Exhibit 3.1
THE COMPANIES LAW (AS AMENDED)
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
HOME LOAN SERVICING SOLUTIONS, LTD.
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED JANUARY 30, 2012)
THE COMPANIES LAW (AS AMENDED)
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
HOME LOAN SERVICING SOLUTIONS, LTD.
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED JANUARY 30, 2012)
1. | The name of the Company is Home Loan Servicing Solutions, Ltd. (the“Company”). |
2. | The registered office of the Company will be situated at the offices ofWalkers Corporate Services Limited, Walker House, 87 Mary Street, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9005, Cayman Islands or at such other location as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
3. | The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law as provided by Section 7(4) of the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands (the“Law”). |
4. | The Company shall have and be capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit as provided by Section 27(2) of the Law. |
5. | The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the Company carried on outside the Cayman Islands; provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as to prevent the Company effecting and concluding contracts in the Cayman Islands, and exercising in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
6. | The liability of the shareholders of the Company is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them. |
7. | The capital of the Company isUS$2,000,000.00 divided into200,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value ofUS$0.01 each provided always that subject to the Law and the Articles of Association the Company shall have power to redeem or purchase any of its shares and to sub-divide or consolidate the said shares or any of them and to issue all or any part of its capital whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced with or without any preference, priority, special privilege or other rights or subject to any postponement of rights or to any conditions or restrictions whatsoever and so that unless the conditions of issue shall otherwise expressly provide every issue of shares whether stated to be ordinary, preference or otherwise shall be subject to the powers on the part of the Company hereinbefore provided. |
8. | The Company may exercise the power contained in Section 206 of the Law to deregister in the Cayman Islands and be registered by way of continuation in some other jurisdiction. |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CLAUSE | PAGE | |||
TABLE A | 1 | |||
INTERPRETATION | 1 | |||
PRELIMINARY | 4 | |||
SHARES | 4 | |||
MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS | 5 | |||
CERTIFICATES | 6 | |||
FRACTIONAL SHARES | 6 | |||
LIEN | 6 | |||
CALLS ON SHARES | 7 | |||
FORFEITURE OF SHARES | 7 | |||
TRANSFER OF SHARES | 8 | |||
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES | 9 | |||
ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL | 9 | |||
REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE OF SHARES | 10 | |||
GENERAL MEETINGS | 10 | |||
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS | 10 | |||
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS | 11 | |||
VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS | 14 | |||
CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES AT MEETINGS | 15 | |||
DIRECTORS | 15 | |||
ALTERNATE DIRECTOR OR PROXY | 16 | |||
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS | 17 | |||
BORROWING POWERS OF DIRECTORS | 18 | |||
THE SEAL | 18 | |||
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS | 19 |
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PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS | 19 | |||
DIVIDENDS | 21 | |||
ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND ANNUAL RETURN AND DECLARATION | 22 | |||
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES | 22 | |||
SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT | 23 | |||
NOTICES | 23 | |||
INDEMNITY | 24 | |||
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS | 25 | |||
WINDING UP | 25 | |||
AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION | 25 | |||
CLOSING OF REGISTER OR FIXING RECORD DATE | 25 | |||
REGISTRATION BY WAY OF CONTINUATION | 26 | |||
DISCLOSURE | 26 |
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PLACE $50.00 (OR $2.00 FOR COPIES) STAMP LABEL OVER THIS SPACE
COMPANIES LAW (AS AMENDED)
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
HOME LOAN SERVICING SOLUTIONS, LTD.
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED JANUARY 30, 2012)
TABLE A
The Regulations contained or incorporated in Table ‘A’ in the First Schedule of the Law shall not apply to Home Loan Servicing Solutions, Ltd. (the “Company”) and the following Articles shall comprise the Articles of Association of the Company.
INTERPRETATION
1. | In these Articles the following defined terms will have the meanings ascribed to them, if not inconsistent with the subject or context: |
“Articles” means these articles of association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time;
“Class” or “Classes” means any class or classes of Shares as may from time to time be issued by the Company;
“Directors” means the directors of the Company for the time being, or as the case may be, the directors assembled as a board (the “Board of Directors”) or as a committee thereof;
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“Gross Negligence” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States of America;
“Law” means the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands;
“Memorandum of Association” means the memorandum of association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time;
“Net Asset Value per Share” shall be determined, from time to time, by taking the then current book value of the Company’s total assets less total liabilities, divided by the total number of ordinary Shares then outstanding (without taking into consideration any proposed new issuance of ordinary Shares);
“Office” means the registered office of the Company as required by the Law;
“Ordinary Resolution” means a resolution:
(a) | passed by a simple majority of such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company and where a poll is taken regard shall be had in computing a majority to the number of votes to which each Shareholder is entitled; or |
(b) | approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument, or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed; |
“paid up” means paid up as to the par value in respect of the issue of any Shares and includes credited as paid up;
“Person” means any natural person, firm, company, joint venture, partnership, corporation, association or other entity (whether or not having a separate legal personality) or any of them as the context so requires;
“Register” means the register of Members of the Company required to be kept pursuant to the Law;
“Seal” means the common seal of the Company (if adopted) including any facsimile thereof;
“Secretary” means any Person appointed by the Directors to perform any of the duties of the secretary of the Company;
“Share” means a share in the capital of the Company. All references to “Shares” herein shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all Classes as the context may require. For the avoidance of doubt in these Articles the expression “Share” shall include a fraction of a Share;
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“Shareholder” or“Member” means a Person who is registered as the holder of Shares in the Register and includes each subscriber to the Memorandum of Association pending entry in the Register of such subscriber;
“Share Premium Account” means the share premium account established in accordance with these Articles and the Law;
“signed” means bearing a signature or representation of a signature affixed by mechanical means; and
“Special Resolution” means a special resolution of the Company passed in accordance with the Law, being a resolution:
(a) | passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given and where a poll is taken regard shall be had in computing a majority to the number of votes to which each Shareholder is entitled; or |
(b) | approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the special resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed. |
2. | In these Articles, save where the context requires otherwise: |
(a) | words importing the singular number shall include the plural number and vice versa; |
(b) | words importing the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender and any Person as the context may require; |
(c) | the word “may” shall be construed as permissive and the word “shall” shall be construed as imperative; |
(d) | reference to a dollar or dollars (or $) and to a cent or cents is reference to dollars and cents of the United States of America; |
(e) | reference to a statutory enactment shall include reference to any amendment or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force; |
(f) | reference to any determination by the Directors shall be construed as a determination by the Directors in their sole and absolute discretion and shall be applicable either generally or in any particular case; |
(g) | reference to “in writing” shall be construed as written or represented by any means reproducible in writing, including any form of print, lithograph, email, facsimile, photograph or telex or represented by any other substitute or format for storage or transmission for writing or partly one and partly another; and |
(h) | references to the exercise by a Shareholder of “voting power”, or words to that effect, shall be construed as a reference to the votes permitted to be cast by such Shareholder expressed as a percentage of the aggregate number of votes permitted to be cast by Shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the relevant meeting of Shareholders. |
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3. | Subject to the last two preceding Articles, any words defined in the Law shall, if not inconsistent with the subject or context, bear the same meaning in these Articles. |
PRELIMINARY
4. | The business of the Company may be commenced at any time after incorporation. |
5. | The Office shall be at such address in the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time determine. The Company may in addition establish and maintain such other offices and places of business and agencies in such places as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
6. | The expenses incurred in the formation of the Company and in connection with the offer for subscription and issue of Shares shall be paid by the Company. Such expenses may be amortised over such period as the Directors may determine and the amount so paid shall be charged against income and/or capital in the accounts of the Company as the Directors shall determine. |
7. | The Directors shall keep, or cause to be kept, the Register at such place as the Directors may from time to time determine and, in the absence of any such determination, the Register shall be kept at the Office. |
SHARES
8. | Subject to these Articles, all Shares for the time being unissued shall be under the control of the Directors who may: |
(a) | issue, allot and dispose of the same to such Persons, in such manner, on such terms and having such rights and being subject to such restrictions as they may from time to time determine; and |
(b) | grant options with respect to such Shares and issue warrants or similar instruments with respect thereto; |
and, for such purposes, the Directors may reserve an appropriate number of Shares for the time being unissued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Directors shall not issue, allot or dispose of or grant options or warrants for Shares at a price, at the time of issue thereof, below the Company’s then current Net Asset Value per Share, as calculated by the Board of Directors, without first obtaining the approval of holders of at least a majority of the Company’s Shares by plurality vote.
9. | The Directors may authorise the division of Shares into any number of Classes and the different Classes shall be authorised, established and designated (or re-designated as the case may be) and the variations in the relative rights (including, without limitation, voting, dividend and redemption rights), restrictions, preferences, privileges and payment obligations as between the different Classes (if any) may be fixed and determined by the Directors. |
10. | The Company may insofar as may be permitted by law, pay a commission to any Person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the lodgement of fully or partly paid-up Shares or partly in one way and partly in the other. The Company may also pay such brokerage as may be lawful on any issue of Shares. |
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11. | The Directors may refuse to accept any application for Shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason. |
OTHER CLASSES OF SHARES
12. | To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Directors are authorised, without obtaining any vote or consent of the holders of any Class of Shares unless expressly provided by the terms of issue of a Class, to provide from time to time for the issuance of other classes or series of Shares and, in accordance with applicable procedures of the Law, to establish the characteristics of each Class including, without limitation, the following: |
(a) | the number of Shares of that Class, which may subsequently be increased or decreased (but not below the number of Shares of that Class then in issue) by resolution of the Directors, and the distinctive designation thereof; |
(b) | the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of the Shares of that Class, including without limitation, the authority to confer multiple votes per Share, voting rights as to specified matters or issues such as mergers, consolidations or sales of assets, or voting rights to be exercised either together with holders of any other Class of Shares as a single Cass, or independently as a separate Class; |
(c) | the rights in respect of dividends, if any, on the Shares of that Class; the rate at which such dividends shall be payable and/or cumulate, which rate may be determined on factors external to the Company and which dividends may be payable in cash, Shares of capital or other securities or property of the Company; whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates; the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment of dividends on Shares of that Class; and any limitation, restrictions or conditions on the payment of dividends; |
(d) | the relative amounts, and the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment in respect of Shares of that Class, which the holder of the Shares of that Class shall be entitled to receive upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company; |
(e) | any redemption, repurchase, retirement and sinking fund rights, preferences and limitations of that Class, the amount payable on Shares of that Class in the event of such redemption, repurchase or retirement, the terms and conditions of any sinking fund, the manner of creating such fund or funds and whether any of the foregoing shall be cumulative or non cumulative; |
(f) | the terms, if any, upon which the Shares of that Class shall be convertible into or exchangeable for Shares of any other classes, series, or other securities, whether or not issued by the Company; |
(g) | the restrictions, limitations and conditions, if any, upon issuance of indebtedness of the Company so long as any Shares of that Class are in issue; and |
(h) | any other preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights and limitations not inconsistent with applicable law. |
MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS
13. | Whenever the capital of the Company is divided into different Classes the rights attached to any such Class may, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any Class, only |
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be materially adversely varied or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the issued Shares of the relevant Class, or with the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of such Class by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast at such a meeting. To every such separate meeting all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company or to the proceedings thereat shall,mutatis mutandis, apply, except that the necessary quorum shall be one or more Persons at least holding or representing by proxy one-third in nominal or par value amount of the issued Shares of the relevant Class (but so that if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum as above defined is not present, those Shareholders who are present shall form a quorum) and that, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that Class, every Shareholder of the Class shall on a poll have one vote for each Share of the Class held by him. For the purposes of this Article the Directors may treat all the Classes or any two or more Classes as forming one Class if they consider that all such Classes would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate Classes. |
14. | The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any Class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that Class, be deemed to be materially adversely varied or abrogated by, inter alia, the creation, allotment or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to them or the redemption or purchase of any Shares of any Class by the Company. |
CERTIFICATES
15. | No Person shall be entitled to a certificate for any or all of his Shares, unless the Directors shall determine otherwise. |
FRACTIONAL SHARES
16. | The Directors may issue fractions of a Share and, if so issued, a fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to nominal or par value, premium, contributions, calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights (including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, voting and participation rights) and other attributes of a whole Share. If more than one fraction of a Share of the same Class is issued to or acquired by the same Shareholder such fractions shall be accumulated. |
LIEN
17. | The Company has a first and paramount lien on every Share (whether or not fully paid) for all amounts (whether presently payable or not) payable at a fixed time or called in respect of that Share. The Company also has a first and paramount lien on every Share registered in the name of a Person indebted or under liability to the Company (whether he is the sole registered holder of a Share or one of two or more joint holders) for all amounts owing by him or his estate to the Company (whether or not presently payable). The Directors may at any time declare a Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The Company’s lien on a Share extends to any amount payable in respect of it. |
18. | The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors in their absolute discretion think fit, any Share on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless an amount in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable nor until the expiration of fourteen days after a notice in writing, demanding payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, has been given to the registered holder for the time being of the Share, or the Persons entitled thereto by reason of his death or bankruptcy. |
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19. | For giving effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise some Person to transfer the Shares sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale. |
20. | The proceeds of the sale after deduction of expenses, fees and commission incurred by the Company shall be received by the Company and applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, and the residue shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares prior to the sale) be paid to the Person entitled to the Shares immediately prior to the sale. |
CALLS ON SHARES
21. | The Directors may from time to time make calls upon the Shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares, and each Shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen days’ notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on such Shares. |
22. | The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay calls in respect thereof. |
23. | If a sum called in respect of a Share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest upon the sum at the rate of eight percent per annum from the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of the actual payment, but the Directors shall be at liberty to waive payment of that interest wholly or in part. |
24. | The provisions of these Articles as to the liability of joint holders and as to payment of interest shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
25. | The Directors may make arrangements on the issue of partly paid Shares for a difference between the Shareholders, or the particular Shares, in the amount of calls to be paid and in the times of payment. |
26. | The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Shareholder willing to advance the same all or any part of the moneys uncalled and unpaid upon any partly paid Shares held by him, and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced may (until the same would, but for such advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate (not exceeding without the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution, eight percent per annum) as may be agreed upon between the Shareholder paying the sum in advance and the Directors. |
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
27. | If a Shareholder fails to pay any call or instalment of a call in respect of partly paid Shares on the day appointed for payment, the Directors may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of such call or instalment remains unpaid, serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued. |
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28. | The notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen days from the date of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
29. | If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any Share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect. |
30. | A forfeited Share may be sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit, and at any time before a sale or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. |
31. | A Person whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of the forfeited Shares, but shall, notwithstanding, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of the Shares forfeited, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company receives payment in full of the amount unpaid on the Shares forfeited. |
32. | A statutory declaration in writing that the declarant is a Director, and that a Share has been duly forfeited on a date stated in the declaration, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts in the declaration as against all Persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. |
33. | The Company may receive the consideration, if any, given for a Share on any sale or disposition thereof pursuant to the provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture and may execute a transfer of the Share in favour of the Person to whom the Share is sold or disposed of and that Person shall be registered as the holder of the Share, and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the disposition or sale. |
34. | The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which by the terms of issue of a Share becomes due and payable, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
TRANSFER OF SHARES
35. | The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, approve and be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and if in respect of a nil or partly paid up Share, or if so required by the Directors, shall also be executed on behalf of the transferee and shall be accompanied by the certificate (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer. The transferor shall be deemed to remain a Shareholder until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect of the relevant Shares. |
36. | Subject to the rules of any stock exchange on which the Shares in question may be listed and to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share, the Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of Shares without assigning any reason therefor. |
37. | Subject to the rules of any stock exchange on which the Shares in question may be listed and to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share, the registration of transfers may be suspended at such times and for such periods as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
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38. | All instruments of transfer that are registered shall be retained by the Company, but any instrument of transfer that the Directors decline to register shall (except in any case of fraud) be returned to the Person depositing the same. |
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
39. | The legal personal representative of a deceased sole holder of a Share shall be the only Person recognised by the Company as having any title to the Share. In the case of a Share registered in the name of two or more holders, the survivors or survivor, or the legal personal representatives of the deceased survivor, shall be the only Person recognised by the Company as having any title to the Share. |
40. | Any Person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Directors, have the right either to be registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share or, instead of being registered himself, to make such transfer of the Share as the deceased or bankrupt Person could have made; but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the deceased or bankrupt Person before the death or bankruptcy. |
41. | A Person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered Shareholder, except that he shall not, before being registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company. |
ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL
42. | The Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into Shares of such Classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe. |
43. | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
(a) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of a larger amount than its existing Shares; |
(b) | convert all or any of its paid up Shares into stock and reconvert that stock into paid up Shares of any denomination; |
(c) | subdivide its existing Shares, or any of them into Shares of a smaller amount provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and |
(d) | cancel any Shares that, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any Person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled. |
44. | The Company may by Special Resolution reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorised by law. |
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REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE OF SHARES
45. | Subject to the Law, the Company may: |
(a) | issue Shares on terms that they are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the Shareholder on such terms and in such manner as the Directors may, before the issue of such Shares, determine; |
(b) | purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) on such terms and in such manner as the Directors may determine and agree with the Shareholder; and |
(c) | make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Law, including out of its capital, profits or the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares. |
46. | Any Share in respect of which notice of redemption has been given shall not be entitled to participate in the profits of the Company in respect of the period after the date specified as the date of redemption in the notice of redemption. |
47. | The redemption or purchase of any Share shall not be deemed to give rise to the redemption or purchase of any other Share. |
48. | The Directors may when making payments in respect of redemption or purchase of Shares, if authorised by the terms of issue of the Shares being redeemed or purchased or with the agreement of the holder of such Shares, make such payment either in cash or in specie. |
GENERAL MEETINGS
49. | The Company shall in each year of its existence hold a general meeting of the Company as its annual general meeting. The annual general meeting shall be held on such date and at such time and place as the Board of Directors shall appoint. |
50. | Except as otherwise required by law, and subject to the rights of any Class of Shares having a preference over any other Class of Shares as to dividends or to elect Directors in specified circumstances, extraordinary general meetings of the Company may be called only by resolution of the Directors, approved by at least a majority of the Directors. |
51. | Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Members whether pursuant to these Articles or by law, must be taken at a duly called annual or extraordinary general meeting of the Company unless the written consent or approval of all holders of issued and outstanding Shares generally entitled to vote has been obtained with respect to such action. |
52. | No Member shall have any right to requisition a general meeting of the Company. |
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
53. | At least seven days’ notice in writing counting from the date service is deemed to take place as provided in these Articles specifying the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and, in case of special business, the general nature of that business, shall be given in the manner hereinafter provided or in such other manner (if any) as may be prescribed by the Company by Ordinary Resolution to such Persons as are, under these Articles, entitled to receive such notices from the Company, but with the consent of all the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of some particular meeting and attend and vote thereat, that meeting may be convened by such shorter notice or without notice and in such manner as those Shareholders may think fit. |
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54. | The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of a notice of a meeting by any Shareholder shall not invalidate the proceedings at any meeting. |
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
55. | The business at an annual general meeting of the Company shall be limited in the manner set out in Article 57(d). |
56. | No business shall be transacted at any general meeting of the Company unless a quorum of Members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. At a general meeting of the Company to: |
(a) | consider or adopt a Special Resolution to amend, vary, suspend the operation of or disapply Articles 80 to 89 or this Article 56, one or more Members present in person or by proxy holding at least two-thirds of the issued Shares entitled to vote at such meeting shall be a quorum; and |
(b) | consider or adopt any other resolution or to take any other action, one or more Members present in person or by proxy holding at least a majority of the issued shares generally entitled to vote at such meeting shall be a quorum. |
The Members present at a duly constituted general meeting of the Company may continue to transact business until adjournment, despite the withdrawal of such Members as leave less than a quorum.
57. | Subject any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share: |
(a) | nominations for the election of any Directors to be elected at any general meeting of the Company may be made either by the Board of Directors or by any Member entitled to vote for the election of such Directors who gives advance notice as hereafter provided. Any such Member may nominate persons for election as Directors as aforesaid only if written notice of such Member’s intent to make such nomination is transmitted to, and received by, the Secretary at the principal corporate office of the Company not later than: |
(i) | in the case of an annual general meeting of the Company, not less than 90 days prior to the anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual general meeting that was specified in the initial formal notice of such meeting (but if the date of the forthcoming annual general meeting is more than 30 days before or after such anniversary date, such written notice must instead be received by the Secretary by the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which the Company first makes public disclosure of the meeting date); and |
(ii) | in the case of an extraordinary general meeting of the Company (provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors of the Company shall be elected at such meeting), the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which the Company first makes public disclosure of the meeting date. |
(b) | Each notice given by such Member shall set forth: |
(i) | the name and address of the Member who intends to make the nomination and of the person or persons to be nominated; |
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(ii) | a representation that the Member is a registered holder of Shares entitled to vote at such meeting (or if the record date for such meeting is subsequent to the date required for such Member notice, a representation that the Member is such a registered holder at the time of such notice and intends to be a registered holder on the date for such meeting), and setting forth the Class and number of Shares so held (including Shares held beneficially); |
(iii) | a representation that such Member intends to appear in person or by proxy as a registered holder of Shares at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; |
(iv) | a description of all arrangements or understandings between such Member and any other person or persons (identifying such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the Member; |
(v) | the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Company if so elected. |
(c) | If the facts show that a nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Article 57, the presiding officer of the general meeting shall so determine and declare to the meeting, whereupon the defective nomination shall be disregarded. Public disclosure of the date of a forthcoming general meeting may be made by the Company for purpose of this Article 57 not only by the giving of the formal notice of the meeting, but also: |
(i) | by notice to a national securities exchange (as such term is used in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended of the United States of America (the “Exchange Act”) or to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (if the Shares are then listed on such exchange or quoted on NASDAQ); |
(ii) | by filing a report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (if the Company is then subject thereto); or |
(iii) | by a mailing to Members or by issuance of a general press release. |
(d) | No business shall be transacted at an annual general meeting of the Company other than such business as shall be: |
(i) | specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; |
(ii) | otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or |
(iii) | brought before the meeting by a Member present and entitled to vote at such meeting in accordance with the following procedure. For business to be brought before an annual general meeting of the Company by a Member, the Member must have given timely notice in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, a Member’s notice must be transmitted to, and received by, the Secretary at the principal corporate office of the Company not less than 90 days prior to the anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual general meeting that was specified in the initial formal notice of such meeting (but if the date of the forthcoming annual general meeting is more than 30 days before or after such anniversary date, such written notice must instead be received by the Secretary by the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which the Company first makes public disclosure of the meeting date). Each such notice given by such Member must set forth: |
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(A) | a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; |
(B) | the name and address of the Member who intends to propose such business; |
(C) | a representation that the Member is a registered holder of Shares entitled to vote at such meeting (or if the record date for such meeting is subsequent to the date required for such Member notice, a representation that the Member is such a registered holder at the time of such notice and intends to be a registered holder on the date for such meeting), and setting forth the Class and number of Shares so held (including Shares held beneficially); |
(D) | a representation that such Member intends to appear in person or by proxy as a registered holder of Shares at the meeting to propose such business; and |
(E) | any material interest of the Member in such business. |
The presiding officer of the meeting may refuse to transact any business at any meeting made without compliance with the foregoing procedure.
58. | If the Directors wish to make this facility available for a specific general meeting or all general meetings of the Company, participation in any general meeting of the Company may be by means of a telephone or similar communication equipment by way of which all Persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting. |
59. | The chairman, if any, of the Directors shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the Company. |
60. | If there is no such chairman, or if at any general meeting he is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman, any Director or Person nominated by the Directors shall preside as chairman, failing which the Shareholders present in person or by proxy shall choose any Person present to be chairman of that meeting. |
61. | The chairman of any meeting of the Members shall have the power to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such things as in his judgment may be necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety, the right of Directors, Members and others to speak, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time scheduled for the commencement thereof and the opening and closing of the voting polls. |
62. | The chairman may with the consent of any general meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn a meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting, or adjourned meeting, is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting. |
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63. | The Directors may cancel or postpone any duly convened general meeting at any time prior to such meeting, except for general meetings requisitioned by the Shareholders in accordance with these Articles, for any reason or for no reason, upon notice in writing to Shareholders. A postponement may be for a stated period of any length or indefinitely as the Directors may determine. |
VOTING AT GENERAL MEETINGS
64. | At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman or one or more Shareholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote, and unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution 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 the book of the proceedings of the Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution. |
65. | If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
66. | In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
67. | A poll demanded on the election of a chairman of the meeting or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time as the chairman of the meeting directs. |
VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS
68. | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share: |
(a) | at each election for Directors at a general meeting of the Company the Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in person or by proxy at that general meeting and each Member holding voting Shares shall have the right to vote, in person or by proxy, the number of voting Shares registered in his name in the Register for as many persons as there are Directors to be elected and for whose election he has a right to vote. Cumulative voting, for the election of Directors, is expressly prohibited. Election of Directors need not be by ballot; and |
(b) | on all matters coming before the Members at a general meeting of the Company, other than the election of Directors, on a show of hands every Shareholder present in person and every Person representing a Shareholder by proxy shall, at a general meeting of the Company, each have one vote and on a poll every Shareholder and every Person representing a Shareholder by proxy shall have one vote for each Share of which he or the Person represented by proxy is the holder. |
69. | 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. |
70. | A Shareholder of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote in respect of Shares carrying the right to vote held by him, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his committee, or other Person in the nature of a committee appointed by that court, and any such committee or other Person, may vote in respect of such Shares by proxy. |
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71. | No Shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting of the Company unless all calls, if any, or other sums presently payable by him in respect of Shares carrying the right to vote held by him have been paid. |
72. | On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy. |
73. | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under Seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised. A proxy need not be a Shareholder. |
74. | An instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve. |
75. | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited at the Office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting no later than the time for holding the meeting or, if the meeting is adjourned, the time for holding such adjourned meeting. |
76. | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll. |
77. | A resolution in writing signed by all the Shareholders for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company (or being corporations by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the same had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES AT MEETINGS
78. | Any corporation which is a Shareholder or a Director may by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise such Person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any meeting of holders of a Class or of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, and the Person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder or Director. |
DIRECTORS
79. | The name(s) of the first Director(s) shall either be determined in writing by a majority (or in the case of a sole subscriber that subscriber) of, or elected at a meeting of, the subscribers of the Memorandum of Association. |
80. | The Company shall by Ordinary Resolution at each annual general meeting of the Company elect a Board of Directors for a term expiring at the first-following annual general meeting of the Company or otherwise until any such Director’s successor has been elected. |
81. | The Company may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a Director. |
82. | Any vacancy on the Board of Directors caused by the death, resignation or removal from office of any Director, may only be filled an election by a majority of the Directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director. Any Director elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next following annual general meeting of the Company whereupon such Director shall cease to hold office and a successor Director may be elected by the Company. |
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83. | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share, one or more or all of the Directors may be removed only for “cause” by an Ordinary Resolution passed at a general meeting of the Company for which proper notice of the proposed removal has been given. As used in the preceding sentence, “cause” shall be limited to: |
(a) | action by the Director involving actual fraud or wilful misconduct, which conduct has a material adverse effect on the Company; or |
(b) | conviction of the Director of a felony (which term shall be interpreted according to federal law of the United States) or an equivalent offence under the laws of another relevant jurisdiction. |
The Board of Directors shall not have any power to remove any Director.
84. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more Class of Shares then in issue has the right, voting separately by Class, to elect Directors at an annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting of the Company, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the provisions of these Articles. Directors so elected shall not be divided into classes and shall be elected by such holders annually unless expressly provided otherwise by those provisions or resolutions. The aforesaid Directors and the Directors appointed under Article 80 shall together constitute the Board of Directors from time to time. |
85. | Each Director shall be entitled to receive as compensation for such Director’s services as a Director or committee member or for attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors or committees, or both, such amounts (if any) as shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. Each Director shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travelling expenses incurred by such Director in attending any such meeting. |
86. | A Director may hold any other office (other than as an outside auditor of the Company) or place of profit under the Company in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Board of Directors may determine. |
87. | A Director may act by himself or for his firm in a professional capacity for the Company (other than as an outside auditor of the Company), and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director. |
88. | There shall be no shareholding qualification for Directors. |
89. | A Director may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as shareholder, member or otherwise, and no such Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director or officer of, or from his interest in, such other company. |
ALTERNATE DIRECTOR OR PROXY
90. | Any Director may in writing appoint another Person to be his alternate and, save to the extent provided otherwise in the form of appointment, such alternate shall have authority to sign written resolutions on behalf of the appointing Director, but shall not be required to sign such written |
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resolutions where they have been signed by the appointing Director, and to act in such Director’s place at any meeting of the Directors at which he is unable to be present. Every such alternate shall be entitled to attend and vote at meetings of the Directors as a Director when the Director appointing him is not personally present and where he is a Director to have a separate vote on behalf of the Director he is representing in addition to his own vote. A Director may at any time in writing revoke the appointment of an alternate appointed by him. Such alternate shall not be an officer of the Company and shall be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing him. The remuneration of such alternate shall be payable out of the remuneration of the Director appointing him and the proportion thereof shall be agreed between them.
91. | Any Director may appoint any Person, whether or not a Director, to be the proxy of that Director to attend and vote on his behalf, in accordance with instructions given by that Director, or in the absence of such instructions at the discretion of the proxy, at a meeting or meetings of the Directors which that Director is unable to attend personally. The instrument appointing the proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointing Director and shall be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve, and must be lodged with the chairman of the meeting of the Directors at which such proxy is to be used, or first used, prior to the commencement of the meeting. |
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
92. | Subject to the Law, these Articles and to any resolutions passed in a general meeting, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may pay all expenses incurred in setting up and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the Company. No resolution passed by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if that resolution had not been passed. |
93. | The Directors may from time to time appoint any natural person or corporation , whether or not a Director to hold such office in the Company as the Directors may think necessary for the administration of the Company, including but not limited to, the office of president, one or more vice-presidents, treasurer, assistant treasurer, manager or controller, and for such term and at such remuneration (whether by way of salary or commission or participation in profits or partly in one way and partly in another), and with such powers and duties as the Directors may think fit. Any natural person or corporation so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors or by the Company by Ordinary Resolution. The Directors may also appoint one or more of their number to the office of managing director upon like terms, but any such appointment shall ipso facto determine if any managing director ceases from any cause to be a Director, or if the Company by Ordinary Resolution resolves that his tenure of office be terminated. |
94. | The Directors may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a Secretary (and if need be an assistant Secretary or assistant Secretaries) who shall hold office for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions and with such powers as they think fit. Any Secretary or assistant Secretary so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors or by the Company by Ordinary Resolution. |
95. | The Directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the Directors. |
96. | The Directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney (whether under Seal or under hand) or otherwise appoint any company, firm or Person or body of Persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys or authorised signatory (any such person being an “Attorney” or “Authorised Signatory”, respectively) of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretion (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period and |
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subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of Persons dealing with any such Attorney or Authorised Signatory as the Directors may think fit, and may also authorise any such Attorney or Authorised Signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion vested in him.
97. | The Directors may from time to time provide for the management of the affairs of the Company in such manner as they shall think fit and the provisions contained in the three next following Articles shall not limit the general powers conferred by this Article . |
98. | The Directors from time to time and at any time may establish any committees, local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company and may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a member of such committees or local boards and may appoint any managers or agents of the Company and may fix the remuneration of any such natural person or corporation. |
99. | The Directors from time to time and at any time may delegate to any such committee, local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in the Directors and may authorise the members for the time being of any such local board, or any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies and any such appointment or delegation may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit and the Directors may at any time remove any natural person or corporation so appointed and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no Person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby. |
100. | Any such delegates as aforesaid may be authorised by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities, and discretion for the time being vested in them. |
BORROWING POWERS OF DIRECTORS
101. | The Directors may 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, to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
THE SEAL
102. | The Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of the Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixings of the Seal. The Seal shall be affixed in the presence of a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose and every Person as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the Seal is so affixed in their presence. |
103. | The Company may maintain a facsimile of the Seal in such countries or places as the Directors may appoint and such facsimile Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of such facsimile Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixings of such facsimile Seal. The facsimile Seal shall be affixed in the presence of such Person or Persons as the Directors shall for this purpose appoint and such Person or Persons as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the facsimile Seal is so affixed in their presence and such affixing of the facsimile Seal and signing as aforesaid shall have the same meaning and effect as if the Seal had been affixed in the presence of and the instrument signed by a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose. |
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104. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Secretary or any assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix the Seal, or the facsimile Seal, to any instrument for the purposes of attesting authenticity of the matter contained therein but which does not create any obligation binding on the Company. |
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
105. | The office of Director shall be vacated, if the Director: |
(a) | becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; |
(b) | dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; |
(c) | resigns his office by notice in writing to the Company; or |
(d) | is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of these Articles. |
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
106. | The Directors may meet together (either within or without the Cayman Islands) for the despatch of business, adjourn, and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In case of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. A Director may, and a Secretary or assistant Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors. |
107. | A Director may participate in any meeting of the Directors, or of any committee appointed by the Directors of which such Director is a member, by means of telephone or similar communication equipment by way of which all Persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting. |
108. | The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed, if there be two or more Directors the quorum shall be a simple majority of the duly-appointed Directors, and if there be one Director the quorum shall be one. A Director represented by proxy or by an alternate Director at any meeting shall be deemed to be present for the purposes of determining whether or not a quorum is present. |
109. | A Director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the Directors. A general notice given to the Directors by any Director to the effect that he is a member of any specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract which may thereafter be made with that company or firm shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of interest in regard to any contract so made. A Director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement notwithstanding that he may be interested therein and if he does so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the Directors at which any such contract or proposed contract or arrangement shall come before the meeting for consideration. |
110. | A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms (as to remuneration and otherwise) as the Directors may determine and no Director or intending |
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Director shall be disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company either with regard to his tenure of any such other office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director is in any way interested, be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established. A Director, notwithstanding his interest, may be counted in the quorum present at any meeting of the Directors whereat he or any other Director is appointed to hold any such office or place of profit under the Company or whereat the terms of any such appointment are arranged and he may vote on any such appointment or arrangement.
111. | Any Director may act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company, and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director; provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise a Director or his firm to act as auditor to the Company. |
112. | The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books or loose-leaf folders provided for the purpose of recording: |
(a) | all appointments of officers made by the Directors; |
(b) | the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors; and |
(c) | all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company, and of the Directors and of committees of Directors. |
113. | When the chairman of a meeting of the Directors signs the minutes of such meeting the same shall be deemed to have been duly held notwithstanding that all the Directors have not actually come together or that there may have been a technical defect in the proceedings. |
114. | A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of Directors entitled to receive notice of a meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be (an alternate Director, subject as provided otherwise in the terms of appointment of the alternate Director, being entitled to sign such a resolution on behalf of his appointer), shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a duly called and constituted meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be. When signed a resolution may consist of several documents each signed by one or more of the Directors or his duly appointed alternate. |
115. | The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body but if and for so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors, the continuing Directors may act for the purpose of increasing the number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
116. | The Directors may elect a chairman of their meetings and determine the period for which he is to hold office but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
117. | Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, a committee appointed by the Directors may elect a chairman of its meetings. If no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the committee members present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
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118. | A committee appointed by the Directors may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the committee members present and in case of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. |
119. | All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, 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 such 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. |
DIVIDENDS
120. | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. |
121. | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Company by Ordinary Resolution may declare dividends, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors. |
122. | The Directors may, before recommending or declaring any dividend, set aside out of the funds legally available for distribution such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, in the absolute discretion of the Directors be applicable for meeting contingencies, or for equalising dividends or for any other purpose to which those funds may be properly applied and pending such application may in the absolute discretion of the Directors, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Directors may from time to time think fit. |
123. | Any dividend may be paid in any manner as the Directors may determine. If paid by cheque it will be sent through the post to the registered address of the Shareholder or Person entitled thereto, or in the case of joint holders, to any one of such joint holders at his registered address or to such Person and such address as the Shareholder or Person entitled, or such joint holders as the case may be, may direct. Every such cheque shall be made payable to the order of the Person to whom it is sent or to the order of such other Person as the Shareholder or Person entitled, or such joint holders as the case may be, may direct. |
124. | The Directors when paying dividends to the Shareholders in accordance with the foregoing provisions of these Articles may make such payment either in cash or in specie. |
125. | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares, but if and for so long as nothing is paid up on any of the Shares dividends may be declared and paid according to the par value of the Shares. |
126. | If several Persons are registered as joint holders of any Share, any of them may give effectual receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of the Share. |
127. | No dividend shall bear interest against the Company. |
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ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND ANNUAL RETURN AND DECLARATION
128. | The books of account relating to the Company’s affairs shall be kept in such manner as may be determined from time to time by the Directors. |
129. | The books of account shall be kept at the Office, or at such other place or places as the Directors think fit, and shall always be open to the inspection of the Directors. |
130. | The Directors may from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Shareholders not being Directors, and no Shareholder (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution. |
131. | The accounts relating to the Company’s affairs shall only be audited if the Directors so determine, in which case the financial year end and the accounting principles will be determined by the Directors. |
132. | The Directors in each year shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, an annual return and declaration setting forth the particulars required by the Law and deliver a copy thereof to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands. |
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES
133. | Subject to the Law, the Directors may, with the authority of an Ordinary Resolution: |
(a) | resolve to capitalise an amount standing to the credit of reserves (including a Share Premium Account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account), whether or not available for distribution; |
(b) | appropriate the sum resolved to be capitalised to the Shareholders in proportion to the nominal amount of Shares (whether or not fully paid) held by them respectively and apply that sum on their behalf in or towards: |
(i) | paying up the amounts (if any) for the time being unpaid on Shares held by them respectively, or |
(ii) | paying up in full unissued Shares or debentures of a nominal amount equal to that sum, |
and allot the Shares or debentures, credited as fully paid, to the Shareholders (or as they may direct) in those proportions, or partly in one way and partly in the other, but the Share Premium Account, the capital redemption reserve and profits which are not available for distribution may, for the purposes of this Article, only be applied in paying up unissued Shares to be allotted to Shareholders credited as fully paid;
(c) | make any arrangements they think fit to resolve a difficulty arising in the distribution of a capitalised reserve and in particular, without limitation, where Shares or debentures become distributable in fractions the Directors may deal with the fractions as they think fit; |
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(d) | authorise a Person to enter (on behalf of all the Shareholders concerned) into an agreement with the Company providing for either: |
(i) | the allotment to the Shareholders respectively, credited as fully paid, of Shares or debentures to which they may be entitled on the capitalisation, or |
(ii) | the payment by the Company on behalf of the Shareholders (by the application of their respective proportions of the reserves resolved to be capitalised) of the amounts or part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing Shares, |
and any such agreement made under this authority being effective and binding on all those Shareholders; and
(e) | generally do all acts and things required to give effect to the resolution. |
SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT
134. | The Directors shall in accordance with the Law establish a Share Premium Account and shall carry to the credit of such account from time to time a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share . |
135. | There shall be debited to any Share Premium Account on the redemption or purchase of a Share the difference between the nominal value of such Share and the redemption or purchase price provided always that at the discretion of the Directors such sum may be paid out of the profits of the Company or, if permitted by the Law, out of capital. |
NOTICES
136. | Any notice or document may be served by the Company or by the Person entitled to give notice to any Shareholder either personally, or by posting it airmail or air courier service in a prepaid letter addressed to such Shareholder at his address as appearing in the Register, or by electronic mail to any electronic mail address such Shareholder may have specified in writing for the purpose of such service of notices, or by facsimile should the Directors deem it appropriate. In the case of joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the joint holding, and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders. |
137. | Any Shareholder present, either personally or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which such meeting was convened. |
138. | Subject to the provisions of Article 57(c) any notice or other document, if served by: |
(a) | post, shall be deemed to have been served five days after the time when the letter containing the same is posted; |
(b) | facsimile, shall be deemed to have been served upon production by the transmitting facsimile machine of a report confirming transmission of the facsimile in full to the facsimile number of the recipient; |
(c) | recognised courier service, shall be deemed to have been served 48 hours after the time when the letter containing the same is delivered to the courier service; or |
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(d) | electronic mail, shall be deemed to have been served immediately upon the time of the transmission by electronic mail. |
In proving service by post or courier service it shall be sufficient to prove that the letter containing the notice or documents was properly addressed and duly posted or delivered to the courier service.
139. | Any notice or document delivered or sent by post to or left at the registered address of any Shareholder in accordance with the terms of these Articles shall notwithstanding that such Shareholder be then dead or bankrupt, and whether or not the Company has notice of his death or bankruptcy, be deemed to have been duly served in respect of any Share registered in the name of such Shareholder as sole or joint holder, unless his name shall at the time of the service of the notice or document, have been removed from the Register as the holder of the Share, and such service shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service of such notice or document on all Persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the Share. |
140. | Notice of every general meeting of the Company shall be given to: |
(a) | all Shareholders holding Shares with the right to receive notice and who have supplied to the Company an address for the giving of notices to them; and |
(b) | every Person entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder, who but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting. |
No other Person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.
INDEMNITY
141. | Every Director and officer of the Company (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former Director and former officer of the Company (each an “Indemnified Person”) shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including reasonable legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud, wilful default or Gross Negligence. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud, wilful default or Gross Negligence of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud, wilful default or Gross Negligence under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. |
142. | The Company may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or other officer of the Company against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company. |
143. | Pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company may enter into a service or other agreement with any Director (or any entity providing one or more persons to the Company to act as Directors) upon such terms and conditions (including as to indemnification and exculpation, the advancement and reimbursement of expenses, contributions, dispute resolution, allocation of claims, insurance, ranking of claims and the like) as may be approved by the Board of Directors. |
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NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
144. | Subject to the proviso hereto, no Person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share upon any trust and the Company shall not, unless required by law, be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share or (except only as otherwise provided by these Articles or as the Law requires) any other right in respect of any Share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in each Shareholder registered in the Register, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be entitled to recognise any such interests as shall be determined by the Directors. |
WINDING UP
145. | If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution divide amongst the Shareholders in specie or 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 Shareholders or different Classes. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Shareholders as the liquidator, with the like sanction shall think fit, but so that no Shareholder shall be compelled to accept any asset whereon there is any liability. |
AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
146. | Subject to the Law and the rights attaching to the various Classes, the Company may at any time and from time to time by Special Resolution alter or amend these Articles in whole or in part. |
CLOSING OF REGISTER OR FIXING RECORD DATE
147. | For the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at any meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination as to who is a Shareholder for any other purpose, the Directors may provide that the Register shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not exceed in any case 40 days. If the Register shall be so closed for the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders the Register shall be so closed for at least ten days immediately preceding such meeting and the record date for such determination shall be the date of the closure of the Register. |
148. | In lieu of or apart from closing the Register, the Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of the Shareholders and for the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend the Directors may, at or within 90 days prior to the date of declaration of such dividend, fix a subsequent date as the record date for such determination. |
149. | If the Register is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of those Shareholders entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is posted or the date on which the resolution of the Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Shareholders. |
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When a determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.
REGISTRATION BY WAY OF CONTINUATION
150. | The Company may by Special Resolution resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing. In furtherance of a resolution adopted pursuant to this Article, the Directors may cause an application to be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing and may cause all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company. |
DISCLOSURE
151. | The Directors, or any service providers (including the officers, the Secretary and the registered office agent of the Company) specifically authorised by the Directors, shall be entitled to disclose to any regulatory or judicial authority, or to any stock exchange on which the Shares may from time to time be listed, any information regarding the affairs of the Company including, without limitation, information contained in the Register and books of the Company. |
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