receives an informal consensus for admission from the Board of Directors, the Bank would then determine the indicative terms and conditions of membership of the applicant consistent with the Articles of Agreement. At this point, a formal application would then be made by the applicant, which would be signed by the applicant’s competent authority, such as Head of Government, Head of State or Foreign Minister. Upon receipt of the membership application, the terms and conditions of membership (including the maximum number of shares of the Bank to which the applicant may subscribe) would be recommended by the Board of Directors to the Board of Governors for its approval. Following approval by a Special Majority Vote of the Board of Governors, the applicant would prepare the necessary domestic authorization and legislation to become a member, and take other steps required for membership, including making payment of a first installment for subscribed paid-in shares, appointing a Governor and Alternate Governor and assigning votes to a Director.
If a member fails to fulfill any of its obligations to the Bank, the Board of Governors may suspend such member by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of Governors, representing not less than three-fourths of the total voting power of AIIB’s members (a “Super Majority Vote”). A suspended member automatically ceases to be a member one year from the date of its suspension, unless the Board of Governors decides by a Super Majority Vote to restore the member to good standing. Other than the right of withdrawal, a suspended member is not allowed to exercise any rights under the Articles of Agreement, but remains subject to all obligations under the Articles of Agreement.
Capital Structure
The authorized capital of the Bank consists of US$100,000,000,000 divided into paid-in shares having an aggregate par value of US$20,000,000,000 and callable shares having an aggregate par value of US$80,000,000,000.
Payment of subscribed, paid-in capital is due in five installments, except for members designated as less developed countries, which may pay in up to ten installments. Capital subscriptions may be paid in United States dollars or in other convertible currency. However, to the extent that a member is a less developed country, the member may pay a portion of up to 50% of each installment in the currency of the member, with the Bank having discretion as to what amount is equivalent to the full value in terms of U.S. dollars and the member maintaining the value of all such currency held by the Bank should the member’s currency depreciate in the Bank’s opinion.
The authorized capital stock of the Bank may be increased only by a Super Majority Vote.
Total voting power of each member consists of the sum of its basic votes, share votes and, in the case of a founding member, its founding member votes. A member’s basic votes equal 12% of the aggregate sum of basic votes, share votes and founding member votes of all the members, divided by the number of members. Share votes consist of the number of shares of the capital stock of the Bank subscribed to by that member. All rights, including voting rights, acquired in respect of paid-in and associated callable shares for which payments are due but have not been received are suspended until full payment is received by the Bank. Each founding member is allocated 600 founding member votes.
Because Super Majority Votes require in part the affirmative vote of Governors representing not less than three-fourths of the total voting power of AIIB’s members, any member with over 25% of AIIB’s total voting power could effectively prevent actions requiring a Super Majority Vote from occurring.
Withdrawal and Suspension
Pursuant to Article 37 of the Articles of Agreement, any member may withdraw from the Bank at any time by delivering a notice to the Bank, and such withdrawal will become effective (and the
-5-