Exhibit 99.1
ETAO International Co., Ltd.
1460 Broadway, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10036
Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders
To Be Held on February 16, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. EST
To the shareholders of ETAO International Co., Ltd.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ETAO International Co., Ltd. (the “Company,” or “we”) will hold the an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) on February 16, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. EST in person at 1460 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10036, and virtually at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82157342548?pwd=d3F1aENWOG4rY0ZrOGdIS3A5Zkp1QT09 (Meeting ID: 821 5734 2548 Passcode: 511984)
The Extraordinary General Meeting will be convened for the following purposes:
| 1. | Proposal No.1 - To approve, as an ordinary resolution, a share consolidation, of the Company’s ordinary shares at a ratio of one-for-twenty such that each twenty ordinary shares of the Company shall be combined into one ordinary share of the Company (the “Share Consolidation” and the proposal, the “Share Consolidation Proposal”); |
| 2. | Proposal No.2 -To approve, as an ordinary resolution and immediately following the Share Consolidation, the increase of the Company’s authorized share capital from US$50,000 divided into 25,000,000 ordinary shares of US$0.002 par value each to US$500,000 divided into 250,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Increase of Authorized Shares” and the proposal, the “Increase of Authorized Shares Proposal”); |
| 3. | Proposal No.3 - To approve, as an ordinary resolution and immediately following the Increase of Authorized Shares, an alteration to the share capital of the Company, by: |
(i) re-designating the authorized issued share capital of the Company from US$500,000 divided into 250,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each, to (a) 200,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Post-Alternation Ordinary Shares”), designated as 150,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”), and (b) 50,000,000 preferred shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Preferred Shares”), in each case having the respective rights and privileges and being subject to the restrictions set out in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company to be adopted pursuant to resolution 4 below (the “Amended M&A”) (the “Authorized Share Capital Change”); and
(ii) re-designating of the issued and outstanding shares held by the shareholders of the Company as follows:
(a) 660,000 Class B Ordinary Shares to be issued held by Wensheng Liu, prior to the application of this resolution be re-designated as 660,000 Class B Ordinary Shares ; and
(b) each ordinary share which was registered in the name of a member (excluding the shares re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares pursuant to the foregoing paragraph (a)) prior to the application of this resolution shall be re-designated as a Class A Ordinary Share registered in the name of the relevant member (excluding the shares re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares pursuant to the foregoing paragraph (a)) (the “Issued Share Capital Change and together with the Authorized Share Capital Change, the “Amendment to the Share Capital” and the proposal, the “Amendment to the Share Capital Proposal”).
| 4. | Proposal No. 4 - To approve, as a special resolution, the adoption of the Amended M&A in substitution for the existing memorandum and articles of association of the Company (the “Amendment to the M&A”, and the proposal, the “Amendment to the M&A Proposal”) as follows: “IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, as a special resolution, that, subject to the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation, the Increase of Authorized Shares and the Amendment to the Share Capital, the Company adopt the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association attached hereto as Annex A (the “Amended M&A”) in substitution for and to the exclusion of the existing memorandum and articles of association of the Company”; |
| 5. | Proposal No. 5 – To authorize the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof to approve of the foregoing proposals (the “Authorization to Adjourn the Meeting”, and the proposal, the “Authorization to Adjourn the Meeting Proposal”).. |
The foregoing items of business are more completely described in the notice to shareholders accompanying this notice. The board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote “FOR” the Proposals No. 1 to 5.
The Board of Directors has established the close of business on January 25, 2024 as the “record date” that will determine the shareholders who are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Extraordinary General Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement of the Extraordinary General Meeting. The notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting and the proxy card will be first sent or made available to shareholders on or about November 17, 2023.
Attendance at the Extraordinary General Meeting is limited to the Company’s shareholders, their proxies and invited guests of the Company.
By order of the Board of Directors, | |
| |
/s/ Wensheng Liu | |
Wensheng Liu | |
Chairman | |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
The following questions and answers are intended to address briefly some commonly asked questions regarding the Extraordinary General Meeting. These questions and answers may not address all of the questions that may be important to you as a shareholder. To better understand these matters, you should carefully read this entire notice to shareholder.
Q: Why am I receiving this notice to shareholder?
A: The Company is holding an Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Share Consolidation Proposal, the Increase of Authorized Shares Proposal, the Amendment to the Authorized Share Capital Proposal, the Amendment to M&A Proposal and Authorization to Adjourn the Meeting Proposal.
We have included in this notice to shareholder important information about the Extraordinary General Meeting. You should read this information carefully and in its entirety. The enclosed voting materials allow you to vote your shares without attending the Extraordinary General Meeting. Your vote is very important and we encourage you to submit your proxy as soon as possible.
Q: What proposals are the shareholders being asked to consider?
A: The shareholders are being asked to:
| 1. | Proposal No.1 - To approve, as an ordinary resolution, a share consolidation, of the Company’s ordinary shares at a ratio of one-for-twenty such that each twenty ordinary shares of the Company shall be combined into one ordinary share of the Company (the “Share Consolidation” and the proposal, the “Share Consolidation Proposal”); |
| 2. | Proposal No.2 - To approve, as an ordinary resolution and immediately following the Share Consolidation, the increase of the Company’s authorized share capital from US$50,000 divided into 25,000,000 ordinary shares of US$0.002 par value each to US$500,000 divided into 250,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Increase of Authorized Shares” and the proposal, the “Increase of Authorized Shares Proposal”); |
| 3. | Proposal No.3 - To approve, as an ordinary resolution and immediately following the Increase of Authorized Shares, an amendment to the share capital of the Company, by: |
(i) re-designating the authorized issued share capital of the Company from US$500,000 divided into 250,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each, to (a) 200,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Post-Alternation Ordinary Shares”), designated as 150,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”), and (b) 50,000,000 preferred shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Preferred Shares”), in each case having the respective rights and privileges and being subject to the restrictions set out in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company to be adopted pursuant to resolution 4 below (the “Amended M&A”) (the “Authorized Share Capital Change”); and
(ii) re-designating the issued and outstanding shares held by the shareholders of the Company as follows:
(a) 660,000 Class B Ordinary Shares to be issued held by Wensheng Liu, immediately after the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation and the Increase of Authorized Shares, be re-designated as 660,000 Class B Ordinary Shares; and
(b) each ordinary share which was registered in the name of a member (excluding the shares re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares pursuant to the foregoing paragraph (a)) immediately after the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation and the Increase of Authorized Shares, shall be re-designated as a Class A Ordinary Share registered in the name of the relevant member (excluding the shares re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares pursuant to the foregoing paragraph (a)) (the “Issued Share Capital Change and together with the Authorized Share Capital Change, the “Amendment to the Share Capital” and the proposal, the “Amendment to the Share Capital Proposal”).
| 4. | Proposal No. 4 - To approve, as a special resolution, the adoption of the Amended M&A in substitution for the existing memorandum and articles of association of the Company (the “Amendment to the M&A”, and the proposal, the “Amendment to the M&A Proposal”) as follows: “IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, as a special resolution, that, subject to the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation, the Increase of Authorized Shares and the Amendment to the Share Capital the Company adopt the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association attached hereto as Annex A (the “Amended M&A”) in substitution for and to the exclusion of the existing memorandum and articles of association of the Company”; and |
| 5. | Proposal No. 5 – To authorize the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof to approve of the foregoing proposals. (the “Authorization to Adjourn the Meeting”, and the proposal, the “Authorization to Adjourn the Meeting Proposal”). |
Q: What are the recommendations of the Board of Directors?
A: THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT THE APPROVAL OF THE SHARE CONSOLIDATION, THE INCREASE OF AUTHORIZED SHARES, THE AMENDMENT TO THE SHARE CAPITAL, AND THE AMENDMENT TO M&A ARE ADVISABLE AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS AND HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE PROPOSAL DESCRIBED HEREIN. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE SHARE CONSOLIDATION PROPOSAL, THE INCREASE OF AUTHORIZED SHARES PROPOSAL, THE AMENDMENT TO THE SHARE CAPITAL PROPOSAL, THE AMENDMENT TO M&A PROPOSAL, THE AUTHORIZATION TO AJDOURN THE MEETING PROPOSAL.
Q: When and where will the Extraordinary General Meeting be held?
A: The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held on February 16, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. EST in person at 1460 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10036 and virtually at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82157342548?pwd=d3F1aENWOG4rY0ZrOGdIS3A5Zkp1QT09 (Meeting ID: 821 5734 2548 Passcode: 511984).
Q: Who is entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting?
A: The record date for the Extraordinary General Meeting is January 25, 2024. Only holders of ordinary shares of the Company as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Extraordinary General Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. As of the record date, there were 102,445,851 ordinary shares issued and outstanding. Each ordinary share that you own entitles you to one vote.
Q: What constitutes a quorum for the Extraordinary General Meeting?
A: At the Extraordinary General Meeting, one or more shareholders entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy or (in the case of a shareholder being a corporation) by its duly authorized representative representing not less than 33.4% of all voting power of the Company’s share capital in issue throughout the meeting shall form a quorum.
Q: How many votes are required to approve the proposals?
A: The approval of the Share Consolidation, the Increase of Authorized Shares, the Amendment to the Share Capital and the Authorization to Adjourn the Meeting, respectively, require the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, by proxy or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative at the Extraordinary General Meeting. A properly executed proxy card marked “Abstain” with respect to this proposal will not be voted.
The approval of the Amendment to the M&A, respectively, requires affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast by shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, by proxy or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative at the Extraordinary General Meeting. A properly executed proxy card marked “Abstain” with respect to this proposal will not be voted.
Q: How do the shareholders vote?
A: If you are a holder of record on the Record Date, you may vote in person at the Extraordinary General Meeting by submitting a proxy for the Extraordinary General Meeting. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope.
The shareholders have three voting options. You may vote using one of the following methods:
| (1) | By Internet, which we encourage if you have Internet access, at www.proxyvote.com; |
| (2) | By mail or deposit to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717; or |
| (3) | By phone at 1-800-690-6903. |
Q: How can I attend the meeting?
A: The meeting is open to all holders of the Company’s ordinary shares as of the record date. You may attend the meeting in person at 1460 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10036. You may also attend the meeting as a remote participant via live audio webcast at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82157342548?pwd=d3F1aENWOG4rY0ZrOGdIS3A5Zkp1QT09 (Meeting ID: 821 5734 2548 Passcode: 511984)
Q: May shareholders ask questions at the meeting?
A: Yes. Representatives of the Company will answer questions of general interest at the end of the meeting.
Q: If my shares are held in “street name” by a broker or other nominee, will my broker or nominee vote my shares for me?
A: Your broker or other nominee does not have authority to vote on non-routine matters. All of the proposals presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting are considered non-routine matters. Your broker or other nominee will vote your shares held by it in “street name” with respect to these matters only if you provide instructions to it on how to vote.
Q: What if I do not vote on the matters relating to the proposals?
A: If you fail to vote or fail to instruct your broker or other nominee how to vote on any of the proposals, it will have no effect on such proposals. It will be treated as a “non-vote” and not count toward a quorum.
Q: May I change my vote after I have delivered my proxy or voting instruction card?
A: Yes. You may change your vote at any time before your proxy is voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. You may do this in one of three ways:
| 1. | by sending a completed proxy card bearing a later date than your original proxy card and mailing it so that it is received prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting; |
| 2. | by logging on to the Internet website specified on your proxy card in the same manner you would submit your proxy electronically or by calling the telephone number specified on your proxy card, in each case if you are eligible to do so and following the instructions on the proxy card; or |
| 3. | by attending the Extraordinary General Meeting in person at 1460 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10036, or by attending remotely at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82157342548?pwd=d3F1aENWOG4rY0ZrOGdIS3A5Zkp1QT09 (Meeting ID: 821 5734 2548 Passcode: 511984, and casting your votes. |
Your attendance alone will not revoke any proxy.
If your shares are held in an account at a broker or other nominee, you should contact your broker or other nominee to change your vote.
Q: Do I have appraisal rights?
A: The shareholders do not have appraisal rights with respect to the matters to be voted upon at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Q: Whom should I call if I have questions about the proxy materials or voting procedures?
A: If you have questions about the proposals, or if you need assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares or need additional copies of this notice to shareholder or the enclosed proxy card, you should contact ETAO International Co., Ltd., 1460 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10036, or call +86-0599-782-8808. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you should contact your broker, bank or other nominee for additional information.
Q: What do I need to do now?
A: After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this notice to shareholder, including the annexes, please vote your shares as soon as possible so that your shares will be represented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Please follow the instructions set forth on the proxy card or on the voting instruction form provided by the record holder if your shares are held in the name of your broker or other nominee.
Q: Who is paying for the expenses involved in preparing and mailing this notice to shareholder?
A: All of the expenses involved in preparing, assembling and mailing these proxy materials and all costs of soliciting proxies will be paid for by the Company. In addition to the solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited by our officers and other employees by telephone or in person. Such persons will receive no compensation for their services other than their regular salaries. Arrangements will also be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the shares held of record by such persons, and we may reimburse such persons for reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by them in so doing.
Q: What Interest Do Officers and Directors Have in Matters to Be Acted Upon?
A: Members of the Board of Directors and executive officers of the Company do not have any interest in any proposal that is not shared by all other shareholders of the Company.
PROPOSAL 1:
TO APPROVE THE SHARE CONSOLIDATION OF THE COMPANY’S ORDINARY SHARES
(ITEM 1 ON THE PROXY CARD)
General
The Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and the shareholders, and is hereby soliciting shareholder approval, to effect a Share Consolidation of the Company’s ordinary shares at a ratio of one-for-twenty (the “Share Consolidation”), on the effective date as determined by the Board of Directors, but must be on or before March 12, 2024 (the “Effective Date”).
The Share Consolidation must be passed by ordinary resolution which requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such proposals, either in person, by proxy or by authorized representative. If our shareholders approve this proposal, our Board of Directors will have the authority to implement the Share Consolidation at any time after the approval of the Share Consolidation but on or before March 12, 2024.
The Share Consolidation will be implemented simultaneously for all ordinary shares. The Share Consolidation will affect all shareholders uniformly and will have no effect on the proportionate holdings of any individual shareholder, with the exception of adjustments related to the treatment of fractional shares (see below).
Purpose of the Share Consolidation
The Company’s Ordinary Shares are currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “ETAO.” Among other requirements, the listing maintenance standards established by Nasdaq require the ordinary shares to have a minimum closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share. Pursuant to the Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Minimum Bid Price Rule”), if the closing bid price of the ordinary shares is not equal to or greater than $1.00 for 30 consecutive business days, Nasdaq will send a deficiency notice to the Company. Thereafter, if the ordinary shares do not close at a minimum bid price of $1.00 or more for 10 consecutive business days within 180 calendar days of the deficiency notice, Nasdaq may determine to delist the ordinary shares.
On June 14, 2023, the Company received a written notification from the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC notifying the Company that it was not in compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule, and the Company was provided 180 calendar days, or until December 11, 2023, to regain compliance.
To regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule by December 11, 2023, the Board of Directors determined that it was in the best interest of the Company to solicit the approval of the shareholders to effect a share consolidation of the Company’s ordinary shares. The Board of Directors believes that without receiving the shareholders’ approval and without the closing price of the ordinary shares otherwise meeting the $1.00 minimum closing bid price requirement, the Company’s ordinary shares will be delisted from Nasdaq.
In the event the ordinary shares were no longer eligible for continued listing on Nasdaq, the Company could be forced to seek to be traded on the OTC Bulletin Board or in the “pink sheets.” These alternative markets are generally considered to be less efficient than, and not as broad as, Nasdaq, and therefore less desirable. Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes delisting of the ordinary shares would likely have a negative impact on the liquidity and market price of the ordinary shares and may increase the spread between the “bid” and “ask” prices quoted by market makers.
The Board of Directors has considered the potential harm to the Company of a delisting from Nasdaq and believes that delisting could, among other things, adversely affect (i) the trading price of the ordinary shares, and (ii) the liquidity and marketability of the ordinary shares. This could reduce the ability of holders of the ordinary shares to purchase or sell ordinary shares as quickly and as inexpensively as they have done historically.
Delisting could also adversely affect the Company’s relationships with customers who may perceive the Company’s business less favorably, which would have a detrimental effect on the Company’s relationships with these entities.
Furthermore, if the ordinary shares were no longer listed on Nasdaq, it may reduce the Company’s access to capital and cause the Company to have less flexibility in responding to its capital requirements. Certain institutional investors may also be less interested or prohibited from investing in the ordinary shares, which may cause the market price of the ordinary shares to decline.
Registration and Trading of our Ordinary Shares
The Share Consolidation will not affect the registration of our ordinary shares or our obligation to publicly file financial and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). When the Share Consolidation is implemented, our ordinary shares will begin trading on a post-split basis on the effective date that we announce by press release. In connection with the Share Consolidation, the CUSIP number of our ordinary shares (which is an identifier used by participants in the securities industry to identify our ordinary shares) will change.
Fractional Shares
No fractional ordinary shares will be issued to any shareholders in connection with the Share Consolidation. Each shareholder will be entitled to receive one ordinary share in lieu of the fractional share that would have resulted from the Share Consolidation.
Authorized Shares
Immediately after the Share Consolidation is effective and before the effectiveness of the Increase of Authorized Shares and Amendment to the Share Capital, our authorized ordinary shares will be consolidated at the same ratio. The authorized share capital of the Company shall be changed from an authorized share capital of US$50,000 divided into 500,000,000 ordinary shares of US $0.0001 par value each to an authorized share capital of US$50,000 divided into 25,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each.
Street Name Holders of Ordinary Shares
The Company intends for the Share Consolidation to treat shareholders holding ordinary shares in street name through a nominee (such as a bank or broker) in the same manner as shareholders whose shares are registered in their names. Nominees will be instructed to effect the Share Consolidation for their beneficial holders. However, nominees may have different procedures. Accordingly, shareholders holding ordinary shares in street name should contact their nominees.
Share Certificates
Mandatory surrender of certificates is not required by our shareholders. The Company’s transfer agent will adjust the record books of the Company to reflect the Share Consolidation as of the Effective Date. New certificates will not be mailed to shareholders.
Resolutions
The Board of Directors proposes to solicit shareholder approval to effect a Share Consolidation (or share consolidation as a matter of Cayman Islands law) of the Company’s ordinary shares at a ratio of one-for-twenty in the form of shareholder resolutions. The resolutions be put to the shareholders to consider and to vote upon at the Extraordinary General Meeting in relation to amending the authorized share capital of the Company are:
| 1. | “IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that: |
| | |
| | the Company’s authorized shares at a ratio of one-for-twenty such that each twenty ordinary shares of the Company shall be combined into one ordinary share of the Company(the “Share Consolidation”), with such Share Consolidation to be effective on such date as determined by the Board of Directors, which date must be on or before 30March 12, 2024 and such date shall be announced by the Company (the “Effective Date”). |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE SHARE CONSOLIDATION. UNLESS REVOKED AS PROVIDED
ABOVE, PROXIES RECEIVED BY MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUCH
APPROVAL UNLESS A CONTRARY VOTE IS SPECIFIED
PROPOSAL 2:
TO APPROVE THE INCREASE OF THE COMPANY’S AUTHORIZED SHARES
(ITEM 2 ON THE PROXY CARD)
Assuming the approval of the Share Consolidation Proposal, the Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and the shareholders, and is hereby soliciting shareholder approval, to increase the Company’s authorized shares, immediately following the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation, from US$50,000 divided into 25,000,000 ordinary shares of US $0.002 par value each after the Share Consolidation, to US$500,000 divided into 250,000,000 ordinary shares of US $0.002 par value each.
The Increase of Authorized Shares must be passed by ordinary resolution which requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such proposals, either in person, by proxy or by authorized representative. If our shareholders approve this proposal, our Board of Directors will have the authority to implement the Increase of Authorized Shares at any time after the approval of the Increase of Authorized Shares.
| 2. | “IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that, subject to the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation: |
| | |
| | the Company’s authorized share capital will be increased from US$50,000 divided into 25,000,000 ordinary shares of US $0.002 par value each after the Share Consolidation, to US$500,000 divided into 250,000,000 ordinary shares of US $0.002 par value each (the “Increase of Authorized Shares”) with such Increase of Authorized Shares to be effective immediately after the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation on the Effective Date.” |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE INCREASE OF AUTHORIZED SHARES. UNLESS REVOKED AS PROVIDED
ABOVE, PROXIES RECEIVED BY MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUCH
APPROVAL UNLESS A CONTRARY VOTE IS SPECIFIED
PROPOSAL 3:
TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE AUTHORIZED SHARE CAPITAL
(ITEM 3 ON THE PROXY CARD)
Assuming the approval of the Share Consolidation Proposal and the Increase of Authorized Shares Proposal, the Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and the shareholders, and is hereby soliciting shareholder to approve, to, as an ordinary resolution an amendment to the share capital of the Company by:
| i. | re-designating of the issued and outstanding shares held by the shareholders of the Company as follows: |
| ii. | re-designating the authorized issued share capital of the Company from US$500,000 divided into 250,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each, to (a) 200,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (“Post-Alternation Ordinary Shares”), designated as 150,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”), and (b) 50,000,000 preferred shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Preferred Shares”), in each case having the respective rights and privileges and being subject to the restrictions set out in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company to be adopted pursuant to resolution 4 below (the “Amended M&A”) (the “Authorized Share Capital Change”); and |
| (a). | 660,000 Class B Ordinary Shares to be issued held by Wensheng Liu, prior to the application of this resolution be re-designated as 660,000 Class B Ordinary Shares; and |
| (b). | each ordinary share which was registered in the name of a member (excluding the shares re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares pursuant to the foregoing paragraph (a)) prior to the application of this resolution shall be re-designated as a Class A Ordinary Share registered in the name of the relevant member (excluding the shares re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares pursuant to the foregoing paragraph (a)) (the “Issued Share Capital Change and together with the Authorized Share Capital Change, the “Amendment to the Share Capital” and the proposal, the “Amendment to the Share Capital Proposal”). |
Following the Amendment to the Share Capital, each Class A Ordinary Share would be entitled to one (1) vote and each Class B Ordinary Share would be entitled to thirty (30) votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company and with such other rights, preferences and privileges as set forth in the Amended M&A.
In addition, all Class B Ordinary Shares will be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares on a one-for-one basis as soon upon occurrence of certain events, including:
| (a) | at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such Class B Ordinary Shares; |
| (b) | any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of the legal or beneficial title to a Class B Ordinary Share by the holder thereof or an affiliate of such holder or the transfer or assignment of the voting rights attached to any Class B ordinary share to be cast under the direction of any person or entity that is not an affiliate of such holder; and |
| (c) | the holders of Class B Ordinary Shares in aggregate beneficially own less than 33,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, which is equivalent to 5% of the total issued and outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares as of the expected date of effectiveness of the Amended M&A. |
A copy of the proposed Amended M&A of the Company is attached in Annex A to this notice to shareholders and is incorporated by reference into this notice to shareholder.
Potential Adverse Effects of Amendment
Prior to the proposed change, Mr. Wensheng Liu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, beneficially owns a total of 49,613,200 ordinary shares, representing 48.5% of total voting power. Immediately after the proposed Amendment to the Share Capital is effective, Mr. Wensheng Liu will beneficially hold about 86.7% of the total voting power.
The proposed change will not affect in any way the validity or transferability of share certificates outstanding (if any), the capital structure of the Company or the trading of the Company’s ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market.
Future issuances of Class B Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares could have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share, book value per share and the voting power and interest of current holders of ordinary shares which will be converted into the Class A Ordinary Shares on a 1:1 basis. In addition, the availability of additional shares of Class A Ordinary Shares for issuance could, under certain circumstances, discourage or make more difficult any efforts to obtain control of the Company. The Board is not aware of any attempt, or contemplated attempt, to acquire control of the Company, nor is this proposal being presented with the intent that it be used to prevent or discourage any acquisition attempt. However, nothing would prevent the Board from taking any such actions that it deems to be consistent with its fiduciary duties.
Effectiveness of Amendment
If the proposed amendment is adopted, it will become effective immediately following the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation and the Increase of Authorized Shares.
| 3. | “IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that, subject to the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation and the Increase of Authorized Shares: The authorized share capital of the Company be amended, by: re-designating the authorized issued share capital of the Company from US$500,000 divided into 250,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each, to (a) 200,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (“Post-Alternation Ordinary Shares”), designated as 150,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”), and (b) 50,000,000 preferred shares, par value US$0.002 each (the “Preferred Shares”), in each case having the respective rights and privileges and being subject to the restrictions set out in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company to be adopted pursuant to resolution 4 below (the “Amended M&A”); and re-designating of the issued and outstanding shares held by the shareholders of the Company as follows: (a) 660,000 Class B Ordinary Shares to be issued held by Wensheng Liu, prior to the application of this resolution be re-designated as 660,000 Class B Ordinary Shares; and (b) each ordinary share which was registered in the name of a member (excluding the shares re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares pursuant to the foregoing paragraph (a)) prior to the application of this resolution shall be re-designated as a Class A Ordinary Share registered in the name of the relevant member (excluding the shares re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares pursuant to the foregoing paragraph (a)) (the “Issued Share Capital Change and together with the Authorized Share Capital Change, the “Amendment to the Share Capital” and the proposal, the “Amendment to the Share Capital Proposal”).” |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE SHARE CAPITAL. UNLESS REVOKED AS PROVIDED
ABOVE, PROXIES RECEIVED BY MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUCH
APPROVAL UNLESS A CONTRARY VOTE IS SPECIFIED
PROPOSAL 4:
TO APPROVE THE AMENDED M&A
(ITEM 4 ON THE PROXY CARD)
Assuming the approval of the Share Consolidation Proposal, the Increase of Authorized Shares Proposal and the Amendment to the Share Capital Proposal, the Board of Directors is recommending that our shareholders approve and adopt the Amended M&A.
The approval of the Amendment to the M&A must be passed by special resolution which requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast by the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, by proxy, or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Procedure for Implementing the Amended M&A
The Amended M&A would become effective upon the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation, the Increase of Authorized Shares and the Amendment to the Share Capital (the “Effective Time of the Amended M&A”).
Purpose of the Proposed Amended M&A
The Amended M&A reflects the Share Consolidation, the Increase of Authorized Shares, the Amendment to the Share Capital and sets out the rights attaching to the new Class A Ordinary Shares, Class B Ordinary Shares, and the Preferred Shares of the Company, which are the subject of Proposal 3.
| 4. | “IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, as a special resolution, that, subject to the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation, the Increase of Authorized Shares and the Authorized Capital Change: |
| | |
| | the Company adopt the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association attached hereto as Annex A (the “Amended M&A”) in substitution for and to the exclusion of the existing memorandum and articles of association of the Company; |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE M&A. UNLESS REVOKED AS PROVIDED
ABOVE, PROXIES RECEIVED BY MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUCH
APPROVAL UNLESS A CONTRARY VOTE IS SPECIFIED
PROPOSAL 5:
TO AUTHORIZE TO ADJOURN THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
(ITEM 5 ON THE PROXY CARD)
If the Extraordinary General Meeting is convened and a quorum is present, but there are not sufficient votes to approve Proposals 1, 2, 3 or 4, one or more of our proxy holders may move to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting at that time in order to enable our Board to solicit additional proxies.
In this proposal, we are asking our shareholders to authorize one or more of our proxy holders to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to another time and place, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in the event that there are not sufficient votes to approve Proposals 1, 2, 3 or 4. If our shareholders approve this proposal, one or more of our proxy holders can adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting and any adjourned session of the Extraordinary General Meeting to allow for additional time to solicit additional proxies, including the solicitation of proxies from our stockholders that have previously voted. Among other things, approval of this proposal could mean that, even if we had received proxies representing a sufficient number of votes to defeat Proposals 1, 2, 3 or 4, we could adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting without a vote on such proposals and seek to convince our shareholders to change their votes in favor of such proposals.
If it is necessary to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting, no notice of the adjourned meeting is required to be given to our shareholders, other than an announcement at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the time and place to which the Extraordinary General Meeting is adjourned, so long as the meeting is adjourned for 30 days or less and no new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, we may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Vote Required and Board Recommendation
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting is required for approval of this proposal. The Board recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of this proposal.
Shareholders Sharing an Address
We may send a single set of shareholder documents to any household at which two or more shareholders reside. This process is called “householding.” This reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps us to reduce costs. Your materials may be householded based on your prior express or implied consent. If your materials have been householded and you wish to receive separate copies of these documents, or if you are receiving duplicate copies of these documents and wish to have the information householded, you may write or call the following address or phone number: ETAO International Co., Ltd., 1460 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10036; (347)306-5134.
Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting
The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, only the business described in the notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting of the shareholders will be conducted at such meeting.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this notice to shareholder. This means that the Company can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this notice to shareholder, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this notice to shareholder or in any other subsequently filed document that also is incorporated by reference herein.
Annex A
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ETAO INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
AS ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED [ ] AND EFFECTIVE ON [ ]
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ETAO INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
AS ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED [ ] AND EFFECTIVE ON [ ]
| 1 | The name of the Company is ETAO International Co., Ltd. |
| 2 | The Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-9009, , Cayman Islands, or at such other place within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may 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 unpaid on such Member’s shares. |
| 5 | The share capital of the Company is US$500,000 divided into 150,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.002 each; 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.002 each and 50,000,000 preferred shares of a par value of US$0.002 each. |
| 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 Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association bear the respective meanings given to them in the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company. |
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ETAO INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
AS ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED [ ] AND EFFECTIVE ON [ ]
| 1.1 | In the 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: |
| “Applicable Law” | means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person. |
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| “Articles” | means these amended and restated articles of association of the Company. |
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| “Audit Committee” | means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
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| “Auditor” | means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any). |
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| “business day” | means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in either New York City or the Cayman Islands. |
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| “B Threshold Event” | means the closing of a transaction which would result in the holders of the Class B Ordinary Shares as the date of the adoption of these Articles holding fewer than 33,000 Class B Ordinary Shares. |
| “Class A Ordinary Share” | means a Class A ordinary share of a par value of US$0.002 in the share capital of the Company having the rights set out in these Articles. |
| | |
| “Class B Ordinary Share” | Means a Class B ordinary share of a par value of US$0.002 in the share capital of the Company having the rights set out in these Articles. |
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| “Clearing House” | means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction. |
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| “Company” | means the above named company. |
| | |
| “Company’s Website” | means the website of the Company and/or its web-address or domain name (if any). |
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| “Compensation Committee” | means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
| | |
| “Designated Stock Exchange” | means any United States national securities exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed for trading, including the Nasdaq Capital Market. |
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| “Directors” | means the directors for the time being of the Company. |
| | |
| “Dividend” | means any dividend (whether interim or final) resolved to be paid on Shares pursuant to the Articles. |
| | |
| “Electronic Communication” | means a communication sent by electronic means, including electronic posting to the Company’s Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website (including the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by the Directors. |
| | |
| “Electronic Record” | has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act. |
| | |
| “Electronic Transactions Act” | means the Electronic Transactions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands. |
| “Exchange Act” | means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar U.S. federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. |
| | |
| “Independent Director” | has the same meaning as in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as the case may be. |
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| “Member” | has the same meaning as in the Statute. |
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| “Memorandum” | means the amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company. |
| | |
| “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, and includes a unanimous written resolution. 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. |
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| “Preferred Share” | means a preferred share of a par value of US$0.002 in the share capital of the Company having the rights set out in these Articles. |
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| “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. |
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| “Registered Office” | means the registered office for the time being of the Company. |
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| “Seal” | means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal. |
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| “Securities and Exchange Commission” | means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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| “Share” | means a Class A Ordinary Share, a Class B Ordinary Share or a Preferred Share. |
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| “Special Resolution” | has the same meaning as in the Statute, and includes a unanimous written resolution. |
| | |
| “Statute” | means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands. |
| “Subscriber” | means the subscriber to the Memorandum. |
| | |
| “Transfer Event” | means any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of the legal or beneficial title to a Class B Ordinary Share by the holder thereof or an Affiliate of such holder or the transfer or assignment of the voting rights attached to any Class B Ordinary Share to be cast under the direction of any person or entity that is not an Affiliate of such holder. For the avoidance of doubt, the creation of any pledge, charge, encumbrance or other third party right of whatever description on any of Class B Ordinary Shares to secure contractual or legal obligations shall not be deemed as a sale, transfer, assignment or disposition unless and until any such pledge, charge, encumbrance or other third-party right is enforced and results in the third party holding directly or indirectly the legal or beneficial title to a Class B Ordinary Share or voting power through voting proxy or otherwise to the related Class B Ordinary Shares, in which case all the related Class B Ordinary Shares shall be automatically converted into the same number of Class A Ordinary Shares; |
| | |
| “Treasury Share” | means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Statute. |
| (a) | words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; |
| (b) | words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender; |
| (c) | words importing persons include corporations as well as any other legal or natural person; |
| (d) | “written” and “in writing” include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record; |
| (e) | “shall” shall be construed as imperative and “may” shall be construed as permissive; |
| (f) | references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced; |
| (g) | 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; |
| (h) | the term “and/or” is used 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); |
| (i) | headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing the Articles; |
| (j) | any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an Electronic Record; |
| (k) | 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 Act; |
| (l) | sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply; |
| (m) | the term “clear days” in relation to the period of a notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is received or deemed to be received and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; and |
| (n) | 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. |
| 3 | Commencement of Business |
| 3.1 | The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the Directors shall see fit. |
| 3.2 | The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration. |
| 4 | Issue of Shares and other Securities |
| 4.1 | Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting) and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to Dividends or other distributions, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper, and may also (subject to the Statute and the Articles) vary such rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Subscriber shall have the power to: |
| (a) | issue one Share to itself; |
| (b) | transfer that Share by an instrument of transfer to any person; and |
| (c) | update the Register of Members in respect of the issue and transfer of that Share. |
| 4.2 | The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company on such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
| 4.3 | The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer. |
| 5.1 | The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Statute. |
| 5.2 | The Directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Statute. The Directors may also determine which register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time. |
| 6 | Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date |
| 6.1 | 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 other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose, the Directors may after notice has been given by advertisement in an appointed newspaper or any other newspaper or by any other means in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not in any case exceed forty days. |
| 6.2 | In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Directors may fix in advance or arrears a date as the record date for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of the Members or any adjournment thereof, or for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose. |
| 6.3 | 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 or other distribution, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors resolving to pay such Dividend or other distribution is passed, 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 Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
| 7.1 | A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other person authorised by the Directors. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by mechanical process. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and subject to the Articles no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled. |
| 7.2 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
| 7.3 | 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 evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate. |
| 7.4 | 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. |
| 7.5 | Share certificates shall be issued within the relevant time limit as prescribed by the Statute, if applicable, or as the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law may from time to time determine, whichever is shorter, after the allotment or, except in the case of a Share transfer which the Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after lodgement of a Share transfer with the Company. |
| 8.1 | Subject to the terms of the Articles, any Member may transfer all or any of his Shares by an instrument of transfer provided that such transfer complies with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options, warrants or units issued pursuant to the Articles on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the Directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such right, option, warrant or unit. |
| 8.2 | The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the Directors and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if the Directors so require, signed by or on behalf of the transferee) and may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a Clearing House or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Directors may approve from time to time. 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. |
| 9 | Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares |
| 9.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, 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 such Shares shall be effected in such manner and upon such other terms as the Company may, by Special Resolution, determine before the issue of such Shares. |
| 9.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Directors may agree with the relevant Member. |
| 9.3 | 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. |
| 9.4 | The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share. |
| 10.1 | Each Class B Ordinary Share shall be convertible: |
| (a) | at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such Share; |
| (b) | automatically upon the occurrence of a Transfer Event; and |
| (c) | automatically upon the occurrence of the B Threshold Event, |
in each case, into one fully paid and non-assessable Class A Ordinary Share.
| 10.2 | The Directors shall at all times reserve and keep available out of the Company’s authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares, such number of its Class A Ordinary Shares as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares; and if at any time the number of authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holders of such Class B Ordinary Shares, the Directors will take such action as may be necessary to increase its authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares to such number of Shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes. |
| 11.1 | All conversions of Class B Ordinary Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares shall be effected by way of redemption or repurchase by the Company of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares and the simultaneous issue of Class A Ordinary Shares in consideration for such redemption or repurchase. The Members and the Company will procure that any and all necessary corporate actions are taken to effect such conversion. |
| 12.1 | The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share. |
| 12.2 | The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration). |
| 13 | Variation of Rights of Shares |
| 13.1 | Subject to the terms of the Articles, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, all or any of 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 without the consent of the holders of the issued Shares of that class where such variation is considered by the Directors not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights; otherwise, any such variation shall be made only with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two thirds of the issued Shares of that class, or with the approval of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. For the avoidance of doubt, the Directors reserve the right, notwithstanding that any such variation may not have a material adverse effect, to obtain consent from the holders of Shares of the relevant class. To any such meeting all the provisions of the Articles relating to general meetings shall apply mutatis mutandis, 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 and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll. |
| 13.2 | For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such class of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares. |
| 13.3 | The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith. |
| 14 | Commission on Sale of Shares |
The Company may, in so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any Shares. 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.
| 15 | Non Recognition of Trusts |
The Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by the Articles or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.
| 16.1 | The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether fully paid-up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, liabilities or engagements to or with the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Member or their estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether a Member or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The registration of a transfer of any such Share shall operate as a waiver of the Company’s lien thereon. The Company’s lien on a Share shall also extend to any amount payable in respect of that Share. |
| 16.2 | The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within 14 clear days after notice has been received or deemed to have been received by the holder of the Shares, or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold. |
| 16.3 | To give effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The purchaser or their nominee shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer, and they shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall their title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the sale or the exercise of the Company’s power of sale under the Articles. |
| 16.4 | The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs, shall be applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and any balance shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the sale. |
| 17.1 | Subject to the terms of the allotment and issue of any Shares, the Directors may make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares (whether in respect of par value or premium), and each Member shall (subject to receiving at least 14 clear days’ notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on the Shares. A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Directors may determine. A call may be required to be paid by instalments. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon them notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. |
| 17.2 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed. |
| 17.3 | The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof. |
| 17.4 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at such rate as the Directors may determine (and in addition all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment), but the Directors may waive payment of the interest or expenses wholly or in part. |
| 17.5 | An amount payable in respect of a Share on issue or allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the par value of the Share or premium or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid all the provisions of the Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
| 17.6 | The Directors may issue Shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls, or the interest to be paid. |
| 17.7 | The Directors may, if they think fit, receive an amount from any Member willing to advance all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any Shares held by that Member, and may (until the amount would otherwise become payable) pay interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such amount in advance. |
| 17.8 | No such amount paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such amount to any portion of a Dividend or other distribution payable in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such amount would, but for such payment, become payable. |
| 18.1 | If a call or instalment of a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 clear days’ notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
| 18.2 | If the notice is not complied with, any Share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends, other distributions or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. |
| 18.3 | A forfeited Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited Share is to be transferred to any person the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share in favour of that person. |
| 18.4 | A person any of whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of them and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the Shares forfeited and shall remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by that person to the Company in respect of those Shares together with interest at such rate as the Directors may determine, but that person’s liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies due and payable by them in respect of those Shares. |
| 18.5 | A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or officer of the Company that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute a good title to the Share and the person to whom the Share is sold or otherwise disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall their title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the Share. |
| 18.6 | The provisions of the Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the par value of the Share or by way of premium as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
| 19.1 | If a Member dies the survivor or survivors (where they were a joint holder) or their legal personal representatives (where they were a sole holder), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Member’s Shares. The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, for which the Member was a joint or sole holder. |
| 19.2 | 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 be required by the Directors, elect, by a notice in writing sent by that person to the Company, either to become the holder of such Share or to have some person nominated by them registered as the holder of such Share. If they elect to have another person registered as the holder of such Share they shall sign an instrument of transfer of that Share to that person. The Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before their death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution, as the case may be. |
| 19.3 | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same Dividends, other distributions and other advantages to which they would be entitled if they were the holder of such Share. However, they shall not, before becoming a Member in respect of a Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings of the Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered or to have some person nominated by them registered as the holder of the Share (but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before their death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution or any other case than by transfer, as the case may be). If the notice is not complied with within 90 days of being received or deemed to be received (as determined pursuant to the Articles) the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all Dividends, other distributions, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
| 20 | Amendments of Memorandum and Articles of Association and Alteration of Capital |
| 20.1 | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
| (a) | increase its share capital by such sum as the Ordinary Resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine; |
| (b) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
| (c) | convert all or any of its paid-up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid-up Shares of any denomination; |
| (d) | 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 |
| (e) | cancel any Shares that at the date of the passing of the Ordinary 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. |
| 20.2 | All new Shares created in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article shall be subject to the same provisions of the Articles with reference to the payment of calls, liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the Shares in the original share capital. |
| 20.3 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute and the provisions of the Articles as regards the matters to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution, the Company may by Special Resolution: |
| (b) | alter or add to the Articles; |
| (c) | alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and |
| (d) | reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund. |
| 21 | Offices and Places of Business |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors 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 Directors determine.
| 22.1 | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
| 22.2 | The Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Statute) be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. Any annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Directors shall appoint and if no other time and place is prescribed by them, it shall be held at the Registered Office on the second Wednesday in December of each year at ten o’clock in the morning. At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented. |
| 22.3 | The Directors or the Chairman of the Directors may call general meetings, and they shall on a Members’ requisition forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the Company. |
| 22.4 | A Members’ requisition is a requisition of Members holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than 30% in par value of the issued Shares which as at that date a Member’s requisition carry the right to vote at general meetings of the Company. |
| 22.5 | The Members’ 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. |
| 22.6 | If there are no Directors as at the date of the deposit of the Members’ requisition or if the Directors do not within 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 21 days, the requisitionists may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall be held no later than the day which falls on the last day of the said second 21 day period. |
| 22.7 | 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 Directors. |
| 22.8 | Members seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for appointment as Directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 120 calendar days before the date of the Company’s proxy statement released to Members in connection with the previous year’s annual general meeting or, if the Company did not hold an annual general meeting the previous year, or if the date of the current year’s annual general meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s annual general meeting, then the deadline shall be set by the board of Directors with such deadline being a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its related proxy materials. |
| 23 | Notice of General Meetings |
| 23.1 | At least five clear days’ notice shall be given of any general meeting. Every notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be conducted at the general meeting and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article 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 it is so agreed: |
| (a) | in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting; and |
| (b) | in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, together holding not less than 95% in par value of the Shares giving that right. |
| 23.2 | The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non receipt of notice of a general meeting by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that general meeting. |
| 24 | Proceedings at General Meetings |
| 24.1 | No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. Two Members being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy, collectively beneficially holding 33.40% or more voting power of the share capital of the Company shall be a quorum unless the Company has only one Member entitled to vote at such general meeting in which case the quorum shall be that one Member present in person or by proxy or (in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person) by its duly authorised representative or proxy. |
| 24.2 | A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. |
| 24.3 | A resolution (including a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by or on behalf of all of the Members for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (or, being corporations or other non-natural persons, signed by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
| 24.4 | If a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence or if during such a meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting, if convened upon a Members’ requisition, 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/or place or to such other day, time and/or place as the Directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall be a quorum. |
| 24.5 | The Directors may, at any time prior to the time appointed for the meeting to commence, appoint any person to act as chairperson of a general meeting of the Company or, if the Directors do not make any such appointment, the chairperson, if any, of the board of Directors shall preside as chairperson at such general meeting. If there is no such chairperson, or if the chairperson shall not be present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairperson of the meeting. |
| 24.6 | If no Director is willing to act as chairperson or if no Director is present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be chairperson of the meeting. |
| 24.7 | The chairperson may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present (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. |
| 24.8 | When a general meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of an adjourned meeting. |
| 24.9 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before, or on the declaration of the result of, the show of hands, the chairperson demands a poll, or any other Member or Members collectively present in person or by proxy (or in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy) and holding at least 10% in par value of the Shares giving a right to attend and vote at the meeting demand a poll. |
| 24.10 | Unless a poll is duly demanded and the demand is not withdrawn a declaration by the chairperson that a resolution has been carried or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost or not carried by a particular majority, an entry to that effect in the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution. |
| 24.11 | The demand for a poll may be withdrawn. |
| 24.12 | Except on a poll demanded on the election of a chairperson or on a question of adjournment, a poll shall be taken as the chairperson directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
| 24.13 | A poll demanded on the election of a chairperson or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such date, time and place as the chairperson of the general meeting directs, and any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded or is contingent thereon may proceed pending the taking of the poll. |
| 24.14 | In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairperson shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
| 25.1 | Subject to the following, unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares. |
| 25.2 | The holder of a Class A Ordinary Share shall (in respect of such Class A Ordinary Share) have the right to receive notice of, attend at and vote as a Member at any general meeting of the Company and each holder of a Class A Ordinary Share shall, on a poll, be entitled to one vote for each Class A Ordinary Share he or she holds on any and all matters. |
| 25.3 | The holder of a Class B Ordinary Share shall (in respect of such Class B Ordinary Share) have the right to receive notice of, attend at and vote as a Member at any general meeting of the Company and each holder of a Class B Ordinary Share shall, on a poll, be entitled to exercise thirty (30) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share he or she holds on any and all matters. |
| 25.4 | The holder of a Preferred Share shall (in respect of such Preferred Share) not be entitled to receive notice of, attend at or vote as a Member at any general meeting of the Company. |
| 25.5 | Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Shares, on a show of hands every Member who (being an individual) is present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person is present by its duly authorised representative or by proxy, shall have one vote. |
| 25.6 | In the case of joint holders 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 seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members. |
| 25.7 | A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by their committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such Member’s behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy. |
| 25.8 | No person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless they are registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by them in respect of Shares have been paid. |
| 25.9 | No objection shall be raised as 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 the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time in accordance with this Article shall be referred to the chairperson whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
| 25.10 | On a poll or on a show of hands votes may be cast 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. Where a Member appoints more than one proxy the instrument of proxy shall state which proxy is entitled to vote on a show of hands and shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which each proxy is entitled to exercise the related votes. |
| 25.11 | On a poll, a Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of their 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 the proxy, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which they are 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 they are appointed. |
| 26.1 | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of their attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation or other non natural person, under the hand of its duly authorised representative. A proxy need not be a Member. |
| 26.2 | The Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited physically at the Registered Office not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting or adjourned meeting to commence at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote. |
| 26.3 | The chairperson may in any event at their 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 chairperson, shall be invalid. |
| 26.4 | The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form (or such other form as the Directors may approve) 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. |
| 26.5 | Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer was received by the Company at the Registered Office before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy. |
| 27.1 | 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 they represent as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member. |
| 27.2 | If a Clearing House (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)). |
| 28 | Shares that May Not be Voted |
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.
| 29.1 | There shall be a board of Directors consisting of not less than one person and no more than eleven persons (exclusive of alternate Directors) provided however that the Company may by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the limits in the number of Directors. |
| 29.2 | Except as the Statute or other Applicable Law may otherwise require, in the interim between annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings called for the appointment of Directors and/or the removal of one or more Directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, additional Directors and any vacancies in the board of Directors, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of Directors for cause, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, although less than a quorum (as defined in the Articles), or by the sole remaining Director. All Directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. A Director appointed to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a Director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the Director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified. |
| 30.1 | 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 Directors who 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 Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors. |
| 30.2 | 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 Directors shall determine by resolution. |
| 30.3 | The Directors 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 their surviving spouse, civil partner or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance. |
| 30.4 | The Directors 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. |
| 31 | Appointment and Removal of Directors |
| 31.1 | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director or may by Ordinary Resolution remove any Director. |
| 31.2 | The Directors may appoint any person to be a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director provided that the appointment does not cause the number of Directors to exceed any number fixed by or in accordance with the Articles as the maximum number of Directors. |
| 32 | Vacation of Office of Director |
The office of a Director shall be vacated if:
| (a) | the Director gives notice in writing to the Company that they resign the office of Director; or |
| (b) | the Director is absent (for the avoidance of doubt, without being represented by proxy or an alternate Director appointed by them) from three consecutive meetings of the board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and the remaining Directors pass a resolution that they have by reason of such absence vacated office; or |
| (c) | the Director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with their creditors generally; or |
| (d) | the Director is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; or |
| (e) | all of the other Directors (being not less than two in number) determine that the Director should be removed as a Director, either by a resolution passed by all of the other Directors at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held in accordance with the Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other Directors. |
| 33 | Proceedings of Directors |
| 33.1 | The quorum for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed shall be the simple majority of the Directors if there are two or more Directors, and shall be one if there is only one Director. A person who holds office as an alternate Director shall, if their appointor is not present, be counted in the quorum. A Director who also acts as an alternate Director shall, if their appointor is not present, count twice towards the quorum. |
| 33.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes of the Directors present at the meeting. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairperson shall have a second or casting vote. A Director who is also an alternate Director shall be entitled in the absence of their appointor to a separate vote on behalf of their appointor in addition to their own vote. |
| 33.3 | A person may participate in a meeting of the Directors or any committee of Directors by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by a person in a meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Directors the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the chairperson is located at the start of the meeting. |
| 33.4 | A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of the Directors or, in the case of a resolution in writing relating to the removal of any Director or the vacation of office by any Director, all of the Directors other than the Director who is the subject of such resolution (an alternate Director being entitled to sign such a resolution on behalf of their appointor and if such alternate Director is also a Director, being entitled to sign such resolution both on behalf of their appointor and in their capacity as a Director) shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors, or committee of Directors as the case may be, duly convened and held. |
| 33.5 | A Director or alternate Director may, or other officer of the Company on the direction of a Director or alternate Director shall, call a meeting of the Directors by at least two days’ notice in writing to every Director and alternate Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors (or their alternates) either at, before or after the meeting is held. To any such notice of a meeting of the Directors all the provisions of the Articles relating to the giving of notices by the Company to the Members shall apply mutatis mutandis. |
| 33.6 | The continuing Directors (or a sole continuing Director, as the case may be) 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 the Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to be equal to such fixed number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
| 33.7 | The Directors may elect a chairperson of their board and determine the period for which they are to hold office; but if no such chairperson is elected, or if at any meeting the chairperson is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairperson of the meeting. |
| 33.8 | All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors (including any person acting as an alternate Director) shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director or alternate Director, and/or that they or any of them were disqualified, and/or had vacated their office and/or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and/or not disqualified to be a Director or alternate Director and/or had not vacated their office and/or had been entitled to vote, as the case may be. |
| 33.9 | A Director but not an alternate Director may be represented at any meetings of the board of Directors by a proxy appointed in writing by that Director. The proxy shall count towards the quorum and the vote of the proxy shall for all purposes be deemed to be that of the appointing Director. |
A Director or alternate 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 their dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless they shall file their written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairperson or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director or alternate Director who voted in favour of such action.
| 35.1 | A Director or alternate Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of Auditor) in conjunction with their office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may determine. |
| 35.2 | A Director or alternate Director may act on their own or by, through or on behalf of their firm in a professional capacity for the Company and they or their firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if they were not a Director or alternate Director. |
| 35.3 | A Director or alternate Director may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder, a contracting party or otherwise, and no such Director or alternate Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by them as a director or officer of, or from their interest in, such other company. |
| 35.4 | No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or alternate 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 or alternate Director shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director or alternate Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by or arising in connection with any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director or alternate Director holding office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A Director (or their alternate Director in their absence) shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which they are interested provided that the nature of the interest of any Director or alternate Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by them at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon. |
| 35.5 | A general notice that a Director or alternate 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 they have an interest, and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction. |
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of recording all appointments of officers made by the Directors, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares and of the Directors, and of committees of the Directors, including the names of the Directors or alternate Directors present at each meeting.
| 37 | Delegation of Directors’ Powers |
| 37.1 | The Directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions, including the power to sub-delegate, to any committee consisting of one or more Directors (including, without limitation, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee). They may also delegate to any managing director or any Director holding any other executive office such of their powers, authorities and discretions as they consider desirable to be exercised by that Director provided that an alternate Director may not act as managing director and the appointment of a managing director shall be revoked forthwith if they cease to be a Director. Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such delegation may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of Directors shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
| 37.2 | The Directors may establish any committees, local boards or agencies or appoint any person to be a manager or agent for managing the affairs of the Company and may appoint any person to be a member of such committees, local boards or agencies. Any such appointment may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such appointment may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of any such committee, local board or agency shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
| 37.3 | The Directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the Directors may delegate pursuant to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee, if established, shall consist of such number of Directors as the Directors shall from time to time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law). For so long as any class of Shares is listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee and shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. |
| 37.4 | The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Directors may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked by the Directors at any time. |
| 37.5 | The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, 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 Directors under the 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 Directors 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 them. |
| 37.6 | The Directors may appoint such officers of the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, any secretary) as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of their appointment an officer of the Company may be removed by resolution of the Directors or Members. An officer of the Company may vacate their office at any time if they give notice in writing to the Company that they resign their office. |
| 38.1 | Any Director (but not an alternate Director) may by writing appoint any other Director, or any other person willing to act, to be an alternate Director and by writing may remove from office an alternate Director so appointed by them. |
| 38.2 | An alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of Directors and of all meetings of committees of Directors of which their appointor is a member, to attend and vote at every such meeting at which the Director appointing them is not personally present, to sign any written resolution of the Directors, and generally to perform all the functions of their appointor as a Director in their absence. |
| 38.3 | An alternate Director shall cease to be an alternate Director if their appointor ceases to be a Director. |
| 38.4 | Any appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be by notice to the Company signed by the Director making or revoking the appointment or in any other manner approved by the Directors. |
| 38.5 | Subject to the provisions of the Articles, an alternate Director shall be deemed for all purposes to be a Director and shall alone be responsible for their own acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing them. |
| 39 | No Minimum Shareholding |
The Company in general meeting may fix a minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director, but unless and until such a shareholding qualification is fixed a Director is not required to hold Shares.
| 40 | Remuneration of Directors |
| 40.1 | The remuneration to be paid to the Directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the Directors shall determine. The Directors shall also be entitled to be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of Directors or committees of 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 Directors, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other. |
| 40.2 | The Directors may by resolution approve additional remuneration to any Director for any services which in the opinion of the Directors go beyond that Director’s ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel, attorney or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity shall be in addition to their remuneration as a Director. |
| 41.1 | The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or some officer of the Company or other person appointed by the Directors for the purpose. |
| 41.2 | 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 Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used. |
| 41.3 | A Director or officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over their signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by them under seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever. |
| 42 | Dividends, Distributions and Reserve |
| 42.1 | Subject to the Statute and this Article and except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, the Directors may resolve to pay Dividends and 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. A Dividend shall be deemed to be an interim Dividend unless the terms of the resolution pursuant to which the Directors resolve to pay such Dividend specifically state that such Dividend shall be a final Dividend. No Dividend or other distribution shall be paid except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by law. |
| 42.2 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, all Dividends and other distributions shall be paid according to the par value of the Shares that a Member holds. If any Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for Dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for Dividend accordingly. |
| 42.3 | The Directors may deduct from any Dividend or other distribution payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) then payable by the Member to the Company on account of calls or otherwise. |
| 42.4 | The Directors may 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 shares, debentures, or securities of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional Shares and may 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 basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees in such manner as may seem expedient to the Directors. |
| 42.5 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, Dividends and other distributions may be paid in any currency. The Directors may determine the basis of conversion for any currency conversions that may be required and how any costs involved are to be met. |
| 42.6 | The Directors may, before resolving to pay any Dividend or other distribution, 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 discretion of the Directors, be employed in the business of the Company. |
| 42.7 | Any Dividend, other distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by wire transfer to the holder or by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of 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 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, other distributions, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders. |
| 42.8 | No Dividend or other distribution shall bear interest against the Company. |
| 42.9 | 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 Directors, 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 on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. |
The Directors may at any time capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts or funds (including the share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of the profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution; 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 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 Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power given to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit in 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 Directors 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 or relating thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all such Members and the Company.
| 44.1 | The Directors 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. |
| 44.2 | The Directors shall 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 Directors or by the Company in general meeting. |
| 44.3 | The Directors may 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. |
| 45.1 | The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine. |
| 45.2 | Without prejudice to the freedom of the Directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the Directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. |
| 45.3 | If the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest. |
| 45.4 | The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists). |
| 45.5 | If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the Directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor. |
| 45.6 | Every Auditor of the Company 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. |
| 45.7 | 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 in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
| 45.8 | Any payment made to members of the Audit Committee (if one exists) shall require the review and approval of the Directors, with any Director interested in such payment abstaining from such review and approval. |
| 45.9 | At least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as determined by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The “audit committee financial expert” shall have such past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication. |
| 46.1 | Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by courier, post, telex, fax or email to such Member or to such Member’s address as shown in the Register of Members (or where the notice is given by email by sending it to the email address provided by such Member). Any notice, if posted from one country to another, is to be sent by airmail. Notice may also be served by Electronic Communication in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or by placing it on the Company’s Website. |
| 46.2 | 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 in the Cayman Islands) following the day on which the notice was posted. Where a notice is sent by 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 email service shall be deemed to be effected by transmitting the email to the email 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 email to be acknowledged by the recipient. |
| 46.3 | 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 the 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. |
| 46.4 | Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner authorised by the Articles to every holder of Shares carrying an entitlement to receive such notice 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 because they are a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member where the Member but for their death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting, and no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings. |
| 47.1 | If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator shall apply the assets of the Company in satisfaction of creditors’ claims in such manner and order as such liquidator thinks fit. Subject to the rights attaching to any Shares, in a winding up: |
| (a) | if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued 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; or |
| (b) | if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued 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 subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. |
| 47.2 | 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 such assets 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. |
| 48 | Indemnity and Insurance |
| 48.1 | Every Director and officer of the Company (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former Director and former officer of the Company (each an “Indemnified Person”) shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud or wilful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud or wilful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud or wilful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. |
| 48.2 | The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person. |
| 48.3 | The Directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or other officer of the Company against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company. |
Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on 31st December in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on 1st January in each year.
| 50 | Transfer by Way of Continuation |
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.
| 51 | Mergers and Consolidations |
The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more other constituent companies (as defined in the Statute) upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Statute) with the approval of a Special Resolution.