Regulatory Filings • May 14, 2020
Regulatory Filings
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12/07/2018 #278 COMPANIES HOUSE
(Registered No. 253644)
NOTICE is hereby given that at a General Meeting of the Company held at the offices of 57 St James's Street, London SW1A 1LD on 7 June 2018 at 10.30 a.m., the following resolutions were passed.
(1) Each Subscription Share in issue as at the General Meeting shall be converted into and redesignated as a Deferred Share having the following rights and being subject to the following restrictions:
(A) The Deferred Shares (to the extent that they are in issue and extant) shall entitle the holders thereof to a non-cumulative dividend at a fixed rate of 0.1% of the nominal amount thereof (the "Deferred Dividend") on the date 12 months after the passing of this resolution which shall be payable to the holders thereof on the register of members on that date as holders of Deferred Shares and, save as provided in this resolution, shall confer no other right on the holders thereof to share in the profits of the Company. The Deferred Dividend shall not accrue or become payable in any way until the date 12 months after the passing of this resolution and shall then only be payable to those holders of Deferred Shares registered in the register of members of the Company as holders of Deferred Shares on the date 12 months after the passing of this resolution.
(B) The Company shall be entitled to repurchase compulsorily all of the Deferred Shares for consideration of 1p for each Deferred Share (being their nominal value) and the Circular shall constitute notice to each holder of Deferred Shares that all the Deferred Shares shall be repurchased by the Company immediately upon the
redesignation of the Subscription Shares as Deferred Shares for such consideration (the "Redesignation"). The consideration for such purchase shall be paid to the persons entitled thereto at the risk of such persons within 56 days of such purchase, provided that entitlements of under £5.00 shall be retained for the benefit of the Company. On repurchase, each Deferred Share shall be cancelled immediately in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.
(C) On a return of assets on a winding up of the Company, the Deferred Shares shall entitle the holders thereof only to be repaid the nominal amount paid up on such Deferred Shares (which right ranks immediately after the right of the Ordinary Shareholders to be repaid the nominal value of 1p for each Ordinary Share).
(D) The Deferred Shares shall not carry any right to receive notice of, or to attend or vote at, any general meetings of the Company.
(2) The Directors be and are hereby authorised to purchase all the Deferred Shares resulting from the Redesignation and in accordance with the rights attaching to such Deferred Shares.
(3) With effect from the Redesignation, the New Articles be amended by:
(i) deleting the defined term "Subscription Share" and its definition "a subscription share of 1 p in the capital of the Company" in Article 4.1 of the New Articles;
(ii) deleting Article 9A of the New Articles; and
(iii) deleting the Schedule (entitled "Particulars of the Subscription Shares") to the New Articles.
Company Secretary
June 2018
of
(Adopted by special resolution passed on 6 June 2018)
| PRELIMINARY Exclusion of Table A Liability of members Unrestricted objects Definitions and interpretation Form of resolutions Change of name SHARE CAPITAL Rights attached to shares Redeemable shares Warrants to subscribe for shares Variation of rights Pari passu issues Payment of commission Trusts not recognised Suspension of rights where non-disclosure of interest Uncertificated shares Right to share certificates Replacement of share certificates 18. нан шығының құрылығының шығышылығының шығышылық құрылығының 12 Company's lien on shares not fully paid Enforcing lien by sale Application of proceeds of sale CALLS ON SHARES Calls Payment on calls Liability of joint holders 25. |
|---|
| 26. | Sums due on allotment treated as calls | |
|---|---|---|
| 27. | Power to differentiate | |
| 28. | Payment of calls in advance | |
| FORFEITURE AND SURRENDER OF SHARES | ||
| 29. | Notice to pay unpaid calls and forfeiture | |
| 30. | Notice of forfeiture | |
| 31. | Forfeited shares to be the property of the Company | |
| 32. | Board may annul forfeiture | |
| 33. | Forfeiture not to extinguish liability to pay | |
| 34. | Statutory declaration as to forfeiture | |
| TRANSFER OF SHARES | ||
| 35. | Transfer | |
| 36. | Rights to decline registration of partly paid shares | |
| 37. | Other rights to decline registration | |
| 38. | Notice of refusal | |
| 39. | No fee for registration | |
| 40. | Registration of transfers may be suspended | |
| 41. | Untraced shareholders | |
| TRANSMISSION OF SHARES | ||
| 42. Transmission on death | ||
| 43. | Entry of transmission in register | |
| 44. | Election of person entitled by transmission | |
| 45. | Rights of person entitled by transmission | |
| ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL | ||
| 46. | Fractions | |
| 47. | Reduction of capital | |
| WARRANTS | ||
| 48. | lssue of share warrants | |
| 49. | ||
| GENERAL MEETINGS |
| 50. | General meetings | |
|---|---|---|
| 51. | Annual general meetings | |
| 52. | Convening of general meetings | |
| 53. | Ordinary business | |
| 54. | Separate class meetings | |
| 55. | General meetings at more than one place | |
| 56. | Notice and conditions of holding meetings | |
| 5/. | Controlling level of attendance | |
| 58. | Deemed location of meeting | |
| 59. | ||
| NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS | ||
| 60. | Length of notice | |
| 61. | Omission or non-receipt of notice | |
| 62. | ||
| PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS | ||
| 63. | Quorum | |
| 64. | Procedure if quorum not present | |
| 65. | Security arrangements | |
| 66. | Chairman of general meeting | |
| 67. Orderly conduct | ||
| 68. | Entitlement to attend and speak | |
| 69. | Adjournments | |
| /0. | Notice of adjournment | |
| AMENDMENTS | ||
| 71. | Amendments to resolutions | |
| 72. | Amendments ruled out of order | |
| VOTING | ||
| 73. | Suspension of rights | |
| 74. | Votes of members | |
| 75. | Method of voting |
| 76. | Procedure if poll demanded | |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | When poll to be taken | |
| 78. | Continuance of other business after poll demand | |
| 79. | Votes cast in advance | |
| 80. | Votes on a poll | |
| 81. | Votes of joint holders | |
| 82. | Voting on behalf of incapable member | |
| 83. | No right to vote where sums overdue on shares | |
| 84. | Objections or errors in voting | |
| PROXIES | ||
| 85. | Execution of proxies | |
| 86. | Delivery of proxies | |
| 87. | Maximum validity of proxy | |
| 88. | Form of proxy | |
| 89. | Cancellation of proxy's authority | |
| CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES | ||
| 90. | Representatives of corporations | |
| APPOINTMENT, RETIREMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS | ||
| 91. | Number of directors | |
| 92. Directors' shareholding qualification | ||
| 93. | Power of the Company to appoint directors | |
| 94. | Power of the Board to appoint directors | |
| 95. | Periodic retirement | |
| 96. | Filling vacancies | |
| 97. | Power of removal by special resolution | |
| કેક . | Persons eligible as directors | |
| વેવી. | Position of retiring directors | |
| 100. | Vacation of office by directors | |
| 101. | Alternate directors |
| FEES, REMUNERATION, EXPENSES AND PENSIONS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 103. | Directors' fees | |
| 104. | Additional remuneration | |
| 105. | Expenses | |
| 106. Pensions and gratuities for directors | ||
| DIRECTORS' INTERESTS | ||
| 107. Permitted interests and voting | ||
| POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD | ||
| 108. | General powers of the Company vested in the Board | |
| 109. | Borrowing powers | |
| 110. | Agents | |
| 111. | Delegation to individual directors | |
| 112. | Official seals | |
| 113. | Registers | |
| 114. | Provision for employees | |
| PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD | ||
| 115. | Board meetings | |
| 116. | Notice of board meetings | |
| 117. | Quorum | |
| 118. Directors below minimum through vacancies | ||
| 119. | Appointment of chairman | |
| 120. | Competence of meetings | |
| 121. | Voting | |
| 122. | Delegation to committees | |
| 123. | Participation in meetings by telephone | |
| 124. | Resolution in writing | |
| 125. Validity of acts of the Board or a committee | ||
| SECRETARY | ||
| 126. Appointment and removal of the secretary | ||
| SEALS 51 |
EH7594068.2
| 127. Use of seals | ||
|---|---|---|
| DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS | ||
| 128. | Declaration of dividends by the Company | |
| 129. | Payment of interim and fixed dividends by Board | |
| 130. | Calculation and currency of dividends | |
| 131. | Amounts due on shares may be deducted from dividends | |
| 132. | No interest on dividends | |
| 133. | Payment procedure | |
| 134. | Uncashed dividends | |
| 135. | Forfeiture of unclaimed dividends | |
| 136. | Distribution of specific assets | |
| 137. | Scrip dividends | |
| RESERVES | ||
| 138. | Sums carried to reserves | |
| 139. Capital reserve | ||
| CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS AND RESERVES | ||
| 140. Capitalisation of profits and reserves | ||
| RECORD DATES | ||
| 141. Power to choose any record date | ||
| ACCOUNTING RECORDS | ||
| 142. Records to be kept | ||
| 143. Inspection of records | ||
| SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||
| 144. Summary financial statements | ||
| AUDITORS | ||
| 145. Validity of acts of Auditors | ||
| 146. Attendance at general meetings | ||
| SERVICE OF NOTICES AND DOCUMENTS | ||
| 147. Service of notices | ||
| 148. Record date for service |
| 149. Members resident abroad | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 150. Service of notice on person entitled by transmission | |||
| 151. When notice deemed served | |||
| 152. Notice when post and/or electronic means not available | |||
| DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS | |||
| 153. Company may destroy old instruments of transfer and other documents 62 | |||
| WINDING UP | |||
| 154. Distribution of assets otherwise than in cash | |||
| INDEMNITY. | |||
| 156. Indemnity of officers and others | |||
| 157. Indemnity against claims in respect of shares |
of
The regulations contained in Table A in the Schedule to The Companies (Tables A to F) Regulations 1985 (and any amendment, re-enactment or substitution thereof from time to time including that made by the Companies (Tables A to F) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 and the Companies (Tables A to F) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2007) shall not apply to the Company except insofar as they are repeated or contained in these Articles.
The liability of the members is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares held by them.
In accordance with the 2006 Act the Company's objects shall be unrestricted.
4.1. In these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires:
| "the 2006 Act" | means the Companies Act 2006 as amended from time to time; |
|---|---|
| "address" | has the meaning given to it in section 1148 of the 2006 Act: |
| "AIFM Rules" | means the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (2011/61/EU) and all applicable rules and regulations implementing that Directive; |
means these articles of association as altered from "these Articles" time to time and the expression "this Article" shall be construed accordingly; "the Auditors" means the auditors from time to time of the Company or, in the case of joint auditors, any one of them; "the Board" means the board of directors from time to time of the Company or the directors present at a meeting of the directors at which a quorum is present; "certificated share" means a share which is not an uncertificated share; "clear days" means, in relation to the period of a notice, that period excluding the day when the notice is served or deemed to be served and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; "electronic when describing a document or information means form" sent or supplied in electronic form in accordance with section 1168 of the 2006 Act; "electronic means" when describing a document or information means sent or supplied by electronic means in accordance with section 1168 of the 2006 Act, means anything in electronic form, which the Board "electronic signature" requires to be incorporated into, or otherwise associated with, a communication in electronic form for the purpose of establishing the authenticity or integrity of the communication; "the holder" in relation to any shares means the member whose name is entered in the Register as the holder of those shares; "issuer-instruction" means a properly authenticated dematerialised instruction (sent or received by means of a relevant system) attributable to a body corporate which has issued a share or shares belonging to a participating class; "the London Stock means the main market for listed securities of London Exchange" Stock Exchange plc;
| "sponsoring system- | means in relation to a relevant system a person who |
|---|---|
| participant" | is permitted by an Operator to send properly |
| authenticated dematerialised instructions attributable | |
| another person and to receive properly to |
|
| authenticated instructions on another person's behalf; | |
| "Statutes" | means the 2006 Act and every statute (including any orders, regulations or other subordinate legislation made under it) from time to time in force concerning companies in so far as it applies to the Company; |
| "UKLA" | means the UK Listing Authority, a division of the Financial Conduct Authority; |
| "Uncertificated | means the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 |
| Securities Regulations" | (SI 2001 No. 2001/3755) as amended from time to |
| time and any provisions of or under the Statutes which supplement or replace such Regulations; |
|
| "uncertificated share" | means a share of a class which is for the time being a participating class title to which is recorded on the Register as being held in uncertificated form; and |
| "United Kingdom" | means Great Britain and Northern Ireland. |
In the reference to "sponsoring system-participant" above, the word "person" shall include any body corporate.
The expression "debenture" shall include "debenture stock".
The words "holding company" and "subsidiary" shall be construed in accordance with section 1159 of the 2006 Act and a company shall be treated, for the purposes only of the membership requirement contained in subsections 1159(1)(b) and (c), as a member of another company even if its shares in that other company are registered in the name of (a) another person (or its nominee), whether by way of security or in connection with the taking of security, or (b) its nominee.
Words importing the singular number only shall be deemed to include the plural, and vice versa.
Words importing the masculine gender only shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa.
Words importing individuals shall be deemed to include bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies or associations
Expressions referring to "in writing" shall be construed as including references to any method of representing or reproducing words in a legible form other than in electronic form unless specifically provided for in a particular Article or where permitted by the Board in its absolute discretion.
References to a document being "executed" shall be construed as including references to it being executed under hand or under seal or by any other method, as permitted by the Board in its absolute discretion, except by means of an electronic signature.
References to a document being "signed" or to "signature" include references to it being executed under hand or under seal or by any other method, as permitted by the Board in its absolute discretion, and in the case of a communication in electronic form, are to it being an electronic signature (subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may from time to time determine).
Headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation hereof.
Unless otherwise stated, any reference herein to the provisions of any statute shall extend to and include any amendment or re-enactment of or substitution for the same effected by any subsequent statute provided that no modification or reenactment after the date of adoption of these Articles of any statutory provision, instrument, regulation or order in force at that date shall be construed as imposing on any person any greater obligation than would have been the case if the statutory provision, instrument, regulation or order in force at the date of adoption of these Articles continued to apply.
Subject as aforesaid, and unless the context otherwise requires, words and expressions defined in the 2006 Act or the Uncertificated Securities Regulations shall bear the same meanings in these Articles.
The name of the Company may be changed by resolution of the Board.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes and to any rights previously conferred on the holders of any other shares, any share may be issued with or have attached to it such rights and restrictions as the Company may by ordinary resolution decide or, if no such resolution has been passed or so far as the resolution does not make specific provision, as the Board may decide.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes and to any rights previously conferred on the holders of any other shares, any share may be issued which is to be redeemed, or is liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the holder and the Board is authorised to determine the terms, conditions and manner of redemption of any such shares.
The Company may, subject to the provisions of the Statutes and of these Articles, issue warrants to subscribe for shares in the Company. Such warrants shall be issued upon such terms and subject to such conditions as may be resolved upon by the Board including, without prejudice to the foregoing generality, terms and conditions which provide that, on a winding up of the Company, a holder of warrants may be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Company available in the liquidation parri passu with the holders of shares of the same class as the shares in respect of which the subscription rights conferred by the warrants can be exercised such a sum as he would have received had he exercised the subscription rights conferred by his warrants prior to the winding up but under deduction of the price (if any) payable on exercise of such subscription rights.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, all or any of the rights for the time being attached to any class of shares for the time being issued may from time to time (whether or not the Company is being wound up) be varied either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than three-fourths in nominal value of the issued shares of that class (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares) or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of those shares. All the provisions of these Articles as to general meetings of the Company shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to any such separate general meeting, but so that the necessary quorum shall be two persons present holding or representing by proxy not less than one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares), (but so that at any adjourned meeting one holder present in person or by proxy (whatever the number of shares held by him) shall be a quorum), that every holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares) shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for every share of the class held by him (subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any class of shares) and that any holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll. The foregoing provisions of this Article shall apply to the variation of any special rights which only attach to certain shares of a particular class as if the shares carrying such special rights formed a separate class.
The rights conferred upon the holders of any shares shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided in the rights attaching to those shares, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with them.
The Company may exercise the powers of paying commissions conferred by the Statutes to the full extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the Statutes. Such commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or partly in one way and partly in the other. The Company may also on any issue of shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.
No person shall be recognised by the Company, except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or as required by law, as holding any share upon any trust and the Company shall not be bound by or required in any way to recognise (even when having notice of it) any interest in any share or (except only as by these Articles or by law otherwise provided) any other right in respect of any share other than an absolute right to the whole of the share in the holder.
any restriction notice or exclude any shares from it. A restriction notice shall automatically cease to have effect in respect of any shares transferred where the transfer is pursuant to an arm's length sale of those shares
a sale is an "arm's length sale" if the Board is satisfied that it is a bona fide sale of the whole of the beneficial ownership of the shares to a party unconnected with the holder or with any person appearing to be interested in such shares and shall include a sale made by way of or in pursuance of acceptance of a takeover offer (as defined in section 974 of the 2006 Act) and a sale made through the London Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange outside the United Kinqdom on which the Company's shares are normally traded. For this purpose an associate (within the definition of that expression in any statute relating to insolvency in force at the date of adoption of this Article) shall be included amongst the persons who are connected with the holder or any person appearing to be interested in such shares;
"person appearing to be interested" in any shares shall mean any person named in a response to a statutory notice or otherwise notified to the Company by a member as being so interested or shown in any Register kept by the Company under the Statutes as so interested or, taking into account a response or failure to respond in the light of the response to any other statutory notice and any other relevant information in the possession of the Company, any person whom the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe is or may be so interested;
"person with a 0.25 per cent. interest" means a person who holds, or is shown in any Register kept by the Company under the Statutes as having an interest in, shares in the Company which comprise in total at least 0.25 per cent. in number or nominal value of the shares of the Company (calculated exclusive of treasury shares), or of any class of such shares, in issue at the date of service of the statutory notice or the restriction notice (as the case may be) (calculated exclusive of treasury shares);
"relevant period" means a period of 14 days following service of a statutory notice;
"relevant restrictions" means in the case of a restriction notice served on a person with a 0.25 per cent. interest that:
and in any other case means only the restriction specified in subparagraph (i) of this definition; and
"statutory notice" means a notice served by the Company under the Statutes requiring particulars of interests in shares or of the identity of persons interested in shares.
and, without prejudice to the generality of this Article, no provision of these Articles shall apply or have effect to the extent that it is in any respect inconsistent with the maintenance, keeping or entering up by the Operator, so long as that is permitted or required by the Regulations, of an Operator register of securities in respect of that class of shares in uncertificated form
created out of or in respect of any uncertificated shares shall be uncertificated shares and any shares issued or created out of or in respect of any certificated shares shall be certificated shares.
(E) The Company shall be entitled to assume that the entries on any record of securities maintained by it in accordance with the Regulations and regularly reconciled with the relevant Operator register of securities are a complete and accurate reproduction of the particulars entered in the Operator register of securities and shall accordingly not be liable in respect of any act or thing done or omitted to be done by or on behalf of the Company in reliance on such assumption.
Subject to the provisions of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, the rules of any relevant system and these Articles, every person (except a person to whom the Company is not by law required to issue a certificate) whose name is entered in the Register as a holder of any certificated shares shall be entitled, without payment, to receive within whichever is the earlier of:
one certificate for all those shares of any one class or several certificates each for one or more of the shares of the class in question upon payment for every certificate after the first of such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses as the Board may from time to time decide. In the case of a certificated share held jointly by several persons, the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate and delivery of a certificate to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. A member who transfers some but not all of the shares comprised in a certificate shall be entitled to a certificate for the balance without charge. The Company shall not be bound to register more than four persons as the joint holders of a share. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company may issue a certificate in relation to uncertificated shares when required to do so by a holder of uncertificated shares.
If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be replaced without charge but on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity as the Board may decide and, where it is defaced or worn out, after delivery of the old certificate to the Company. Any two or more certificates representing shares of any one class held by any member shall at his request be cancelled and a single new certificate for such shares issued in lieu. Any certificate representing shares of any one class held by any member may at his request be cancelled and two or more certificates for such shares may be issued instead. The Board may require the payment of any exceptional out-of-pocket expenses of the Company incurred in connection with the issue of any certificates under this Article. Any one of two or more joint holders may request replacement certificates under this Article.
Every share certificate shall be executed under a seal (or under a securities seal or, in the case of shares on a branch Register, an official seal for use in the relevant territory) or in such other manner as the Board having regard to the terms of issue and any listing requirements may authorise, and shall specify the number and class of the shares to which it relates and the amount or respective amounts paid up on the shares. The Board may by resolution decide, either generally or in any particular case or cases, that any signatures on any share certificates need not be autographic but may be applied to the certificates by some mechanical means or may be printed on them or that the certificates need not be executed by any person.
The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) for all amounts payable to the Company (whether presently or not) in respect of that share. The Company's lien on a share shall extend to every amount payable in respect of it. The Board may at any time either generally or in any particular case waive any lien that has arisen or declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article.
The Company may sell, in such manner as the Board may decide, any share on which the Company has a lien if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable and is not paid within fourteen clear days after a notice in writing has been served on the holder of the share or the person who is entitled by transmission to the share and who has supplied the Company with an address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the share may be sold. For giving effect to the sale the Board may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the share sold to or in accordance with the directions of the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in relation to the sale.
The net proceeds, after payment of the costs, of the sale by the Company of any share on which it has a lien shall be applied in or towards payment or discharge of the debt or liability in respect of which the lien exists so far as it is presently payable, and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities not presently payable as existed upon the share prior to the sale and upon surrender, if required
by the Company, for cancellation of the certificate for the share sold) be paid to the person who was entitled to the share at the time of the sale (without interest).
Subject to the terms of issue, the Board may from time to time make calls upon the members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the nominal amount of the shares or by way of premium) and not payable on a date fixed by or in accordance with the terms of issue, and each member shall (subject to the Company serving upon him at least fourteen clear days' notice specifying when and where payment is to be made) pay to the Company as required by the notice the amount called on his shares. A call may be made payable by instalments. A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Board may decide. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for all calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect of which the call was made.
A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Board authorising the call was passed.
The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the share.
If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it is due and payable to the time of actual payment at such rate, not exceeding fifteen per cent. per annum, as the Board may decide, and all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment, but the Board shall be at liberty in any case or cases to waive payment of the interest or expenses wholly or in part.
Any amount which becomes payable in respect of a share on allotment or on any other date fixed by or in accordance with the terms of issue, whether in respect of the nominal amount of the share or by way of premium or as an instalment of a call, shall be deemed to be a call and, if it is not paid, all the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the sum had become due and payable by virtue of a call.
Subject to the terms of issue, the Board may on the issue of shares differentiate between the allottees or holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment of such calls.
The Board may, if it thinks fit, receive from any member who is willing to advance them all or any part of the moneys uncalled and unpaid upon any shares held by him and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced may (until they would, but for the advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate, not exceeding (unless the Company by ordinary resolution shall otherwise direct) fifteen per cent. per annum, as the Board and the member paying such moneys in advance may agree.
If any member fails to pay in full any call or instalment on or before the day appointed for payment thereof, the Board may, at any time thereafter, serve a notice on him requiring him to pay so much of the call or instalment as is 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 name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen days from the date of service of the notice) on or before which, and the place within the United Kingdom where, such call or instalment and such interest and expenses as aforesaid are to be paid. The notice shall also state that, in the event of non-payment at or before the time and at the place appointed, the shares in respect of which such call or instalment is payable will be liable to be forfeited. If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, the Board may by resolution at any time thereafter, but before the payment of all calls or instalments and interest and expenses due in respect thereof has been made, forfeit any share in respect of which such notice has been given. Such forfeiture shall extend to all dividends declared in respect of the shares so forfeited and not actually paid before such forfeiture. Forfeiture shall be deemed to occur at the time of the passing of the said resolution of the Board. The Board may accept a surrender of any share liable to be forfeited hereunder and, in that event, reference in these Articles to forfeiture shall include surrender.
Any person whose shares have been forfeited or surrendered shall cease to be a member in respect of those shares. When any share has been forfeited in accurdance with these Articles, notice of the forteiture shall be served upon the person who was, before forfeiture, the holder of the share, or the person entitled to the share by transmission, and an entry of the forfeiture or surrender, with the date
thereof, shall forthwith be made in the Register, but no forfeiture shall be invalidated by any failure to give such notice or make such entry as aforesaid.
A share so forfeited or surrendered shall become and be deemed to be the property of the Company, and may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of to such person (including the person who was before such forfeiture or surrender the holder thereof or entitled thereto) and in such manner and upon such terms, either subject to or discharged from all calls made or instalments due prior to the forfeiture or surrender, as the Board thinks fit; provided that the Company shall not exercise any voting rights in respect of such share. Any such share not disposed of in accordance with the foregoing provision of this Article within a period of three years from the date of its forfeiture or surrender shall thereupon be cancelled in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes. For the purpose of giving effect to any such sale or other disposition the Board may authorise some person to transfer the share so sold or otherwise disposed of to the purchaser thereof or other person becoming entitled thereto.
The Board may, at any time before any share so forfeited or surrendered shall have been cancelled or sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of, annul the forfeiture or surrender upon such terms as it thinks fit.
Any person whose shares have been forfeited or surrendered shall, notwithstanding that he shall have ceased to be a member in respect of those shares, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which, at the date of the forfeiture or surrender, were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares, together with interest thereon at the rate of fifteen per cent. per annum (or such lower rate as the Board may determine) from the time of forfeiture or surrender until the time of payment, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all such moneys in respect of the shares, together with interest as aforesaid. The Board may at its absolute discretion enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the shares at the time of forfeiture or surrender or for any consideration received on their disposal or waive payment in whole or in part.
A statutory declaration that the declarant is a director of the Company or the secretary and 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 declaration shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer if necessary) 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 his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the forfeiture, sale or disposal.
Subject to such of the restrictions of these Articles as may be applicable:
The Board may, in its absolute discretion and without giving any reason for so doing, decline to register any transfer of any share which is not a fully paid share provided that where such share is admitted to the Official List of the UKLA such discretion may not be exercised in such a way as to prevent dealings in shares of that class from taking place on an open and proper basis.
certificate has not been issued) by the certificate for the share to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the person executing the instrument of transfer to make the transfer;
If the Board declines to register a transfer of a share it shall, as soon as practicable and in any event within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged or, in the case of uncertificated shares, as soon as practicable and in any event within two months after the date on which the relevant Operatorinstruction is received, send to the transferee notice of the refusal together with reasons for the refusal. The directors shall send to the transferee such further information about the reasons for the refusal as the transferee may reasonably request.
No fee shall be charged by the Company for registering any transfer, document or instruction relating to or affecting the title to any share or for making any other entry in the Register.
Subject to the Statutes and the requirements of the UKLA, the registration of transfers may be suspended at such times and for such periods as the Board may from time to time determine and either generally or in respect of any class of shares.
The Company may sell any certificated shares in the Company on behalf of the holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares by instructing their sale on the London Stock Exchange, or on any other stock exchange outside the United Kingdom on which the Company's shares are normally traded, at the best price reasonably obtainable at the time of the sale if:
For the purpose of this Article:-
"the qualifying period" means the period of twelve years immediately preceding the date of publication of the advertisements referred to in sub-paragraph (iv) above or of the first of the two advertisements to be published if they are published on different dates; and
"the relevant period" means the period beginning at the commencement of the qualifying period and ending on the date when all the requirements of subparagraphs (i) to (v) above have been satisfied.
If during any relevant period further shares have been issued in right of those held at the beginning of that relevant period or of any previously so issued during that relevant period and all the requirements of sub-paragraphs (ii) to (v) above have been satisfied in regard to the further shares, the Company may also sell the further shares.
To give effect to any sale of shares pursuant to this Article the Board may authorise some person to transfer the shares in question and an instrument of transfer executed by that person shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares. The purchaser shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase moneys nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. The net proceeds of sale shall belong to the Company and, upon their receipt, the Company shall become indebted to the former holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares for an amount equal to the net proceeds. No trust shall be created in respect of the debt and no interest shall be payable in respect of it and the Company shall not be required to account for any moneys earned from the net proceeds which may be employed in the business of the Company or as it thinks fit.
If a member dies, the survivor or survivors, where he was a joint holder, and his personal representatives, where he was a sole holder or the only survivor of joint holders, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his shares; but nothing contained in these Articles shall release the estate of a deceased holder from any liability in respect of any share held by him solely or jointly with other persons.
Where the entitlement of a person to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or of any other event giving rise to its transmission by operation of law is proved to the satisfaction of the Board, the Board shall within two months after proof cause the entitlement of that person to be noted in the Register.
Any person entitled by transmission to a share may, subject as provided elsewhere in these Articles, elect either to become the holder of the share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder. If he elects to be registered himself he shall give notice to the Company to that effect. If he elects to have another person registered, he shall transfer title to the share to that person. The Board may at any time give notice requiring the person to elect either to be reqistered himself or to transfer the share and if the notice is not complied with within sixty days the Board may withhold payment of all dividends and other moneys payable in respect of the share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. All the provisions of these Articles relating to the transfer of, and registration of transfers of, shares shall apply to the notice or transfer as if the death or bankruptcy of the member or other event giving rise to the transmission had not occurred and the notice or transfer was given or executed by the member.
Where a person becomes entitled by transmission to a share, the rights of the holder in relation to that share shall cease, but the person entitled by transmission to the share may give a good discharge for any dividends or other moneys payable in respect of it and shall have the same rights in relation to the share as he would have had if he were the holder of it save that, until he becomes the holder, he shall not be entitled in respect of the share (except with the authority of the Board) to attend or vote at any general meeting of the Company or at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company.
Subject to any direction by the Company in general meeting, whenever as a result of any consolidation and division or sub-division of shares any members of the Company would become entitled to any issued shares of the Company in fractions, the Board may deal with such fractions as it shall determine and in particular may sell the shares to which members would become so entitled in fractions to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company) for the best price reasonably obtainable and pay and distribute to and amongst the members entitled to such shares, in due proportions, the net proceeds of the sale thereof provided that where the entitlement of a member is to a sum of less than £3.00 then such sum may be retained by the Company for its own benefit. For the purpose of giving effect to any such sale the Board may authorise some person to transfer or deliver the shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser and may cause the name of the purchaser to be entered in the Register as the holder of the shares comprised in any such transfer and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. So far as the Statutes allow, the Board may treat certificated shares of a member and uncertificated shares of the same member as separate holdings in giving effect to subdivisions and/or consolidations and may cause any shares arising on consolidation or subdivision and representing fractional entitlements to be entered in the Register as certificated shares where this is desirable to facilitate the sale thereof,
The Company may by special resolution reduce its share capital, any capital redemption reserve, any share premium account or any other undistributable reserve in any manner permitted by, and in accordance with, the Statutes.
The Company may, with respect to any fully paid shares, issue a warrant to bearer (referred to in these Articles as a "share warrant") stating that the bearer of the warrant is entitled to the shares specified in it and may provide (by coupons or otherwise) for the payment of future dividends on the shares included in a share warrant.
The powers referred to in Article 48 may be exercised by the Board who may determine and vary the conditions upon which share warrants shall be issued and in particular upon which:
Subject to such conditions and to these Articles, the bearer of a share warrant shall be deemed to be a member for all purposes. The bearer of a share warrant shall be subject to the conditions for the time being in force and applicable thereto made before or after the issue of such share warrant.
Any general meeting of the Company other than an annual general meeting shall be called a general meeting.
The Board shall convene and the Company shall hold general meetings as annual general meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Statutes.
The Board may convene a general meeting whenever it thinks fit.
Except where prohibited by law, "Ordinary Business" shall mean and include only business transacted at a general meeting of the following types:
The provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall apply, with any necessary modifications, to any separate general meeting of the holders of shares of a class convened otherwise than in connection with the variation or abrogation of the rights attached to the shares of that class. For this purpose, a general meeting at which no holder of a share other than an ordinary share may, in his capacity as a member, attend or vote shall also constitute a separate general meeting of the holders of the ordinary shares.
The provisions of Articles 56 to 59 shall apply if any general meeting is convened at, or adjourned to, more than one place.
The notice of the meeting or adjourned meeting shall specify the place at which the chairman of the meeting shall preside (the "Specified Place"), and the Board shall make anrangements for simultaneous attendance and participation at that or any other place by members, provided that persons attending at any particular place shall be able to see and hear, and be seen and heard by, persons attending at the other place or places at which the meeting is convened.
The Board may, from time to time, make such arrangements for the purpose of controlling the level of attendance at any such place as they shall, in their absolute discretion, consider appropriate, and may from time to time vary any such arrangements or make any new arrangements in place of them, provided that the entitlement of a member to attend a meeting or adjourned meeting shall be satisfied by his being given the entitlement to attend at such place (fulfilling the conditions specified in Article 56) as may be specified by the Board for the purposes of this Article 57.
For the purposes of all other provisions of these Articles any such meeting shall be treated as being held at the Specified Place.
If a meeting is adjourned to more than one place, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles.
An annual general meeting shall be convened by not less than twenty-one clear days' notice in writing. Subject to the Statutes, all other general meetings shall be convened by not less than fourteen clear days' notice in writing. The notice shall specify:
Notice of every general meeting shall be given to all members other than any who, under the provisions of these Articles or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notices from the Company, and also to the Auditors or, if more than one, each of them.
For the purposes of this Article 60, "Record Date" shall mean the date specified by the Board in accordance with the Statutes determining the right to vote at a general meeting.
Subject to the Statutes and notwithstanding that a meeting of the Company is convened by shorter notice than that specified in this Article, it shall be deemed to have been properly convened if it is so agreed:-
References in this Article to a notice "in writing" includes the use of communications in electronic form and/or publication on a web-site in accordance with the Statutes.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the accidental omission to give any notice of a meeting or the accidental omission to send any document, including a proxy form, relating to any meeting to, or the non-receipt of any such notice or document by, any person entitled to receive the notice or document shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
If the Board, in its absolute discretion, considers that it is impractical or unreasonable for any reason to hold a general meeting on the date or at the time or place specified in the notice calling the general meeting, it may postpone the general meeting to another date, time and/or place. The Board shall take reasonable steps to ensure that notice of the date, time and place of the postponed meeting is given to any member trying to attend the meeting at the original time and place. Notice of the date, time and place of the postponed meeting shall, if practicable, also be placed in at least two national newspapers in the United Kingdom. Notice of the business to be transacted at such postponed meeting shall not be required. If a meeting is rearranged in this way, proxy forms will be valid if they are delivered in accordance with the provisions of these Articles as if the general meeting had been originally convened on the date for the holding of the possponed meeting.
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business, but the absence of a quorum shall not preclude the choice or appointment of a chairman which shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting. Save as otherwise provided by these Articles, two members present in person or by proxy or by a duly authorised corporate representative and entitled to vote shall be a quorum for all purposes.
If within five minutes (or such longer time not exceeding one hour as the chairman of the meeting may decide to wait) after the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened by or upon the requisition of members, shall be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to such other day (being not less than ten nor more than twenty-eight clear days later) and at such other time or place as may have been specified for the purpose in the notice convening the meeting. Where no such arrangements have been so specified, the meeting shall stand adjourned to such other day (being not less than ten nor more than twenty-eight clear days later) and at such other time or place as the chairman of the meeting may decide and, in this case, the Company shall give not less than seven clear days' notice in writing of the adjourned meeting. At any adjourned meeting one member present in person or by proxy (whatever the number of shares held by him) shall be a quorum and any notice of an adjourned meeting shall state that one member present in person or by proxy (whatever the number of shares held by him) shall be a quorum.
References in this Article to a notice "in writing" includes the use of communications in electronic form and publication on a website in accordance with the Statutes.
The Board may direct that persons wishing to attend any general meeting should submit to such searches or other security arrangements or restrictions as the Board shall consider appropriate in the circumstances and shall be entitled in its absolute discretion to, or to authorise some one or more persons who shall include a director or the secretary or the chairman of the meeting to, refuse entry to, or to eject from, such general meeting any person who fails to such searches or otherwise to comply with such security arrangements or restrictions.
The chairman (if any) of the Board or, in his absence, the deputy chairman (if any) shall preside as chairman at every general meeting. If more than one deputy chairman is present they shall agree amongst themselves who is to take the chair or, if they cannot agree, the deputy chairman who has been in office as a director longest shall take the chair. If there is no chairman or deputy chairman, or if at any meeting neither the chairman nor any deputy chairman is present within five minutes after the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting, or if neither the chairman nor any deputy chairman is willing to act as chairman, the directors present shall choose one of their number to act, or if one director only is present he shall preside as chairman if willing to act. If no director is present, or if each of the directors present declines to take the chair, the persons present and entitled to vote shall appoint one of their number to be chairman.
The chairman shall take such action or give directions for such action to be taken as he thinks fit to promote the orderly conduct of the business of the meeting as laid down in the notice of the meeting. The chairman's decision on matters of procedure or arising incidentally from the business of the meeting shall be final as shall be his determination as to whether any matter is of such a nature.
Each director shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate general meeting of the Company. The chairman may invite any person to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company and at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares of the Company where he considers that this will assist in the deliberations of the meeting.
The chairman may at any time without the consent of the meeting adjourn any meeting (whether or not it has commenced or a quorum is present) either indefinitely or to another time or place where it appears to him that (a) the members, proxies and corporate representatives wishing to attend cannot be conveniently accommodated in the place appointed for the meeting (b) the conduct of persons present prevents or is likely to prevent the orderly continuation of business or (c) an adjournment is otherwise necessary so that the business of the meeting may be properly conducted. In addition, the chairman may at any time with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting either indefinitely or to another time or place. When a meeting is adjourned indefinitely the time and place for the adjourned meeting shall be fixed by the Board. No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place.
When a meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, or indefinitely, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Except where these Articles or the Statutes otherwise require, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.
In the case of a resolution duly proposed as a special resolution no amendment thereto (other than an amendment to correct a patent error) may be considered or voted upon; in the case of a resolution duly proposed as an ordinary resolution no amendment thereto (other than an amendment to correct a patent error) may be considered or voted upon unless either at least forty-eight hours prior to the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which such ordinary resolution is to be proposed notice in writing of the terms of the amendment and intention to move the same has been lodged at the Office or the chairman in his absolute discretion decides that it may be considered or voted upon.
If an amendment shall be proposed to any resolution under consideration but shall be ruled out of order by the chairman of the meeting the proceedings on the substantive resolution shall not be invalidated by any error in such ruling.
The following provisions of these Articles in relation to voting by members, whether in person or by proxy, shall be subject (when appropriate) to Article 14.
(A) Votes on a show of hands
Subject to any special terms as to voting upon which any shares may be issued or may for the time being be held and to any other provisions of these Articles or the Statutes, on a vote on a resolution on a show of hands at a general meeting:
Subject to any special terms as to voting upon which any shares may be issued or may for the time being be held and to any other provisions of these Articles or the Statutes, on a vote on a resolution on a poll at a general meeting:
The Company shall be under no obligation to verify whether or not proxies and corporate representatives have cast their votes in accordance with their instructions. To the extent that a proxy or corporate representative has voted other than in accordance with any instructions the vote(s) in
question shall stand and shall not in any way be invalidated and shall not vitiate the relevant resolution.
At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands or on the withdrawal of any other demand for a poll) a poll is properly demanded. Subject to the Statutes, a poll may be demanded by:
Unless a poll is so demanded on a show of hands and the demand is not withdrawn, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution on a show of hands has been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority or not carried by a particular majority or lost shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded for or against the resolution.
If a poll is properly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman shall direct. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. The chairman may (and, if so directed by the meeting, shall) appoint scrutineers and may adjourn the meeting to some place and time fixed by him for the purpose of declaring the result of the poll.
A poll demanded on the election of a chairman, or on a question of adjournmont, shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either forthwith or on such date (being not later than fourteen days after the date of the demand) and at such time and place as the chairman shall direct. It shall not be necessary (unless the chairman otherwise directs) for notice to be given of a poll.
The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded, and it may be withdrawn, with the consent of the chairman, at any time before the close of the meeting or the taking of the poll, whichever is the earlier, and in that event shall not invalidate the result of a show of hands declared before the demand was made
To the extent that the Board decides to do so and subject to such terms as may be imposed by the Board to ensure the identification of the person voting and only to the extent that such terms are proportionate to the achievement of that objective, the votes on a resolution on a poll taken at a meeting may include votes cast in advance of that meeting.
On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy. A member may appoint more than one proxy to attend, speak and vote on his behalf on the same occasion, provided the proxies are appointed in respect of separate shares.
In the case of joint holders of a share the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and, for this purpose, seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register in respect of the joint holding.
A member in respect of whom an order has been made by any competent court or other suitably qualified person that he is or may be suffering from mental disorder or is otherwise incapable of managing his affairs may vote at any general meeting of the Company or at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company and may exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings by or through any person authorised in such circumstances to do so on his behalf (and that person may vote on a poll by proxy), provided that evidence to the satisfaction of the Board of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote or such other right has been delivered at the Office (or at such other place as may be specified in accordance with these Articles for the delivery of instruments appointing a proxy) not later than the last time at which an instrument of proxy should have been delivered in order to be valid for use at that meeting or on the holding of that poll.
No member shall, unless the Board otherwise decides, be entitled in respect of any share held by him to vote (either personally or by proxy) at any general meeting of the Company or at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings unless all calls or other sums presently payable by him in respect of that share have been paid.
the objection or error shall not vitiate the decision of the meeting or adjourned meeting on any resolution unless it is raised or pointed out at the meeting or, as the case may be, the adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which the error occurs. Any objection or error shall be referred to the chairman and shall only vitiate the decision of the meeting on any resolution if the chairman decides that the same may have affected the decision of the meeting. The decision of the chairman on such matters shall be conclusive.
An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing signed by the appointer or his attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointer is a corporation, either under its seal or signed by an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign it.
In this Article references to "in writing" include the use of signed communications in electronic form subject to such terms and conditions (including as to signatures) as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
such time as is specified for that purpose in or by way of note to the notice convening the meeting; or
For the purposes of this Article 86 "non-working days" means weekends, Christmas Day, Good Friday and any other bank holiday in England.
appointing a proxy shall not preclude a member from attending, speaking and voting in person at the meeting or poll concerned.
No appointment of a proxy shall be valid after twelve months have elapsed from the date stated in it as the date of its signature save that, unless the contrary is stated in it, an appointment of a proxy shall be valid for use at an adjourned meeting or on a poll after a meeting or an adjourned meeting even after twelve months, if it was valid for the original meeting.
A vote given or poll demanded by a proxy or by the duly authorised representative of a corporation shall be valid notwithstanding the previous determination of the authority of the person voting or demanding a poll, or the previous death or insanity of the principal, unless notice in writing of the determination, death or insanity was received by the Company:
not later than the last time at which an instrument of proxy should have been delivered in order to be valid for use at the meeting or on the holding of the poll at which the vote was given or the poll demanded.
Any corporation (other than the Company itself) which is a member of the Company may by resolution of its board of directors or other governing body authorise such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative or representatives at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares and, subject to the terms of the Statutes, the corporation shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting at which a person or persons so authorised is present.
Subject to the following provisions of these Articles, and unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution of the Company, the number of directors (disregarding alternate directors) shall not be less than two nor more than eight.
No shareholding qualification for directors shall be required. A director who is not a member of the Company shall, nevertheless, be entitled to attend and speak at general meetings.
Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the Company may by ordinary resolution appoint any person who is willing to act to be a director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board, but so that the total number of directors shall not at any time exceed any maximum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles.
Without prejudice to the power of the Company in general meeting pursuant to any of the provisions of these Articles to appoint any person to be a director, the Board may appoint any person who is willing to act to be a director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board, but so that the total number of directors shall not at any time exceed any maximum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles. Any director so appointed shall hold office only until the next annual general meeting and shall then be eligible for election.
Each director shall retire from office at the third annual general meeting after the annual general meeting at which he was last elected.
Subject to the provisions of these Articles, at the meeting at which a director retires the Company can pass an ordinary resolution to re-elect the director or to elect some other eligible person in his place.
In addition to any power of removal conferred by the Statutes, the Company may by special resolution remove any director before the expiration of his period of office and may (subject to these Articles) by ordinary resolution appoint another person who is willing to act to be a director in his place.
No person other than a director retiring at the meeting or a person recommended by the Board shall be appointed or re-appointed as a director at any general meeting unless not less than seven nor more than forty-two days before the day appointed for the meeting, notice signed by a member qualified to vote at the meeting (not being the person to be proposed) has been given to the secretary of the intention to propose that person for appointment or re-appointment together with notice signed by that person of his willingness to be appointed or re-appointed.
A director who retires (whether as a periodic retirement or otherwise) at an annual general meeting may, if willing to continue to act, be re-appointed. If he is not reappointed, he shall retain office until the meeting appoints someone in his place or, if it does not do so, until the end of the meeting.
Without prejudice to the provisions for periodic retirement or otherwise contained in these Articles, the office of a director shall be vacated if:
If a director vacates his office for any reason, he shall cease to be a member of any committee or sub-committee of the Board.
In this Article, references to "in writing" includes the use of communications in electronic form subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may decide.
(E) in electronic form subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may decide
The Board or any committee authorised by the Board may from time to time appoint one or more directors to hold any employment or executive office with the Company for such period (subject to the provisions of the Statutes) and upon such other terms as the Board or any committee authorised by the Board may in its discretion decide and may revoke or terminate any appointment so made. Any revocation or termination of the appointment shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages that the director may have against the Company or the Company may have against the director for any breach of any contract of service between him and the Company which may be involved in the revocation or termination. A director so appointed shall receive such remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Board or any committee authorised by the Board may decide, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration as a director.
The fees paid to, and benefits in kind received by, the directors for their services in the office of director shall not exceed in aggregate £200,000 per annum (exclusive of value added tax if applicable) or such higher amount as the Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution determine. Subject thereto, each such director shall be paid a fee (which shall be deemed to accrue from day to day) at such rate, and shall receive such benefits in kind, as may from time to time be determined by the directors and, in default of such determination within a reasonable period, such fees and benefits in kind shall be divided among the directors equally. Any fee payable pursuant to this Article 103 shall be distinct from any salary, remuneration or other amounts payable to a director pursuant to any other provision of these Articles or any contract or arrangement between the Company and the relevant director.
Notwithstanding Article 103, any director who is appointed to any executive office or who performs services which in the opinion of the Board or any committee authorised by the Board go beyond the ordinary duties of a director may be paid such extra remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Board or any committee authorised by the Board may in its discretion decide in addition to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Article.
Each director may be paid his reasonable travelling, hotel and incidental expenses of attending and returning from meetings of the Board or committees of the Board or general meetings of the Company or any other meeting which as a director he is entitled to attend and shall be paid all other costs and expenses properly and reasonably incurred by him in the conduct of the Company's business or in the discharge of his duties as a director.
The Board or any committee authorised by the Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to provide benefits, either by the payment of gratuities or pensions or by insurance or in any other manner whether similar to the foregoing or not, for any director or former director or the relations, connections or dependants of any director or former director provided that no benefits (except such as may be provided for by any other Article) may be granted to or in respect of a director or former director who has not been employed by, or held an executive office or place of profit under, the Company or any body corporate which is or has been its subsidiary undertaking or any predecessor in business of the Company or any such body corporate without the approval of an ordinary resolution of the Company. No director or former director shall be accountable to the Company or the members for any benefit provided pursuant to this Article and the receipt of any such benefit shall not disqualify any person from being or becoming a director of the Company.
Paragraphs (A) to (I) of this Article are subject to the provisions of the Statutes and to the provisions of paragraphs (J) to (P):
decide, and either in addition to or in lieu of any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Article.
counted, but this prohibition shall not apply to any resolution where that material interest arises only from one or more of the following matters:
taken together with any person connected with him, is to his knowledge (either directly or indirectly) the holder of or beneficially interested in one per cent. or more of any class of the equity share capital of that company or of the voting rights available to members of that company. For the purpose of this paragraph of this Article there shall be disregarded any shares held by the director or any such person as bare or custodian trustee and in which he has no beneficial interest, any shares comprised in a trust in which his, or any such person's, interest is in reversion or remainder if and so long as some other person is entitled to receive the income of the trust and any shares comprised in an authorised unit trust scheme in which he, or any such person, is interested only as a unit holder.
takes reasonable steps to secure that it is brought up and read at the next Board meeting after it is given.
ratify any contract not properly authorised by reason of a contravention of this Article provided that nothing in this Article shall permit the Company to cease to comply with the Listing Rules of the UKLA.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes and these Articles and to any directions given by the Company in general meeting by special resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Board which may exercise all the powers of the Company whether relating to the management of the business of the Company or not. No alteration of these Articles and no special resolution shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that resolution had not been passed. The powers given by this Article shall not be limited by any special power given to the Board by any other Article.
the Group, the redemption or repayment of which is the subject of a guarantee or indemnity by a member of the Group or which any member of the group may be required to purchase;
but do not include:
subsidiary which is not attributable to the Company or any subsidiary of the Company) against the amount of any moneys borrowed the aggregate of:
The net asset value per share shall be calculated at least annually and disclosed to members from time to time in such manner as may be determined by the Board.
The Board may, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any person or body of persons whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board to be the agent of the Company upon such terms (including terms as to remuneration) as it may decide and may delegate to any person so appointed any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate). The Board may remove any person appointed under this Article and may revoke or vary the delegation but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of the revocation or variation shall be affected by it. The power to delegate contained in this Article shall be effective in relation to the powers, authorities and discretions of the Board generally and shall not be limited by the fact that in certain Articles, but not in others, express reference
is made to particular powers, authorities or discretions being exercised by the Board or by a committee authorised by the Board.
The Board may entrust to and confer upon any director any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as it thinks fit, and either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, its own powers, authorities and discretions and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of them but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of the revocation or variation shall be affected by it. The power to delegate contained in this Article shall be effective in relation to the powers, authorities and discretions of the Board generally and shall not be limited by the fact that in certain Articles, but not in others, express reference is made to particular powers, authorities or discretions being exercised by the Board or by a committee authorised by the Board.
The Company may exercise all the powers conferred by the Statutes with regard to having official seals and those powers shall be vested in the Board.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company may keep an overseas or local or other Register in any place and the Board may make and vary such requlations as it may think fit respecting the keeping of the Register.
The Board may exercise any power conferred by the Statutes to make provision for the benefit of persons employed or formerly employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the Company or that subsidiary.
The Board may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it thinks fit. A director at any time may, and the secretary on the requisition of a director at any time shall, summon a Board meeting.
Notice of a Board meeting shall be deemed to be properly given to a director if it is given to him personally or by word of mouth or sent in writing to him at his last known address or any other address given by him to the Company for this purpose. A director absent or intending to be absent from the United Kingdom may request the Board that notices of Board meetings shall during his absence be sent in writing to him at an address given by him to the Company for this purpose, but such notices need not be given any earlier than notices given to directors not so absent and if no request is made to the Board it shall not be necessary to give notice of a Board meeting to any director who is for the time being absent from the United Kingdom. A director may waive the requirement for him to receive notice of any meeting either prospectively or retrospectively.
In this Article, references to "in writing" includes the use of communications in electronic form subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may decide.
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the Board and, unless so fixed at any other number, shall be two. Subject to the provisions of these Articles, any director who ceases to be a director at a Board meeting may continue to be present and to act as a director and be counted in the quorum until the termination of the Board meeting if no other director objects and if otherwise a quorum of directors would not be present.
The continuing directors or a sole continuing director may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their number but, if and so long as the number of directors is reduced below the minimum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles or is below the number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles as the quorum or there is only one continuing director, the continuing directors or director may act for the purpose of filling vacancies or of summoning general meetings of the Company but not for any other purpose. If there are no directors or director able or willing to act, then any two members may summon a general meeting for the purpose of appointing directors.
The Board may appoint a director to be the chairman or a deputy chairman of the Board, and may at any time remove him from that office. The chairman or failing him a deputy chairman shall act as chairman at every meeting of the Board. If more than one deputy chairman is present they shall agree amongst themselves who is to take the chair or, if they cannot agree, the deputy chairman who has been in office as a director longest shall take the chair. But if no chairman or deputy chairman is appointed, or if at any meeting neither the chairman nor any deputy chairman is present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
A meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Board.
Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
All or any of the members of the Board or any committee of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or that committee by means of a conference telephone or any communication equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to speak to and hear each other. A person so participating shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and shall be entitled to vote or be counted in a quorum accordingly. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled, or, if there is no such group, where the chairman of the mecting then is.
A resolution in writing signed by all the directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the Board (provided that number is sufficient to constitute a quorum) or by all the members of a committee for the time being so entitled shall be as valid and effectual as a resolution passed at a meeting of the Board or, as the case may be, of the committee properly called and constituted.
In this Article, references to "in writing" includes the use of communications in electronic form.
All acts carried out by the Board or by any committee or by any person acting as a director or member of a committee shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any member of the Board or committee or person so acting or that they or any of them were disqualified from holding office or had vacated office or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if each such member or person had been properly appointed and was qualified and had continued to be a director or member of the committee and had been entitled to vote.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the secretary shall be appointed by the Board for such term and upon such conditions as the Board may think fit; and any secretary so appointed may be removed by the Board. The secretary shall receive such remuneration as the Board or any committee authorised by the Board shall decide.
The Board shall provide for the custody of every seal of the Company. A seal shall only be used by the authority of the Board or of a committee of the Board authorised by the Board in that behalf. Subject as otherwise provided in these Articles, and to any resolution of the Board or committee of the Board dispensing with the requirement for counter-signature on any occasion, any instrument to which the common seal is applied shall be signed by at least one director and the secretary, or by at least two directors or by such other person or persons as the Board may approve. Any instrument to which an official seal is applied need not, unless the Board for the time being otherwise decides or the law otherwise requires, be signed by any person.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company may by ordinary resolution from time to time declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the members, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Board.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Board may pay such interim dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the financial position of the Company and may also pay any dividend payable at a fixed rate at intervals settled by the Board whenever the financial position of the Company, in the Board, justifies its payment. If the Board acts in good faith, it shall not incur any liability to the holders of any shares for any loss they may suffer in consequence of the payment of an interim or fixed dividend on any other class of shares ranking pari passu with or after those shares.
Except in so far as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide:
The Board may agree with any member that dividends which may at any time or from time to time be declared or become due on his shares in one currency shall be paid or satisfied in another, and may agree the basis of conversion to be applied and how and when the amount to be paid in the other currency shall be calculated and paid and for the Company or any other person to bear any costs involved.
The Board may deduct from any dividend or other moneys payable to a member by the Company on or in respect of any shares all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in respect of shares of the Company. Sums so deducted can be used to pay amounts owing to the Company in respect of the shares.
Subject to the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any shares, no dividend or other moneys payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear interest against the Company.
Any dividend or other sum payable in cash by the Company in respect of a share may be paid by cheque, warrant or similar financial instrument sent by post addressed to the holder at his registered address or, in the case of joint holders, addressed to the holder whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the shares at his address as appearing in the Register or addressed to such person and at such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every cheque, warrant or similar financial instrument shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the holder whose name stands first on the Register in respect of the shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk and payment of the cheque, warrant or similar financial instrument by the financial institution on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company. In addition, any such dividend or other sum may be paid by any bank or other funds transfer system or such other means including, in respect of uncertificated shares, by means of the facilities and requirements of a relevant system and to or through such person as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct, and the Company shall have no responsibility for any sums lost or delayed in the course of payment by any such system or other means or where it has acted on any such directions. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends or other moneys payable or property distributable on or in respect of the shares held by them. Where a person is entitled by transmission to a share, any dividend or other sum payable by the Company in respect of the share may be paid as if he were a holder of the share and his address noted in the Register were his registered address.
The Company may cease to send any cheque, warrant or similar financial instrument through the post or to employ any other means of payment, including payment by means of a relevant system, for any dividend payable on any shares in the Company which is normally paid in that manner on those shares if in respect of at least two consecutive dividends payable on those shares the cheques, warrants or similar financial instruments have been returned undelivered or remain uncashed during or at the end of the period for which the same are valid or that means of payment has failed. In addition, the Company may cease to send any cheque, warrant or similar financial instrument through the post or may cease to employ any other means of payment if, in respect of one dividend payable on those shares, the cheque, warrant or similar financial instrument has been returned undelivered or remains uncashed during or at the end of the period for which the same is valid or that means of payment has failed and reasonable enquiries have failed to establish any new address or account of the registered holder. Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the Company may recommence sending cheques, warrants or similar financial instruments or employing such other means in respect of dividends payable on those shares if the holder or person entitled by transmission requests such recommencement in writing.
All dividends or other sums payable on or in respect of any shares which remain unclaimed may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board for the benefit of the Company until claimed. Any dividend unclaimed after a period of twelve years from the date when it was declared or became due for payment shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company and the payment by the Board of any unclaimed dividend or other sum payable on or in respect of a share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect of it.
Any general meeting declaring a dividend may, upon the recommendation of the Board, by ordinary resolution direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets, and in particular of paid up shares or debentures of any other company, and where any difficulty arises in regard to the distribution the Board may settle it as it thinks expedient, and in particular may authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may ignore fractions altogether, and may fix the value for distribution purposes of any assets or any part thereof to be distributed and may determine that cash shall be paid to any members upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to secure equality of distribution and may vest any assets to be distributed in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board.
The Board may, if authorised by an ordinary resolution of the Company, offer any holders of ordinary shares the right to elect to receive ordinary shares, credited as fully paid, instead of cash in respect of the whole (or some part, to be determined by the Board) of any dividend specified by the ordinary resolution. The following provisions shall apply:
the Company's ordinary shares as derived from the Daily Official List, on the day on which the ordinary shares are first quoted "ex" the relevant dividend and the four subsequent dealing days, or in such other manner as may be determined by or in accordance with the ordinary resolution. A certificate or report by the Auditors as to the amount of the relevant value in respect of any dividend shall be conclusive evidence of that amount and in giving such a certificate or report the Auditors may rely on advice or information from brokers or other sources of information as they think fit;
(including the profit and loss account, any share premium account or capital redemption reserve) whether or not the same is available for distribution as the Board may determine, a sum equal to the aggregate nominal amount of the additional ordinary shares to be allotted on that basis and apply it in paying up in full the appropriate number of unissued ordinary shares for allotment and distribution to the holders of the elected ordinary shares on that basis;
The Board may, before recommending any dividend, from time to time set aside out of the profits of the Company and carry to reserves such sums as they think proper which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the Company may properly be applied and pending such application may, at the like discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Board think fit. The Board may divide the reserves into such special funds as they think fit and may consolidate into one fund any special funds or any parts of any special funds into which the reserves may have been divided. The Board may also, without placing the same to reserves, carry forward any profits. In carrying funds to reserves and in applying the same the Board shall comply with the provisions of the Statutes.
The Board shall establish a reserve to be called the "capital reserve" and shall either, at the discretion of the Board, carry to the credit of such reserve from time to time all capital profits or appreciations arising on the sale, realisation, repayment or revaluation of any investment or other capital asset of the Company in excess of the book value thereof or apply the same in providing for depreciation or contingencies. For the avoidance of doubt, accrued but unpaid interest or any sum received in respect of accrued but unpaid interest shall not be treated as capital profits or appreciations arising on the sale, realisation, repayment or revaluation of any investment or other capital asset. Any losses realised on the sale, realisation, repayment or revaluation of any investment or other capital asset and any other expenses, loss or liability (or provision therefor) considered by the Board to be of a capital nature may be carried to the debit of the capital reserve. Any increase or diminution in the amount of any index-linked stock or other index-linked obligation of the Company may be carried to the debit or credit of the capital reserve, except so far as the Board decides to make good the same out of or credit the same to other funds or reserves of the Company. Subject to the Statutes and without prejudice to the foregoing generality, the Board may also debit the capital reserve with the whole or such part of (i) any management fees incurred by the Company and (ii) any finance costs (including, without limitation, any interest payable by the Company in respect of any borrowings of the Company) as may be deemed appropriate by the Board. Subject to the Statutes, all sums carried and standing to the credit of the capital reserve may be applied for any of the purposes to which sums standing to any reserve under the provisions of Article 142 are applicable including, without limitation, payment of dividend on any shares in the capital of the Company or any other distribution (within the meaning ascribed thereto by section 829 of the 2006 Act) or by way of the redemption or purchase of any of the Company's own shares in accordance with Chapter 3 or 4 of Part 18 of the 2006 Act.
The Board may, with the authority of an ordinary resolution of the Company:
(i) subject as hereinafter provided, resolve to capitalise any undivided profits of the Company or any sum standing to the credit of any reserve or other fund (including the Company's share premium account, capital redemption reserve or special reserve arising on the cancellation or reduction of share premium account);
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, the Company or the Board may fix any date as the record date for any dividend, distribution, allotment or issue and such record date may be on or at any time before or after any date on which the dividend, distribution, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made. The power to fix any such record date shall include the power to fix a time on the chosen date.
59
The Board shall cause to be kept at the Office, or such other place as the directors think fit, accounting records sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions, and such as to disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company at that time, and which accord with the Statutes.
No member in his capacity as such shall have any right of inspecting any accounting record or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law, ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or authorised by the Board or by ordinary resolution of the Company.
The Company may send summary financial statements to members of the Company instead of copies of its full accounts and reports.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, all acts done by any person acting as an Auditor shall, as regards all persons dealing in good faith with the Company, be valid, notwithstanding that there was some defect in his appointment or that he was at the time of his appointment not qualified for appointment or subsequently became disqualified.
The Auditors shall be entitled to attend any general meeting of the Company and to receive all notices of and other communications relating to any general meeting which any member is entitled to receive and to be heard at any general meeting on any part of the business of the meeting which concerns the Auditors.
Any notice or document (including a share certificate) may be served on or delivered to any member by the Company either personally or by sending it through the post addressed to the member al his registered address or by Icaving it at that address addressed to the member or by means of a relevant system or, where appropriate, by sending it in electronic form to an address for the being notified by the member concerned to the Company for that purpose or by publication on a web-site in accordance with the Statutes or by any other means authorised in writing by the member concerned. In the case of joint holders of a share, service or delivery of any notice or document on or to one of the joint holders shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service on or delivery to all the joint holders.
Any notice or document may be served or delivered by the Company by reference to the Register as it stands at any time not more than fifteen days before the date of service or delivery. No change in the Register after that time shall invalidate that service or delivery. Where any notice or document is served on or delivered to any person in respect of a share in accordance with these Articles, no person deriving any title or interest in that share shall be entitled to any further service or delivery of that notice or document.
Any member whose registered address is not within the United Kingdom (a "Non-UK Resident Member") shall not be entitled to receive notices or documents except that·
A person who is entitled by transmission to a share, upon supplying the Company with either or both of: (i) a postal address within the United Kingdom for the service of written notices; and/or (ii) an address for the purposes of the service of notices in electronic form, shall be entitled to have served upon or delivered to him at such address any notice or document to which he would have been entitled if he were the holder of that share, and such service or delivery shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service or delivery of such notice or document on all persons interested (whether iointly with or as claimants through or under him) in the share. Otherwise, any notice or other document served on or delivered to any member pursuant to these Articles shall, notwithstanding that the member is then dead or bankrupt or that any other event giving rise to the transmission of the share by operation of law has occurred and whether or not the Company has notice of the death, bankruptcy or other event, be deemed to have been properly served or delivered in respect of any share registered in the name of that member as a sole or joint holder.
Any notice or document, if sent by the Company by post, shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day following that on which it was put in the post and, in proving service or delivery, it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice or document was properly addressed, prepaid and put in the post. Any notice or document not sent by post but left by the Company at a registered address shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day it was so left. Any notice served or delivered by the Company by means of a relevant system shall be deemed to have been served or delivered when the Company or any sponsoring system-participant acting on its behalf sends the issuer-instruction relating to the notice. Any notice or document sent by the Company by way of a communication in electronic form shall be deemed to have been received on the day following that on which it was sent. Proof that notice contained in a communication in electronic form was sent in accordance with the guidelines issued from time to time by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, or such other guidelines which the Board, in its absolute discretion, resolves to be applicable, shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was sent. A notice or other document placed on the Company's web-site shall be deemed to have been received when it was first made available on the website or, if later, on the day following that on which the notice of availability was sent. Any notice or document served or delivered by the Company by any other means authorised in writing by the member concerned shall be deemed to have been served when the Company has carried out the action it has been authorised to take for that purpose.
If at any time by reason of the suspension or curtailment of postal services and/or the unavailability of communications in electronic form within the United Kingdom or some part of the United Kingdom (the "affected area") the Company is unable effectively to serve notice on members with an address in the affected area, a general meeting may be convened by a notice to such members advertised in at least one newspaper with a circulation throughout the affected area. Notice published in this way shall be deemed to have been properly served on all members and persons entitled by transmission, who are entitled to have notice of the meeting served upon them, on the day when the advertisement has appeared in at least one such paper. If at least six clear days prior to the meeting the posting of notices to addresses throughout the affected area has again become practicable, the Company shall send confirmatory copies of the notice by post to the persons entitled to receive them.
The Company shall be entitled to destroy:
and it shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the Register purporting to have been made on the basis of an instrument of transfer or other document so destroyed was duly and properly made, that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered, that every share certificate so destroyed was a valid certificate duly and properly cancelled and that every other document destroyed hereunder was a valid and effective document in accordance with the recorded particulars thereof in the books or records of the Company; provided always that:
If the Company shall be wound up (whether the liquidation is voluntary, under supervision or by the court), the liquidator may, with the sanction of a special resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Statutes:
but no member shall be compelled to accept any shares or other assets upon which there is any liability.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company may:
provided that nothing in this Article shall authorise the Company to indemnify the auditors of the Company in any manner as set out herein.
Whenever any law for time being of any country, state or place imposes or purports to impose any immediate or future or possible liability upon the Company to make any payment or empowers any government or taxing authority or government official to require the Company to make any payment in respect of any shares registered in any of the Company's registers as held either jointly or solely by any member or in respect of any dividends, bonuses or other moneys due or payable or accruing due or which may become due or payable to such member by the Company or in respect of any shares registered as aforesaid or for or on account or in respect of any member and whether in consequence of:
the Company in every such case:
Nothing herein contained shall prejudice or affect any right or remedy which any law may confer or purport to confer on the Company and as between the Company and every such member as aforesaid, his executors, administrators or other legal representatives and estate wheresoever constituted or situated, any right or remedy which such law shall confer or purport to confer on the Company shall be enforceable by the Company.
Each holder of shares shall co-operate with the Company in ensuring that the Company is able to comply with its obligations under the International Tax Compliance Regulations 2015 (as amended or replaced from time to time), all official guidance and any other relevant obligations with which the Company is bound to comply in relation to any international tax compliance regime (together for the purpose of this Article [161], the "Regulations").
Without limiting the generality of this Article [161], each holder of shares:
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