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EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - HERBALIFE NUTRITION LTD.hlf-ex321_6.htm
EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - HERBALIFE NUTRITION LTD.hlf-ex312_7.htm
EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - HERBALIFE NUTRITION LTD.hlf-ex311_8.htm
10-Q - 10-Q - HERBALIFE NUTRITION LTD.hlf-10q_20200331.htm

Exhibit 3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE COMPANIES LAW (2016 REVISION) OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF

ASSOCIATION OF

 

 

HERBALIFE NUTRITION LTD.

 

 

 

(as adopted by special resolution passed on April 24, 2018 and effective on May 7, 2018)

 

 


THE COMPANIES LAW (2016 REVISION) OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION OF

HERBALIFE NUTRITION LTD.

(as adopted by special resolution passed on April 24, 2018 and effective on May 7, 2018)

1

The name of the Company is Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.

2

The registered office of the Company shall be at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands or at such other place within the Cayman Islands as the Board may from time to time decide.

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 the laws of the Cayman Islands.

4

The liability of each Member is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such Member’s Shares.

5

The authorized share capital of the Company is US$1,015,000 divided into 2,000,000,000 Common Shares of a par value of US$0.0005 per share, and 7,500,000 Preference Shares of a par value of US$0.002 per share, in each case having the rights and preferences attached thereto as provided in the Articles of Association of the Company.

6

The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

7

Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Memorandum of Association bear the same meaning as those given in the Articles of Association of the Company.

2


 

AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INTERPRETATION

4

SHARE CAPITAL: ISSUE OF SHARES

5

COMMON SHARES

5

PREFERENCE SHARES

6

ISSUE OF WARRANTS AND OPTIONS

6

CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES

6

REGISTER OF MEMBERS

7

TRANSFER OF SHARES

7

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES

8

VARIATION OF RIGHTS OF SHARES

8

COMMISSION ON SALE OF SHARES

9

NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS

9

TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

9

AMENDMENT OF MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AND ALTERATION OF CAPITAL

9

REGISTERED OFFICE

10

CLOSING REGISTER OF MEMBERS OR FIXING RECORD DATE

10

GENERAL MEETINGS

10

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

11

PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

11

NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS

12

VOTES OF MEMBERS

13

PROXIES

14

CORPORATE MEMBERS

14

SHARES THAT MAY NOT BE VOTED

14

DIRECTORS

14

CLASSIFICATION AND APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS

14

REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

15

VACATION OF OFFICE OF DIRECTOR

15

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS

15

NO MINIMUM SHAREHOLDING

15

DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS

16

POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS

16

RESTRICTIONS ON THE COMPANY ENGAGING IN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

16

MINUTES

19

DELEGATION OF THE BOARD’S POWERS

19

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

20

PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS

20

PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT

21

SEAL

21

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND RESERVE

21

CAPITALISATION

22

BOOKS OF ACCOUNT

22

AUDIT

22

NOTICES

22

WINDING UP

23

INDEMNITY

23

FINANCIAL YEAR

25

TRANSFER BY WAY OF CONTINUATION

25

 

3


THE COMPANIES LAW (2016 REVISION) OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF

HERBALIFE NUTRITION LTD.

(as adopted by special resolution passed on April 24, 2018 and effective on May 7, 2018)

 

INTERPRETATION

1

In these Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith:

 

“Articles”

means these articles of association of the Company, as amended from time to time by Special Resolution.

“Auditors”

means the persons for the time being performing the duties of auditors of the Company.

“Board”

means the board of directors of the Company.

“Common Shares”

has the meaning given in the Memorandum.

“Company”

means the above-named company.

“Directors”

means the directors for the time being of the Company.

“dividend”

means any dividend (whether interim or final) declared or resolved to be paid on Shares pursuant to the Articles.

“Dividend Period”

shall bear the meaning given to it in the Articles under the heading “PREFERENCE SHARES”.

“Electronic Record”

has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Law.

“Electronic Transactions Law”

means the Electronic Transactions Law (2003 Revision) of the Cayman Islands.

“Exchange”

shall mean any securities exchange or other system on which the Shares may be listed or otherwise authorised for trading from time to time.

“Independent Director”

shall mean a person recognised as such by the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange.

“Member”

has the same meaning as in the Statute.

“Memorandum”

means the memorandum of association of the Company as amended from time to time by Special Resolution.

“month”

means calendar month.

“Ordinary Resolution”

means a resolution passed by a simple majority of the Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting. In computing the majority when a poll is demanded regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled by the Articles.

“paid-up”

means paid-up as to the par value and any premium payable in respect of the issue of any Share and includes credited as paid-up.

“Preference Shares”

has the meaning given in the Memorandum.

“Register of Members”

means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members.

“registered office”

means the registered office for the time being of the Company.

“Seal”

means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal.

“Secretary”

includes an assistant secretary and any person appointed to perform the duties of secretary of the Company.

“Share” and “Shares”

means a share or shares in the Company and includes a fraction of a share in the Company.

“Special Resolution”

has the same meaning as in the Statute provided that a Special Resolution may not be passed by way of an unanimous written resolution.

“Statute”

means the Companies Law (2016 Revision) of the Cayman Islands.

“written” and “in writing”

include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form.

“Treasury Share”

means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Statute.

 

 

4


 

2

In the Articles:

 

2.1

words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice-versa;

 

2.2

words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender;

 

2.3

words importing persons include corporations;

 

2.4

“written” and “in writing” include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record;

 

2.5

references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced from time to time;

 

2.6

any phrase introduced by the terms “including”, “include”, “in particular” or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms;

 

2.7

headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing these Articles;

 

2.8

the term “and/or” is used herein to mean both “and” as well as “or.” The use of “and/or” in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies the use of the terms “and” or “or” in others. The term “or” shall not be interpreted to be exclusive and the term “and” shall not be interpreted to require the conjunctive (in each case, unless the context otherwise requires);

 

2.9

in these Articles Section 8 and section 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Law shall not apply;

 

2.10

any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transactions Law;

 

2.11

any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an Electronic Record; and

 

2.12

the term “holder” in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of such Share.

 

SHARE CAPITAL: ISSUE OF SHARES

3

The authorised share capital of the Company at the date of the adoption of these Articles is US$1,015,000 divided into 2,000,000,000 Common Shares of a par value of US$0.0005 per share, and 7,500,000 Preference Shares of a par value of US$0.002 per share.

4

Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum and these Articles and to any direction that may be given by the Company in a general meeting and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Board may allot, issue, grant options, rights or warrants over or otherwise dispose of any Shares (including fractions of any Share) with or without preferred, deferred, qualified or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise, and to such persons at such times and on such other terms as they think proper. Notwithstanding and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Board is expressly authorised and empowered to implement or effect at its sole discretion the issuance of a preference share purchase right to be issued on a pro rata basis to each holder of a Common Share with such terms and for such purposes, including the influencing of takeovers, as may be described in a rights agreement between the Company and a rights agent.

5

Upon approval of the Board, such number of Common Shares, or other shares or securities of the Company, as may be required for such purposes shall be reserved for issuance in connection with an option, right, warrant or other security of the Company or any other person that is exercisable for, convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise issuable in respect of such Common Shares or other shares or securities of the Company.

6

All Shares shall be issued fully paid as to their nominal value and any premium determined by the Board at the time of issue and shall be non-assessable.

7

The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer.

 

COMMON SHARES

8

The holders of the Common Shares shall be:

 

8.1

entitled to dividends or other distributions in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Articles;

 

8.2

entitled to and are subject to the provisions in relation to winding up of the Company provided for in these Articles;

 

8.3

entitled to attend general meetings of the Company and shall be entitled to one vote for each Common Share registered in his name in the Register of Members, both in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Articles.

9

All Common Shares shall rank pari passu with each other in all respects.

 

5


PREFERENCE SHARES

10

Preference Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of such series to have such voting powers (full or limited or without voting powers), designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as are stated and expressed, or in any resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board as hereinafter provided.

11

Authority is hereby granted to the Board, subject to the provisions of the Memorandum, these Articles and applicable law, to create one or more series of Preference Shares and, with respect to each such series, to fix by resolution or resolutions, without any further vote or action by the Members of the Company providing for the issue of such series:

 

11.1

the number of Preference Shares to constitute such series and the distinctive designation thereof;

 

11.2

the dividend rate on the Preference Shares of such series, the dividend payment dates, the periods in respect of which dividends are payable (“Dividend Periods”), whether such dividends shall be cumulative and, if cumulative, the date or dates from which dividends shall accumulate;

 

11.3

whether the Preference Shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, Shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of Shares and the conversion price or prices or rate or rates, or the rate or rates at which such exchange may be made, with such adjustments, if any, as shall be stated and expressed or provided in such resolution or resolutions;

 

11.4

the preferences, if any, and the amounts thereof, which the Preference Shares of such series shall be entitled to receive upon the winding up of the Company;

 

11.5

the voting power, if any, of the Preference Shares of such series;

 

11.6

transfer restrictions and rights of first refusal with respect to the Preference Shares of such series; and

 

11.7

such other terms, conditions, special rights and provisions as may seem advisable to the Board.

12

Notwithstanding the fixing of the number of Preference Shares constituting a particular series upon the issuance thereof, the Board at any time thereafter may authorise the issuance of additional Preference Shares of the same series subject always to the Statute and the Memorandum.

13

No dividend shall be declared and set apart for payment on any series of Preference Shares in respect of any Dividend Period unless there shall likewise be or have been paid, or declared and set apart for payment, on all Preference Shares of each other series entitled to cumulative dividends at the time outstanding which rank senior or equally as to dividends with the series in question, dividends rateably in accordance with the sums which would be payable on the said Preference Shares through the end of the last preceding Dividend Period if all dividends were declared and paid in full.

14

If, upon the winding up of the Company, the assets of the Company distributable among the holders of any one or more series of Preference Shares which (i) are entitled to a preference over the holders of the Common Shares upon such winding up, and (ii) rank equally in connection with any such distribution, shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount to which the holders of such Preference Shares shall be entitled, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among the holders of each such series of the Preference Shares rateably in accordance with the sums which would be payable on such distribution if all sums payable were discharged in full.

 

ISSUE OF WARRANTS AND OPTIONS

15

The Board may issue warrants or options to subscribe for any class of Shares or other securities of the Company on such terms as it may from time to time determine. No warrants or options shall be issued to bearer.

 

CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES

16

Unless the Board determines otherwise, every person whose name is entered as a Member in the Register of Members shall be entitled without payment to receive, within twenty days, after allotment or lodgement of transfer (or within such other period as the conditions of issue shall provide), one certificate for all his Shares of each class or, upon payment of such reasonable fee as the Board shall prescribe, such number of certificates for Shares held as that person may request, provided that in respect of a Share or Shares held jointly by several persons the Company shall not be bound to issue a certificate or certificates to each such person, and the issue and delivery of a certificate or certificates to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all such holders.

17

Every share certificate shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which it is issued and the amount paid thereon or the fact that they are fully paid, as the case may be, and may otherwise be in such form as shall be determined by the Board. Such certificates may be under Seal. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. The name and address of the person to whom the Shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of Shares and date of issue, shall be entered in the Register of

6


 

Members of the Company. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled. The Board may authorise certificates to be issued with the seal and/or to be signed by such person(s) as may be authorised by the Board and may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by some method or system of mechanical process.

18

If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating such evidence, as the Board may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate.

19

Every share certificate sent in accordance with the Articles will be sent at the risk of the Member or other person entitled to the certificate. The Company will not be responsible for any share certificate lost or delayed in the course of delivery.

 

REGISTER OF MEMBERS

20

The Company shall maintain or caused to be maintained a Register of its Members in accordance with the Statute.

21

If the Board considers it necessary or appropriate, the Company may establish and maintain a duplicate or branch register or registers of Members in accordance with the Statute at such location or locations within or outside the Cayman Islands as the Board thinks fit. The Board may also determine which register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the duplicate or branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time.

22

The Company, or any agent(s) appointed by it to maintain the duplicate or branch Register of Members in accordance with these Articles, shall as soon as practicable and on a regular basis record or procure the recording in the original Register of Members all transfers of Shares effected on any duplicate or branch Register of Members and shall at all times maintain the original Register of Members in such manner as to show at all times the Members for the time being and the Shares respectively held by them, in all respects in accordance with the Statute.

23

The Company shall not be bound to register more than four persons as joint holders of any Share. If any Share shall stand in the names of two or more persons, the person first named in the Register of Members shall be deemed the sole holder thereof as regards service of notices and, subject to the provisions of these Articles, all or any other matters connected with the Company.

 

TRANSFER OF SHARES

24

All transfers of Shares may be effected by an instrument of transfer in any usual or common form or in such other form, or by such other manner, as the Board may approve. All instruments of transfer must be left at the registered office of the Company or at such other place as the Board may appoint and all such instruments of transfer shall be retained by or on behalf of the Company.

25

The instrument of transfer shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and by or on behalf of the transferee provided that the Board may dispense with the execution of the instrument of transfer by the transferee in any case which it thinks fit in its discretion to do so. The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and shall be executed with a manual signature or facsimile signature (which may be machine imprinted or otherwise) by or on behalf of the transferor and transferee provided that in the case of execution by facsimile signature by or on behalf of a transferor or transferee, the Board shall, if it so requires, have previously been provided with a list of specimen signatures of the authorised signatories of such transferor or transferee and the Board shall be reasonably satisfied that such facsimile signature corresponds to one of those specimen signatures. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members in respect thereof.

26

The Board may, in its absolute discretion, and without assigning any reason, refuse to register a transfer of any Share unless:

 

26.1

the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company accompanied by the certificate for the Shares to which it relates (which shall upon registration of the transfer be cancelled) and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

 

26.2

the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Shares;

 

26.3

the instrument of transfer is properly stamped (in circumstances where stamping is required);

7


 

26.4

in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to which the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and

 

26.5

a fee of such maximum amount as the Exchange (if any) may from time to time determine to be payable (or such lesser sum as the Board may from time to time require) is paid to the Company in respect thereof.

27

If the Board refuses to register a transfer of any Share, it shall, within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.

28

The Company shall not be obligated to make any transfer to an infant or to a person in respect of whom an order has been made by an competent court or official on the grounds that he is or may be suffering from mental disorder or is otherwise incapable of managing his affairs or under other legal disability.

29

Upon every transfer of Shares the certificate, if any, held by the transferor shall be given up to be cancelled, and shall forthwith be cancelled accordingly, and unless the Board determines otherwise a new certificate shall be issued without charge to the transferee in respect of the Shares transferred to him, and if any of the Shares included in the certificate so given up shall be retained by the transferor, a new certificate in respect thereof shall be issued to him without charge. The Company shall also retain the instrument(s) of transfer.

 

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES

30

Subject to the provisions of the Statute the Company may issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company. The redemption of Common Shares shall be effected in such manner and upon such other terms as the Company may, by Special Resolution, determine before the issue of the Common Shares and the redemption of Preference Shares shall be effected in such manner as the Board may, by resolution, determine before the issue of the Preference Shares.

31

Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Board may agree with the relevant Member.

32

Purchase of Common Shares listed on an Exchange. In addition to Article 31 above, the Company is authorised to purchase any Common Share listed on an Exchange in accordance with the following manner of purchase: The maximum number of Common Shares that may be repurchased shall be equal to the number of issued and outstanding Common Shares less one Common Share; at such time; at such price and on such other terms as determined and agreed by the Board in their sole discretion, provided, however, that (i) such repurchase transactions shall be in accordance with the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange; and (ii) at the time of the repurchase the Company is able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of its business.

33

Purchase of Common Shares not listed on an Exchange. In addition to Article 31 and Article 32 above, the Company is authorised to purchase any Common Share not listed on an Exchange in accordance with the following manner of purchase: the Company shall serve a repurchase notice in a form approved by the Board on the Member from whom the Common Shares are to be repurchased at least two (2) days prior to the date specified in the notice as being the repurchase date; the price for the Common Shares being repurchased shall be such price agreed  between the Board and the applicable Member; the date of repurchase shall be the date specified in the repurchase notice; and the repurchase shall be on such other terms as specified in the repurchase notice as determined and agreed by the Board and the applicable Member in their sole discretion.

34

The purchase of any Share shall not be oblige the Company to purchase any other Share other than as may be required pursuant to applicable law and any other contractual obligations of the Company.

35

The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital.

36

The holder of the Shares being purchased shall be bound to deliver up to the Company at its registered office or such other place as the Board shall specify, the certificate(s) (if any) thereof for cancellation and thereupon the Company shall pay to him the purchase or redemption monies or consideration in respect thereof.

37

The Board may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share.

38

The Board may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for no consideration).

 

8


 

VARIATION OF RIGHTS OF SHARES

39

If at any time the share capital of the Company 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 sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class.

40

The provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall apply to every such general meeting of the holders of one class of Shares except that the necessary quorum shall be one person holding or representing by proxy at least one-third of the issued Shares of the class.

41

The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preference 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. The rights of holders of Common Shares shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of Shares with preference or other rights which may be effected by the Board as provided in these Articles without any vote or consent of the holders of Common Shares.

 

COMMISSION ON SALE OF SHARES

42

The Company may in so far as the Statute permits pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any Shares of the Company. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.

 

NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS

43

The Company shall not be obligated to recognise any person as holding any Share upon any trust and the Company shall not 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 any interest in any fractional part of a Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by these Articles or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder.

 

TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

44

In case of the death of a Member, the survivor or survivors where the deceased was a joint holder, and the legal personal representatives of the deceased where he was a sole holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his interest in the Shares, but nothing herein contained shall release the estate of any such deceased holder from any liability in respect of any Shares which had been held by him solely or jointly with other persons.

45

Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board and subject as hereinafter provided, elect either to be registered himself as holder of the Share or to make such transfer of the Share to such other person nominated by him and to have such person registered as the transferee thereof, but the Board 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 that Member before his death or bankruptcy as the case may be.

46

If the person so becoming entitled shall elect to be registered himself as holder he shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him stating that he so elects.

47

A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of the holder (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the Share, except that he shall not, before being registered as a Member 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 provided however that the Board may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the Share and if the notice is not complied with within ninety days the Board may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

9


AMENDMENT OF MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AND ALTERATION OF CAPITAL

48

The Company may by Ordinary Resolution:

 

48.1.1

increase its share capital by such sum as the resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine;

 

48.1.2

consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares;

 

48.1.3

by subdivision of its existing Shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share capital into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum or into Shares without par value; and

 

48.1.4

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.

48.2

Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by Special Resolution change its name, alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein or alter or add to these Articles.

48.3

Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by Special Resolution reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve fund.

 

REGISTERED OFFICE

49

Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Board change the location of its registered office. The Company may, in addition to its Registered Office, maintain such other offices or places of business as the Board determines.

 

CLOSING REGISTER OF MEMBERS OR FIXING RECORD DATE

50

For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other proper purpose, the Board may provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period but not to exceed in any case forty (40) days. If the Register of Members shall be so closed for the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members such Register of Members shall be so closed for at least ten (10) days immediately preceding such meeting and the record date for such determination shall be the date of the closure of the Register of Members.

51

In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Board may fix in advance a date as the record date

 

(a)

for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Members, which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, and

 

(b)

for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other proper purpose, which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of payment of such dividend or the taking of any action to which such determination of Members is relevant.

52

If the Register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date immediately preceding the date on which notice of the meeting is deemed given under these Articles or the date on which the resolution of the Board declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date of the adjourned meeting, if they think fit.

 

GENERAL MEETINGS

53

All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.

54

The Company shall, if required by the Statute, other applicable law or the relevant code, rules or regulations applicable to the listing of any Shares on the Exchange, hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Board shall appoint provided that the period between the date of one annual general meeting of the Company and that of the next shall not be longer than such period as applicable law or the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange permits. At these meetings the report of the Board (if any) shall be presented.

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55

The Board may whenever it thinks fit proceed to convene a general meeting of the Company.

56

General meetings of the Company (other than the annual general meeting) may be held at such place, either within or without the Cayman Islands, as determined by the Board or pursuant to a Members requisition.

57

A Members requisition is a requisition of Members of the Company holding at the date of deposit of the requisition more than thirty (30) percent. of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company that as at that date carries the right of voting at general meetings of the Company.

58

The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the Registered Office, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists.

59

If the Board does not within twenty-one (21) days from the date of the deposit of the Members’ requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further twenty-one days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all the requisitionists, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of three months after the expiration of the said twenty-one (21) days.

60

A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by the Board.

 

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

61

At least five (5) days’ notice shall be given of any general meeting. Every notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and of the day for which it is given and shall specify such details as are required by applicable law or the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange.

62

A general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this regulation has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if applicable law so permits and it is so agreed.

 

62.1

in the case of a general meeting called as an annual general meeting, by all the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat or their proxies; or

 

62.2

in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by such number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than two thirds of the Shares in issue that carry a right to vote or their proxies.

63

The notice convening an annual general meeting shall specify the meeting as such, and the notice convening a meeting to pass a Special Resolution shall specify the intention to propose the resolution as a Special Resolution. Notice of every general meeting shall be given to all Members other than such as, under the provisions of the Articles or the terms of issue of the Shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notice from the Company.

64

There shall appear with reasonable prominence in every notice of general meetings of the Company a statement that a Member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote instead of him and that a proxy need not be a Member of the Company.

65

The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.

66

In cases where instruments of proxy are sent out with notices, the accidental omission to send such instrument of proxy to, or the non-receipt of such instrument of proxy by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate any resolution passed or any proceeding at any such meeting.

 

PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

67

No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. One or more Members present in person or by proxy, or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy, holding not less than a majority of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting in question shall be a quorum. Only business set out in the applicable notice may be transacted at such general meeting.

68

A person may only participate at a general meeting in person or by proxy, or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative, and shall not be permitted to attend by conference telephone or other communications equipment.

 

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69

If within one hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of Members, shall be dissolved and in any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other time or such other place as the Board may determine and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within one hour from the time appointed for the meeting the Members present shall be a quorum.

70

In order for business to be properly brought before a general meeting by a Member, the business must be legally proper and written notice thereof must have been filed with the Secretary not less than 90 days prior the date of the meeting (or not later than the 10th day following the date of the first public announcement of the date of such meeting, whichever is later) nor more than 120 days prior to the meeting. Each such notice shall set forth: (i) the name and address of the Member who intends to make the proposal as the same appear in the Company’s records,

(ii) the class and number of Shares that are owned by such Member, and (iii) a clear and concise statement of the proposal and the Member’s reasons for supporting it. The filing of a Member notice as required above shall not, in and of itself, constitute the making of the proposal described therein. If the Chairman of the meeting determines that any proposed business has not been properly brought before the meeting, he shall declare such business out of order, and such business shall not be conducted at the meeting.

71

The Chairman, if any, of the Board shall preside as Chairman at every general meeting of the Company, or if there is no such Chairman, or if he shall not be present within one hour after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be Chairman of the meeting or if all of the Directors present decline to take the chair, then the Members present shall choose one of their own number to be chairman of the meeting.

72

If at any general meeting no Director is willing to act as Chairman or if no Director is present within one hour after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be Chairman of the meeting.

73

The Chairman may, with the consent of any general meeting duly constituted hereunder, and shall if so directed by the meeting, adjourn the 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 general 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 general meeting. No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which might have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.

74

At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll.

75

A poll shall be taken in such manner and at such time and place, not being not being more than ten days from the date of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote was taken, as the Chairman directs. No notice need be given of a poll not taken immediately. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting at which the poll was demanded. Any other business other than that upon which a poll is to be taken or is contingent thereon may be preceded with pending the taking of the poll.

76

In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman of the general meeting at which the poll is taken shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.

 

NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS

77

Nominations of persons for appointment to the Board (other than directors to be nominated by any series of Preferred Shares, voting separately as a class) at a general meeting may only be made (a) pursuant to the Company’s notice of general meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board or any authorised committee thereof or (c) by any Member who (i) complies with the notice procedures set forth in the following Articles, and (ii) was a Member at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary and on the record date for the determination of Members entitled to vote at such general meeting, provided, however, that Members shall only be entitled to nominate persons for appointment to the Board at annual general meetings or at general meetings called specifically for the purpose of appointing directors.

78

For nominations of persons for appointment to the Board (other than directors to be nominated by any series of Preference Shares, voting separately as a class) to be properly brought before an annual general meeting by a Member, such annual general meeting must have been called for the purpose of, among other things, appointing directors and such Member must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, a Member’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the registered office of the Company, or such other address as the Secretary may designate, not less than 90 days prior to the date of such meeting (or not later than the 10th

 

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day following the date of the first public announcement of the date of such meeting, whichever is later) nor more than 120 days prior to such meeting. Such Member’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the Member proposes to nominate for appointment or re-appointment as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for appointment of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of the United States of America, as amended, or any successor provisions thereto, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if appointed and (b) as to the Member giving the notice (i) the name and address of such Member, as they appear on the Register of Members,

(ii) the class and number of Shares that are owned beneficially and/or of record by such Member, (iii) a representation that the Member is a registered holder of Shares entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination and (iv) a statement as to whether the Member intends or is part of a group that intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding share capital required to approve or elect the nominee for appointment and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from Members in support of such nomination. The Board may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Company, including such evidence satisfactory to the Board that such nominee has no interests that would limit such nominee’s ability to fulfil his duties as a director.

79

For nominations of persons for appointment to the Board (other than directors to be nominated by any series of Preference Shares, voting separately as a class) to be properly brought before a general meeting other than an annual general meeting by a Member, such Member must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, a Member’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the registered office of the Company or such other address as the Secretary may designate, not earlier than the 120th day prior to such general meeting and not later than the 90th day prior to such general meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the general meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be appointed at such meeting. Such Member’s notice shall set forth the same information as is required by provisions (a) and (b) of the above Article.

80

Unless otherwise provided by the terms of any series of Preference Shares or any agreement among Members or other agreement approved by the Board, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth above shall be eligible to serve as directors of the Company. If the Chairman of a general meeting determines that a proposed nomination was not made in compliance with such Articles, he shall declare to the meeting that nomination is defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Articles, if the Member (or a qualified representative of the Member) does not appear at the general meeting to present his nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded.

 

VOTES OF MEMBERS

81

Subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class or classes of Shares, every Member of record present in person or by proxy, or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or by proxy, shall have one vote for each Share registered in his name in the Register of Members.

82

In the case of joint holders of record the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or 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 of the holders stand in the Register of Members.

83

A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person in the nature of a committee, receiver or curator bonis appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other persons may vote by proxy.

84

No Member shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless he is registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting.

85

No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at such general meeting shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection made in due time shall be referred to the Chairman of the general meeting whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

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86

Votes may be given either personally or by proxy, or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy. A Member may appoint more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting and may appoint one proxy to vote both in favour of and against the same resolution in such proportion as specified in the instrument appointing the proxy. Where a Member appoints more than one proxy the instrument of proxy shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which each proxy is entitled to exercise the related votes.

87

A Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of his Shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed.

 

PROXIES

88

The rules and procedures relating to the form or a proxy, the depositing or filing of proxies and voting pursuant to a proxy and any other matter incidental thereto shall be approved by the Board, subject to such rules and procedures as required by applicable law or the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange and as provided in the following Articles under this heading of “PROXIES”.

89

The Chairman may, at his discretion, declare that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted, or which has not been declared to have been duly deposited by the Chairman, shall be invalid.

90

The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation or other non-natural person, under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised in that behalf provided however, that a Member may also authorise the casting of a vote by proxy pursuant to telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions (including, without limitation, instructions transmitted over the internet) obtained pursuant to procedures approved by the Board which are reasonably designed to verify that such instructions have been authorised by such Member. A proxy need not be a Member of the Company.

91

The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a poll.

 

CORPORATE MEMBERS

92

Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Member may in accordance with its constitutional documents, or in the absence of such provision 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 class of Members, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member.

 

SHARES THAT MAY NOT BE VOTED

93

Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding Shares at any given time.

 

DIRECTORS

94

There shall be a Board consisting of not less than one nor more than fifteen persons provided however that the Board may from time to time increase or reduce the upper and lower limits on the number of Directors and provided that so long as Shares of the Company are listed on an Exchange, the Board shall include such number of Independent Directors as the relevant code, rules or regulations applicable to the listing of any Shares on the Exchange require.

 

APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS

95

The Directors, other than those who may be appointed by the holders of shares of any class or series of shares having a preference over the Common Shares as to Dividends or upon liquidation pursuant to the terms of any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such shares adopted by the Board, shall be appointed for a term of office of one year, commencing at the annual general meeting at which such Director is appointed and expiring at the annual general meeting held in the immediately following calendar year, and a Director whose term expires at such an annual general meeting shall be entitled to be re-nominated as a Director in accordance with the provisions of the Articles under the heading ‘NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS’. No decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board shall shorten the terms of any incumbent Director.

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96

In any vote of Members to appoint Directors, each person nominated for appointment as a Director in an uncontested election shall be appointed if the number of votes cast for the person’s appointment exceeds the number of votes cast against the person’s appointment. In all votes to appoint Directors other than uncontested elections, the persons receiving the largest number of votes cast for appointment, up to the number of Directors to be appointed in such vote, shall be deemed appointed. For purposes of this Article 96, an “uncontested election” means any meeting of Members at which, as of the date that is ten (10) days in advance of the date the Company files its definitive proxy statement with respect to such meeting (regardless of whether or not thereafter revised or supplemented) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the number of persons nominated for appointment does not exceed the number of Directors to be appointed.

97

Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of shares having a preference over the Common Shares as to dividends or upon liquidation, nominations for the appointment of Directors may be made in accordance with the provisions of the Articles under the heading “NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS”.

98

Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of shares having a preference over the Common Shares as to Dividends or upon liquidation, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of Directors may be filled by the Board, or if not so filled, by the Members at the next annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting called for the purpose of appointing such Director, and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, removal or other cause as specified in the Articles under the heading “VACATION OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS” shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, even though less than quorum of the Board, or by a sole remaining Director, or if not so filled, by the Members at the next annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting called for the purpose of appointing such Director.

 

REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

99

The Members may by Ordinary Resolution remove any Director.

 

VACATION OF OFFICE OF DIRECTOR

100

The office of a Director shall be vacated if:

100.1

the Director gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns the office of Director;

100.2

the Director absents himself from three consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and the Directors pass a resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated office;

100.3

the Director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally;

100.4

the Director is found a lunatic or becomes of unsound mind; or

100.5

the Director being prohibited by any applicable law, or the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange, from being a Director.

 

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS

101

The remuneration to be paid to the Directors shall be such remuneration as the Directors shall determine. Such remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. The Directors shall also be entitled to be paid their traveling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in going to, attending and returning from meetings of the Board, or any committee of the Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or separate meetings of the holders of any class of Shares or debentures of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company or the discharge of their duties as a Director, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Board from time to time, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other.

102

The Board may approve additional remuneration to any Director undertaking any special work or services for, or undertaking any special mission on behalf of, the Company other than his ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity shall be in addition to his remuneration as a Director.

 

NO MINIMUM SHAREHOLDING

103

A Director is not required to hold Shares.

 

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DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS

104

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 Board may determine.

105

A Director may act by himself or by, through or on behalf of 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.

106

A Director of the Company may be or become a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of any other company or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as shareholder, a contracting party or otherwise, and no such Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of, or from his interest in, such other company.

107

No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall be in any way interested be or 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 transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A Director shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested provided that the nature of the interest of any Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon.

108

A general notice that a Director is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure for the purposes of voting on a resolution in respect of a contract or transaction in which he has an interest, and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction.

 

POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS

109

Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any directions given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Board which may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of the Memorandum or Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Board.

110

All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable or transferable instruments and all receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in such manner as the Board shall determine by resolution.

111

The Board on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his widow or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance.

112

The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.

 

RESTRICTIONS ON THE COMPANY ENGAGING IN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

113

The Company shall not engage in any Business Combination with any Interested Member for a period of three (3) years following the date that such Member became an Interested Member, unless:

113.1

prior to such date the Board approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in the Member becoming an Interested Member, or

113.2

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the Member becoming an Interested Member, the Interested Member owned at least eighty-five (85) percent of the Voting Shares of the Company outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of Voting Shares outstanding (but not the outstanding Voting Shares owned by the Interested Member) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee share plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

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113.3

on or subsequent to such date the Business Combination is approved by the Board and authorised at a general meeting of Members, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds (66 2/3) percent of the outstanding Voting Shares which are not owned by the Interested Member.

114

The restrictions contained in the above Article shall not apply if:

114.1

a Member becomes an Interested Member inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the Member ceases to be an Interested Member and (ii) would not, at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to a Business Combination between the Company and such Member, have been an Interested Member but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or

114.2

the Business Combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which (i) constitutes one of the transactions described in the second sentence of this sub-paragraph; (ii) is with or by a person who either was not an Interested Member during the previous three (3) years or who became an Interested Member with the approval of the Board; and (iii) is approved or not opposed by a majority of the members of the Board then in office (but not less than one (1)) who were Directors prior to any person becoming an Interested Member during the previous three (3) years or were recommended for appointment or appointed to succeed such Directors by a majority of such Directors. The proposed transactions referred to in the preceding sentence are limited to a

(A) a merger or consolidation of the Company (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to Section 251(f) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, U.S., no vote of the Members would be required if the Company were incorporated under the law of such State); (B) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise of assets of the Company or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to the Company) having an aggregate market value equal to fifty

(50) percent. or more of either that aggregate market value of all of the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the Company; or (C) a proposed tender or exchange offer for fifty (50) percent or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company. The Company shall give not less than twenty (20) days’ notice to all Interested Members prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in clauses (A) or (B) of the second sentence of this sub-paragraph.

114.3

As used in the Articles under the above heading “ RESTRICTIONS ON THE COMPANY ENGAGING IN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS “, the term:

 

114.3.1

affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

 

 

114.3.2

associate” when used to indicate a relationship with any person means (A) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty (20) percent. or more of any class of Voting Shares, (B) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a twenty (20) percent beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, and (C) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

 

114.3.3

Business Combination”, when used in reference to the Company and any Interested Member of the Company, means:

 

 

(a)

any merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company with (I) the Interested Member, or (II) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the Interested Member and as a result of such merger or consolidation the prohibition in the immediately preceding Article is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

(b)

any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a Member of the Company, to or with the Interested Member, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Company or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten (10) percent or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the Company;

 

(c)

any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Company or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company of any shares of the Company or of such subsidiary to the Interested Member, except (I) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into shares of the Company or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the Interested Member became such, (II) pursuant to a merger which could be accomplished under Section 251(g) of the General

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Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, U.S. if the Company were incorporated under the laws of such State, (III) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into shares of such Company or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of shares of such Company subsequent to the time the Interested Shares became such, (IV) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Company to purchase made on the same terms to all holders of said shares, or (V) any issuance or transfer of shares by the Company, provided however, that in no case under (III)-(V) above shall there be an increase in the Interested Member’s proportionate share of the shares of any class or series of the Company or of the Voting Shares of the Company;

 

(d)

any transaction involving the Company or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the shares of any class or series, or securities convertible into the shares of any class or series, of the Company or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the Interested Member, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares not caused, directly or indirectly, by the Interested Member; or

 

(e)

any receipt by the Interested Member of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a Member of the Company) of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subparagraphs (a)-(d) above) provided by or through the Company or any direct or indirect majority owned subsidiary.

 

114.3.4

control,” including the term “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and polices of a person whether through the ownership of Voting Shares, by contract or otherwise. A person who is the owner of twenty (20) percent. or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds Voting Shares, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

 

114.3.5

Interested Member” means any person (other than the Company and any direct or indirect majority- owned subsidiary of the Company) that

 

 

(a)

is the owner of fifteen (15) percent or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company, or

 

(b)

is an affiliate or associate of the Company and was the owner of fifteen (15) percent. or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an Interested Member,

 

and the affiliates and associates of such person; provided, however, that the term “Interested Member” shall not include any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen (15) percent. limitation set forth herein is the result of action taken solely by the Company provided that such person shall be an Interested Member if thereafter such person acquires additional Voting Shares of the Company, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an Interested Member, the Voting Shares of the Company deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of beneficial owner set out below under this Article but shall not include any other unissued shares of the Company which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

114.3.6

person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

114.3.7

Voting Shares” means with respect to any company or corporation, shares of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the appointment of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a company or corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the appointment of the governing body of such entity. Every reference to a percentage of Voting Shares shall refer to such percentage of the votes of such Voting Shares.

 

 

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114.3.8

owner” including the terms “own” and “owned” when used with respect to any shares means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

 

 

(a)

beneficially owns such shares directly or indirectly; or

 

(b)

has (I) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of shares tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (II) the right to vote such shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any shares because of such person’s right to vote such shares if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such shares arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more persons; or

 

(c)

has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (II) of clause (b) of this definition, or disposing of such shares with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such shares.

115

In addition to any approval of Members required pursuant to the terms of any class or series of shares other than Common Shares, the approval of the holders of a majority of the issued shares generally entitled to vote at a meeting called for such purpose, following approval by the Board, shall be required in order for the Company to “sell, lease, or exchange all or substantially all of its property and assets” (as that phrase is interpreted for the purposes of Section 271 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, U.S., as amended or re-enacted from time to time), provided that the foregoing approval by Members shall not be required in the case of any transaction between the Company and any entity the Company “directly or indirectly controls” (as that phrase is defined in Rule 405 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended or re-enacted from time to time).

 

MINUTES

116

The Board shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of all appointments of officers made by the Board, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares and of the Board, and of committees of the Board including the names of the Directors present at each meeting.

 

DELEGATION OF THE BOARD’S POWERS

117

The Board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions (including the power to sub-delegate) to any committee consisting of one or more Directors. The Board may also delegate to any Director such of their powers, authorities and discretions as they consider desirable to be exercised by him. Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Board may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked or altered by the Board. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of the Board shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of the Board, so far as they are capable of applying.

118

The Board may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Board may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked by the Board at any time.

119

The Board may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised signatories as the Board may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

120

The Board may from time to time appoint one or more Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and such other officers of the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, any Secretary) as it considers necessary in the management of the business of the Company and as it may decide for such period and upon such terms as it thinks fit and upon such terms as to remuneration as it may decide in accordance with these Articles. Such officers need not also be a Director. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of his appointment, an officer of the Company may be removed by resolution of the Board. An officer of the Company may vacate his office at any time if he gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns his office.

121

Every Director appointed to an office under the above Article hereof shall, without prejudice to any claim for damages that such Director may have against the Company or the Company may have against such Director for any breach of any contract of service between him and the Company, be liable to be dismissed or removed from such executive office by the Board. A Director appointed to an office under the above Article shall ipso facto and immediately cease to hold such executive office if he shall cease to hold the office of Director for any cause.

 

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD

122

Except as otherwise provided by these Articles, the Board shall meet together for the despatch of business, convening, adjourning and otherwise regulating their meetings and procedures as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes of the Board present at a meeting at which there is a quorum; provided that, not less than two-thirds of the votes of the Board then in office shall be required to amend the Company’s Principles of Corporate Governance to make any changes to the responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board or the Lead Director as set forth therein. In case of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall not have a second or casting vote.

123

Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such times and places as may be provided for in resolutions adopted by the Board. No additional notice of a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board shall be required.

124

A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Board by at least two days’ notice in writing to every Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held and provided further if notice is given in person, by telephone, cable, telex, telecopy or email the same shall be deemed to have been given on the day it is delivered to the Directors or transmitting organisation as the case may be. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting of the Board to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.

125

The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the Board and unless so fixed shall be a majority of Directors in office. In no event shall the Board fix a quorum that is less than one-third (1/3) of the total number of Directors, provided always that if there shall at any time be only a sole Director the quorum shall be one.

126

The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and 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 or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to that number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose.

127

The Directors may elect a chairman of their Board 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 five (5) minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

128

All acts done by any meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director and/or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and qualified to be a Director as the case may be.

129

Members of the Board or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or of such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Board the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the chairman is located at the start of the meeting.

130

A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts), signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of the Board shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors or committee of the Board as the case may be duly convened and held.

 

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PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT

131

A Director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the Minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action.

 

SEAL

132

The Company may, if the Board so determines, have a Seal which shall only be used by the authority of the Board or of a committee of the Board authorised by the Board in that behalf and every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or the Secretary or Secretary-Treasurer or some other officer of the Company or other person appointed by the Board for the purpose.

133

The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Board so determines, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used.

134

A Director, Secretary or other officer or representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Board affix the Seal of the Company over his signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him under Seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever.

 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND RESERVE

135

Subject to the Statute and these Articles, the Board may from time to time declare or resolve to pay dividends (including interim dividends) or other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the dividends or other distributions out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor.

136

A dividend shall be deemed to be an interim dividend unless the terms of the resolution pursuant to which the Board resolves to pay such dividend specifically state that such dividend shall be a final dividend.

137

The Board may, before declaring or resolving to pay any dividends or other distributions, set aside such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall at the discretion of the Directors, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, at the like discretion, be employed in the business of the Company.

138

No dividend or other distribution shall be payable except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by law.

139

Subject to the rights of persons, if any, entitled to Shares with special rights as to dividends or other distributions, if dividends or other distributions are to be declared on a class of Shares they shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid or credited as paid on the Shares of such class outstanding on the record date for such dividend or distribution as determined in accordance with these Articles.

140

The Board may declare or resolve that any dividend or other distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular (but without limitation) by the distribution of paid up Shares, debentures, or debenture stock of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Board may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional certificates and fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board.

141

Any dividend, other distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post or sent by any electronic or other means of payment, directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the holder who is first named on the Register of Members or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant or electronic or other payment shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders.

142

No dividend or other distribution shall bear interest against the Company.

143

Any dividend or other distribution which cannot be paid to a Member and/or which remains unclaimed after six months from the date on which such dividend or other distribution becomes payable, may in the discretion of the Board, be paid into a separate account in the Company’s name, provided that the Company shall not be constituted as a trustee in respect of that account and the dividend or other distribution shall remain as a debt due to the Member. Any dividend or other distribution which remains unclaimed after a period of six years from the date of declaration of such dividend or other distribution shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

 

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CAPITALISATION

144

The Board may, if authorised by an Ordinary Resolution, at any time capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts or funds (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution and to appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst such Members had the same been a distribution of profits by way of dividend or other distribution and to apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Board shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power given to the Board to make such provisions as they think fit for the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Board may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all such Members and the Company.

 

BOOKS OF ACCOUNT

145

The Board shall cause proper books of account (including, where applicable, material underlying documentation including contracts and invoices) to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company. Such books of account must be retained for a minimum period of five years from the date on which they are prepared. Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to explain its transactions.

146

The Board shall 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 Members not being Directors and no Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorised by the Board or by the Company in general meeting.

147

The Board may from time to time cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law.

 

AUDIT

148

The appointment of and provisions relating to Auditors shall be in accordance with applicable law and the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange.

149

In the event that no such code, rules and regulations referred to in the above Article apply, the appointment of and provisions relating to Auditors shall in accordance with the following provisions:

 

149.1

The Board may appoint an Auditor who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Board, on such terms as the Board determines and the Board may fix his or their remuneration.

 

149.2

Every Auditor shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor.

 

149.3

Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members.

 

NOTICES

150

Notices shall be in writing and shall be given by the Company in accordance with applicable law and the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange.

151

In the event that no such code, rules and regulations referred to in the above Article applies, notice shall be given in accordance with the following provisions:

 

151.1

notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by post, cable, telex, fax or e-mail to him or to his address as shown in the Register of Members (or where the notice is given by e-mail by sending it to the e-mail address provided by such Member). Any notice, if posted from one country to another, is to be sent airmail;

 

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151.2

where a notice is sent by courier, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by delivery of the notice to a courier company, and shall be deemed to have been received on the third day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) following the day on which the notice was delivered to the courier. Where a notice is sent by post, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and posting a letter containing the notice, and shall be deemed to have been received on the fifth day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) following the day on which the notice was posted. Where a notice is sent by cable, telex or fax, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing and sending such notice and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was transmitted. Where a notice is given by e-mail service shall be deemed to be effected by transmitting the e-mail to the e-mail address provided by the intended recipient and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was sent, and it shall not be necessary for the receipt of the e-mail to be acknowledged by the recipient;

 

151.3

a notice may be given by the Company to the person or persons which the Company has been advised are entitled to a Share or Shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member in the same manner as other notices which are required to be given under these Articles and shall be addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description at the address supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred;

 

151.4

notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner hereinbefore authorised by the Articles to every person shown as a Member in the Register of Members on the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the Register of Members and every person upon whom the ownership of a Share devolves by reason of his being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member where the Member but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of general meetings, and no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.

 

WINDING UP

 

151.5

If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any Shares and with the approval of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other approval required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members 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 that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like approval, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like approval, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability.

 

151.6

If the Company shall be wound up, and the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them. If in a winding up the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up. This Article is without prejudice to the rights of the holders of Shares issued upon special terms and conditions.

 

INDEMNITY

152

To the fullest extent permitted by law, no Director, officer of the Company or trustee acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company shall be personally liable to the Company or its Members for any loss arising or liability attaching to such Director or officer by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such Director or officer may be guilty in relation to the Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply to (a) any fraud or dishonesty of such Director or officer, (b) such Director’s or officer’s conscious, intentional or wilful breach of his obligation to act honestly, lawfully and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company, or (c) any claims or rights of action to recover any gain, personal profit, or other advantage to which the Director or officer is not legally entitled. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this section shall not extend to any matter that would render it void pursuant to the Statute or to any person holding the office of auditor in relation to the Company.

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153

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify any current or former Director, officer of the Company, or any person who is serving or has served at the request of the Company as a director or officer and any trustee acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company and their respective heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives (each individually, a “Covered Person”), against any expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than a proceeding by, or in the name or on behalf of, the Company), to which he was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party or in which he is otherwise involved, (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he is or was a Covered Person; provided, however, that this provision shall not indemnify any Covered Person against any liability arising out of (a) any fraud or dishonesty in the performance of such Covered Person’s duty to the Company, or (b) such Covered Person’s conscious, intentional or wilful breach of his obligation to act honestly, lawfully and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this section shall not extend to any matter which would render it void pursuant to the Statute, applicable law or to any person holding the office of auditor in relation to the Company.

154

In the case of any threatened, pending or completed proceeding by, or in the name or on behalf of, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each Covered Person against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, but excluding judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defence or settlement thereof, except that no indemnification for expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudged to be liable for fraud or dishonesty in the performance of his duty to the Company, or for conscious, intentional or wilful breach of his obligation to act honestly, lawfully and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Grand Court in the Cayman Islands or the court in which such proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such Covered Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court shall deem proper. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this section shall not extend to any matter that would render it void pursuant to the Statute or to any person holding the office of auditor in relation to the Company.

155

To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding for which indemnification is permitted pursuant to these Articles shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon receipt by the Board of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company pursuant to these Articles.

156

Any indemnification pursuant to these Articles (unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) shall be made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Covered Person is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in these Articles, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a Covered Person who is a Director or officer of the Company at the time of such determination, (a) by a majority vote of the Directors who are not parties to such proceeding, even though less than a quorum; (b) by a committee of such Directors designated by a majority vote of such Directors, even though less than a quorum; (c) if there are no such Directors, or if such Directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (d) by the Members by Ordinary Resolution. Such determination shall be made, with respect to any other Covered Person, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Company. To the extent, however, that any Covered Person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defence of any proceeding, or in defence of any claim, issue or matter therein, such Covered Person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case. Notwithstanding the any provision of these Articles relating to indemnification, the Company shall be required to indemnify or advance expenses to a Covered Person in connection a proceeding commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such proceeding by such person was authorized by the Board.

157

It being the policy of the Company that indemnification of the persons specified in these Articles shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law, the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for by these Articles shall not be deemed exclusive (a) of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under these Articles, any agreement, any insurance purchased by the Company, vote of Members or disinterested Directors, or pursuant to the direction (however embodied) of any court of competent jurisdiction, or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, or (b) of the power of the Company to indemnify any person who is or was an employee or agent of the Company or of another corporation, joint venture, trust or other enterprise which he is serving or has served at the request of the Company, to the same extent and in the same situations and subject to the same determinations as are hereinabove set forth with respect to a Covered Person.

24


 

158

The Board may, notwithstanding any interest of the Directors in such action, authorize the Company to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Covered Person, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of these Articles. As used in these Articles relating to indemnification, references to the “Company” include all constituent corporations in an amalgamation, consolidation or merger or similar arrangement in which the Company or a predecessor to the Company by amalgamation, consolidation or merger or similar arrangement was involved.

 

FINANCIAL YEAR

159

The financial year of the Company shall be as prescribed by the Board from time to time.

 

TRANSFER BY WAY OF CONTINUATION

160

If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute and with the approval of a Special Resolution, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

MERGERS AND CONSOLIDATIONS

161

The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more constituent companies (as defined in the Statute), upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by Statute) with the approval of a Special Resolution.

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