Exhibit 3.1
BVI Co. No.: 2129740
TERRITORY OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
THE BVI BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
Basel Medical Group Ltd
Incorporated this 10th day of August 2023
Amended and Restated on the 3rd day of September 2024
Maples Corporate Services (BVI) Limited
Kingston Chambers
PO Box 173
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
TERRITORY OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
THE BVI BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
Basel Medical Group Ltd
| 1 | The name of the Company is Basel Medical Group Ltd. |
| 2 | The Company is a company limited by shares. |
| 3 | The first Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Maples Corporate Services (BVI) Limited, Kingston Chambers, PO Box 173, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The Directors or Members may from time to time change the Registered Office of the Company by Resolution of Directors or Resolution of Members. |
| 4 | The first Registered Agent of the Company will be Maples Corporate Services (BVI) Limited of Kingston Chambers, PO Box 173, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The Directors or Members may from time to time change the Registered Agent of the Company by Resolution of Directors or Resolution of Members. |
| 5 | 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 British Virgin Islands. |
| 6 | The liability of each Member is limited to the amount unpaid on such Member’s shares. |
| 7 | The Company is authorised to issue a maximum of 1,000,000,000 shares divided into two classes as follows: |
| 7.1 | 500,000,000 ordinary shares with no par value each (the “Ordinary Shares”); and |
| 7.2 | 500,000,000 preference shares with no par value each (the “Preference Shares”), |
each Share having the rights and restrictions set out in the Memorandum and Articles. For the purposes of section 9 of the Statute, any rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to any of the Shares as provided for in the Memorandum and Articles are deemed to be set out and stated in full in the Memorandum.
| 8 | Each Ordinary Share confers upon the holder: |
| (a) | the right to one vote on any Resolution of Members; |
| (b) | the right to an equal share in any dividend paid by the Company in accordance with the Statute; and |
| (c) | the right to an equal share in the distribution of the surplus assets of the Company. |
| 9 | The Preference Shares shall have such rights as specified by the board of Directors pursuant to the Resolution of Directors approving the issue of such Preference Share(s), and in any such Resolution of Directors the board of Directors shall agree to amend and restate the Memorandum and Articles to fully set out such rights and instruct the registered agent of the Company to file the amended Memorandum and Articles with the Registrar. For the avoidance of doubt, the Directors shall not require any approval of the Members in respect of the issuance of Preference Shares and the related amendments to the Memorandum and Articles. |
| 10 | Shares may only be issued as registered shares and the Company is not authorised to issue bearer shares. Registered shares may not be exchanged for bearer shares or converted to bearer shares. |
| 11 | Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Memorandum of Association bear the respective meanings given to them in the Articles of Association of the Company. |
| 12 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may from time to time amend the Memorandum of Association or the Articles of Association by Resolution of Members or Resolution of Directors. |
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We, Maples Corporate Services (BVI) Limited of Kingston Chambers, PO Box 173, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands in our capacity as registered agent for the Company hereby apply to the Registrar for the incorporation of the Company this 10th day of August 2023.
| Incorporator | |
| Sgd. Conitta Francis | |
| Conitta Francis | |
| Authorised Signatory | |
| Maples Corporate Services (BVI) Limited |
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TERRITORY OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
THE BVI BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
Basel Medical Group Ltd
| 1 | Interpretation |
| 1.1 | In the Articles, 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. |
| “Articles” | means these amended and restated articles of association of the Company. |
| “Audit Committee” | means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
| “Auditor” | means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any). |
| “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. |
| “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). |
| “Compensation Committee” | means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
| “Directors” | means the directors for the time being of the Company. |
| “Distribution” | means any distribution (including an interim or final dividend). |
| “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 British Virgin 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 Recognised Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as the case may be. |
| “IPO” | means the Company’s initial public offering of securities. |
| “Member” | has the same meaning as in the Statute. |
| “Memorandum” | means the amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company. |
| “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee” | means the nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
| “Officer” | means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company. |
| “Ordinary Share” | has the meaning given to that term in Clause 7.1 of the Memorandum. |
| “Preference Share” | has the meaning given to that term in Clause 7.2 of the Memorandum. |
| “Recognised Exchange” | means an exchange that is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges or an exchange that is recognised by the BVI Financial Services Commission by notice published in the Government of the Virgin Islands Official Gazette including, but not limited to, the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. |
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| “Register of Members” | means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Statute. | ||
| “Registered Agent” | means the registered agent for the time being of the Company. | ||
| “Registered Office” | means the registered office for the time being of the Company. | ||
| “Resolution of Directors” | means: | ||
| a) | a resolution passed by a majority of votes of the Directors or a majority of votes of the members of a committee of the Directors as, being entitled to do so, vote at a meeting of the Directors or a meeting of a committee of the Directors; or | ||
| b) | a resolution in writing signed by a majority of the Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of the Directors, provided that, in each case, in respect of a resolution relating to the removal of any Director or the vacation of office of any Director, all of the Directors other than the Director who is the subject of such resolution must approve either by voting in favour of, or signing, such Resolution of Directors. | ||
| “Resolution of Members” | 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 written resolution signed by or on behalf of an absolute majority of the Members. In computing the majority when a poll is demanded, and in the case of a written resolution, regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled by the Articles. | ||
| “Seal” | means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal. | ||
| “Securities and Exchange Commission” | means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. | ||
| “Share” | means a share in the Company and includes a fraction of a share in the Company. | ||
| “Statute” | means the BVI Business Companies Act (As Revised) of the British Virgin Islands. | ||
| “Treasury Share” | means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Statute. | ||
| 1.2 | In the Articles: |
| (a) | words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; |
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| (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 herein to mean both “and” as well as “or.” The use of “and/or” in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies the use of the terms “and” or “or” in others. The term “or” shall not be interpreted to be exclusive and the term “and” shall not be interpreted to require the conjunctive (in each case, unless the context otherwise requires); |
| (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 Memorandum and Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as provided for in the Electronic Transactions Act; |
| (l) | the Electronic Transactions Act shall be varied pursuant to section 5(1)(b)(i) of the Electronic Transactions Act to the extent provided for in the Articles; |
| (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; |
| (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; |
| (o) | the term “simple majority” in relation to a Resolution of Members means a majority of those entitled to vote on the resolution and actually voting on the resolution (and absent Members, Members who are present but do not vote, blanks and abstentions are not counted); |
| (p) | the term “absolute majority” in relation to a Resolution of Members means a majority of all those entitled to vote on the resolution regardless of how many actually vote or abstain; |
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| (q) | where a meeting of (a) Members; (b) a class of Members; (c) the board of Directors; or (d) any committee of the Directors, is required to be convened for a place, such place may be a physical place, or a virtual place, or both, and where a meeting is convened for or including a virtual place any person, including the person duly appointed as the chair of such meeting, may attend such meeting by virtual attendance and such virtual attendance shall constitute presence in person at that meeting; |
| (r) | the term “virtual place” includes a discussion facility or forum with a telephonic, electronic or digital identifier; and |
| (s) | the term “virtual attendance” means attendance at a virtual place by means of conference telephone or other digital or electronic communications equipment or software or other facilities by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. |
| 2 | Commencement of Business |
| 2.1 | The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the Directors shall see fit. |
| 2.2 | The Directors may pay, out of any monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of incorporation. |
| 3 | Issue of Shares and other Securities |
| 3.1 | Subject to the Statute and 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 Recognised 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 Distribution, voting, return of investment or otherwise and to such persons, at such times, for such consideration, and on such other terms as they think proper, and may also (subject to the Statute and the Articles) vary such rights. A bonus share issued by the Company shall be deemed to have been fully paid for on issue. |
| 3.2 | 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. |
| 3.3 | Section 46 of the Statute does not apply to the Company. |
| 4 | Register of Members |
| 4.1 | The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Statute. |
| 4.2 | Where Shares are listed on a Recognised Exchange, the Directors may determine that the Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained its Register of Members in such manner and form as is customary for such Recognised Exchange. |
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| 5 | Closing Register of Members and Fixing Record Date |
| 5.1 | 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 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 Recognised 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. |
| 5.2 | 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 Distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose. |
| 5.3 | 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 Distribution, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the Resolution of Directors resolving to pay such 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. |
| 6 | Certificates for Shares |
| 6.1 | A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve by Resolution of Directors 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 or shall be given under Seal. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) or Seal affixed by mechanical process or in accordance with the Electronic Transactions Act. 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. |
| 6.2 | 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. |
| 6.3 | 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. |
| 6.4 | 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. |
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| 6.5 | 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 Recognised 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. |
| 7 | Transfer of Shares |
| 7.1 | 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 Recognised 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 or warrants issued pursuant to the Articles on terms that 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 rights, options or warrants. |
| 7.2 | The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if registration as a holder of the Shares imposes a liability to the Company on the transferee, signed by or on behalf of the transferee) and contain the name and address of the transferee. 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. |
| 7.3 | Where Shares are listed on a Recognised Exchange in accordance with Section 54A of the Statute, the Shares may be transferred without the need for a written instrument of transfer if the transfer is carried out in accordance with the law, rules, procedures and other requirements applicable to shares listed on the Recognised Exchange and Articles 7.1 and 7.2 shall be interpreted accordingly. |
| 8 | Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares |
| 8.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute (save that sections 60, 61 and 62 of the Statute shall not apply to the Company) and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Recognised Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the terms attached to Shares, as specified in the Memorandum and the Articles, may provide for such Shares to be redeemed or to be liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company. |
| 8.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute (save that sections 60, 61 and 62 of the Statute shall not apply to the Company) and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Recognised Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may purchase or otherwise acquire its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Directors may agree with the relevant Member. |
| 8.3 | The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption, purchase or other acquisition of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute. |
| 8.4 | The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share including, for the avoidance of doubt, a Treasury Share. Any such surrender shall be in writing and signed by the Member holding the Share or Shares. |
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| 9 | Treasury Shares |
| 9.1 | Subject to the Statute, the Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, resolve by Resolution of Directors that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share. |
| 9.2 | 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). |
| 10 | Variation of Rights of Shares |
| 10.1 | Subject to Article 3.2, if at any time the authorised Shares are 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 sanction 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. |
| 10.2 | 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. |
| 10.3 | 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 or Shares issued with preferred or other rights. |
| 10.4 | Pursuant to Clause 9 of the Memorandum and for the avoidance of doubt, the creation, designation or issue of Preferred Shares with rights and provisions ranking in priority to any existing class of Shares, shall be deemed not to be a variation of such existing class of Shares. |
| 11 | Commission on Sale of Shares |
The Company may pay a commission to any person in consideration of their 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, subject to the Statute, 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.
| 12 | 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.
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| 13 | Lien on Shares |
| 13.1 | 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. |
| 13.2 | 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 due and payable, and is not paid within fourteen 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. |
| 13.3 | 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. |
| 13.4 | 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. |
| 14 | Call on Shares |
| 14.1 | 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, and each Member shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen 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. |
| 14.2 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the Resolution of Directors authorising such call was passed. |
| 14.3 | The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof. |
| 14.4 | 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. |
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| 14.5 | An amount payable in respect of a Share on issue or allotment or at any fixed date 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. |
| 14.6 | The Directors may issue Shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls, or the interest to be paid. |
| 14.7 | 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. |
| 14.8 | 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. |
| 15 | Forfeiture of Shares |
| 15.1 | 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 fourteen 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. |
| 15.2 | 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 Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all Distributions or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. |
| 15.3 | 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. |
| 15.4 | 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. |
| 15.5 | A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or Officer 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. |
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| 15.6 | 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 as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
| 16 | Transmission of Shares |
| 16.1 | If a Member dies the survivor or survivors (where the Member was a joint holder) or the Member’s legal personal representatives (where the Member was a sole holder), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to their Shares. The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, for which they were a joint or sole holder. |
| 16.2 | 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. |
| 16.3 | 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 Distributions and other advantages to which that person 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 the person entitled to the Share be 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 Distributions or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
| 17 | Offices and Places of Business |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors or Resolution of Members change the location of its Registered Office and its Registered Agent, provided that the Company’s Registered Office shall at all times be the office of the Registered Agent. The Company may, in addition to its Registered Office, maintain such other offices or places of business as the Directors determine.
| 18 | General Meetings |
| 18.1 | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
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| 18.2 | The Company may, but shall not be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and, where called, 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. |
| 18.3 | The Directors, the chief executive officer or the chairperson of the board of Directors may call general meetings, and they shall on a Members’ requisition forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the Company. |
| 18.4 | A Members’ requisition is a requisition of Members holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than ten per cent. of the votes of the Shares which as at that date carry the right to vote in respect of the matter for which the meeting is requested. |
| 18.5 | 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. |
| 18.6 | If there are no Directors as at the date of the deposit of the Members’ requisition or if the Directors do not within twenty-one days from the date of the deposit of the Members’ requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further twenty-one days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all of the requisitionists, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall be held no later than the day which falls three months after the expiration of the said twenty-one day period. |
| 18.7 | 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. |
| 18.8 | Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles, a Members’ requisition of not less than thirty per cent. of the votes of the Shares which as at the date of the requisition carry the right to vote in respect of the matter(s) for which the general meeting is called, can require that any such general meeting requisitioned in accordance with the Articles be held at a physical place and not only at a virtual place. |
| 18.9 | 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 thirty 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. |
| 19 | Notice of General Meetings |
| 19.1 | At least seven 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 thereat; and |
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| (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 ninety five per cent. of the votes of the shares entitled to vote, or otherwise by number of the Shares giving that right. |
| 19.2 | Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles, 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, or the accidental failure to refer in any notice or other document to a meeting as an “annual general meeting” or “extraordinary general meeting”, as the case may be, shall not invalidate the proceedings of that general meeting. |
| 20 | Proceedings at General Meetings |
| 20.1 | No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. The holders of not less than one-third of the votes of the Shares entitled to vote being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy shall be a quorum. |
| 20.2 | 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. |
| 20.3 | A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by or on behalf of an absolute majority 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, without the need for any advance notice, be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
| 20.4 | 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. |
| 20.5 | 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 they 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. |
| 20.6 | 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. |
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| 20.7 | 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. |
| 20.8 | When a general meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of an adjourned meeting. |
| 20.9 | When a general meeting is postponed for thirty days or more, notice of the postponed meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of a postponed meeting. All proxy forms submitted for the original general meeting shall remain valid for the postponed meeting. The Directors may by Resolution of Directors postpone a general meeting which has already been postponed. |
| 20.10 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. |
| 20.11 | 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. |
| 20.12 | 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. |
| 20.13 | In the case of an equality of votes, the chairperson shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
| 20.14 | All persons seeking to attend and participate in a meeting at a virtual place shall be responsible for maintaining adequate facilities to enable them to do so, and any inability of a person or persons to attend or participate in a meeting by way of digital or electronic communications equipment or software or other facilities shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting. |
| 21 | Votes of Members |
| 21.1 | Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Shares, 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 and on a poll every Member present in any such manner shall have one vote for every Share of which they are the holder. |
| 21.2 | 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. |
| 21.3 | A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote, by 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. |
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| 21.4 | 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 due and payable by them in respect of Shares have been paid. |
| 21.5 | 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. |
| 21.6 | 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 specify the number of Shares in respect of which each proxy is entitled to exercise the related votes. |
| 21.7 | 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. |
| 21.8 | A resolution put to the vote at a general meeting held wholly or partly by means of digital or electronic communications equipment or software or other facilities shall be decided on a poll, on which poll votes may be cast by such means as the board of Directors or failing that the chair of the meeting, in their sole discretion, deems appropriate for the purposes of the meeting. |
| 22 | Proxies |
| 22.1 | 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. |
| 22.2 | 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. |
| 22.3 | 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. |
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| 22.4 | 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. |
| 22.5 | 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. |
| 23 | Corporate Members |
| 23.1 | 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. |
| 23.2 | 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)). |
| 24 | Shares that May Not be Voted |
Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company (including Treasury Shares) 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.
| 25 | Directors |
| 25.1 | There shall be a board of Directors consisting of not less than one person provided however that the Company may by Resolution of Members increase or reduce the limits in the number of Directors. |
| 25.2 | Directors shall be appointed for such term as determined by the Members. Except as the Statute or other Applicable Law may otherwise require: |
| (a) | in the interim between the appointment of a Director in accordance with Article 27 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; and |
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| (b) | 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; |
| 25.3 | 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. |
| 25.4 | No Director shall be permitted to appoint an alternate director pursuant to section 130 of the Statute. |
| 26 | Powers and Duties of Directors |
| 26.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any directions given by Resolution of Members, 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. |
| 26.2 | 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. |
| 26.3 | 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. |
| 26.4 | 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 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. |
| 26.5 | Section 175 of the Statute shall not apply to the Company. |
| 27 | Appointment and Removal of Directors |
| 27.1 | The Company may by Resolution of Members appoint any person to be a Director or may by Resolution of Members remove any Director. |
| 27.2 | 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. |
| 27.3 | Sections 114(2) and 114(3) of the Statute shall not apply to the Company. |
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| 28 | 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 appointed by such Director) from three consecutive meetings of the board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and the Directors pass a Resolution of Directors confirming that the absent Director has 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) | the other Directors (being not less than two in number) determine that the Director in question should be removed as a Director, either by Resolution of Directors passed by a majority of the other Directors at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held in accordance with the Articles or by Resolution of Directors in writing signed by a majority of the other Directors; or |
| (f) | the Director becomes disqualified to act as a Director under section 111 of the Statute. |
| 29 | Proceedings of Directors |
| 29.1 | The quorum for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed shall be a majority of the Directors then in office. |
| 29.2 | 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. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairperson shall have a second or casting vote. |
| 29.3 | A person may participate in a meeting of the Directors or a meeting of 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. |
| 29.4 | A Resolution of Directors in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by a majority of the Directors or a majority of 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 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. |
| 29.5 | A Director may, or other Officer on the direction of a Director shall, call a meeting of the Directors by at least two days’ notice in writing to every Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held. 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. |
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| 29.6 | 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. |
| 29.7 | 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. |
| 29.8 | All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any 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 and/or had not vacated their office and/or had been entitled to vote, as the case may be. |
| 30 | Presumption of Assent |
| 30.1 | A Director who is present at a meeting of the board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless 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 who voted in favour of such action. |
| 31 | Directors’ Interests |
| 31.1 | A 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. |
| 31.2 | A 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. |
| 31.3 | A Director may be or become a director or other Officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder, a contracting party or otherwise, and no such 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. |
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| 31.4 | No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by or arising in connection with any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A Director shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which they are interested provided that the nature of the interest of any Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by them at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon. |
| 31.5 | Any notice that a Director is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be deemed a general notice of such interest for the purposes of the Statute and be sufficient disclosure for the purposes of voting on a Resolution of Directors 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 a general or special notice relating to any particular transaction. |
| 32 | Minutes |
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of 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 present at each meeting.
| 33 | Delegation of Directors’ Powers |
| 33.1 | Subject to the Statute, 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, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee). They may also, subject to the Statute, 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 them. 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. |
| 33.2 | Subject to the Statute, 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. |
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| 33.3 | The Directors may adopt formal written charters for committees. 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 Recognised Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance 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 Recognised 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 Recognised Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Recognised Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. |
| 33.4 | Subject to the Statute, 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. |
| 33.5 | Subject to the Statute, 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. |
| 33.6 | The Directors may appoint such Officers 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 may be removed by Resolution of Directors or Members. An Officer may vacate their office at any time if they give notice in writing to the Company that they resign their office. |
| 34 | 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.
| 35 | Remuneration of Directors |
| 35.1 | 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. |
| 35.2 | The Directors may by Resolution of Directors 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. |
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| 36 | Seal |
| 36.1 | The Company shall 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. |
| 36.2 | The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the British Virgin Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the 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. |
| 36.3 | A Director or Officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over that Director’s signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by them under seal or to be filed wheresoever. |
| 37 | Dividends, Distributions and Reserve |
| 37.1 | Subject to the Statute and this Article and except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, the Directors may resolve by Resolution of Directors to pay Distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the 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 of Directors pursuant to which the Directors resolve to pay such dividend specifically state that such dividend shall be a final dividend. No Distribution shall be authorised if such Distribution would cause the Company or its Directors to be in breach of the Statute. |
| 37.2 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, all 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 Distributions as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for Distributions accordingly. |
| 37.3 | The Directors may deduct from any Distribution payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) payable by them to the Company on account of calls or otherwise. |
| 37.4 | The Directors may resolve by Resolution of Directors that any Distribution or redemption 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. |
| 37.5 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, 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. |
| 37.6 | The Directors may, before resolving to pay any 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. |
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| 37.7 | Any Distribution, redemption payment, 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. |
| 37.8 | No Distribution or redemption payment shall bear interest against the Company. |
| 37.9 | Any Distribution or redemption payment which cannot be paid to a Member and/or which remains unclaimed after six months from the date on which such 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 Distribution or redemption payment which remains unclaimed after a period of six years from the date on which such Distribution or redemption payment becomes payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. |
| 38 | Books of Account |
| 38.1 | The Directors shall cause proper books of account (including, where applicable, 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, in accordance with the Statute. |
| 38.2 | 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. |
| 38.3 | 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. |
| 39 | Audit |
| 39.1 | The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine. |
| 39.2 | 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 Recognised Exchange, and if required by the rules and regulations of the Recognised 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 Recognised Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. |
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| 39.3 | If the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Recognised 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. |
| 39.4 | The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists). |
| 39.5 | 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. |
| 39.6 | 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 such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor. |
| 39.7 | 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 and at any other any time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
| 40 | Notices |
| 40.1 | Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by courier, post 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 Recognised Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or by placing it on the Company’s Website. |
| 40.2 | Where a notice is sent by: |
| (a) | 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; |
| (b) | 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 British Virgin Islands) following the day on which the notice was posted; |
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| (c) | email or other Electronic Communication 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; and |
| (d) | placing it on the Company’s Website; service of the notice shall be deemed to have been effected one hour after the notice or document was placed on the Company’s Website. |
| 40.3 | 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. |
| 40.4 | 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. |
| 40.5 | Where a law or the Articles requires information to be delivered or sent to, or to be served on, a person, section 10(1) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall be varied such that: (i) the originator of any electronic communication shall not be required to state that the receipt of the electronic communication is to be acknowledged; and (ii) unless the originator expressly requires an acknowledgment of receipt, the addressee shall not be required to acknowledge receipt. |
| 41 | Winding Up |
| 41.1 | 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, each Share will rank pari passu with each other Share in relation to the distribution of surplus assets on a winding up. |
| 41.2 | If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any Shares and subject to contrary direction by Resolution of Members, 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, subject to contrary direction by Resolution of Members, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, subject to contrary direction by Resolution of Members, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability. |
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| 42 | Indemnity and Insurance |
| 42.1 | Subject to the Statute, every Director and Officer (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include Auditors), together with every former Director and former Officer (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. |
| 42.2 | Subject to the Statute, 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. |
| 42.3 | The Directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or other Officer 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. |
| 43 | Financial Year |
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.
| 44 | Transfer by Way of Continuation |
The Company shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the British Virgin Islands and to be deregistered in the British Virgin Islands.
| 45 | Mergers and Consolidations |
The Company shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute, 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.
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| 46 | Business Opportunities |
| 46.1 | To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, no individual serving as a Director or an Officer (“Management”) shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for Management, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other. Except to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, Management shall have no duty to communicate or offer any such corporate opportunity to the Company and shall not be liable to the Company or its Members for breach of any fiduciary duty as a Member, Director and/or Officer solely by reason of the fact that such party pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Company. |
| 46.2 | Except as provided elsewhere in this Article, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and Management, about which a Director and/or Officer who is also a member of Management acquires knowledge. |
| 46.3 | To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past. |
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We, Maples Corporate Services (BVI) Limited of Kingston Chambers, PO Box 173, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands in our capacity as registered agent for the Company hereby apply to the Registrar for the incorporation of the Company this 10th day of August 2023.
| Incorporator | |
| Sgd. Conitta Francis | |
| Conitta Francis | |
| Authorised Signatory | |
| Maples Corporate Services (BVI) Limited |
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