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Skyworth Group Limited — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2009
Sep 25, 2009
49442_rns_2009-09-25_455cb6b4-06af-4958-9b1f-497da8370abd.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THIS CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of this circular or as to the action to be taken, you should consult your stockbroker or other registered dealer in securities, bank manager, solicitor, professional accountant or other professional adviser.
If you have sold or transferred all your securities in Skyworth Digital Holdings Limited , you should at once hand this circular and the accompanying form of proxy to the purchaser or the transferee or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser or the transferee.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this circular, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this circular.
SKYWORTH DIGITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED (創維數碼控股有限公司)[*]
(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 00751)
Executive Directors: Registered office: Zhang Xuebin Clarendon House (Executive Chairman & Chief Executive Officer) 2 Church Street Ding Kai Hamilton HM 11 Leung Chi Ching, Frederick Bermuda Lin Wei Ping Yang Dongwen Principal place of Rooms 1601-04 Independent non-executive Directors: Westlands Centre So Hon Cheung, Stephen 20 Westlands Li Weibin Quarry Bay Xie Zhengcai Hong Kong
Principal place of business: Rooms 1601-04 Westlands Centre 20 Westlands Road Quarry Bay Hong Kong
25 September 2009
To the Shareholders:
Dear Sir or Madam,
SCRIP DIVIDEND SCHEME IN RELATION TO THE FINAL DIVIDEND FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2009
PARTICULARS OF THE FINAL DIVIDEND
On Wednesday, 8 July 2009, Skyworth Digital Holdings Limited (the “ Company ”) announced that the board of directors (the “ Board ”) of the Company resolved to declare
- For identification purposes only
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the payment of a final dividend of HK$0.07 per share of HK$0.10 each in the capital of the Company (“ Share(s) ”) for the year ended 31 March 2009 (“ 2009 Final Dividend ”) to the shareholders whose names appeared on the register of members of the Company on Monday, 14 September 2009 (“ Record Date ”), and that the shareholders would be given the option to receive shares of HK$0.10 each (“ New Shares ”) in the capital of the Company in lieu of cash in respect of part or all of such dividend (the “ Scrip Dividend Scheme ”). The register of members of the Company has been closed from Tuesday, 8 September 2009 to Monday, 14 September 2009, both days inclusive, during which no transfer of shares was registered and in order to ascertain entitlement to the 2009 Final Dividend. The last date on which the transfers were accepted for registration for participation in the Scrip Dividend Scheme was 7 September 2009.
At the annual general meeting of the Company held on Thursday, 24 September 2009, the 2009 Final Dividend was approved by the shareholders of the Company. Accordingly, each eligible shareholder of the Company has the following choices in respect of the 2009 Final Dividend:
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(a) to receive a cash dividend of HK$0.07 per Share; or
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(b) to be allotted New Shares at HK$2.83 per New Share credited as fully paid and having a market value (as set out below) equal to the total amount of the 2009 Final Dividend which such shareholder would otherwise receive in cash (New Shares will be allotted by way of capitalisation of profits to the shareholders of the Company electing to receive New Shares in lieu of cash dividend); or
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(c) to receive the 2009 Final Dividend partly in cash and partly in New Shares.
The number of New Shares to be allotted to the shareholders pursuant to the Scrip Dividend Scheme would be calculated by reference to the market value of HK$2.83 which represents the average closing prices per Share of the Company quoted on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“ Stock Exchange ”) for the five consecutive trading days from 8 September 2009 to 14 September 2009. Accordingly, the number of New Shares that the shareholders will receive in respect of their shareholdings on the Record Date under the Scrip Dividend Scheme will be calculated as follows:
Number of Shares held on Number of New Shares = the Record Date for which x HK$0.07 to be received election is made HK$2.83
If all shareholders elect to receive their 2009 Final Dividend entitlements in New Shares, based on 2,362,670,245 Shares of the Company in issue on 14 September 2009, not more than 58,440,606 New Shares will be issued under the Scrip Dividend Scheme. The New Shares to be issued will, when issued, rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Shares, except that they will not rank for the 2009 Final Dividend for the year ended 31 March 2009. The number of New Shares to be allotted to each shareholder will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of New Shares. Fractional entitlements to New Shares will not be issued to the shareholders but will be aggregated for the benefit of the Company.
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FORM OF ELECTION
A form of election is enclosed with this circular for use by the shareholders who wish to receive the 2009 Final Dividend wholly in the form of New Shares or partly in cash and partly in the form of New Shares.
Shareholders who wish to receive an allotment of New Shares in lieu of payment in cash of the 2009 Final Dividend, whether in whole or in part, should complete and sign the form of election in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and the duly completed and signed form of election must reach the branch share registrar of the Company in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Registrars Limited at Rooms 1806-07, 18th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Hong Kong not later than 4:00 p.m. on 12 October 2009. No acknowledgement of receipt of the form of election will be issued.
If you do not return the form of election before the time stated above, you will receive your 2009 Final Dividend wholly in cash.
Shareholders who do not specify the number of Shares in respect of which they are electing to receive an allotment of New Shares, or if they elect to receive New Shares in respect of a greater number of Shares than their registered holding, they will be deemed to have chosen to receive New Shares in respect of all the Shares of which they were then registered as the holders on the Record Date.
OVERSEAS SHAREHOLDERS
None of this circular, the form of election nor the New Shares will be registered or filed under the securities laws or equivalent legislation of any jurisdiction outside Hong Kong. The participation in the Scrip Dividend Scheme by overseas shareholders may be restricted by the laws of their relevant jurisdictions. No shareholders receiving a copy of this document and/or a form of election in any territory outside Hong Kong may treat the same as an invitation to elect for New Shares unless in the relevant territory such invitation could lawfully be made to him/her without having to comply with any unfulfilled registration or other legal requirements. Shareholders with registered addresses outside Hong Kong should consult their own professional advisers as to whether or not they are permitted to receive the 2009 Final Dividend in the form of an issue of New Shares or if any governmental or other consent is required or other formalities which need to be observed and whether there are any other restrictions in relation to the future sale of any New Shares so acquired. Overseas shareholders residing in jurisdiction where it would be illegal for them to participate in the Scrip Dividend Scheme will be deemed to have received this circular and/or form of election for information only. The Company has been advised that dividends paid by it is not subject to any withholding tax or duty under the tax law of Bermuda. As at the Record Date, there was one registered shareholder with an address in the People’s Republic of China and one with an address in Germany. The Company has sought legal advice from counsels in these jurisdiction in relation to the legality of the Scrip Dividend Scheme and will extend the Scrip Dividend Scheme to these two shareholders.
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STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING AND DESPATCH OF SHARE CERTIFICATES
Application will be made to the Listing Committee of the Stock Exchange for listing of and permission to deal in the New Shares to be issued pursuant to the Scrip Dividend Scheme. The Scrip Dividend Scheme is conditional upon listing approval being granted by the Listing Committee of the Stock Exchange in respect of the New Shares to be issued pursuant thereto. No equity or debt securities of the Company are listed or dealt in on any other stock exchange nor is listing or permission to deal in on any other stock exchange being or proposed to be sought. The relevant dividend warrants and/or share certificates for the New Shares will be posted to the shareholders entitled thereto at their own risk on or around 22 October 2009. It is expected that dealings in the New Shares will commence on 23 October 2009. In the unlikely event that New Shares are not admitted to listing before 23 October 2009, the form of election will be disregarded and the 2009 Final Dividend will be paid in full in cash in the usual way.
ADVANTAGE OF SCRIP DIVIDEND SCHEME
The Scrip Dividend Scheme will give shareholders the opportunity to increase their investment in the Company as provided above, without incurring brokerage fees and stamp duty cost. The Scrip Dividend Scheme will also benefit the Company because, to the extent that the shareholders receive New Shares, whether in whole or in part, in respect of the 2009 Final Dividend, such cash which would otherwise have been paid to the shareholders will be retained for use by the Company.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
Shareholders should note that an acquisition of New Shares may give rise to notification requirements under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong). Shareholders who are in any doubt as to how these provisions may affect them are recommended to seek their own independent professional advice.
GENERAL
Whether or not it is to your advantage to elect to receive your 2009 Final Dividend in New Shares or cash, whether in whole or in part, depends upon your own individual circumstances, and the decision in this regard and all effects resulting therefrom are the responsibility of each shareholder. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO WHAT TO DO, YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR LICENSED SECURITIES DEALER, BANK MANAGER, SOLICITOR, PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT OR OTHER INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ADVISER .
Yours faithfully, For and on behalf of the Board of
SKYWORTH DIGITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED Zhang Xuebin
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
Set out below is a summary of certain provisions of the memorandum of association (the “Memorandum of Association”) and bye-laws (the “Bye-laws”) of the Company and of certain aspects of Bermuda company law.
1. MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
The Memorandum of Association states, inter alia, that the liability of members of the Company is limited to the amount, if any, for the time being unpaid on the Shares respectively held by them and that the Company is an exempted company as defined in the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda (the “Companies Act”). The Memorandum of Association also sets out the objects for which the Company was formed including to act and to perform all the functions of a holding company. As an exempted company, the Company will be carrying on business outside Bermuda from a place of business within Bermuda.
In accordance with and subject to section 42A of the Companies Act, the Memorandum of Association empowers the Company to purchase its own shares and pursuant to its Bye-laws, this power is exercisable by the board of Directors (the “board”) upon such terms and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit.
2. BYE-LAWS
The Bye-laws were adopted on 27 March, 2000 and amended at annual general meetings of the Company held on 1 September, 2004, 12 October, 2005 and 28 September, 2006 respectively. The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Bye-laws:
(a) Directors
(i) Power to allot and issue shares and warrants
Subject to any special rights conferred on the holders of any shares or class of shares, any share may be issued with or have attached thereto such rights, or such restrictions, whether with regard to dividend, voting, return of capital, or otherwise, as the Company may by ordinary resolution determine (or, in the absence of any such determination or so far as the same may not make specific provision, as the board may determine). Subject to the Companies Act, any preference shares may be issued or converted into shares that are liable to be redeemed, at a determinable date or at the option of the Company or, if so authorised by the Memorandum of Association, at the option of the holder, on such terms and in such manner as the Company before the issue or conversion may by ordinary resolution determine. The board may issue warrants conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for any class of shares or securities in the capital of the Company on such terms as it may from time to time determine.
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Bye-laws, any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting and, where applicable, the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws) and without prejudice to any special rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any shares or any class of shares, all unissued shares in the Company shall be at the disposal of the board, which may offer, allot, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, at such times, for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as it in its absolute discretion thinks fit, but so that no shares shall be issued at a discount.
Neither the Company nor the board shall be obliged, when making or granting any allotment of, offer of, option over or disposal of shares, to make, or make available, any such offer, option or shares to members or others with registered addresses in any particular territory or territories being a territory or territories where, in the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities, this would or might, in the opinion of the board, be unlawful or impracticable. Members affected as a result of the foregoing sentence shall not be, or be deemed to be, a separate class of members for any purpose whatsoever.
(ii) Power to dispose of the assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
There are no specific provisions in the Bye-laws relating to the disposal of the assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Note: The Directors may, however, exercise all powers and do all acts and things which may be exercised or done or approved by the Company and which are not required by the Bye-laws or the Companies Act to be exercised or done by the Company in general meeting.
(iii) Compensation or payments for loss of office
Payments to any Director or past Director of any sum by way of compensation for loss of office or as consideration for or in connection with his retirement from office (not being a payment to which the Director is contractually entitled) must be approved by the Company in general meeting.
(iv) Loans and provision of security for loans to Directors
There are no provisions in the Bye-laws relating to the making of loans to Directors. However, the Companies Act contains restrictions on companies making loans or providing security for loans to their directors, the relevant provisions of which are summarised in the paragraph headed “Bermuda Company Law” in this Appendix.
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
- (v) Financial assistance to purchase shares of the Company
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly give financial assistance to a person who is acquiring or proposing to acquire shares in the Company for the purpose of that acquisition whether before or at the same time as the acquisition takes place or afterwards, provided that the Bye-laws shall not prohibit transactions permitted under the Companies Act.
- (vi) Disclosure of interests in contracts with the Company or any of its subsidiaries
A Director may hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of auditor of the Company) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and, subject to the Companies Act, upon such terms as the board may determine, and may be paid such extra remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) in addition to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Bye-laws. A Director may be or become a director or other officer of, or a member of, any company promoted by the Company or any other company in which the Company may be interested, and shall not be liable to account to the Company or the members for any remuneration, profits or other benefits received by him as a director, officer or member of, or from his interest in, such other company. Subject as otherwise provided by the Bye-laws, the board may also cause the voting power conferred by the shares in any other company held or owned by the Company to be exercised in such manner in all respects as it thinks fit, including the exercise thereof in favour of any resolution appointing the Directors or any of them to be directors or officers of such other company, or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration to the directors or officers of such other company.
Subject to the Companies Act and to the Bye-laws, no Director or proposed or intending Director shall be disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company, either with regard to his tenure of any office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or in any other manner whatsoever, nor shall any such contract or any other contract or arrangement in which any Director is in any way interested be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company or the members for any remuneration, profit or other benefits realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that office or the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A Director who to his knowledge is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at the meeting of the board at which the question of entering into the contract or arrangement is first taken
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APPENDIX SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
into consideration, if he knows his interest then exists, or in any other case, at the first meeting of the board after he knows that he is or has become so interested.
A Director shall not vote (nor be counted in the quorum) on any resolution of the board approving any contract or arrangement or other proposal in which he or any of his associates is materially interested but this prohibition shall not apply to any of the following matters, namely:
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(aa) any contract or arrangement for giving to such Director or his associate(s) any guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of money lent by him or any of his associates or obligations incurred or undertaken by him or any of his associates at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
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(bb) any contract or arrangement for the giving of any guarantee, security or indemnity to a third party in respect of a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which the Director or his associate(s) has himself/themselves assumed responsibility in whole or in part whether alone or jointly under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
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(cc) any contract or arrangement concerning an offer of securities of or by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, where the Director or his associate(s) is/are or is/are to be interested as a participant in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of the offer;
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(dd) any contract or arrangement in which the Director or his associate(s) is/are interested in the same manner as other holders of shares or debentures or other securities of the Company by virtue only of his/their interest in shares or debentures or other securities of the Company;
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(ee) any contract or arrangement concerning any other company in which the Director or his associate(s) is/are interested only, whether directly or indirectly, as an officer or shareholder or in which the Director and any of his associates are not in aggregate beneficially interested in 5 percent. or more of the issued shares or of the voting rights of any class of shares of such company (or of any third company through which his interest or that of any of his associates is derived); or
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(ff) any proposal or arrangement concerning the adoption, modification or operation of a share option scheme, a pension fund or retirement, death, or disability benefits scheme or other arrangement which relates both to Directors, his associates and employees of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries and does
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SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
not provide in respect of any Director, or his associate(s), as such any privilege or advantage not accorded generally to the class of persons to which such scheme or fund relates.
(vii) Remuneration
The ordinary remuneration of the Directors shall from time to time be determined by the Company in general meeting, such remuneration (unless otherwise directed by the resolution by which it is voted) to be divided amongst the Directors in such proportions and in such manner as the board may agree or, failing agreement, equally, except that any Director holding office for part only of the period in respect of which the remuneration is payable shall only rank in such division in proportion to the time during such period for which he held office. The Directors shall also be entitled to be prepaid or repaid all travelling, hotel and incidental expenses reasonably incurred or expected to be incurred by them in attending any board meetings, committee meetings or general meetings or separate meetings of any class of shares or of debentures of the Company or otherwise in connection with the discharge of their duties as Directors.
Any Director who, by request, goes or resides abroad for any purpose of the Company or who performs services which in the opinion of 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 may determine and such extra remuneration shall be in addition to or in substitution for any ordinary remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Bye-law. A Director appointed to be a managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director or other executive officer shall receive such remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission or participation in profits or otherwise or by all or any of those modes) and such other benefits (including pension and/or gratuity and/or other benefits on retirement) and allowances as the board may from time to time decide. Such remuneration may be either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration as a Director.
The board may establish or concur or join with other companies (being subsidiary companies of the Company or companies with which it is associated in business) in establishing and making contributions out of the Company’s monies to any schemes or funds for providing pensions, sickness or compassionate allowances, life assurance or other benefits for employees (which expression as used in this and the following paragraph shall include any Director or ex-Director who may hold or have held any executive office or any office of profit with the Company or any of its subsidiaries) and ex-employees of the Company and their dependants or any class or classes of such persons.
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
The board may pay, enter into agreements to pay or make grants of revocable or irrevocable, and either subject or not subject to any terms or conditions, pensions or other benefits to employees and ex-employees and their dependants, or to any of such persons, including pensions or benefits additional to those, if any, to which such employees or ex-employees or their dependants are or may become entitled under any such scheme or fund as is mentioned in the previous paragraph. Any such pension or benefit may, as the board considers desirable, be granted to an employee either before and in anticipation of, or upon or at any time after, his actual retirement.
(viii) Retirement, appointment and removal
At each annual general meeting, one third of the Directors for the time being (or if their number is not a multiple of three, then the number nearest to but not less than one third) will retire from office by rotation. The Directors to retire in every year will be those who have been longest in office since their last re-election or appointment but as between persons who became or were last re-elected Directors on the same day those to retire will (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot provided that notwithstanding anything in the Bye-laws, any Director who wishes to retire and not to offer himself for re-election shall not be taken into account in determining the number of Directors to retire in each year.
Note: There are no provisions relating to retirement of Directors upon reaching any age limit.
The Directors shall have the power from time to time and at any time to appoint any person as a Director either to fill a casual vacancy on the board or, as an addition to the existing board but so that the number of Directors so appointed shall not exceed any maximum number determined from time to time by the members in general meeting. Any Director appointed by the Board shall hold office until the next following annual general meeting of the Company and shall then be eligible for re-election at that meeting. Neither a Director nor an alternate Director is required to hold any shares in the Company by way of qualification.
A Director may be removed by an ordinary resolution of the Company before the expiration of his period of office (but without prejudice to any claim which such Director may have for damages for any breach of any contract between him and the Company) provided that the notice of any such meeting convened for the purpose of removing a Director shall contain a statement of the intention to do so and be served on such Director fourteen (14) days before the meeting and, at such meeting, such Director shall be entitled to be heard on the motion for his removal. Unless otherwise determined by the Company in general meeting, the number of Directors shall not be less than two. There is no maximum number of Directors unless otherwise determined from time to time by members of the Company.
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
The board may from time to time appoint one or more of its body to be managing director, joint managing director, or deputy managing director or to hold any other employment or executive office with the Company for such period (subject to their continuance as Directors) and upon such terms as the board may determine and the board may revoke or terminate any of such appointments (but without prejudice to any claim for damages that such Director may have against the Company or vice versa). The board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions to committees consisting of such Director or Directors and other persons as the board thinks fit, and it may from time to time revoke such delegation or revoke the appointment of and discharge any such committees either wholly or in part, and either as to persons or purposes, but every committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and discretions so delegated, conform to any regulations that may from time to time be imposed upon it by the board.
(ix) Borrowing powers
The board may from time to time at its discretion exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow money, to mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital of the Company and, subject to the Companies Act, to issue debentures, bonds and other securities of the Company, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
Note: These provisions, in common with the Bye-laws in general, can be varied with the sanction of a special resolution of the Company.
(b) Alterations to constitutional documents
The Bye-laws may be rescinded, altered or amended by the Directors subject to the confirmation of the Company in general meeting. The Bye-laws state that a special resolution shall be required to alter the provisions of the Memorandum of Association, to confirm any such rescission, alteration or amendment to the Bye-laws or to change the name of the Company.
(c) Alteration of capital
The Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Companies Act:
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(i) increase its capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such amounts as the resolution shall prescribe;
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(ii) consolidate and divide all or any of its capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares;
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
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(iii) divide its shares into several classes and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of existing shares as the directors may determine;
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(iv) sub-divide its shares or any of them into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum of Association;
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(v) change the currency denomination of its share capital;
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(vi) make provision for the issue and allotment of shares which do not carry any voting rights; and
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(vii) cancel any shares which, at the date of passing of the resolution, have not been taken, or agreed to be taken, by any person, and diminish the amount of its capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.
The Company may from time to time by special resolution, subject to any confirmation or consent required by law, reduce its authorised or issued share capital or, save for the use of share premium as expressly permitted by the Companies Act, any share premium account or other undistributable reserve.
(d) Variation of rights of existing shares or classes of shares
Subject to the Companies Act, all or any of the special rights attached to the shares or any class of shares may (unless otherwise provided for by the terms of issue of that class) be varied, modified or abrogated either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. To every such separate general meeting the provisions of the Bye-laws relating to general meetings will mutatis mutandis apply, but so that the necessary quorum (other than at an adjourned meeting) shall be two persons or (in the case of a member being a corporation) its duly authorised representative holding or representing by proxy not less than one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of that class and at any adjourned meeting two holders present in person or (in the case of a member being a corporation) its duly authorised representative or by proxy whatever the number of shares held by them shall be a quorum. Every holder of shares of the class shall be entitled to one vote for every such share held by him.
(e) Special resolution-majority required
A special resolution of the Company must be passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the votes cast by such members as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, in the case of such members as are corporations, by their duly authorised representatives or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which notice of not less than twenty-one (21) clear days specifying the
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution, has been duly given. Provided that, except in the case of an annual general meeting, if it is so agreed by a majority in number of the members having a right to attend and vote at such meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety-five per cent. (95%) in nominal value of the shares giving that right and, in the case of an annual general meeting, if so agreed by all members entitled to attend and vote thereat, a resolution may be proposed and passed as a special resolution at a meeting of which notice of less than twenty-one (21) clear days has been given.
(f) Voting rights
Subject to any special rights or restrictions as to voting for the time being attached to any shares by or in accordance with the Bye-laws, at any general meeting on a show of hands every member present in person or by proxy or (being a corporation) by its duly authorised representative shall have one vote and on a poll every member present in person or by proxy or (being a corporation) by its duly authorised representative shall have one vote for every fully paid share of which he is the holder but so that no amount paid up or credited as paid up on a share in advance of calls or installments is treated for the foregoing purposes as paid up on the share
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bye-laws, where more than one proxy is appointed by a member which is a clearing house (as defined in the Bye-laws) (or its nominee(s)), each such proxy shall have one vote on a show of hands. On a poll, a member entitled to more than one vote need not use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.
At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting is to be decided on a show of hands unless voting 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 demanded by (i) the chairman of the meeting or (ii) at least three members present in person or (in the case of a member being a corporation) by its duly authorised representative or by proxy for the time being entitled to vote at the meeting or (iii) any member or members present in person or (in the case of a member being a corporation) by its duly authorised representative or by proxy and representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting or (iv) a member or members present in person or (in the case of a member being a corporation) by its duly authorised representative or by proxy and holding shares in the Company conferring a right to vote at the meeting being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right or (v) by any Director or Directors who, individually or collectively, hold proxies in respect of shares representing five per cent. or more of the total voting rights at such meeting.
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
If a recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) is a member of the Company it may authorise such persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative(s) at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of members of the Company provided that, if more than one person is so authorised, the authorisation shall specify the number and class of shares in respect of which each such person is so authorised. A person authorised pursuant to this provision shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of the shares held by that clearing house (or its nominee(s)) in respect of the number and class of shares specified in the relevant authorisation including the right to vote individually on a show of hands.
Where the Company has any knowledge that any shareholder is, under the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws), required to abstain from voting on any particular resolution of the Company or restricted to voting only for or only against any particular resolution of the Company, any votes cast by or on behalf of such shareholder in contravention of such requirement or restriction shall not be counted.
(g) Requirements for annual general meetings
An annual general meeting of the Company must be held in each year other than the year in which its statutory meeting is convened at such time (within a period of not more than 15 months after the holding of the last preceding annual general meeting unless a longer period would not infringe the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws)) and place as may be determined by the board.
(h) Accounts and audit
The board shall cause true accounts to be kept of the sums of money received and expended by the Company, and the matters in respect of which such receipt and expenditure take place, and of the property, assets, credits and liabilities of the Company and of all other matters required by the provisions of the Companies Act or necessary to give a true and fair view of the Company’s affairs and to explain its transactions.
The accounting records shall be kept at the registered office or, subject to the Companies Act, at such other place or places as the board decides and shall always be open to inspection by any Director. No member (other than a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any accounting record or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the board or the Company in general meeting.
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Subject to the Companies Act, a printed copy of the Directors’ report, accompanied by the balance sheet and profit and loss account, including every document required by law to be annexed thereto, made up to the end of the applicable financial year and containing a summary of the assets and liabilities of the Company under convenient heads and a statement of income and expenditure, together with a copy of the auditors’ report, shall be sent to each person entitled thereto at least twenty-one (21) days before the date of the general meeting and laid before the Company at the annual general meeting in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act provided that this provision shall not require a copy of those documents to be sent to any person whose address the Company is not aware or to more than one of the joint holders of any shares or debentures; however, to the extent permitted by and subject to compliance with all applicable laws, including the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws), the Company may send to such persons summarised financial statements derived from the Company’s full financial statements, an auditor’s report and a notice informing the member how to notify the Company that he elects to receive the full financial statements, provided that any such person may by notice in writing served on the Company, demand that the Company sends to him, in addition to summarised financial statements, a complete printed copy of the Company’s full financial statement.
Subject to the Companies Act, at the annual general meeting or at a subsequent special general meeting in each year, the members shall appoint an auditor to audit the accounts of the Company and such auditor shall hold office until the members appoint another auditor. Such auditor may be a member but no Director or officer or employee of the Company shall, during his continuance in office, be eligible to act as an auditor of the Company. The remuneration of the auditor shall be fixed by the Company in general meeting or in such manner as the members may determine.
The financial statements of the Company shall be audited by the auditor in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The auditor shall make a written report thereon in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the report of the auditor shall be submitted to the members in general meeting. The generally accepted auditing standards referred to herein may be those of a country or jurisdiction other than Bermuda. If the auditing standards of a country or jurisdiction other than Bermuda are used, the financial statements and the report of the auditor should disclose this fact and name such country and jurisdiction.
(i) Notices of meetings and business to be conducted thereat
An annual general meeting shall be called by notice of not less than twenty-one (21) clear days and any special general meeting at which it is proposed to pass a special resolution shall (save as set out in sub-paragraph (e) above) be called by notice of at least twenty-one (21) clear days. All other special general meetings shall be called by notice of at least fourteen (14) clear days. The notice must specify the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of special business,
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the general nature of that business. The notice convening an annual general meeting shall specify the meeting as such.
(j) Transfer of shares
All transfers of shares may be effected by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the Designated Stock Exchange or in such other form as the board may approve and which may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a clearing house or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the board may approve from time to time. The instrument of transfer shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and the transferee provided that the board may dispense with the execution of the instrument of transfer by the transferee in any case in which it thinks fit, in its discretion, to do so and the transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share until the name of the transferee is entered in the register of members in respect thereof. The board may also resolve either generally or in any particular case, upon request by either the transferor or the transferee, to accept mechanically executed transfers.
The board in so far as permitted by any applicable law may, in its absolute discretion, at any time and from time to time transfer any share upon the principal register to any branch register or any share on any branch register to the principal register or any other branch register.
Unless the board otherwise agrees, no shares on the principal register shall be transferred to any branch register nor may shares on any branch register be transferred to the principal register or any other branch register. All transfers and other documents of title shall be lodged for registration and registered, in the case of shares on a branch register, at the relevant registration office and, in the case of shares on the principal register, at the registered office in Bermuda or such other place in Bermuda at which the principal register is kept in accordance with the Companies Act.
The board may, in its absolute discretion, and without assigning any reason, refuse to register a transfer of any share (not being a fully paid up share) to a person of whom it does not approve or any share issued under any share incentive scheme for employees upon which a restriction on transfer imposed thereby still subsists, and it may also refuse to register any transfer of any share to more than four joint holders or any transfer of any share (not being a fully paid up share) on which the Company has a lien.
The board may decline to recognise any instrument of transfer unless a fee of such maximum sum as any Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws) may determine to be payable or such lesser sum as the Directors may from time to time require is paid to the Company in respect thereof, the instrument of transfer, if applicable, is properly stamped, is in respect of only one class of share and is lodged at the relevant registration office or registered office or such other place at which the
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principal register is kept accompanied by the relevant share certificate(s) and such other evidence as the board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer (and if the instrument of transfer is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person so to do).
The registration of transfers may be suspended and the register closed on giving notice by advertisement in an appointed newspaper and, where applicable, any other newspapers in accordance with the requirements of any Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws) or by any means in such manner as may be accepted by the Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws), at such times and for such periods as the board may determine and. The register of members shall not be closed for periods exceeding in the whole thirty (30) days in any year.
(k) Power for the Company to purchase its own shares
The Bye-laws supplement the Company’s Memorandum of Association (which gives the Company the power to purchase its own shares) by providing that the power is exercisable by the board upon such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(l) Power for any subsidiary of the Company to own shares in the Company
There are no provisions in the Bye-laws relating to ownership of shares in the Company by a subsidiary.
(m) Dividends and other methods of distribution
Subject to the Companies Act, the Company in general meeting may declare dividends in any currency to be paid to the members but no dividend shall be declared in excess of the amount recommended by the board. The Company in general meeting may also make a distribution to its members out of contributed surplus (as ascertained in accordance with the Companies Act). No dividend shall be paid or distribution made out of contributed surplus if to do so would render the Company unable to pay its liabilities as they become due or the realisable value of its assets would thereby become less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium account.
Except in so far as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share may otherwise provide, (i) all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares in respect whereof the dividend is paid but no amount paid up on a share in advance of calls shall for this purpose be treated as paid up on the share and (ii) all dividends shall be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amount paid up on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid. The Directors may deduct from any dividend or other monies 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.
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Whenever the board or the Company in general meeting has resolved that a dividend be paid or declared on the share capital of the Company, the board may further resolve either (a) that such dividend be satisfied wholly or in part in the form of an allotment of shares credited as fully paid up, provided that the shareholders entitled thereto will be entitled to elect to receive such dividend (or part thereof) in cash in lieu of such allotment, or (b) that shareholders entitled to such dividend will be entitled to elect to receive an allotment of shares credited as fully paid up in lieu of the whole or such part of the dividend as the board may think fit. The Company may also upon the recommendation of the board by an ordinary resolution resolve in respect of any one particular dividend of the Company that it may be satisfied wholly in the form of an allotment of shares credited as fully paid up without offering any right to shareholders to elect to receive such dividend in cash in lieu of such allotment.
Whenever the board or the Company in general meeting has resolved that a dividend be paid or declared the board may further resolve that such dividend be satisfied wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets of any kind.
All dividends or bonuses unclaimed for one year after having been declared may be invested or otherwise made use of by the board for the benefit of the Company until claimed and the Company shall not be constituted a trustee in respect thereof. All dividends or bonuses unclaimed for six years after having been declared may be forfeited by the board and shall revert to the Company.
(n) Proxies
Any member of the Company entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of the Company is entitled to appoint another person as his proxy to attend and vote instead of him. A member who is the holder of two or more shares may appoint more than one proxy to represent him and vote on his behalf at a general meeting of the Company or at a class meeting. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. In addition, a proxy or proxies representing either a member who is an individual or a member which is a corporation shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the member which he or they represent as such member could exercise.
(o) Call on shares and forfeiture of shares
Subject to the Bye-laws and to the terms of allotment, the board may from time to time make such calls upon the members in respect of any monies unpaid on the shares held by them respectively (whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium). A call may be made payable either in one lump sum or by installments. If the sum payable in respect of any call or instalment is not paid on or before the day appointed for payment thereof, the person or persons from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the same at such rate not exceeding twenty per cent. (20%) per annum as the board may agree to accept from the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of actual payment, but the board may waive payment of such interest wholly or in part. The board may, if it thinks fit,
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receive from any member willing to advance the same, either in money or money’s worth, all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid or installments payable upon any shares held by him, and upon all or any of the monies so advanced the Company may pay interest at such rate (if any) as the board may decide.
If a member fails to pay any call on the day appointed for payment thereof, the board may serve not less than fourteen (14) clear days’ notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued and which may still accrue up to the date of actual payment and stating that, in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed, the shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.
If the requirements of any such notice are not complied with, any share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the board to that effect.
Such forfeiture will include all dividends and bonuses declared in respect of the forfeited share and not actually paid before the forfeiture.
A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a member in respect of the forfeited shares but shall, notwithstanding, remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which, at the date of forfeiture, were payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares, together with (if the board shall in its discretion so require) interest thereon from the date of forfeiture until the date of actual payment at such rate not exceeding twenty per cent. (20%) per annum as the board determines.
(p) Inspection of register of members
The register and branch register of members shall be open to inspection between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on every business day by members without charge or by any other person, upon a maximum payment of five Bermuda dollars at the registered office or such other place in Bermuda at which the register is kept in accordance with the Companies Act or, if appropriate, upon a maximum payment of ten dollars at the Registration Office (as defined in the Bye-laws), unless the register is closed in accordance with the Companies Act.
(q) Quorum for meetings and separate class meetings
For all purposes the quorum for a general meeting shall be two members present in person or (in the case of a member being a corporation) by its duly authorised representative or by proxy and entitled to vote. In respect of a separate class meeting (other than an adjourned meeting) convened to sanction the modification of class rights 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 that class.
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(r) Rights of the minorities in relation to fraud or oppression
There are no provisions in the Bye-laws relating to rights of minority shareholders in relation to fraud or oppression. However, certain remedies are available to shareholders of the Company under Bermuda law, as summarised in paragraph 4(e) of this Appendix.
(s) Procedures on liquidation
A resolution that the Company be wound up by the court or be wound up voluntarily shall be a special resolution.
If the Company shall be wound up (whether the liquidation is voluntary or by the court) the liquidator may, with the authority of a special resolution and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, divide among the members in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company whether the assets shall consist of property of one kind or shall consist of properties of different kinds and the liquidator may, for such purpose, set such value as he deems fair upon any one or more class or classes of property to be divided as aforesaid 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, but so that no contributory shall be compelled to accept any shares or other property in respect of which there is a liability.
(t) Untraceable members
The Company may sell any of the shares of a member who is untraceable if (i) all cheques or warrants (being not less than three in total number) for any sum payable in cash to the holder of such shares have remained uncashed for a period of 12 years; (ii) upon the expiry of the 12 year period, the Company has not during that time received any indication of the existence of the member; and (iii) the Company has caused an advertisement to be published in accordance with the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws) giving notice of its intention to sell such shares and a period of three months, or such shorter period as may be permitted by the Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws), has elapsed since such advertisement and the Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in the Bye-laws) has been notified of such intention. The net proceeds of any such sale shall belong to the Company and upon receipt by the Company of such net proceeds, it shall become indebted to the former member of the Company for an amount equal to such net proceeds.
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(u) Other provisions
The Bye-laws provide that to the extent that it is not prohibited by and is in compliance with the Companies Act, if warrants to subscribe for shares have been issued by the Company and the Company does any act or engages in any transaction which would result in the subscription price of such warrants being reduced below the par value of a share, a subscription rights reserve shall be established and applied in paying up the difference between the subscription price and the par value of a share on any exercise of the warrants.
The Bye-laws also provide that the Company is required to maintain at its registered office a register of directors and officers in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act and such register is open to inspection by members of the public without charge between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on every business day.
3. VARIATION OF MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION AND BYE-LAWS
The Memorandum of Association may be altered by the Company in general meeting. The Bye-laws may be amended by the Directors subject to the confirmation of the Company in general meeting. The Bye-laws state that a special resolution shall be required to alter the provisions of the Memorandum of Association or to confirm any amendment to the Bye-laws or to change the name of the Company. For these purposes, a resolution is a special resolution if it has been passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the votes cast by such members of the Company as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, in the case of such members as are corporations, by their respective duly authorised representatives or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which not less than twenty-one (21) clear days’ notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given. Except in the case of an annual general meeting, the requirement of twenty-one (21) clear days’ notice may be waived by a majority in number of the members having the right to attend and vote at the relevant meeting, being a majority together holding not less than 95 percent in nominal value of the shares giving that right.
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4. BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
The Company is incorporated in Bermuda and, therefore, operates subject to Bermuda law. Set out below is a summary of certain provisions of Bermuda company law, although this does not purport to contain all applicable qualifications and exceptions or to be a complete review of all matters of Bermuda company law and taxation, which may differ from equivalent provisions in jurisdictions with which interested parties may be more familiar:
(a) Share capital
The Companies Act provides that where a company issues shares at a premium, whether for cash or otherwise, a sum equal to the aggregate amount or value of the premiums on those shares shall be transferred to an account, to be called the “share premium account”, to which the provisions of the Companies Act relating to a reduction of share capital of a company shall apply as if the share premium account were paid up share capital of the company except that the share premium account may be applied by the company:
-
(i) in paying up unissued shares of the company to be issued to members of the company as fully paid bonus shares;
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(ii) in writing off:
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(aa) the preliminary expenses of the company; or
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(bb) the expenses of, or the commission paid or discount allowed on, any issue of shares or debentures of the company; or
-
(iii) in providing for the premiums payable on redemption of any shares or of any debentures of the company.
In the case of an exchange of shares the excess value of the shares acquired over the nominal value of the shares being issued may be credited to a contributed surplus account of the issuing company.
The Companies Act permits a company to issue preference shares and subject to the conditions stipulated therein to convert those preference shares into redeemable preference shares.
The Companies Act includes certain protections for holders of special classes of shares, requiring their consent to be obtained before their rights may be varied. Where provision is made by the memorandum of association or bye-laws for authorising the variation of rights attached to any class of shares in the company, the consent of the specified proportions of the holders of the issued shares of that class or the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of
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those shares is required, and where no provision for varying such rights is made in the memorandum of association or bye-laws and nothing therein precludes a variation of such rights, the written consent of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or the sanction of a resolution passed as aforesaid is required.
(b) Financial assistance to purchase shares of a company or its holding company
A company is prohibited from providing financial assistance for the purpose of an acquisition of its own or its holding company’s shares unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, and would after the giving of such financial assistance be, able to pay its liabilities as they become due. In certain circumstances, the prohibition from giving financial assistance may be excluded such as where the assistance is only an incidental part of a larger purpose or the assistance is of an insignificant amount such as the payment of minor costs.
(c) Purchase of shares and warrants by a company and its subsidiaries
A company may, if authorised by its memorandum of association or bye-laws, purchase its own shares. Such purchases may only be effected out of the capital paid up on the purchased shares or out of the funds of the company otherwise available for dividend or distribution or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose. Any premium payable on a purchase over the par value of the shares to be purchased must be provided for out of funds of the company otherwise available for dividend or distribution or out of the company’s share premium account. Any amount due to a shareholder on a purchase by a company of its own shares may (i) be paid in cash; (ii) be satisfied by the transfer of any part of the undertaking or property of the company having the same value; or (iii) be satisfied partly under (i) and partly under (ii). Any purchase by a company of its own shares may be authorised by its board of directors or otherwise by or in accordance with the provisions of its bye-laws. Such purchase may not be made if, on the date on which the purchase is to be effected, there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or after the purchase would be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due. The shares so purchased may either be cancelled or held as treasury shares. Any purchased shares that are cancelled will, in effect, revert to the status of authorised but unissued shares. If shares of the company are held as treasury shares, the company is prohibited to exercise any rights in respect of those shares, including any right to attend and vote at meetings, including a meeting under a scheme of arrangement, and any purported exercise of such a right is void. No dividend shall be paid to the company in respect of shares held by the company as treasury shares; and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) shall be made to the company in respect of shares held by the company as treasury shares. Any shares allotted by the company as fully paid bonus shares in respect of shares held by the company as treasury shares shall be treated for the purposes of the Companies Act as if they had been acquired by the company at the time they were allotted.
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A company is not prohibited from purchasing and may purchase its own warrants subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant warrant instrument or certificate. There is no requirement under Bermuda law that a company’s memorandum of association or its bye-laws contain a specific provision enabling such purchases.
Under Bermuda law, a subsidiary may hold shares in its holding company and in certain circumstances, may acquire such shares. The holding company is, however, prohibited from giving financial assistance for the purpose of the acquisition, subject to certain circumstances provided by the Companies Act. A company, whether a subsidiary or a holding company, may only purchase its own shares if it is authorised to do so in its memorandum of association or bye-laws pursuant to section 42A of the Companies Act.
(d) Dividends and distributions
A company may not declare or pay a dividend, or make a distribution out of contributed surplus, if there are reasonable grounds for believing that (i) the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due; or (ii) the realisable value of the company’s assets would thereby be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts. Contributed surplus is defined for purposes of section 54 of the Companies Act to include the proceeds arising from donated shares, credits resulting from the redemption or conversion of shares at less than the amount set up as nominal capital and donations of cash and other assets to the company.
(e) Protection of minorities
Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under the laws of Bermuda. The Bermuda courts, however, would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong done to the company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of the company or is illegal or would result in the violation of the company’s memorandum of association and bye-laws. Furthermore, consideration would be given by the court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or, for instance, where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of the company’s shareholders than actually approved it.
Any member of a company who complains that the affairs of the company are being conducted or have been conducted in a manner oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the members, including himself, may petition the court which may, if it is of the opinion that to wind up the company would unfairly prejudice that part of the members but that otherwise the facts would justify the making of a winding up order on just and equitable grounds, make such order as it thinks fit, whether for regulating the conduct of the company’s affairs in future or for the purchase of shares of any members of the company by other members of the
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company or by the company itself and in the case of a purchase by the company itself, for the reduction accordingly of the company’s capital, or otherwise. Bermuda law also provides that the company may be wound up by the Bermuda court, if the court is of the opinion that it is just and equitable to do so. Both these provisions are available to minority shareholders seeking relief from the oppressive conduct of the majority, and the court has wide discretion to make such orders as it thinks fit.
Except as mentioned above, claims against a company by its shareholders must be based on the general laws of contract or tort applicable in Bermuda.
A statutory right of action is conferred on subscribers of shares in a company against persons, including directors and officers, responsible for the issue of a prospectus in respect of damage suffered by reason of an untrue statement therein, but this confers no right of action against the company itself. In addition, such company, as opposed to its shareholders, may take action against its officers including directors, for breach of their statutory and fiduciary duty to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company.
(f) Management
The Companies Act contains no specific restrictions on the power of directors to dispose of assets of a company, although it specifically requires that every officer of a company, which includes a director, managing director and secretary, in exercising his powers and discharging his duties must do so honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company and exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. Furthermore, the Companies Act requires that every officer should comply with the Companies Act, regulations passed pursuant to the Companies Act and the bye-laws of the company. The directors of a company may, subject to the bye-laws of the company, exercise all the powers of the company except those powers that are required by the Companies Act or the bye-laws to be exercised by the members of the company.
(g) Accounting and auditing requirements
The Companies Act requires a company to cause proper records of accounts to be kept with respect to (i) all sums of money received and expended by the company and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place; (ii) all sales and purchases of goods by the company and (iii) the assets and liabilities of the company.
Furthermore, it requires that a company keeps its records of account at the registered office of the company or at such other place as the directors think fit and that such records shall at all times be open to inspection by the directors or the resident representative of the company. If the records of account are kept at some place outside Bermuda, there shall be kept at the office of the company in Bermuda such records as will enable the directors or the resident representative of the
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company to ascertain with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the company at the end of each three month period, except that where the company is listed on an appointed stock exchange, there shall be kept such records as will enable the directors or the resident representative of the company to ascertain with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the company at the end of each six month period.
The Companies Act requires that the directors of the company must, at least once a year, lay before the company in general meeting financial statements for the relevant accounting period. Further, the company’s auditor must audit the financial statements so as to enable him to report to the members. Based on the results of his audit, which must be made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the auditor must then make a report to the members. The generally accepted auditing standards may be those of a country or jurisdiction other than Bermuda or such other generally accepted auditing standards as may be appointed by the Minister of Finance of Bermuda under the Companies Act; and where the generally accepted auditing standards used are other than those of Bermuda, the report of the auditor shall identify the generally accepted auditing standards used. All members of the company are entitled to receive a copy of every financial statement prepared in accordance with these requirements, at least five (5) days before the general meeting of the company at which the financial statements are to be tabled. A company the shares of which are listed on an appointed stock exchange may send to its members summarized financial statements instead. The summarized financial statements must be derived from the company’s financial statements for the relevant period and contain the information set out in the Companies Act. The summarized financial statements sent to the company’s members must be accompanied by an auditor’s report on the summarized financial statements and a notice stating how a member may notify the company of his election to receive financial statements for the relevant period and/or for subsequent periods.
The summarized financial statements together with the auditor’s report thereon and the accompanied notice must be sent to the members of the company not less than twenty-one (21) days before the general meeting at which the financial statements are laid. Copies of the financial statements must be sent to a member who elects to receive the same within seven (7) days of receipt by the company of the member’s notice of election.
(h) Auditors
At each annual general meeting, a company must appoint an auditor to hold office until the close of the next annual general meeting; however, this requirement may be waived if all of the shareholders and all of the directors, either in writing or at the general meeting, agree that there shall be no auditor.
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SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
A person, other than an incumbent auditor, shall not be capable of being appointed auditor at an annual general meeting unless notice in writing of an intention to nominate that person to the office of auditor has been given not less than twenty-one (21) days before the annual general meeting. The company must send a copy of such notice to the incumbent auditor and give notice thereof to the members not less than seven (7) days before the annual general meeting. An incumbent auditor may, however, by notice in writing to the secretary of the company waive the requirements of the foregoing.
Where an auditor is appointed to replace another auditor, the new auditor must seek from the replaced auditor a written statement as to the circumstances of the latters replacement. If the replaced auditor does not respond within fifteen (15) days, the new auditor may act in any event. An appointment as auditor of a person who has not requested a written statement from the replaced auditor is voidable by a resolution of the shareholders at a general meeting. An auditor who has resigned, been removed or whose term of office has expired or is about to expire, or who has vacated office is entitled to attend the general meeting of the company at which he is to be removed or his successor is to be appointed; to receive all notices of, and other communications relating to, that meeting which a member is entitled to receive; and to be heard at that meeting on any part of the business of the meeting that relates to his duties as auditor or former auditor.
(i) Exchange control
An exempted company is usually designated as “non-resident” for Bermuda exchange control purposes by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Where a company is so designated, it is free to deal in currencies of countries outside the Bermuda exchange control area which are freely convertible into currencies of any other country. The permission of the Bermuda Monetary Authority is required for the issue of shares and securities by the company and the subsequent transfer of such shares and securities. In granting such permission, the Bermuda Monetary Authority accepts no responsibility for the financial soundness of any proposals or for the correctness of any statements made or opinions expressed in any document with regard to such issue. Before the company can issue or transfer any further shares and securities in excess of the amounts already approved, it must obtain the prior consent of the Bermuda Monetary Authority.
The Bermuda Monetary Authority has granted general permission for the issue and transfer of shares and securities to and between persons regarded as resident outside Bermuda for exchange control purposes without specific consent for so long as any equity securities, including shares, are listed on an appointed stock exchange (as defined in the Companies Act). Issues to and transfers involving persons regarded as “resident” for exchange control purposes in Bermuda will be subject to specific exchange control authorisation.
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
(j) Taxation
Under present Bermuda law, no Bermuda withholding tax on dividends or other distributions, nor any Bermuda tax computed on profits or income or on any capital asset, gain or appreciation will be payable by an exempted company or its operations, nor is there any Bermuda tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax applicable to shares, debentures or other obligations of the company held by non-residents of Bermuda. Furthermore, a company may apply to the Minister of Finance of Bermuda for an assurance, under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966 of Bermuda, that no such taxes shall be so applicable until 28th March 2016, although this assurance will not prevent the imposition of any Bermuda tax payable in relation to any land in Bermuda leased or let to the company or to persons ordinarily resident in Bermuda.
(k) Stamp duty
An exempted company is exempt from all stamp duties except on transactions involving “Bermuda property”. This term relates, essentially, to real and personal property physically situated in Bermuda, including shares in local companies (as opposed to exempted companies). Transfers of shares and warrants in all exempted companies are exempt from Bermuda stamp duty.
(l) Loans to directors
Bermuda law prohibits the making of loans by a company to any of its directors or to their families or companies in which they hold more than a twenty per cent. (20%) interest, without the consent of any member or members holding in aggregate not less than nine-tenths of the total voting rights of all members having the right to vote at any meeting of the members of the company. These prohibitions do not apply to (a) anything done to provide a director with funds to meet the expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him for the purposes of the company, provided that the company gives its prior approval at a general meeting or, if not, the loan is made on condition that it will be repaid within six months of the next following annual general meeting if the loan is not approved at or before such meeting, (b) in the case of a company whose ordinary business includes the lending of money or the giving of guarantees in connection with loans made by other persons, anything done by the company in the ordinary course of that business, or (c) any advance of moneys by the company to any officer or auditor under Section 98(2)(c) of the Companies Act which allows the company to advance moneys to an officer or auditor of the company for the costs incurred in defending any civil or criminal proceedings against them, on condition that the officer or auditor shall repay the advance if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved against them. If the approval of the company is not given for a loan, the directors who authorised it will be jointly and severally liable for any loss arising therefrom.
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APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
(m) Inspection of corporate records
Members of the general public have the right to inspect the public documents of a company available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda which will include the company’s certificate of incorporation, its memorandum of association (including its objects and powers) and any alteration to the company’s memorandum of association. The members of the company have the additional right to inspect the bye-laws of a company, minutes of general meetings and the company’s audited financial statements, which must be presented to the annual general meeting. Minutes of general meetings of a company are also open for inspection by directors of the company without charge for not less than two (2) hours during business hours each day. The register of members of a company is open for inspection by members of the public without charge. The company is required to maintain its share register in Bermuda but may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, establish a branch register outside Bermuda. Any branch register of members established by the company is subject to the same rights of inspection as the principal register of members of the company in Bermuda. Any person may on payment of a fee prescribed by the Companies Act require a copy of the register of members or any part thereof which must be provided within fourteen (14) days of a request. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for members to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records.
A company is required to maintain a register of directors and officers at its registered office and such register must be made available for inspection for not less than two (2) hours in each day by members of the public without charge. If summarized financial statements are sent by a company to its members pursuant to section 87A of the Companies Act, a copy of the summarized financial statements must be made available for inspection by the public at the registered office of the company in Bermuda.
(n) Winding up
A company may be wound up by the Bermuda court on application presented by the company itself, its creditors or its contributors. The Bermuda court also has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the Bermuda court, just and equitable that such company be wound up.
A company may be wound up voluntarily when the members so resolve in general meeting, or, in the case of a limited duration company, when the period fixed for the duration of the company by its memorandum expires, or the event occurs on the occurrence of which the memorandum provides that the company is to be dissolved. In the case of a voluntary winding up, such company is obliged to cease to carry on its business from the time of passing the resolution for voluntary winding up or upon the expiry of the period or the occurrence of the event referred
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APPENDIX SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY AND BERMUDA COMPANY LAW
to above. Upon the appointment of a liquidator, the responsibility for the company’s affairs rests entirely in his hands and no future executive action may be carried out without his approval.
Where, on a voluntary winding up, a majority of directors make a statutory declaration of solvency, the winding up will be a members’ voluntary winding up. In any case where such declaration has not been made, the winding up will be a creditors’ voluntary winding up.
In the case of a members’ voluntary winding up of a company, the company in general meeting must appoint one or more liquidators within the period prescribed by the Companies Act for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the company and distributing its assets. If the liquidator at any time forms the opinion that such company will not be able to pay its debts in full, he is obliged to summon a meeting of creditors.
As soon as the affairs of the company are fully wound up, the liquidator must make up an account of the winding up, showing how the winding up has been conducted and the property of the company has been disposed of, and thereupon call a general meeting of the company for the purposes of laying before it the account and giving an explanation thereof. This final general meeting requires at least one month’s notice published in an appointed newspaper in Bermuda.
In the case of a creditors’ voluntary winding up of a company, the company must call a meeting of creditors of the company to be summoned on the day following the day on which the meeting of the members at which the resolution for winding up is to be proposed is held. Notice of such meeting of creditors must be sent at the same time as notice is sent to members. In addition, such company must cause a notice to appear in an appointed newspaper on at least two occasions.
The creditors and the members at their respective meetings may nominate a person to be liquidator for the purposes of winding up the affairs of the company provided that if the creditors nominate a different person, the person nominated by the creditors shall be the liquidator. The creditors at the creditors’ meeting may also appoint a committee of inspection consisting of not more than five persons.
If a creditors’ winding up continues for more than one year, the liquidator is required to summon a general meeting of the company and a meeting of the creditors at the end of each year to lay before such meetings an account of his acts and dealings and of the conduct of the winding up during the preceding year. As soon as the affairs of the company are fully wound up, the liquidator must make an account of the winding up, showing how the winding up has been conducted and the property of the company has been disposed of, and thereupon shall call a general meeting of the company and a meeting of the creditors for the purposes of laying the account before such meetings and giving an explanation thereof.
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