in the alternative to himself by notice in writing deposited with the Secretary. Any person so elected or appointed shall have all the rights and powers of the Director or Directors for whom such person is appointed in the alternative provided that such person shall not be counted more than once in determining whether or not a quorum is present.
40.3 An Alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of the Board and to attend and vote at any such meeting at which a Director for whom such Alternate Director was appointed in the alternative is not personally present and generally to perform at such meeting all the functions of such Director for whom such Alternate Director was appointed.
40.4 An Alternate Director shall cease to he such if the Director for whom such Alternate Director was appointed ceases for any reason to be a Director but may be re-appointed by the Board as an alternate to the person appointed to fill the vacancy in accordance with these Bye-laws.
41. Removal of Directors
41.1 Subject to any provision to the contrary in these Bye-laws, the Members entitled to vote for the election of Directors may, at any special general meeting convened and held in accordance with these Bye-laws, remove a Director provided that the notice of any such meeting convened for the purpose of removing a Director shall contain a statement of the intention so to do and be served on such Director not less than I4 days before the meeting and at such meeting the Director shall be entitled to be heard on the motion for such Director’s removal.
41.2 If a Director is removed from the Board under the provisions of this Bye-law the Members may fill the vacancy at the Meeting at which such Director is removed. In the absence of such election or appointment, the Board may fill the vacancy.
42. Vacancy in the Office of Director
42.1 The office of Director shall be vacated if the Director:
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(a) is removed from office pursuant to these Bye-laws or is prohibited from being a Director by law;
(b) is or becomes bankrupt, or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally;
(c) is or becomes of unsound mind or dies; or
(d) resigns his office by notice in writing to the Company.
42.2 The Board shall have the power to appoint any person as a Director to fill a vacancy on the Board occurring as a result of the death, disability, disqualification or resignation of any Director and to appoint an Alternate Director to any Director so appointed.
43. Remuneration of Directors
The remuneration (if any) of the Directors shall be determined by the Company in general meeting and shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. The Directors may also be paid all travel, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending and returning from the meetings of the Board, any committee appointed by the Board, general meetings of the Company, or in connection with the business of the Company or their duties as Directors generally.
44. Defect in Appointment of Director
All acts done in good faith by the Board or by a. committee of the Board or by any person acting as a Director shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director or person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a Director.
45. Directors to Manage Business
The business of the Company shall be managed and conducted by the Board. In managing the business of the Company, the Board may exercise all such powers of the Company as are not, by statute or by these Bye-laws, required to be exercised by -the Company in general meeting subject, nevertheless, to these Bye-laws, the provisions of any statute and to such directions as may be prescribed by the Company in general meeting.
46. Powers of the Board of Directors The Board may:
(a) appoint, suspend, or remove any manager, secretary, clerk, agent or employee of the Company and may fix their remuneration and determine their duties;
(b) exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and may issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or any third party;
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(c) appoint one or more Directors to the office of managing director or chief executive officer of the Company, who shall, subject to the control of the Board, supervise and administer all of the genera( business and affairs of the Company;
(d) appoint a person to act as manager of the Company’s day-to-day business and may entrust to and confer upon such manager such powers and duties as it deems appropriate for the transaction or conduct of such business;
(e) by power of attorney, appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be an attorney of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board) and for such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Board may think it and may also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions so vested in the attorney. Such attorney may, if so authorised under the seal of the Company, execute any deed or instrument under such attorney’s personal seal with the same effect as the affixation of the seal of the Company;
(f) procure that the Company pays all expenses incurred in promoting and incorporating the Company;
(g) delegate any of its powers (including the power to sub-delegate) to a committee of one or more persons appointed by the Board which may consist partly or entirely of non-Directors, provided that every such committee shall conform to such directions as the Board shall impose on them and provided further that the meetings and proceedings of any such committee shall be governed by the provisions of these Bye-laws regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Board, so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by directions imposed by the Board;
(h) delegate any of its powers (including the power to sub-delegate) to any person on such terms and in such manner as the Board may see fit;
(i) present any petition and make any application in connection with the liquidation or reorganisation of the Company;
(j) in connection with the issue of any share, pay such commission and brokerage as may be permitted by law; and
(k) authorise any company, firm, person or body of persons to act on behalf of the Company for any specific purpose and in connection therewith to execute any agreement, document or instrument on behalf of the Company.
47. Register of Directors and Officers
The Board shall cause to be kept in one or more books at the registered office of the Company a Register of Directors and Officers and shall enter therein the particulars required by the Act.
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48. Officers
The Officers shall consist of a President and a Vice President or a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman, a Secretary and such additional Officers as the Board may determine all of whom shall be deemed to be Officers for the purposes of these Bye-laws.
49. Appointment of Officers
The Board shall, as soon as possible after the statutory meeting of Members and after each annual general meeting, appoint a President and Vice President or a Chairman and Deputy Chairman who shall be Directors. The Secretary (and additional Officers, if any) shall be appointed by the Board from time to time.
50. Duties of Officers
The Officers shall have such powers and perform such duties in the management, business and affairs of the Company as may be delegated to them by the Board from time to time.
51. Remuneration of Officers
The Officers shall receive such remuneration as the Board may determine.
52. Conflicts of Interest
52.1 Any Director, or any Director’s firm, partner or any company with whom any Director is associated, may act in any capacity for, be employed by or render services to the Company and such Director or such Director’s firm, partner or company shall be entitled to remuneration as if such Director were not a Director. Nothing herein contained shall authorise a Director or Director’s firm, partner or company to act as Auditor to the Company.
52.2 A Director who is directly or indirectly interested in a contract or proposed contract or arrangement with the Company shall declare the nature of such interest as required by the Act.
52.3 Following a declaration being made pursuant to this Bye-law, and unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant Board meeting, a Director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement in which such Director is interested and may be counted in the quorum for such meeting.
53. Indemnification and Exculpation of Directors and Officers
53.1 The Directors, Secretary and other Officers (such term to include any person appointed to any committee by the Board) for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company, any subsidiary thereof, and the liquidator or trustees (if any) for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company or any subsidiary thereof and every one of them, and their heirs, executors and administrators, shall be indemnified and secured harmless out of the assets of the Company from and against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them, their heirs, executors or administrators, shall or may incur or sustain by or by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in or about the execution of
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their duty, or supposed duty, or in their respective offices or trusts, and none of them shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of the others of them or for joining in any receipts for the sake of conformity, or for any bankers or other persons with whom any moneys or effects belonging to the Company shall or may be lodged or deposited for safe custody, or for insufficiency or deficiency of any security upon which any moneys of or belonging to the Company shall be placed out on or invested, or for any other loss, misfortune or damage which may happen in the execution of their respective offices or trusts, or in relation thereto, PROVIDED THAT this indemnity shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty which may attach to any of the said persons. Each Member agrees to waive any claim or right of action such Member might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Director or Officer on account of a1~.y action taken by such Director or Officer, or the failure of such Director or Officer to take any action in the performance of his duties with or for the Company or any subsidiary thereof, PROVIDED THAT such waiver shall. not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty which may attach to such Director or Officer.
53.2 The Company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or Officer of the Company against any liability incurred by him under the Act in his capacity as a Director or Officer of the Company or indemnifying such Director or Officer in respect of any loss arising or liability attaching to him by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the Director or Officer may be guilty in relation to the Company or any subsidiary thereof.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
54. Board Meetings
The Board may meet for the transaction of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it sees fit. A resolution put to the vote at a meeting of the Board shall be carried by the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast and in the case of an equality of votes the resolution shall fail.
55. Notice of Board Meetings
A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Board. Notice of a meeting of the Board shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is given to such Director verbally (in person or by telephone) or otherwise communicated or sent to such Director by post, cable, telex, telecopier, facsimile, electronic mail or other mode of representing words in a legible form at such Director’s last known address or any other address given by such Director to the Company for this purpose.
56. Participation in Meetings by Telephone
Directors may participate in any meeting of the Board by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
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57. Quorum at Board Meetings
The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Board shall be two Directors.
58. Board to Continue in the Event of Vacancy
The Board may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its number but, if and so long as its number is reduced below the number fixed by these Bye-laws as the quorum necessary for the transaction of business at meetings of the Board, the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of (i) summoning a general meeting of the Company; or (ii) preserving the assets of the Company.
59. Chairman to Preside
Unless otherwise agreed by a majority of the Directors attending, the Chairman, if there be one, and if not, the President shall act as chairman at all meetings of the Board at which such person is present. In their absence the Deputy Chairman or Vice President, if present, shall act as chairman and in the absence of all of them a chairman shall be appointed or elected by the Directors present at the meeting.
60. Written Resolutions
A resolution signed by all the Directors, which may be in counterparts, shall be as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Board duly called and constituted, such resolution to be effective on the date on which the last Director signs the resolution. For the purposes of this Bye-law only, “Director” shall not include an Alternate Director.
61. Validity of Prior Acts of the Board
No regulation or alteration to these Bye-laws made by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if that regulation or alteration had not been made.
CORPORATE RECORDS
62. Minutes
The Board shall cause minutes to be duly entered in books provided for the purpose:
(a) of all elections and appointments of Officers;
(b) of the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Board and of any committee appointed by the Board; and
(c) of all resolutions and proceedings of general meetings of the Members, meetings of the Board, meetings of managers and meetings of committees appointed by the Board.
63. Place Where Corporate Records Kept
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Minutes prepared in accordance with the Act and these Bye-laws shall be kept by the Secretary at the registered office of the Company.
64. Farm and Use of Seal
64.1 The seal of the Company shall be in such form as the Board may determine. The Board may adopt one or more duplicate seals for use in or outside Bermuda.
64.2 The seal of the Company shall not be affixed to any instrument except attested by the signature of (i) a Director and the Secretary; or (ii) any two Directors; or (iii) any person appointed by the Board for that purpose, provided that any Director, Officer or Resident Representative, may affix the seal of the Company attested by such Director, Officer or Resident Representative’s signature to any authenticated copies of these Bye-laws, the incorporating documents of the Company, the minutes of any meetings or any other documents required to be authenticated by such Director, Officer or Resident Representative,
ACCOUNTS
65. Books of Account
65.1 The Board shall cause to be kept proper records of account with respect to all transactions of the Company and in particular with respect to:
(a) all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure relates;
(b) all sales and purchases of goods by the Company; and
(c) all assets and liabilities of the Company.
65.2 Such records of account shall be kept at the registered office of the Company, or subject to the provisions of the Act, at such other place as the Board thinks fit and shall be available for inspection by the Directors during normal business hours.
66. Financial Year End
The financial year end of the Company may be determined by resolution of the Board and failing such resolution shall be 31” December in each year.
AUDITS
67. Annual Audit
Subject to any rights to waive laying of accounts or appointment of an Auditor pursuant to the Act, the accounts of the Company shall he audited at least once in every year.
68. Appointment of Auditor
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68.1 Subject to the provisions of the Act, at the annual general meeting or at a subsequent special general meeting in each year, an independent representative of the Members shall be appointed by them as Auditor of the accounts of the Company.
68.2 The Auditor may be a Member but no Director, Officer or employee of the Company shall, during his continuance in office, be eligible to act as an Auditor of the Company.
69. Remuneration of Auditor
Save in the case of an Auditor appointed pursuant to Bye-law 74, the remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Company in general meeting or in such manner as the Members may determine. In the case of an Auditor appointed pursuant to Bye-law 74, the remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Directors.
70. Duties of Auditor
70.1 The financial statements provided for by these Bye-laws shall be audited by the Auditor in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The Auditor shall make a written report thereon in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
70.2 The generally accepted auditing standards referred to in this Bye-law may be those of a country or jurisdiction other than Bermuda or such other generally accepted auditing standards as may be provided for in the Act. If so, the financial statements and the report of the Auditor shall identify the generally accepted auditing standards used.
71. Access to Records
The Auditor shall at all reasonable times have access to all books kept by the Company and to all accounts and vouchers relating thereto, and the Auditor may call on the Directors or Officers of the Company for any information in their possession relating to the books or affairs of the Company.
72. Financial Statements
Subject to any rights to waive laying of accounts pursuant to the provisions of the Act, financial statements as required by the Act shall be laid before the Members in general meeting.
73. Distribution of Auditor’s Report
The report of the Auditor shall be submitted to the Members in general meeting.
74. Vacancy in the Office of Auditor
The Board may fill any casual vacancy in the office of the auditor.
VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP AND DISSOLUTION
75. Winding-Up
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If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, with the sanction of a resolution of the Members, divide amongst the Members in specie or in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may, for such purpose, set such value as he deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in the trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any shares or other securities or assets whereon there is any liability.
CHANGES TO CONSTITUTION
76. Changes to Bye-laws
No Bye-law shall be rescinded, altered or amended and no new Bye-law shall be made save in accordance with the provisions of the Act and until the same has been approved by a resolution of the Board and by a resolution of the Members.
77. Changes to the Memorandum of Association
No alteration or amendment to the Memorandum of Association shall be made save in accordance with the provisions of the Act and until same has been approved by a resolution of the Board and by a resolution of the Members.
78. Discontinuance
The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to discontinue the Company to a jurisdiction outside Bermuda pursuant to the Act.
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