Regulatory Filings • Apr 6, 2023
Regulatory Filings
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of
(as adopted by special resolution passed on 6 April 2023)

| PRELIMINARY 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Exclusion of Table A 1 | |
| 2. | Liability of members 1 | |
| 3. | Unrestricted objects 1 | |
| 4. | Definitions 1 | |
| 5. | Form of resolution 7 | |
| 6. | Company Name 7 | |
| SHARE CAPITAL 8 | ||
| 7. | Rights attached to shares 8 | |
| 8. | Redeemable shares 8 | |
| 9. | Variation of rights 8 | |
| 10. | Pari passu issues 9 | |
| 11. | Renunciation 9 | |
| 12. | Shares not to be allotted at a discount 9 | |
| 13. | Financial Assistance 9 | |
| 14. | Payment of commission 9 | |
| 15. | Interests not recognised 9 | |
| 16. | Recognition of trusts 10 | |
| 17. | Suspension of rights where non-disclosure of interest 10 | |
| 18. | Uncertificated shares 12 | |
| 19. | Right to share certificates 13 | |
| 20. | Replacement of share certificates 14 | |
| 21. | Execution of share certificates 14 | |
| 22. | Delivery of certificate to broker or agent 14 | |
| LIEN | 15 | |
| 23. | Company's lien on shares not fully paid 15 |
| 24. | Enforcing lien by sale 15 |
|---|---|
| 25. | Giving effect to a sale 15 |
| 26. | Application of proceeds of sale 15 |
| CALLS ON SHARES 16 | |
| 27. | Calls16 |
| 28. | Payment on calls 16 |
| 29. | Liability of joint holders 16 |
| 30. | Interest due on non-payment16 |
| 31. | Sums due on allotment treated as calls 16 |
| 32. | Power to differentiate17 |
| 33. | Payment of calls in advance 17 |
| FORFEITURE AND SURRENDER OF SHARES17 | |
| 34. | Notice to pay unpaid calls and forfeiture 17 |
| 35. | Notice of forfeiture17 |
| 36. | Forfeited shares to be the property of the Company 18 |
| 37. | Board may annul forfeiture 18 |
| 38. | Forfeiture not to extinguish liability to pay 19 |
| 39. | Statutory declaration as to forfeiture19 |
| TRANSFER OF SHARES19 | |
| 40. | Transfer 19 |
| 41. | Rights to decline registration of partly paid shares20 |
| 42. | Other rights to decline registration20 |
| 43. | Notice of refusal20 |
| 44. | No fee for registration 21 |
| 45. | Registration of transfers may be suspended21 |
| 46. | Untraced shareholders21 |
| TRANSMISSION OF SHARES22 |
| 47. | Transmission on death 22 | |
|---|---|---|
| 48. | Entry of transmission in register23 | |
| 49. | Election of person entitled by transmission23 | |
| 50. | Rights of person entitled by transmission23 | |
| ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL23 | ||
| 51. | Fractions 23 | |
| 52. | Reduction of capital24 | |
| GENERAL MEETINGS24 | ||
| 53. | General meetings24 | |
| 54. | Annual general meetings 24 | |
| 55. | Convening of general meetings24 | |
| 56. | Electronic Meetings24 | |
| 57. | Separate general meetings 25 | |
| 58. | Shareholders' resolutions 26 | |
| SATELLITE MEETINGS26 | ||
| 59. | General meetings at more than one physical location 26 | |
| 60. | Deemed location of meeting 27 | |
| NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS 27 | ||
| 61. | Length of notice 27 | |
| 62. | Omission or non-receipt of notice28 | |
| 63. | Postponement of general meetings28 | |
| PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS29 | ||
| 64. | Quorum 29 | |
| 65. | Chairman of general meeting29 | |
| 66. | Entitlement to attend and speak29 | |
| 67. | Accommodation of members, security arrangements and orderly conduct29 |
|
| 68. | Adjournments 30 |
| AMENDMENTS31 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 69. | Amendments to resolutions 31 | |
| 70. | Amendments ruled out of order32 | |
| VOTING32 | ||
| 71. | Suspension of rights 32 | |
| 72. | Votes of members32 | |
| 73. | Method of voting33 | |
| 74. | Procedure if poll demanded34 | |
| 75. | When poll to be taken34 | |
| 76. | Continuance of other business after poll demand34 | |
| 77. | Votes on a poll34 | |
| 78. | Votes of joint holders 35 | |
| 79. | Voting on behalf of incapable member 35 | |
| 80. | No right to vote where sums overdue on shares 35 | |
| 81. | Objections or errors in voting35 | |
| PROXIES 36 | ||
| 82. | Execution of proxies36 | |
| 83. | Delivery of proxies36 | |
| 84. | Maximum validity of proxy37 | |
| 85. | Form of proxy 38 | |
| 86. | Cancellation of proxy's authority 38 | |
| CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES39 | ||
| 87. | Representatives of corporations 39 | |
| APPOINTMENT, RETIREMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS39 | ||
| 88. | Number of directors39 | |
| 89. | Directors' shareholding qualification39 | |
| 90. | Power of the Company to appoint directors39 |
| 91. | Power of the Board to appoint directors 39 | |
|---|---|---|
| 92. | Periodic retirement40 | |
| 93. | Procedure if insufficient directors appointed40 | |
| 94. | Filling vacancies 40 | |
| 95. | Power of removal by special resolution40 | |
| 96. | Persons eligible as directors 41 | |
| 97. | Position of retiring directors 41 | |
| 98. | Vacation of office by directors 41 | |
| 99. | Alternate directors42 | |
| FEES, REMUNERATION, EXPENSES AND PENSIONS43 | ||
| 100. | Directors' fees43 | |
| 101. | Additional remuneration 43 | |
| 102. | Expenses 43 | |
| 103. | Pensions and allowances43 | |
| DIRECTORS' INTERESTS44 | ||
| 104. | Permitted interests and voting44 | |
| POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD48 | ||
| 105. | General powers of the Company vested in the Board48 | |
| 106. | Borrowing powers 49 | |
| 107. | Agents 52 | |
| 108. | Delegation to individual directors 52 | |
| 109. | Official seals52 | |
| 110. | Registers 53 | |
| 111. | Authentication of documents53 | |
| 112. | Provision for employees53 | |
| 113. | Powers of Attorney53 | |
| 114. | Cheques54 |
| PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD 54 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 115. | Board meetings 54 | |
| 116. | Notice of board meetings54 | |
| 117. | Quorum 54 | |
| 118. | Directors below minimum through vacancies54 | |
| 119. | Appointment of chairman55 | |
| 120. | Competence of meetings55 | |
| 121. | Voting 55 | |
| 122. | Delegation to Committees 55 | |
| 123. | Validity of acts of the Board or a committee 56 | |
| 124. | Participation in meetings by telephone 56 | |
| 125. | Resolution in writing56 | |
| 126. | Records of Board meetings 56 | |
| 127. | Safeguarding of minutes and books57 | |
| MANAGING AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS57 | ||
| 128. | Appointment of managing and executive directors57 | |
| 129. | Remuneration of managing and executive directors 57 | |
| 130. | Powers of managing and executive directors58 | |
| SECRETARY58 | ||
| 131. | Appointment and removal of the secretary58 | |
| DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS 58 | ||
| 132. | Declaration of dividends by the Company 58 | |
| 133. | Payment of interim and fixed dividends by Board58 | |
| 134. | Calculation and currency of dividends 58 | |
| 135. | Amounts due on shares may be deducted from dividends59 | |
| 136. | No interest on dividends59 | |
| 137. | Payment procedure59 |
| 138. | Uncashed dividends60 | |
|---|---|---|
| 139. | Forfeiture of unclaimed dividends 61 | |
| 140. | Distribution of specific assets61 | |
| 141. | Scrip Dividends 61 | |
| RESERVES63 | ||
| 142. | Sums carried to reserve63 | |
| 143. | Capital reserve63 | |
| CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS64 | ||
| 144. | Power to capitalise reserves and revenue account 64 | |
| 145. | Settlement of difficulties in distribution65 | |
| RECORD DATES 65 | ||
| 146. | Power to choose any record date65 | |
| ACCOUNTING RECORDS 65 | ||
| 147. | Preparation and laying of accounts65 | |
| 148. | Accounts to be sent to members 65 | |
| 149. | Summary financial statements66 | |
| 150. | Net asset value 66 | |
| 151. | Information made available to members66 | |
| 152. | Valuation66 | |
| 153. | Records to be kept67 | |
| 154. | Inspection of records67 | |
| AUDITORS67 | ||
| 155. | Validity of acts of Auditors 67 | |
| 156. | Attendance at general meetings67 | |
| SERVICE OF NOTICES AND DOCUMENTS67 | ||
| 157. | Service of notices 67 | |
| 158. | Record date for service 68 |
| 159. | Members resident abroad 68 | |
|---|---|---|
| 160. | Service of notice on person entitled by transmission 69 | |
| 161. | When notice deemed served69 | |
| 162. | Notice when post and/or electronic means not available 70 | |
| PROVISION FOR EMPLOYEES70 | ||
| 163. | Provision for employees70 | |
| DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS 70 | ||
| 164. | Company may destroy old instruments of transfer and other documents70 |
|
| WINDING UP71 | ||
| 165. | Winding up71 | |
| INDEMNITY72 | ||
| 166. | Indemnity of officers and others72 | |
| 167. | Insurance72 | |
| 168. | Obligation to provide information to the company 72 |
________________________________
________________________________
of
(Adopted by special resolution passed on 6 April 2023)
____________________________
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 Act the Company's objects shall be unrestricted.
In these Articles unless the context otherwise requires:
"the Act" means the Companies Acts (as defined in section 2 of the Companies Act 2006) so far as they apply to the Company;
| "address" | has the meaning given to it in section 1148 of the 2006 Act; |
|---|---|
"Chartered Governance Institute" means the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland
"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;
| "Common Reporting | means any provision of the International Tax |
|---|---|
| Standard" | Compliance Regulations 2015 and any orders, |
| regulations or other subordinate legislation made |
|
| thereunder relating to the obligations on |
|
| investment companies to share information with | |
| the tax authorities in the United Kingdom; |
"FCA" the Financial Conduct Authority;
"FCA Handbook" means the rules and guidance set out in the Financial Conduct Authority's Handbook of Rules and Guidance from time to time;
| "seal" | means any common or official seal that the Company may be permitted to have under the Statutes; |
|---|---|
| "the secretary" | means the secretary, or (if there are joint secretaries) any one of the joint secretaries, of the Company and includes an assistant or deputy secretary and any person appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties of the secretary; |
| "sponsoring system participant" |
means in relation to a relevant system a person who is permitted by an Operator to send properly authenticated dematerialised instructions attributable to another person and to receive properly authenticated instructions on another person's behalf; |
| "Statutes" | means the 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; |
| "Stock Exchange" | means London Stock Exchange plc; |
| "Uncertificated Securities Regulations" |
means the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (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; |
| "United Kingdom" | means Great Britain and Northern Ireland; |
| "United States" or "US" | means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia; and |
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 "subsidiary" and "holding company" shall be construed in accordance with section 1159 of the Act and "subsidiary" shall be construed to include "subsidiary undertaking" as that term is defined in section 1162 of the Act.
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 "meeting" mean a meeting convened and held in any manner permitted by these Articles, including without limitation a general meeting or annual general meeting or separate general meeting of the holders of a particular class of shares of the Company at which some or all persons entitled to be present attend and participate by means of an electronic platform, and such persons shall be deemed to be "present" at that meeting for all purposes of the Act and these Articles and "attend", "attending" and "attendance" shall be construed accordingly.
The word "present" shall be construed for the purposes of a physical meeting as physically present at the location of the meeting.
References to a person's "participation" in the business of any meeting shall be construed as including, without limitation and as relevant, the right to speak, vote, be represented by a proxy or proxies and have access in hard copy or electronic form to all documents which are required by the Act or these articles to be available at the meeting and "participate" and "participating" shall be construed accordingly.
References to an "electronic meeting" mean a meeting, including a general meeting or annual general meeting or separate general meeting of the holders of a particular class of shares, hosted on an electronic platform, whether that meeting is physically hosted at a specific location simultaneously or not.
References to an "electronic platform" mean a device, system, procedure, method or facility providing an electronic means of attendance at a meeting as determined by the Directors pursuant to Article 56, including, without limitation, online platforms, application technology and conference call systems.
Nothing in these Articles shall preclude the holding and conducting of a meeting in such a way that persons who are not present together at the same place may by electronic means attend and speak and vote at it.
References to a document being "executed" or "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 an electronic form, such references also include an electronic signature (subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may from time to time determine) and/or any other method of authentication as specified by the Act.
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 re-enactment 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 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. If requisite, the Company shall in accordance with the Statutes within one month from allotting shares deliver a statement in the prescribed form containing particulars of special rights. Where the capital of the Company includes shares with different voting rights, the designation of each class of shares other than those with the most favourable voting rights will include the words "restricted voting" or "limited voting" and where the capital of the Company includes shares which do not carry voting rights the designation of such shares will include the words "non-voting".
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 entitled to determine the terms, conditions and manner of redemption of any such shares.
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 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 Directors may at any time after the allotment of any share, but before any person has been entered in the Register as the holder, recognise a renunciation thereof by the allottee in favour of some other person and may accord to any allottee of a share a right to effect such renunciation upon and subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may think fit to impose.
Unissued shares in the Company shall not be allotted at a discount and, save as permitted by the Statutes, shall not be allotted except as paid up at least as to one-quarter of their nominal value and the whole or any premium thereon.
The Company shall not give any financial assistance in connection with the acquisition of shares in the Company except insofar as permitted by, and in accordance with, the Statutes.
The Company may exercise the powers of paying commissions conferred by the Statutes, provided that the rate per cent. or the amount of the commission paid or agreed to be paid shall be disclosed in the manner required by the Statutes and the rate of the commission shall not exceed the rate of ten per cent. of the price at which the shares in respect whereof the same is paid are issued or an amount equal to ten per cent. of such price (as the case may be). 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.
Except as required by law or by these Articles, the Company shall not be bound by or compelled in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share, or any interest in any fractional part of a share, or (except only as by these Articles or by law otherwise provided) any other right in respect of any share, except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.
The Company shall be entitled, but, except as required by law or by these Articles, shall not be bound, to recognise in such manner and to such extent as it may think fit any trusts in respect of any of the shares of the Company. Notwithstanding any such recognition, the Company shall not be bound to see to the execution, administration or observance of any trust, whether express, implied or constructive, in respect of any shares in the Company and shall be entitled to recognise and give effect to the acts and deeds of the holders of such shares as if they were the absolute owners thereof. For the purpose of this Article 16, "trust" includes any right in respect of any shares in the Company other than an absolute right thereto in the holder thereof for the time being or such other rights in the case of transmission thereof as are mentioned in these Articles.
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 Act) and a sale made through the Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange outside the United Kingdom 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.
(A) Pursuant and subject to the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, (referred to in this Article as "the Regulations"), the Board may permit title to shares of any class to be evidenced otherwise than by a certificate and title to shares of such a class to be transferred by means of a relevant system and may make arrangements for a class of shares (if all shares of that class are in all respects identical) to become a participating class. Title to shares of a particular class may only be evidenced otherwise than by a certificate where that class of shares is for the time being a participating class. The Board may also, subject to compliance with the Regulations and the rules of any relevant system, determine at any time that title to any class of shares may from a date specified by the Board no longer be evidenced otherwise than by a certificate or that title to such a class shall cease to be transferred by means of any particular relevant system. For the avoidance of doubt, shares which are uncertificated shares shall not be treated as forming a class which is separate from certificated shares with the same rights. Subject to Article 18(E), the Company shall enter on the Register, in respect of any participating class, the number of shares that each member having both uncertificated and certificated shares of that class holds in uncertificated form and certificated form respectively.
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.
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 on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity as the Board may decide and to payment of any exceptional out of pocket expenses 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. 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.
Delivery of a certificate for certificated shares to a broker or agent acting in regard to the purchase or transfer of shares to which it relates shall be sufficient delivery to the purchaser or the transferee, as the case may be.
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 seven 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 (in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder or otherwise), demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the share may be sold.
To give effect to the sale:
The transferee shall not be bound to see the application of the purchase money, nor shall the title of the transferee to the share be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference 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.
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 sum payable in respect of any call or instalment is not paid on or before the day appointed for payment thereof, the holder for the time being of the share in respect of which the call shall have been made, or the instalment shall be due, shall pay interest on the sum at such rate, not exceeding the appropriate rate (as defined by the Statutes), as the Board may determine from the day appointed for the payment thereof until the actual payment thereof, and all expenses that may have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment, but the Board may, if they shall think fit, waive the payment of such interest and expenses or any part thereof.
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 in a general meeting shall otherwise direct) the appropriate rate (as defined by the Statutes) as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the member paying such moneys in advance.
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 seven 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 on 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 accordance with these Articles, notice of the forfeiture 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. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited share is to be transferred to any person:
The proceeds of sale will be forfeited and will belong to the Company and the Company will not be liable in any respect to the person who would have been entitled to the shares by law for the proceeds of sale. The Company can use the proceeds of sale for any purpose as the Board may from time to time decide.
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 such rate not exceeding the appropriate rate (as defined by the Statutes), as the Directors 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:
entered in the Register in respect of it. All instruments of transfer, when registered, may be retained by the Company.
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 FCA 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.
If the Board declines to register a transfer of a share it shall, within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged or, in the case of uncertificated shares, within two months after the date on which the relevant Operator-instruction 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 FCA, 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 shares in the Company on behalf of the holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares by instructing their sale on the 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 the sending of the notice referred to in Article 46 (iii).
If during any qualifying period further shares have been issued in right of those held at the beginning of that qualifying period or of any previously so issued during that qualifying period and all the requirements of subparagraphs (ii) to (iv) above have been satisfied in regard to the further shares (but as if the words "during the qualifying period" were omitted from subparagraph (ii) and the words "after the expiry of the qualifying period" were omitted from subparagraph (iii)), the Company may also sell the further shares.
To give effect to any sale of shares pursuant to this Article:
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. Any share sold pursuant to this Article together with any unpaid or unclaimed dividends or other moneys payable in respect of each share (to the extent not already forfeited under these Articles) shall be forfeited and the Company will not be liable in any respect to the former holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the share for such proceeds of sale or dividends or other moneys. The Company may use such proceeds of sale, dividends and other moneys for any purpose as the Directors may from time to time decide.
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 registered 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.
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 to be held as a physical meeting and/or an electronic meeting. The Board may decide when, where and how to hold a general meeting, including on an electronic platform(s).
56.1. The Board may decide to enable persons entitled to attend a general meeting to do so by simultaneous attendance on an electronic platform with no persons necessarily in physical attendance together at the electronic meeting. Members or their proxies or duly authorised corporate representatives present shall be counted in the quorum for, and entitled to vote at, the general meeting in question, and that general meeting shall be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chairman of the general meeting is satisfied that adequate facilities are available throughout the electronic meeting to ensure that members or their proxies or duly authorised corporate representatives attending the meeting by whatever means to:
but under no circumstances shall the inability of one or more attendees to access, or continue to access, the electronic platform for participation in the meeting despite adequate facilities being made available by the Company affect the validity of the meeting or any business conducted at the meeting.
56.2. If it appears to the chairman of the general meeting that the electronic platform(s), facilities or security at the electronic meeting have become inadequate for the purposes of holding the meeting, then the chairman may, without the consent of the general meeting, interrupt or adjourn the general meeting. All business conducted at the general meeting up to the time of that adjournment shall be valid and the provisions of Article 68 shall apply to that adjournment.
If at any general meeting at which persons are entitled to participate by means of an electronic platform, any document is required to be on display or available for inspection at the meeting (whether prior to or for the duration of the meeting or both), the Company shall ensure that the relevant document is available in electronic form to persons entitled to inspect it for at least the required period of time, and this will be deemed to satisfy any such requirement
When deciding whether a person is attending or participating in a meeting other than at a physical location, it is immaterial where that person is or how that person is able to communicate with others who are attending and participating.
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 Directors shall, on the requisition of members in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes, but subject as therein provided:
To facilitate the organisation and administration of any general meeting, and without prejudice to the Board's right to enable persons to simultaneously attend the general meeting on an electronic platform in accordance with these Articles, the Board may decide that the meeting shall be held at more than one physical location.
For the purposes of these Articles any general meeting taking place at two or more physical locations shall be treated as taking place where the chairman of the meeting presides (the "principal meeting place") and any other location where that general meeting takes place is referred to in these Articles as a "satellite meeting".
A member present in person or by proxy or by its duly authorised corporate representative at a satellite meeting may be counted in the quorum and may exercise all rights that they would have been able to exercise if they were present at the principal meeting place.
A person (a "satellite chairman") appointed by the Directors or by the chairman of the meeting shall preside at each satellite meeting. Every satellite chairman shall carry out all requests made of him by the chairman of the meeting, may take such action as he thinks necessary to maintain the proper and orderly conduct of the satellite meeting and shall have all powers necessary or desirable for such purposes.
The entitlement of any member or proxy or duly authorised corporate representative to attend a satellite meeting shall be subject to any such arrangements then in force and stated by the notice of meeting or adjourned meeting to apply to the general meeting.
If there is a failure of communication equipment or any other failure in the arrangements for participation in the general meeting held at more than one physical location, the chairman may adjourn the general meeting in accordance with Article 68. Such an adjournment will not affect the validity of such general meeting, or any business conducted at such meeting up to the point of adjournment, or any action taken pursuant to such general meeting.
Unless otherwise specified in the notice of meeting or determined by the chairman of the meeting, a general meeting is deemed to take place at the place where the chairman of the meeting is at the time of the meeting.
An annual general meeting shall be convened by not less than twenty-one clear days' notice in writing. 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.
If the Board determines that a general meeting shall be held (wholly or partly) as an electronic meeting, the notice of the meeting shall specify any access, identification, security and other arrangements determined in accordance with Article 67.
For the purposes of this Article 61, "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 Act 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, after the sending of the notice of a general meeting but before the meeting is held, or after the adjournment of a general meeting but before the adjourned meeting is held (whether or not notice of the adjourned meeting is required under these Articles), the Directors, in the Directors absolute discretion, consider that it is impracticable, undesirable or unreasonable for any reason to hold the general meeting on the date or at the time or place specified in the notice convening the general meeting (including a satellite meeting and/or by means of the electronic platform(s) specified in the notice), the Directors may postpone or move the general meeting to another date, time and/or place(s) and/or change the electronic platform(s). If such a decision is made, the Directors may subsequently change the place(s) and/or the platform(s) and/or postpone the date and/or time again if it considers that it is reasonable to do so. No new notice of the general meeting needs to be sent but the Directors shall take reasonable steps to ensure that notice of the change of date, time, place(s) and/or electronic platform(s) for the postponed meeting appear at the original time and at the original place(s) and/or on the original electronic platform(s). However, when a general meeting is so postponed, notice of the date, time, place(s) and any electronic platform if applicable, of the postponed meeting may be given in such manner as the Directors may, in its absolute discretion, determine. No business shall be transacted at any postponed meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting had it not been postponed. Notice of the business to be transacted at such postponed meeting shall not be required. If a general meeting is postponed in accordance with this Article, the appointment of a proxy will be valid if it is received as required by these Articles not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the postponed meeting. When calculating such 48 hour period, the Directors may decide not to take account of any part of a day that is not a working day.
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 qualifying persons entitled to vote upon the business to be transacted, each being a member or a proxy for a member or a duly authorised representative of a corporation which is a member (including for this purpose two qualifying persons who are proxies or corporate representatives of the same member), shall be a quorum.
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 fifteen 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.
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 where he considers that this will assist in the deliberations of the meeting.
67.1. The Directors and/or the chairman of the meeting may direct that any person wishing to attend any general meeting should submit to and comply with such searches or other security arrangements (including without limitation, requiring evidence of identity to be produced before entering or accessing the meeting and placing restrictions on the items of personal property which may be taken into the meeting) and/or other restrictions as they or he consider appropriate in the circumstances. The Directors or the chairman of the meeting may in their or his absolute discretion refuse entry to, or eject from, any general meeting any person who refuses to submit to a search or otherwise comply with any such security arrangements and/or other restrictions.
If a quorum is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the general meeting, or if during a meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting shall stand adjourned and the chairman of the meeting shall specify the date, time place and/or electronic platform(s) to which it is adjourned or state that it is adjourned to such time, place and/or electronic platform(s) as the Directors may determine. If at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the meeting shall be dissolved.
Without prejudice to any other power of adjournment he may have under these Articles or at common law:
(a) the chairman of the meeting may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place; and
and, if so adjourned, the chairman of the meeting shall either specify the time and, place and/or electronic platform(s) to which it is adjourned or state that it is adjourned to such time and, place and/or electronic platform(s) as the Directors may determine.
(c) Subject to the provisions of the Act and except as provided in this Article, it shall not be necessary to give notice of an adjourned meeting except that when a meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more, at least seven clear days' notice shall be given specifying the time, place and/or electronic platform(s) of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. If a meeting is adjourned to more than one place or if a meeting which was originally specified as a physical meeting in the notice is adjourned to an electronic meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles. No business shall be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place.
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 7.
(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:
(B) Votes on a poll
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:
(i) 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.
A resolution put to the vote of a meeting held wholly or partly as an electronic meeting shall be decided on a poll. Subject thereto, a resolution put to the vote of a general 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:
not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights (excluding any voting rights attached to any shares in the Company held in treasury) of all the members having the right to attend and vote at the meeting; or
(iv) any member or members present in person or by proxy or corporate representatives present in person and holding shares or being a representative in respect of a holder of shares conferring a right to attend and vote at the meeting on which there have been paid up sums in the aggregate equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sums paid up on all the shares conferring that right.
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 adjournment, shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either forthwith or on such date (being not later than thirty days after the date of the demand) and at such time and place and/or electronic platform 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.
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.
be received at such address and by such time as is specified in or by way of note to the notice convening the meeting.
For the purposes of this Article 83 "non-working days" means weekends, Christmas Day, Good Friday and any other bank holiday in Scotland.
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:
communication in electronic form issued by the Company inviting shareholders to appoint 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 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 more than ten nor less than three.
Each Director shall hold in his own right shares in the Company of the nominal amount of at least five hundred pounds, of which not less than two hundred and fifty pounds must be in ordinary shares. A Director may act before acquiring his qualification but must acquire the same within two months after his appointment or election.
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.
At each annual general meeting of the Company every director shall retire from office except any director appointed by the Board after the notice of that annual general meeting has been given and before that annual general meeting has been held. A director that is so re-appointed will be treated as continuing in office without a break.
If:
(i) at the annual general meeting in any year any resolution or resolutions for the appointment or re-appointment of persons eligible for appointment or reappointment as directors are put to the meeting and lost (such persons who are not so appointed or re-appointed being "Retiring Directors"); and
(ii) at the end of that meeting the number of directors is fewer than any minimum number of directors required under these Articles,
all Retiring Directors shall be deemed to have been re-appointed as Directors and shall remain in office but the Retiring Directors may only act for the purpose of filling vacancies, convening general meetings of the Company and performing such duties as are essential to maintain the Company as a going concern, and not for any other purpose. The Board shall convene a general meeting as soon as reasonably practicable following the meeting referred to in this Article 93 and the Retiring Directors shall retire from office at that meeting. If at the end of any meeting convened under this Article the number of directors is fewer than any minimum number of directors required under these Articles, the provisions of this Article 118 shall also apply to that meeting.
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, a 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 a 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 re-appointed, 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.
The Directors shall be paid, out of the funds of the Company by way of fees for their services as directors, such sums (if any) as the Board may from time to time determine not exceeding in the aggregate, an annual sum of £250,000 (or such larger amount as the Company may by ordinary resolution determine) and such remuneration shall be divided between the Directors as the Board shall agree or, failing agreement, equally. Such remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to the remuneration of any director who is appointed to any executive office (whether part time or full time) which remuneration shall be established pursuant to the provisions of Article 129.
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 may (by the establishment of, or maintenance of, schemes or otherwise) pay and agree to pay pensions or other retirement, superannuation, death or disability benefits or allowances to any person in respect of any Director or former Director, officer or former officer of the Company who may hold or may have held any executive office or employment under the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or its holding company (if any) and for the purpose of providing any such pensions or other benefits or allowances may contribute to any scheme or fund and may make payments towards insurances or trusts in respect of such persons.
Paragraphs (A) to (H) of this Article are subject to the provisions of the Statutes and to the provisions of paragraphs (J) to (P).
underwriting or sub-underwriting of which the director is to participate;
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the memorandum of association of the Company 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 the memorandum of association or 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.
redemption reserve of the Company and so that for this purpose if the Company proposes to issue or has issued shares for cash and the issue has been underwritten then the amount (including any premium) of the subscription moneys so underwritten (not being moneys payable later than three months after the date the underwriting becomes unconditional) shall be deemed to have been paid up at the date when the underwriting becomes unconditional;
by any bank or accepting house under any acceptance credit opened on behalf of any member of the Group;
but borrowings shall not be deemed to include:
not been or will not be exceeded at any particular time or times shall be conclusive evidence of such amount or fact for the purposes of this Article. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person dealing with the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall by reason of the foregoing provisions be concerned to see or enquire whether the said limits are observed and no debt incurred or security given in excess of such limit shall be invalid or ineffectual unless the lender or the recipient of the security had, at the time when the debt was incurred or security given, express notice that the said limit had been or would thereby be exceeded.
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 regulations as it may think fit respecting the keeping of the Register.
Any director or the Company Secretary or any person appointed by the Directors for the purpose shall have power to authenticate any documents affecting the constitution of the Company (including these presents and extracts therefrom) and any resolutions passed by the Company or the Board or a committee of the Board and any books, records, documents and accounts or extracts therefrom as true copies or extracts; and where any books, records, documents or accounts are elsewhere than at the Office, the local manager or other officer of the Company having custody thereof shall be deemed to be a person appointed by the Directors as aforesaid.
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 Directors may, from time to time and at any time, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any person or undertaking, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period, and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Directors may think fit, and also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. The Directors may remove any person or undertaking appointed under this Article 113 and may annul or vary any such subdelegation but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such removal, annulment or variation shall be affected thereby.
All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable or transferable instruments, and all receipts for money paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the Directors shall from time to time by resolution determine.
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.
Without prejudice to Article 93, 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. An additional director appointed in this way shall hold office (subject to these articles) only until the dissolution of the next annual general meeting after his or her appointment unless he or she is reappointed during that annual general meeting.
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.
same are applicable and are not superseded by any regulations imposed by the Board.
(C) 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.
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.
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 meeting 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 (if 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" include the use of communications in electronic form.
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made, in books provided for the purpose, of the following matters, namely:
(a) of all the appointments of officers, managers, agents and committees made by the Board;
Any minute of any meeting of the Board or committee of the Board, or meeting of the Company, if signed by any person purporting to be the Chairman of such meeting or the next succeeding meeting, shall be receivable in evidence of the matters stated in such minute without further proof.
Any register, index, minute book, book of account or other book required by these Articles or the Statutes to be kept by or on behalf of the Company may be kept either by making entries in bound books or by recording them in any other manner authorised by the Statutes. In any case in which bound books are not used, the Directors shall take adequate precautions for guarding against falsification and facilitating discovery of falsification.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes the Directors may from time to time appoint one or more of their body to the office of managing director or to hold such other executive office in relation to the management of the business of the Company as they may decide, for such period and on such terms as they think fit, and, subject to the terms of any service contract entered into in any particular case and without prejudice to any claim for damages such director may have for breach of any such service contract, may revoke such appointment. A director so appointed shall not, whilst holding such office, be subject to retirement by rotation or be taken into account in determining the rotation of retirement of directors but, without prejudice to any claim for damages such director may have for breach of any service contract between him and the Company, his appointment shall be automatically determined if he ceases from any cause to be a director.
The salary or remuneration of any managing director or such executive director of the Company shall, subject as provided in any contract, be such as the Directors may from time to time determine, and may either be a fixed sum of money, or may altogether or in part be governed by the business done or profits made, and may include the making of provisions for the payment to him, his widow or other dependants, of a pension on retirement from the office or employment to which he is appointed and for the participation in pension and life assurance benefits, or may be upon such other terms as the Directors determine.
The Directors may entrust to and confer upon a managing director or such executive director any of the powers exercisable by them upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as they may think fit, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers, and may from time to time revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of such powers.
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.
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 opinion of 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:
(i) all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the share in respect of which the dividend is paid, but no amount paid up on a share in advance of calls shall be treated for the purposes of this Article as paid up on the share;
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 such method as the Board may decide. The Board may decide to use different methods of payment for different holders or groups of holders of shares. Without limiting any other method of payment which the board may decide upon, the Board may decide that payment can be made, wholly or partly and exclusively or optionally:
institution (or other organisation operating deposit accounts if allowed by the Company) in the United Kingdom nominated in a written instruction from the person entitled to receive the payment under this article, and the making of such payment shall be a good discharge to the Company 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 instruction; or
(c) in some other way requested in writing by the holder (or all joint holders) and agreed with the Company.
If the Board decides that any dividend or other sum payable in cash by the Company in respect of a share will be made exclusively by inter-bank transfer or by other funds transfer system or electronic means to an account, but no such account is nominated by the person entitled to receive the payment, or an inter-bank transfer or other funds transfer or electronic payment into a nominated account is rejected or refunded, the Company may credit that dividend or other sum payable in cash to an account of the Company, to be held until the person entitled to receive the payment nominates a valid account to which the payment shall be made or until such time as such dividend or other sum is forfeited in accordance with these articles.
Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends or other sum 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 or property distributable by the Company on or 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 and where two or more persons are so entitled, any one of them may give effectual receipts for any dividends or other sums payable or property distributable on or in respect of the shares.
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 cease to remain owing by the Company.
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 Directors may, with the authority of 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 Directors) of any dividend specified by the ordinary resolution. The following provisions shall apply:
Company's ordinary shares as derived from the Stock Exchange Daily Official List, for 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.
amount of the additional ordinary shares to be allotted on that basis and apply it in paying up in full the appropriate number of ordinary shares for allotment and distribution to the holders of the elected ordinary shares on that basis.
The Directors may, before recommending any dividend or capital distribution, 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 Directors, 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 Directors think fit. The Directors 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 Directors may also, without placing the same to reserves, carry forward any profits. In carrying funds to reserves and in applying the same the Directors shall comply with the provisions of the Statutes.
(A) The Board shall establish a reserve to be called the "capital reserve" and shall either carry to the credit of such reserve from time to time all capital profits or appreciations arising on the sale, transposition, payment of 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, transposition, payment off of or revaluation of any investment or other capital asset. Any losses realised on the sale, transposition, payment off of or revaluation of any investment or other capital asset and any other expenses, loss or liability (or provision thereof) considered by the Board to be of a capital nature shall be carried to the debit of the capital reserve except in so far as the Board may in its discretion decide to make good the same out of other funds of the Company. Any increase or diminution in the amount of any index-linked stock or other index-linked obligation of the Company shall be carried to the debit or credit of the capital reserve, except so far as the Board may in its discretion decide to make good the same out of or credit the same to other funds or reserves of the Company.
(B) Subject to the Statutes and without prejudice to the foregoing generality, the Board may determine whether any amount received by the Company is to be dealt with as income or capital or partly one and partly the other. The Board may determine whether any cost, liability or expense (including, without limitation, any costs incurred or sums expended in connection with the management of the assets of the Company or finance costs (including, without limitation, any interest payable by the Company in respect of any borrowings of the Company)) is to be treated as a cost, liability or expense chargeable to capital or to revenues or partly one and partly the other, having regard, inter alia, to the investment objectives of the Company, and to the extent the Board determines that any such cost, liability or expense should reasonably and fairly be apportioned to capital the Board may debit or charge the same to the capital reserve.
The Company may, upon the recommendation of the Board, at any time and from time to time pass an ordinary resolution to the effect that it is desirable to capitalise all or any part of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve (including any share premium account, capital redemption reserve, merger reserve or special reserve arising on the cancellation or reduction of share premium account) or the profit and loss account whether or not the same is available for distribution and accordingly that the amount to be capitalised be set free for distribution among the members or any class of members who would be entitled to it if it were distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions, on the footing that it is applied either in or towards paying up the amounts for the time being unpaid on any shares in the Company held by those members respectively or in paying up in full unissued shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company to be allotted and distributed credited as fully paid up among those members, or partly in one way and partly in the other, but so that, for the purposes of this Article, a share premium account and a capital redemption reserve, merger reserve and any reserve or account representing unrealised profits, may be applied only in paying up in full unissued shares of the Company. The Board may authorise any person to enter into an agreement with the Company on behalf of the persons entitled to participate in the distribution providing for the allotment to them respectively of any shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company to which they are entitled on the capitalisation and the agreement shall be binding on those persons.
Where any difficulty arises in regard to any distribution of any capitalised reserve or account the Board may settle the matter as it thinks expedient and in particular may authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may resolve that the distribution should be as nearly as may be practicable in the correct proportion but not exactly so or may ignore fractions altogether, and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any members in order to adjust the rights of all parties, as may seem expedient to the Board.
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.
The Directors shall, from time to time in compliance with the provisions of the Statutes, cause to be prepared and to be laid before a general meeting of the Company such accounts and reports as may be required by the Statutes
Subject to the provisions of this Article 151, a printed copy of the accounts which are to be laid before a general meeting of the Company (including every document required by law to be attached or annexed thereto) and of the Directors' and auditors' reports shall, not less than 21 clear days before the date of the meeting, be sent to every member of, and every holder of debentures of, the Company and to every other person who is entitled to receive notices of meetings from the Company under the provisions of the Statutes or of these Articles, provided that:
(i) this Article shall not require a copy of such documents to be sent to more than one of any joint holders or to any person who is not entitled to receive notices of meetings or of whose address the Company is not aware; and
(ii) the accidental omission to send such documents to, or the non-receipt of any such documents by, any person entitled thereto shall not invalidate any proceedings at the relevant annual general meeting.
Whenever a listing or quotation on any stock exchange for all or any of the shares or debentures or other securities of the Company shall for the time being be in force, there shall be forwarded to the appropriate officer of such stock exchange such number of copies of such documents as may for the time being be required under its regulations or practice.
The Company may send summary financial statements to members of the Company instead of copies of its full accounts and reports.
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.
Investor Disclosures shall be made available to members and prospective members in such manner as may be determined by the Board from time to time (including without limitation, and where so determined, by posting some or all of the Investor Disclosures on the Company's website or by electronic notice).
For the purposes of this Article the term "Investor Disclosures" means solely the information required to be made available to members and prospective members pursuant to FUND Rules in the FCA Handbook as amended or replaced from time to time.
Without prejudice to any other provision of these Articles, valuation of the Company's assets shall be performed in accordance with prevailing accounting standards the AIFM Rules, or such other accounting standards, bases, policies and procedures as the Board may determine from time to time.
Valuations of net asset value per share may be suspended if the underlying data necessary to value the investments of the Company cannot readily or without undue expenditure be obtained for regulatory reasons and any such suspension shall be announced by a Regulatory Information Service (as defined in the FCA Handbook).
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.
The Board shall, from time to time, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, determine whether, in any particular case, or class of cases, or generally and at which times and places, and under what conditions or regulations, the accounts and books of the Company, or any or them shall be open to the inspection of the members, and no member, not being a Director, shall have any right of inspecting any account or book, or document of the Company except as conferred by the Statutes, or authorised by the Directors, or by resolution of the Company in a general meeting.
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 appointment, removal, powers and rights, remuneration and duties of the Auditor shall be as regulated by the Statutes.
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.
(A) 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 at his registered address or by leaving 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 time 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. Anything to be agreed or specified in relation to any notice, document or other information to be served on or sent or supplied to joint holders of a share may be agreed or specified by any one of the joint holders and the agreement or specification of the senior shall be accepted to the exclusion of that of the other joint holders and, for this purpose, seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in respect of the joint holding.
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 and who gives to the Company an address within the United Kingdom at which notices or documents may be served upon him shall be entitled to have notices or documents served upon him at that address but, unless he does so, shall not be entitled to receive any notice or document from the Company.
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 jointly 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 Chartered Governance Institution, 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 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 power conferred upon the Company by Section 247 of the Act 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 any subsidiary shall only be exercised by the Company with the prior sanction of a special resolution. If at any time the capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the exercise of such power as aforesaid shall be deemed to be a variation of the rights attached to each class of shares and shall accordingly require either (i) the prior consent in writing of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of each class or (ii) the prior sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate General Meeting of the holders of the shares of each class, in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 hereof.
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 authority of a special resolution, divide among the members in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and whether or not the assets shall consist of property of one kind or shall consist of properties of different kinds, and may for such purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any one or more class or classes of property and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes of members. The liquidator may, with the like authority, vest any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of members as the liquidator with the like authority shall think fit or transfer the whole or any part of the assets of the Company to one or more other companies or to the trustees of one or more unit trusts pursuant to any scheme whereby members are to receive shares or units respectively in consideration for the assets of the Company so transferred and the liquidation of the Company may be closed and the Company dissolved, but so that no member shall be compelled to accept any shares or units in respect of which there is a liability provided always that any such scheme shall provide a right for a member so desiring to take all or part of this entitlement in cash on such terms as may be provided for by such scheme.
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company may indemnify any director, other officer or Auditor (or any person who was at any time a director, or other officer of the Company, or its predecessor in business, or of a holding undertaking or subsidiary undertaking of the Company) against any liability and may purchase and maintain for any such person insurance against any loss or liability, whether in connection with any proven or alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him or otherwise in relation to the Company. Subject to those provisions but without prejudice to any indemnity to which the person concerned may otherwise be entitled, every director, former director, other officer or Auditor of the Company shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any loss or liability incurred by him in the execution of his duties in relation to the affairs of the Company, provided that this Article shall be deemed not to provide for, or entitle any such person to, indemnification to the extent that it would cause this Article, or any element of it, or of such indemnification, to be treated as void under the Statutes.
The Directors shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any persons who are or were at any time directors, officers, employees or auditors of the Company or any other company which is its holding company or subsidiary including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) insurance against any liability incurred by such persons in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution and/or discharge of their duties and/or in the exercise or purported exercise of their powers and/or otherwise in relation to their duties, powers and offices in relation to the Company or any such other holding company or subsidiary.
(A) In addition to the right of the Board to serve a statutory notice on any person pursuant to the Statutes, the Board may at any time serve written notice on any member requiring that member to promptly provide the Company or its agents with any information, representations, declarations, certificates, waivers, forms or other documentation ("Information") relating to such member (and to such member's direct or indirect owners or account holders or the persons beneficially interested, directly or indirectly, in the shares held by such member) that the Board determines from time to time is necessary or appropriate for the Company to have in order to
obligation (each an "Onerous Obligation") (including by reason of the failure of the person concerned or its associates or nominee holder(s) to provide to the Company any Information pursuant to this Article 170), the Board may at any time give written notice to the holder or joint holders of the relevant shares requiring them to sell or transfer the relevant shares within 21 days of service of such notice to such person or persons as shall ensure that the Company shall no longer be subject to the relevant Onerous Obligation and within such 21 days to provide the Board with satisfactory evidence of such sale or transfer, and pending such sale or transfer the Board may suspend the exercise of any voting or consent rights and rights to receive notice of or to attend any meeting of the Company and any rights to receive dividends or other distributions or payments with respect to the relevant shares. Where such sale or transfer is not completed within 21 days of service of such notice (or such longer period as the Board may determine), the holder or joint holders of the relevant shares will be deemed, upon the expiration of such 21 days, to have forfeited their shares. If the Board in its absolute discretion so determines, the Company may dispose of the relevant shares at the best price reasonably obtainable and pay the net proceeds of such disposal to the former holder or joint holders.
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