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Symphony Holdings Limited — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2026
May 13, 2026
49779_rns_2026-05-13_44d3d766-6398-4ee1-b95d-f97d8dcc112c.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THIS SUPPLEMENTAL CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
If you are in any doubt about this supplemental 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 Shares in Symphony Holdings Limited, you should at once hand this supplemental circular with the enclosed proxy form to the purchaser or 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 supplemental 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 supplemental circular.

SYMPHONY
SYMPHONY HOLDINGS LIMITED
新灘集團有限公司*
(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 01223)
SUPPLEMENTAL CIRCULAR IN RELATION TO
(1) PROPOSED RE-APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
AND
(2) PROPOSED ADOPTION OF THE NEW BYE-LAWS
This supplemental circular (the “Supplemental Circular”) should be read together with the circular issued by Symphony Holdings Limited (the “Company”) dated 29 April 2026 (the “Original Circular”) and the notice convening the annual general meeting of the Company to be held on Friday, 12 June 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Boardroom, 10/F., Island Place Tower, 510 King’s Road, North Point, Hong Kong (the “AGM”). Whether or not you are able to attend the AGM, you are advised to read the notice and complete and return the enclosed form of proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon to the branch share registrar and transfer office of the Company in Hong Kong, Tricor Investor Services Limited, at 17/F., Far East Finance Centre, 16 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong as soon as possible but in any event not less than 48 hours before the scheduled time (i.e. Wednesday, 10 June 2026 at 11:00 a.m.) for holding the AGM. Completion and return of the proxy form will not preclude you from attending and voting in person at the AGM or any adjournment thereof should you so wish and in such event, the proxy form shall be deemed to be revoked.
- For identification purposes only
Hong Kong, 13 May 2026
CONTENTS
Page
LETTER FROM THE BOARD ... 1
APPENDIX I — PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING BYE-LAWS ... 4
- i -
LETTER FROM THE BOARD

SYMPHONY
SYMPHONY HOLDINGS LIMITED
新澧集團有限公司*
(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 01223)
Executive Directors:
Mr. Cheng Tun Nei (Chairman & Chief Executive Officer)
Mr. Chan Kar Lee Gary
Mr. Lee Cheung Ming
Ms. Fung Kim Wan Ewim
Registered Office:
Clarendon House
2 Church Street
Hamilton HM11
Bermuda
Independent Non-executive Directors:
Mr. Shum Pui Kay
Mr. Wah Wang Kei Jackie
Ms. Ma Yin Fan
Principal Place of Business in Hong Kong:
10/F., Island Place Tower
510 King's Road
North Point
Hong Kong
13 May 2026
To the Shareholders
Dear Sir or Madam,
SUPPLEMENTAL CIRCULAR IN RELATION TO
(1) PROPOSED RE-APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
AND
(2) PROPOSED ADOPTION OF THE NEW BYE-LAWS
INTRODUCTION
This supplemental circular should be read together with the Original Circular dated 29 April 2026 which contains, inter alia, the notice of the AGM and information regarding resolutions to be proposed at the AGM. Unless otherwise defined, capitalised terms used in this Supplemental Circular shall have the same meanings as those defined in the Original Circular.
- For identification purposes only
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
The purpose of this Supplemental Circular is to provide you with further information relating to (i) the proposed re-appointment of the auditor of the Company; and (ii) the proposed the proposed adoption of the New Bye-Laws.
PROPOSED RE-APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
As disclosed in the AGM Notice, an ordinary resolution will be proposed at the AGM to re-appoint BDO Limited ("BDO") as the auditor of the Company and to authorise the Board to fix their remuneration.
The estimated audit fee payable to BDO for the audit of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ending 31 December 2026 is expected to be approximately HK$1.38 million to HK$1.45 million (exclusive of out-of-pocket expenses), which has been determined based on, among other things, historical audit fees, prevailing market rates, the complexity and business plans of the Group, the expected audit scope, the audit timetable and the auditor's resources required. Such estimated audit fee is also determined on the basis that there is no material changes in the Group's operations, accounting policies or regulatory environment during the year ending 31 December 2026.
PROPOSED ADOPTION OF THE NEW BYE-LAWS
As disclosed in the Original Circular and the AGM Notice, a special resolution will be proposed at the AGM to amend the Existing Bye-Laws and to adopt the New Bye-Laws as the bye-laws of the Company in substitution for and to the exclusion of the Existing Bye-Laws.
Details of the Proposed Amendments (marked-up against the Existing Bye-Laws) are set out in Appendix I to this Supplemental Circular. The Chinese translation of the Proposed Amendments is for reference only. In case of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the English version and its Chinese translation, the English version shall prevail. Prior to the passing of the special resolution at the AGM, the Existing Bye-Laws shall remain valid.
The legal adviser to the Company as to Hong Kong laws has confirmed that the Proposed Amendments conform with the requirements of the Listing Rules. The legal adviser to the Company as to Bermuda laws has confirmed that the Proposed Amendments do not violate the applicable laws of Bermuda. The Company also confirms that there is nothing unusual about the Proposed Amendments for a company listed on the Stock Exchange.
The Proposed Amendments and the proposed adoption of the New Bye-Laws are subject to, and will become effective upon, the approval of the Shareholders by way of passing a special resolution at the AGM.
OTHER
Save as disclosed in this Supplemental Circular, all information and contents as set out in the Original Circular, the AGM Notice and the proxy form enclosed with the Original Circular remain unchanged, and no revised documents will be despatched to the Shareholders.
RECOMMENDATION
The Board is of the opinion that the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM, including, among others, (i) the proposed re-appointment of the auditor of the Company; and (ii) the proposed adoption of the New Bye-Laws, are in the interests of the Company and Shareholders as a whole, and accordingly, the Board recommends all Shareholders to vote in favour of the relevant resolutions to be proposed at the AGM.
RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
This Supplemental Circular, for which the Directors collectively and individually accept full responsibility, includes particulars given in compliance with the Listing Rules for the purpose of giving information with regard to the Company. The Directors, having made all reasonable enquiries, confirm that to the best of their knowledge and belief, the information contained in this Supplemental Circular is accurate and complete in all material respects and not misleading or deceptive, and there are no other matters the omission of which would make any statement herein or this Supplemental Circular misleading.
Yours faithfully,
By order of the Board
Symphony Holdings Limited
Cheng Tun Nei
Chairman
APPENDIX I
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING BYE-LAWS
The following are the Proposed Amendments brought about by the adoption of the New Bye-Laws. Unless otherwise specified, clauses, paragraphs, clause numbers and bye-law numbers referred to herein are clauses, paragraphs, clause numbers and bye-law numbers of the Existing Bye-Laws. The New Bye-Laws are prepared and written in English. As such, any Chinese translation shall be for reference only. In the event of any inconsistency, the English version shall prevail.
Bye-law No. Proposed Amendments (showing changes to Existing Bye-Laws)
Throughout To renumber the bye-laws and paragraphs as appropriate.
Cover Page SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYE-LAWS
OF
SYMPHONY HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Adopted by pursuant to a special resolution passed at an annual general meeting held on 2312 June 20232026)
INTERPRETATION
- In these Bye laws, unless the context otherwise requires, the words standing in the first column of the following table shall bear the meaning set opposite them respectively in the second column.
"Act" the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended from time to time.
"address" for the purposes of these Bye-laws, "address" includes an electronic address unless the Act or the Listing Rules require a postal address.
"associate" the meaning attributed to it in the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.
"announcement" an official publication of a Notice or document of the Company, including a publication, subject to and to such extent permitted by the Listing Rules, by electronic communication or by advertisement published in the newspapers or in such manner or means ascribed and permitted by the Listing Rules and applicable laws.
"ASR Code" the Code of Conduct for Approved Securities Registrars published by the SFC as amended from time to time including any other codes or guidelines incorporated therewith, supplementary thereto or substituted therefor.
"capital" the share capital of the Company from time to time of the Company.
"Central Clearing and Settlement System" the Central Clearing and Settlement System operated by HKSCC.
APPENDIX I
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING BYE-LAWS
Bye-law No. Proposed Amendments (showing changes to Existing Bye-Laws)
“close associate” in relation to any Director, shall have the same meaning as defined in the Listing Rules as modified from time to time, except that for purposes of Bye-law 100 where the transaction or arrangement to be approved by the Board is a connected transaction referred to in the Listing Rules, it shall have the same meaning as that ascribed to “associate” in the Listing Rules.
“dollars” and “$” dollars, the legal currency of Hong Kong.
“electronic communication” a communication sent, transmitted, conveyed and received by wire, by radio, by optical means or by other similar means in any form through any medium.
“electronic meeting” a general meeting held and conducted wholly and exclusively by virtual attendance and participation by Members and/or proxies by means of electronic facilities.
“Electronic System” any system for holding and transferring securities in electronic form approved by applicable law or regulation or under the Securities and Futures Ordinance or the USM Rules or any other subsidiary legislation of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, including but not limited to UNSRT System and any other clearing or settlement system.
“HK Stock Exchange” The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
“HKSCC” the Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited.
“hybrid meeting” a general meeting convened for the (i) physical attendance by Members and/or proxies at the Principal Meeting Place and where applicable, one or more Meeting Locations and (ii) virtual attendance and participation by Members and/or proxies by means of electronic facilities.
“Listing Rules” the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange.
“Meeting Location” has the meaning given to it in Bye-law 64(A).
“Member” a duly registered holder from time to time of the shares in the capital of the Company.
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"Notice" written notice unless otherwise specifically stated and as further defined in these Bye-laws, written notice unless otherwise specifically stated in these Bye laws and, where the context so requires, shall include any other document (including any "corporate communication" and "actionable corporate communication" within the meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules) or communication to be served, issued, or given by the Company under these Bye-laws or pursuant to applicable laws and regulations, including the Listing Rules and/or the rules of the competent regulatory authority. For the avoidance of doubt, Notice may be provided in physical or electronic form.
"physical meeting" a general meeting held and conducted by physical attendance and participation by Members and/or proxies at the Principal Meeting Place and/or where applicable, one or more Meeting Locations.
"Principal Meeting Place" shall have the meaning given to it in Bye-law 59(2).
"Register" the principal register of Members and where applicable, any branch register of Members including any branch register maintained in Hong Kong, to be kept pursuant to the provisions of the Act, and it shall include, where relevant, the register of holders as defined in the USM Rules.
"Securities and Futures Ordinance" the Securities and Futures Ordinance, Chapter 571 of the laws of Hong Kong, as amended from time to time.
"SFC" the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong.
"share(s)" share(s) in the capital of the Company.
"substantial shareholder" a person who is entitled to exercise, or to control the exercise of, 10% or more (or such other percentage as may be prescribed by the Listing Rules from time to time) of the voting power at any general meeting of the Company.
"treasury shares" shares repurchased and held by the Company in treasury as authorized by the Act which, for the purpose of these Bye-laws, include shares repurchased by the Company and held or deposited in Central Clearing and Settlement System for sale on the HK Stock Exchange.
- 6 -
"Uncertificated" a share or other security of the Company that is not evidenced by a certificate or other instrument and is recorded in the Register as being held in uncertificated form, including through Electronic System.
"UNSRT System" an uncertificated securities registration and transfer system, and in relation to any shares or securities of the Company, a computer-based system, together with procedures and other facilities, that (a) enables title to the shares and securities to be evidenced and transferred without an instrument; and (b) facilitates supplementary and incidental matters.
"USM Rules" the Securities and Futures (Uncertificated Securities Market) Rules (Chapter 571AS) made under the Securities and Futures Ordinance, as in force from time to time and any amendments thereto or re-enactments thereof for the time being in force and includes every other rules or subsidiary legislation incorporated therewith or substituted therefor.
- In these Bye laws, unless there be something within the subject or context inconsistent with such construction:
...
(e) expressions referring to writing shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as including printing, lithography, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words or figures in a legible and non-transitory form or, to the extent permitted by and in accordance with the Statutes and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, any visible substitute for writing (including an electronic communication), or modes of representing or reproducing words partly in one visible form and partly in another visible form, and including where the representation takes the form of electronic writing or display (such as digital documents or electronic communications), provided that both the mode of service of the relevant document or notice and the Member's election comply with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations;
(f) references to any act, ordinance, legislation, subsidiary legislation, statute or statutory provision shall be interpreted as relating to any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force;
...
Bye-law No. Proposed Amendments (showing changes to Existing Bye-Laws)
(h) a resolution shall be a special resolution when it has been passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of 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 respective duly authorized-authorised representative or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which Notice has been duly given in accordance with Bye-law 59;
(i) a resolution shall be an ordinary resolution when it has been passed by a simple majority of votes cast by such Members as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, in the case of any Member being a corporation, by its duly authorized authorised representative or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which Notice has been duly given in accordance with Bye-law 59;
(j) a special resolution or extraordinary resolution shall be effective for any purpose for which an ordinary resolution is expressed to be required under any provision of these Bye-laws or the Statutes;
(l) references to a document being (including, but without limitation, a resolution in writing) being signed or executed include references to it being signed or executed under hand or under seal or by electronic signature or by electronic communication or by any other method and references to a Notice or document include a Notice or document recorded or stored in any digital, electronic, electrical, magnetic or other retrievable form or medium and information in visible form whether having physical substance or not;
(m) to the extent any provision in these Bye-laws contradicts or is inconsistent with any provision of Part II or Part III of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (as amended from time to time) ("ETA") or Section 2AA of the Act, the provisions in these Bye-laws shall prevail; they shall be deemed as an agreement between the Company and the Members to vary the provisions of the ETA and/or to override the requirement of Section 2AA of the Act, as applicable;
(n) references to the right of a Member to speak at an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting shall include the right to raise questions or make statements to the chairman of the meeting, verbally or in written form, by means of electronic facilities. Such a right shall be deemed to have been duly exercised if the questions or statements may be heard or seen by all or only some of the persons present at the meeting (or only by the chairman of the meeting) in which event the chairman of the meeting shall relay the questions raised or the statements made verbatim to all persons present at the meeting, either orally or in writing using electronic facilities;
(o) a reference to a meeting: (a) shall mean a meeting convened and held in any manner permitted by these Bye-laws and any Member or Director attending and participating at a meeting by means of electronic facilities shall be deemed to be present at that meeting for all purposes of the Statutes and these Bye-laws, and any references to attending or doing anything at the meeting in person, personally and references to attend, participate, attending, participating, attendance and participation and any other similar expressions shall be construed accordingly, and (b) shall, where the context is appropriate, include a meeting that has been postponed by the Board pursuant to Bye-law 64E;
(p) references to a person's participation in the business of a general meeting include without limitation and as relevant the right (including, in the case of a corporation, through a duly authorised representative) to speak or communicate, vote, be represented by a proxy and have access in hard copy or electronic form to all documents which are required by the Statutes or these Bye-laws to be made available at the meeting, and participate and participating in the business of a general meeting shall be construed accordingly;
(q) references to electronic facilities include, without limitation, website addresses, webinars, webcast, video or any form of conference call systems (telephone, video, web or otherwise);
(r) where a Member is a corporation, any reference in these Bye-laws to a Member shall, where the context requires, refer to a duly authorised representative of such Member;
(s) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to "print", "printed", or "printed copy" and "printing" shall be deemed to include electronic versions or electronic copies;
(t) any reference to the term "place" within these Bye-laws shall be construed as applicable only in contexts where a physical location is required or relevant. Any reference to a "place" for the delivery, receipt, or payment of monies, whether by the Company or by Members, shall not preclude the use of electronic means for such delivery, receipt, or payment. For the avoidance of doubt, references to a "place" in the context of meetings shall include physical, electronic, or hybrid meeting formats, as permitted by applicable laws and regulations. Notices of meetings, adjournments, postponements, or any other references to a "place" shall be interpreted to include virtual platforms or electronic means of communication where applicable. Where the term "place" is out of context, unnecessary, or not applicable, such reference shall be disregarded without affecting the validity or interpretation of the relevant provision; and
(u) all voting rights referred to in these Bye-laws shall exclude the voting rights attached to treasury shares.
SHARE CAPITAL
- (1) The share capital of the Company at the date on which these Bye-laws come into effect shall be divided into shares of $Hong Kong dollars 0.10 each.
(2) Subject to the Act, the Company's memorandum of association and, where applicable, the Listing Rules of any Designated Stock Exchange and/or the rules and regulations of any competent regulatory authority, any power of the Company shall have the power to purchase or otherwise acquire its own shares (including its redeemable shares) for cancellation or to be held as treasury shares, and such power shall be exercisable by the Board upon such terms and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit without the need for a separate resolution of the Board for each instance. Furthermore, the holding of treasury shares by the Company shall at all times comply with any restrictions or requirements imposed by the Listing Rules and/or the rules of any competent regulatory authority.
(3) Neither Subject to compliance with the Listing Rules and the rules and regulations of any other competent regulatory authority, the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly may give financial assistance to a person who is acquiring or proposing to acquire for the purpose of or in connection with a purchase made or to be made by any person of any 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 nothing in this Bye-law shall prohibit transactions permitted by the Act.
ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
- The Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution in accordance with Section 45 of the Act:
(c) divide its shares into several classes and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of existing shares attaching thereto respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges, conditions or such restrictions which in the absence of any such determination by the Company in general meeting, as the Directors may determine provided always that where the Company issues shares which do not carry voting rights, the words "non-voting" shall appear in the designation of such shares and where the equity capital includes shares with different voting rights, the designation of each class of shares, other than those with the most favourable voting rights, must include the words "restricted voting" or "limited voting";
...
-
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 Act, any share premium account or other undistributable reserve.
-
Except so far as otherwise provided by the conditions of issue, or by these Bye-laws, or by the Statutes, any capital raised by the creation of new shares shall be treated as if it formed part of the original capital of the Company, and such shares shall be subject to the provisions contained in these Bye-laws with reference to the payment of calls and instalments, transfer and transmission, forfeiture, lien, cancellation, surrender, voting and otherwise.
SHARE RIGHTS
- Subject to Sections 42 and 43 of the Act, these Bye-laws, and to any special rights conferred on the holders of any shares or attaching to any class of shares, any preference shares may be issued or converted into shares that, at a determinable date or at the option of the Company or the holder if so authorised by its memorandum of association, are liable to be redeemed on such terms and in such manner as the Company before the issue or conversion may by ordinary resolution of the Members determine. Where the Company purchases for redemption a redeemable share, purchases not made through the market or by tender shall be limited to a maximum price as may from time to time be determined by the Company in general meeting, either generally or with regard to specific purchases. If purchases are by tender, tenders shall be available to all Members alike.
VARIATION OF RIGHTS
- Subject to the Act and without prejudice to Bye-law 8, all or any of the special rights for the time being attached to the shares or any class of shares may, unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, from time to time (whether or not the Company is being wound up) be varied, modified or abrogated either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than three-fourths in nominal value of the voting rights of the issued shares of that class (excluding treasury shares) 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 all the provisions of these Bye-laws relating to general meetings of the Company shall, mutatis mutandis, apply, but so that:
(a) the necessary quorum (including 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 (excluding treasury shares); and
(b) every holder of shares of the class shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for every such share held by him.
SHARES
- (1) Subject to the Act, these Bye-laws, any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting and, where applicable, the Listing Rules of any Designated Stock Exchange and without prejudice to any special rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any shares or any class of shares, the unissued shares of the Company (whether forming part of the original or any increased capital) 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 and for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the Board may in its absolute discretion determine but so that no shares shall be issued at a discount to their nominal value. 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 allotment, 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.
(2) The Board may issue warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature 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.
SHARE CERTIFICATES
-
Every share certificate shall be issued under the Seal or a facsimile thereof or with the Seal printed thereon and shall specify the number and class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the shares to which it relates, and the amount paid up thereon and may otherwise be in such form as the Directors may from time to time determine. The seal of the Company may only be affixed or imprinted to a share certificate with the authority of the Directors, or be executed under the signature of appropriate officials with statutory authority, unless otherwise determined by the Directors. No certificate shall be issued and representing shares of more than one class. The Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in any particular case or cases, that any signatures on any such certificates (or certificates in respect of other securities) need not be autographic but may be affixed to such certificates by some mechanical means or may be printed thereon or that such certificates need not be signed by any person.
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Every person whose name is entered as a Member in the Register shall be entitled to hold their shares in Uncertificated form through the Electronic System, in compliance with the Listing Rules and other relevant regulations. The Company shall not be required to issue a certificate for any share held in Uncertificated form unless required by law or required by the holder of such share. A statement or confirmation from the relevant Electronic System or electronic Register that the shares are held in Uncertificated form shall be sufficient evidence of title to Uncertificated shares. Subject to the USM Rules, where Shares are held in certificated form, every person whose name is entered, upon an allotment of shares, as a Member in the Register shall be entitled, without payment, to receive one certificate for all such shares of any one class or several certificates each for one or more of such shares of such class upon payment for every certificate after the first of such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses as the Board from time to time determines. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations to facilitate the holding, transfer, and registration of its shares in Uncertificated form, including electronic processes for corporate actions, as required by the uncertificated securities market regime.
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Where Share certificates are issued, they shall be issued within the relevant any time limit as prescribed in by the Act, the ASR Code or as the Designated Stock Exchange may from time to time determine, whichever is the shorter, if such a time limit is applicable, after allotment or, except in the case of a transfer which the Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after lodgment of a transfer with the Company.
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(1) Upon every transfer of shares the certificate held by the transferor (if one has been issued) shall be given up to be cancelled, and shall forthwith be cancelled accordingly, and a new certificate shall upon request by the transferee and subject to the Board resolving to issue share certificate(s) pursuant to Bye-law 18, be issued to the transferee in respect of the shares transferred to him at such fee as is provided in paragraph (2) of this Bye-law. If any of the shares included in the certificate so given up shall be retained by the transferor, subject to the Board resolving to issue share certificate(s) pursuant to Bye-law 18, a new certificate for the balance shall be issued to him upon his request at the aforesaid fee payable by the transferor to the Company in respect thereof.
(2) The fee referred to in paragraph (1) above shall be an amount not exceeding the relevant maximum amount as the Designated Stock Exchange may from time to time determine prescribed by the ASR Code provided that the Board may at any time determine a lower amount for such fee.
- If a share certificate shall be damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed a new certificate representing the same shares may be issued to the relevant Member upon request and on payment of such fee as the Designated Stock Exchange may determine may be prescribed by the ASR Code to be the maximum fee payable or such lesser sum as the Board may determine and, subject to compliance with such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and to payment of the costs and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in investigating such evidence and preparing such indemnity as the Board may think fit and, in case of damage or defacement, on delivery of the old certificate to the Company provided always that where share warrants have been issued, no new share warrant shall be issued to replace one that has been lost unless the Directors are satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the original has been destroyed.
REGISTER OF MEMBERS
- (1) The Company shall keep in one or more books a Register and shall enter therein the following particulars, that is to say:
(a) the name and address of each Member, the number and class of shares held by him (including the number and class of shares held by him in Uncertificated form) and, in respect of any shares that are not fully paid, the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid on such shares;
(b) the date on which each person was entered in the Register; and
(c) the date on which any person ceased to be a Member.
(2) Subject to the Act, the Company may keep an overseas or local or other branch register of Members resident in any place, and the Board may make and vary such regulations as it determines in respect of the keeping of any such register and maintaining a Registration Office in connection therewith.
(3) The Register may be maintained in electronic form and may reflect holdings in both certificated and Uncertificated form provided that it must be readily retrievable and capable of being printed or exported. The Company may integrate the Register with any Electronic System.
- The Register and branch-register of Members, as the case may be, shall be open to inspection between 10 a.m. and 12 noon during business hours by members and holders of Prescribed Securities (as defined in the USM Rules) of the public without charge at the Office or such other place at which the Register and branch-register of Members, as the case may be, is kept in accordance with the Act. The Register including any overseas or local or other branch register of Members may, after notice has been given by advertisement in an appointed newspaper and where applicable, any other newspapers in accordance with the requirements of any Designated Stock Exchange or by any means (electronic or otherwise) in such manner as may be accepted by the Designated Stock Exchange to that effect, be closed at such times or for such periods not exceeding in the whole thirty (30) days in each year as the Board may determine and either generally or in respect of any class of shares.
RECORD DATES
- Subject to the Listing Rules, Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bye-laws the Company or the Directors may fix any date as the record date for:
(a) determining the Members entitled to receive any dividend, distribution, allotment or issue; and such record date may be on, or at any time not more than thirty (30) days before or after, any date on which such dividend, distribution, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made;
(b) determining the Members entitled to receive Notice of and to vote at any general meeting of the Company.
- (1) Subject to these Bye-laws, any Member may transfer all or any of his shares by in any manner permitted by and in accordance with the Listing Rules or by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the Designated Stock Exchange or in any other form approved by the Board and may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a clearing house or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Board may approve from time to time.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (1) above, for so long as any shares are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, titles to such listed shares may be evidenced and transferred in accordance with applicable laws and the Listing Rules that are or shall be applicable to such listed shares. The register of members of the Company in respect of its listed shares (whether the Register or a branch register) may be kept by recording the particulars required by Section 65 of the Act in a form otherwise than legible if such recording otherwise complies with applicable laws and the Listing Rules that are or shall be applicable to such listed shares.
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The Subject to the Act and all applicable laws and regulations, including the Securities and Futures Ordinance and the USM Rules, transfers of shares may be effected in Uncertificated form through the Electronic System, including the UNSRT System, the Central Clearing and Settlement System, or any other system approved by the Designated Stock Exchange or the SFC, without the need for a written instrument of transfer in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Electronic System. The Company shall not be responsible for any delay or failure in the Electronic System unless caused by its own default. For certificated shares, 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 which it thinks fit in its discretion to do so. Without prejudice to Bye-law 46, the Board may also resolve, either generally or in any particular case, upon request by either the transferor or transferee, to accept mechanically executed transfers. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect thereof. Nothing in these Bye-laws shall preclude the Board from recognising a renunciation of the allotment or provisional allotment of any share by the allottee in favour of some other person.
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Without limiting the generality of the last preceding Bye-law, the Board may decline to recognise any instrument of transfer unless:
(a) a fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchange may determine to be payable or such lesser sum as the Board may from time to time require is paid to the Company in respect thereof;
(b) if applicable, the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share;
(c) if applicable, for certificated shares, the instrument of transfer is lodged at the Office or such other place in Bermuda at which the Register is kept in accordance with the Act or the Registration Office (as the case may be) 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); and
(d) if applicable, the instrument of transfer is duly and properly stamped.
- The registration of transfers of shares or of any class of shares may, after notice has been given by announcement or by electronic communication or by advertisement in any newspapers in accordance with the requirements of any Designated Stock Exchange or by any means (electronic or otherwise) in such manner as may be accepted by the Designated Stock Exchange to that effect be suspended at such times and for such periods (not exceeding in the whole thirty (30) days in any year) as the Board may determine.
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
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Subject to Section 52 of the Act, any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up of a Member may, upon such evidence as to his title being produced as may be required by the Board, elect either to become the holder of the share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the transferee thereof. If he elects to become the holder he shall notify the Company in writing either at the Registration Office or Office, as the case may be, to that effect. If he elects to have another person registered he shall execute a transfer of the share in favour of that person. The provisions of these Bye-laws relating to the transfer and registration of transfers of shares shall apply to such notice or transfer as aforesaid as if the death or bankruptcy or winding-up of the Member had not occurred and the notice or transfer were a transfer signed by such Member.
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A person becoming entitled to a share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up of a Member shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the share. However, the Board may, if it thinks fit, withhold the payment of any dividend payable or other advantages in respect of such share until such person shall become the registered holder of the share or shall have effectually transferred such share, but, subject to the requirements of Bye-law 752(2) being met, such a person may vote at meetings.
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...
(2) The Company shall have the power to sell, in such manner as the Board thinks fit, any shares of a Member who is untraceable, but no such sale shall be made unless:
(a) all cheques or warrants in respect of dividends of the shares in question, being not less than three in total number, for any sum payable in cash to the holder of such shares in respect of them sent during the relevant period in the manner authorised by the Bye-laws of the Company have remained uncashed;
(b) so far as it is aware at the end of the relevant period, the Company has not at any time during the relevant period received any indication of the existence of the Member who is the holder of such shares or of a person entitled to such shares by death, bankruptcy or operation of law; and
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(c) the Company, if so required by the rules governing the Listing of shares on the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, has given notice to, and caused advertisement in newspapers in accordance with the requirements of, the Designated Stock Exchange to be made of its intention to sell such shares in the manner required by the Designated Stock Exchange, and a period of three (3) months or such shorter period as may be allowed by the Designated Stock Exchange has elapsed since the date of such advertisement.
For the purpose of the foregoing, the "relevant period" means the period commencing twelve (12) years before the date of publication of the advertisement referred to in paragraph (c) of this Bye-law and ending at the expiry of the period referred to in that paragraph.
GENERAL MEETINGS
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Subject to the Act, an annual general meeting of the Company shall be held in for each financial year other than the financial year in which its statutory meeting is convened and such annual general meeting must be held within six (6) months after the end of the Company's financial year (unless a longer period would not infringe the Listing or Rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, if any) at such time and place as may be determined by the Board. A meeting of Members or any class thereof may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as to permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence at such meeting, if any).
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Each general meeting, other than an annual general meeting, shall be called a special general meeting. All general meetings (including an annual general meeting, any special general meeting, any adjourned meeting or postponed meeting) may be held as a physical meeting in any part of the world and at one or more locations as provided in Bye-law 64A, as a hybrid meeting or as an electronic meeting, as may be determined by the Board in its absolute discretion. General meetings may be held in any part of the world as may be determined by the Board.
58.
The Board may whenever it thinks fit call special general meetings, and Members holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than one-tenth of voting rights, on a one vote per share basis, in the share capital of the Company at general meetings of the Company shall at all times have the right, by written requisition to the Board or the Secretary of the Company, to require a special general meeting to be called by the Board for the transaction of any business or resolution specified in such requisition; and such meeting to be convened pursuant to the requisition by the Members shall be held within two (2) months after the deposit of such requisition. If within twenty-one (21) days of deposit of such requisition the Board fails to proceed to convene such meeting the requisitionists themselves may do so in accordance with the provisions of Section 74(3) of the Act, the paid up capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) carrying the right of voting at general meetings of the Company, on a one vote per share basis, shall at all times have the right, by written requisition to the Board or the Secretary of the Company, to require a special general meeting to be called by the Board for the transaction of any business or resolution specified in such requisition; and such meeting shall be held in the form of a physical meeting only and within two (2) months after the deposit of such requisition. If within twenty-one (21) days of such deposit the Board fails to proceed to convene such meeting the requisitionists themselves may convene such physical meeting in accordance with the provisions of Section 74(3) of the Act.
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
59.
(1) An annual general meeting shall be called by Notice of not less than twenty-one (21) clear days. All other general meetings (including a special general meeting) must be called by Notice of not less than fourteen (14) clear days but if permitted by the Listing Rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, a general meeting may be called by shorter notice if it is so agreed:
(a) in the case of a meeting called as an annual general meeting, by all the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and
(b) in the case of any other meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having the right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together representing not less than ninety-five per cent. (95%) of the total voting rights at the meeting of all the Members.
(2) The Notice shall specify (a) the time and date of the meeting, (b) save for an electronic meeting, the place of the meeting and if there is more than one meeting location as determined by the Board pursuant to Bye-law 64A, the principal place of the meeting (the "Principal Meeting Place"), (c) if the general meeting is to be a hybrid meeting or an electronic meeting, the Notice shall include a statement to that effect and with details of the electronic facilities for attendance and participation by electronic means at the meeting or where such details will be made available by the Company prior to the meeting, and (d) particulars of resolutions to be considered at the meeting—and, in case of special business, the general nature of the business. The Notice convening an annual general meeting shall specify the meeting as such. Notice of every general meeting shall be given to all Members other than to such Members as, under the provisions of these Bye-laws or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notices from the Company, to all persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up of a Member and to each of the Directors and the Auditors.
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
61.
(2) No business other than the appointment of a chairman of a meeting shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the commencement of the business. Two (2) Members entitled to vote and present in person (or in the case of a Member being a corporation by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy or by proxy or, for quorum purposes only, two persons appointed by the clearing house (or its nominee) as authorised representative or proxy, shall form a quorum for all purposes.
62.
If within thirty (30) minutes (or such longer time not exceeding one hour as the chairman of the meeting may determine to wait) after the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of Members, shall be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place (where applicable) same place(s) or to such time and place as the Board may (where applicable) such place(s) and in such form and manner referred to in Bye-law 57 as the chairman of the meeting (or in default, the Board) may absolutely determine. If at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour thirty (30) minutes from the time appointed for holding the meeting, the meeting shall be dissolved.
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63.
(1) The president chairman of the Company or the chairman if there is more than one chairman, any one of them as may be agreed amongst themselves or failing such agreement, any one of them elected by all the Directors present shall preside as chairman at every general meeting. If at any meeting the president or the no chairman, as the case may be, is not present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or if neither of them is willing to act as chairman, the deputy chairman of the Company or if there is more than one deputy chairman, any one of them as may be agreed amongst themselves or failing such agreement, any one of them elected by all the Directors present shall preside as chairman. If no chairman or deputy chairman is present or is willing to act as chairman of the meeting, 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, or if the chairman chosen shall retire from the chair, the 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 shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
(2) If the chairman of a general meeting held in any form is participating in the general meeting using an electronic facility or facilities which is hereby permitted and becomes unable to participate in the general meeting using such electronic facility or facilities, another person (determined in accordance with Bye-law 63(1) above) shall preside as chairman of the meeting unless and until the original chairman of the meeting is able to participate in the general meeting using the electronic facility or facilities.
64.
The Subject to Bye-law 64C, the chairman may, with (without the consent of any the meeting) or shall at the direction of the meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time (or indefinitely) and/or from place to place as the(s) and/or from one form to another (a physical meeting shall determine, a hybrid meeting or an electronic meeting), but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place. When a meeting is adjourned for fourteen (14) days or more, at least seven (7) clear days' Notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given specifying the time and place of the adjourned meeting details set out in Bye-law 59(2) but it shall not be necessary to specify in such notice the nature of the business to be transacted at the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Save as aforesaid, it shall be unnecessary to give notice of an adjournment.
64A.
(1) The Board may, at its absolute discretion, arrange for persons entitled to attend a general meeting to do so by simultaneous attendance and participation by means of electronic facilities at such location or locations (“Meeting Location(s)”) determined by the Board at its absolute discretion. Any Member or any proxy attending and participating in such way or any Member or proxy attending and participating in an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting by means of electronic facilities is deemed to be present at and shall be counted in the quorum of the meeting.
(2) All general meetings are subject to the following:
(a) where a Member is attending a Meeting Location and/or in the case of a hybrid meeting, the meeting shall be treated as having commenced if it has commenced at the Principal Meeting Place;
(b) Members present in person or by proxy at a Meeting Location and/or Members participating in an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting by means of electronic facilities shall be counted in the quorum for and entitled to vote at the meeting in question, and that meeting shall be duly constituted and its proceedings valid provided that the chairman of the meeting is satisfied that adequate electronic facilities are available throughout the meeting to ensure that Members at all Meeting Locations and Members participating in an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting by means of electronic facilities are able to participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened;
(c) where Members attend a meeting by being present at one of the Meeting Locations and/or where Members participating in an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting by means of electronic facilities, a failure (for any reason) of the electronic facilities or communication equipment, or any other failure in the arrangements for enabling those in a Meeting Location other than the Principal Meeting Place to participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened or in the case of an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting, the inability of one or more Members or proxies to access, or continue to access, the electronic facilities despite adequate electronic facilities having been made available by the Company, shall not affect the validity of the meeting or the resolutions passed, or any business conducted there or any action taken pursuant to such business provided that there is a quorum present throughout the meeting; and
(d) if any of the Meeting Locations is outside the jurisdiction of the Principal Meeting Place and/or in the case of a hybrid meeting, unless otherwise stated in the Notice, the provisions of these Bye-laws concerning the service and giving of Notice for the meeting, and the time for lodging proxies, shall apply by reference to the Principal Meeting Place; and in the case of an electronic meeting, the time for lodging proxies shall be as stated in the Notice for the meeting.
64B. The Board and, at any general meeting, the chairman of the meeting may from time to time make arrangements for managing attendance and/or participation and/or voting at the Principal Meeting Place, any Meeting Location(s) and/or participation in an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting by means of electronic facilities (whether involving the issue of tickets or some other means of identification, passcode, seat reservation, electronic voting or otherwise) as it shall in its absolute discretion consider appropriate, and may from time to time change any such arrangements, provided that a Member who, pursuant to such arrangements, is not entitled to attend, in person or by proxy, at any Meeting Location shall be entitled so to attend at one of the other Meeting Locations or by means of electronic facilities; and the entitlement of any Member so to attend the meeting or adjourned meeting or postponed meeting at such Meeting Location or Meeting Locations or by means of such electronic facilities shall be subject to any such arrangement as may be for the time being in force and by the Notice of meeting or adjourned meeting or postponed meeting stated to apply to the meeting.
64C. If it appears to the chairman of the general meeting that:
(a) the electronic facilities at the Principal Meeting Place or at such other Meeting Location(s) at which the meeting may be attended have become inadequate for the purposes referred to in Bye-law 64A(1) or are otherwise not sufficient to allow the meeting to be conducted substantially in accordance with the provisions set out in the Notice of the meeting; or
(b) in the case of an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting, electronic facilities being made available by the Company have become inadequate; or
(c) it is not possible to ascertain the view of those present or to give all persons entitled to do so a reasonable opportunity to communicate and/or vote at the meeting; or
(d) there is violence or the threat of violence, unruly behaviour or other disruption occurring at the meeting or it is not possible to secure the proper and orderly conduct of the meeting;
then, without prejudice to any other power which the chairman of the meeting may have under these Bye-laws or at common law, the chairman may, at his/her absolute discretion, without the consent of the meeting, and before or after the meeting has started and irrespective of whether a quorum is present, interrupt or adjourn the meeting (including adjournment for indefinite period). All business conducted at the meeting up to the time of such adjournment shall be valid.
64D. The Board and, at any general meeting, the chairman of the meeting may make any arrangement and impose any requirement or restriction the Board or the chairman of the meeting, as the case may be, considers appropriate to ensure the security and orderly conduct of a meeting (including, without limitation, requirements for evidence of identity to be produced by those attending the meeting, the searching of their personal property and the restriction of items that may be taken into the meeting place, determining the number and frequency of and the time allowed for questions that may be raised at a meeting). Members shall also comply with all requirements or restrictions imposed by the owner of the premises at which the meeting is held. Any decision made under this Bye-law shall be final and conclusive and a person who refuses to comply with any such arrangements, requirements or restrictions may be refused entry to the meeting or ejected (physically or electronically) from the meeting.
64E. If, after the sending of Notice of a general meeting but before the meeting is held, or after the adjournment of a meeting but before the adjourned meeting is held (whether or not Notice of the adjourned meeting is required), the Directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is inappropriate, impracticable, unreasonable or undesirable for any reason to hold the general meeting on the date or at the time or place or by means of electronic facilities specified in the Notice calling the meeting, they may change or postpone the meeting to another date, time and/or place and/or change the electronic facilities and/or change the form of the meeting (a physical meeting, an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting) without approval from the Members. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Directors shall have the power to provide in every Notice calling a general meeting the circumstances in which a postponement of the relevant general meeting may occur automatically without further notice, including without limitation where a number 8 or higher typhoon signal, black rainstorm warning or other similar event is in force at any time on the day of the meeting. This Bye-law shall be subject to the following:
(a) when a meeting is so postponed, the Company shall endeavour to post a notice of such postponement on the Company's website as soon as practicable (provided that failure to post such a notice shall not affect the automatic postponement of such meeting);
(b) when only the form of the meeting or electronic facilities specified in the Notice are changed, the Board shall notify the Members of details of such change in such manner as the Board may determine;
(c) when a meeting is postponed or changed in accordance with this Bye-law, subject to and without prejudice to Bye-law 64, unless already specified in the original Notice of the meeting, the Board shall fix the date, time, place (if applicable) and electronic facilities (if applicable) for the postponed or changed meeting and shall notify the Members of such details in such manner as the Board may determine; further all proxy forms shall be valid (unless revoked or replaced by a new proxy) if they are received as required by these Bye-laws not less than 48 hours before the time of the postponed or changed meeting; and
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(d) Notice of the business to be transacted at the postponed or changed meeting shall not be required, nor shall any accompanying documents be required to be recirculated, provided that the business to be transacted at the postponed or changed meeting is the same as that set out in the original Notice of general meeting circulated to the Members.
64F. All persons seeking to attend and participate in an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting shall be responsible for maintaining adequate facilities to enable them to do so. Subject to Bye-law 64C, any inability of a person or persons to attend or participate in a general meeting by way of electronic facilities shall not invalidate the proceedings of and/or resolutions passed at that meeting.
64G. Without prejudice to other provisions in Bye-law 64, a physical meeting may also be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
VOTING
- (1) Subject to any special rights or restrictions as to voting for the time being attached to any shares by or in accordance with these Bye-laws, at any general meeting on a poll every Member (excluding the holder of treasury shares) present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a Member 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 instalments is treated for the foregoing purposes as paid up on the share. A resolution put to the vote of a meeting shall be decided by way of a poll save that in the case of a physical meeting, the chairman of the meeting may in good faith, allow a resolution which relates purely to a procedural or administrative matter to be voted on by a show of hands in which case every Member (excluding the holder of treasury shares) present in person (or being a corporation, is present by a duly authorised representative), or by proxy(ies) shall have one vote provided that where more than one proxy is appointed by a Member which is a clearing house (or its nominee(s)), each such proxy shall have one vote on a show of hands. For purposes of this Bye-law, procedural and administrative matters are those that (i) are not on the agenda of the general meeting or in any supplementary circular that may be issued by the Company to its Members; and (ii) relate to the chairman's duties to maintain the orderly conduct of the meeting and/or allow the business of the meeting to be properly and effectively dealt with, whilst allowing all Members a reasonable opportunity to express their views. Votes (whether on a show of hands or by way of poll) may be cast by such means, electronic or otherwise, as the Directors or the chairman of the meeting may determine.
(2) In the case of a physical meeting where a show of hands is allowed, before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll may be demanded:
(a) by the chairman of such meeting; or
(ba) by 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
(eb) by 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 representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all Members having the right to vote at the meeting; or
(dc) by 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 up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all shares conferring that right; or,
(e) if required by the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, by any Director or Directors who, individually or collectively, hold proxies in respect of shares representing five per cent. (5%) or more of the total voting rights at such meeting.
A demand by a person as proxy for a Member or in the case of a Member being a corporation by its duly authorised representative shall be deemed to be the same as a demand by athe Member.
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Unless a poll is duly demanded and the demand is not withdrawn Where a resolution is voted on by a show of hands, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or not carried by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect made in the minute book of the Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded for or against the resolution. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting. The Company shall only be required to disclose the voting figures on a poll if such disclosure is required by the Listing Rules.
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If a poll is duly demanded, the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. The Company shall only be required to disclose the voting figures on a poll if such disclosure is required by the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.
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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 in such manner (including the use of ballot or voting papers or tickets) and either forthwith or at such time (being not later than thirty (30) days after the date of the demand) and place as the chairman directs. It shall not be necessary (unless the chairman otherwise directs) for notice to be given of a poll not taken immediately.
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The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting or the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll has been demanded, and, with the consent of the chairman, it may be withdrawn at any time before the close of the meeting or the taking of the poll, whichever is the earlier.
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On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy.
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A person entitled to more than one vote on a poll need not use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.
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All questions submitted to a meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of votes except where a greater majority is required by these Bye-laws or by the Act. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of such meeting shall be entitled to a second or casting vote in addition to any other vote he may have.
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Where there are joint holders of any share any one of such joint holder may vote, either in person or by proxy, in respect of such share as if he were solely entitled thereto, but if more than one of such joint holders be present at any meeting 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. Several executors or administrators of a deceased Member in whose name any share stands shall for the purposes of this Bye-law be deemed joint holders thereof.
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(1) A Member who is a patient for any purpose relating to mental health or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction for the protection or management of the affairs of persons incapable of managing their own affairs may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person in the nature of a receiver, committee or curator bonis appointed by such court, and such receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person may vote on a poll by proxy, and may otherwise act and be treated as if he were the registered holder of such shares for the purposes of general meetings, provided that such evidence as the Board may require of the authority of the person claiming to vote shall have been deposited at the Office, head office or Registration Office, as appropriate, not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting, or adjourned meeting, or pollpostponed meeting, as the case may be.
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(2) Any person entitled under Bye-law 53 to be registered as the holder of any shares may vote at any general meeting in respect thereof in the same manner as if he were the registered holder of such shares, provided that forty-eight (48) hours at least before the time of the holding of the meeting or adjourned meeting or postponed meeting, as the case may be, at which he proposes to vote, he shall satisfy the Board of his entitlement to such shares, or the Board shall have previously admitted his right to vote at such meeting in respect thereof.
763.
(2) Subject to Bye-law 76(1), all All Members shall have the right to (a) speak at a general meeting, and (b) vote at a general meeting except where a Member is required, by the Listing Rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, to abstain from voting to approve the matter under consideration.
(3) Where the Company has knowledge that any Member is, under the Listing Rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, 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 Member in contravention of such requirement or restriction shall not be counted.
- If:
(a) any objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter; or
(b) any votes have been counted which ought not to have been counted or which might have been rejected; or
(c) any votes are not counted which ought to have been counted;
the objection or error shall not vitiate the decision of the meeting or adjourned meeting or postponed meeting on any resolution unless the same is raised or pointed out at the meeting or, as the case may be, the adjourned meeting or postponed 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 of the meeting 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 final and conclusive.
PROXIES
785.
Any Member entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of the Company shall be 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. 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.
796.
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of such form, including electronic or otherwise, as the Board may determine and in the absence of such determination, shall be in writing, which may include electronic writing, and signed by the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under its seal or under the hand of signed by an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign the same. In the case of an instrument of proxy purporting to be signed on behalf of a corporation by an officer thereof it shall be assumed, unless the contrary appears, that such officer was duly authorised to sign such instrument of proxy on behalf of the corporation without further evidence of the facts.
77.
(1) The Company may, at its absolute discretion and subject to compliance with the Listing Rules, provide an electronic address, or designate an electronic platform, for the receipt of any document or information relating to proxies for a general meeting (including any instrument of proxy or invitation to appoint a proxy, any document necessary to show the validity of, or otherwise relating to, an appointment of proxy (whether or not required under these Bye-laws) and notice of termination of the authority of a proxy). If such an electronic address is provided, the Company shall be deemed to have agreed that any such document or information (relating to proxies as aforesaid) may be sent by electronic means to that address, subject as hereafter provided and subject to any other limitations or conditions specified by the Company when providing the electronic address or designating the electronic platform. Without limitation, the Company may from time to time determine that any such electronic address or electronic platform may be used generally for such matters or specifically for particular meetings or purposes and, if so, the Company may provide different electronic addresses or electronic platforms for different purposes. The Company may also impose any conditions on the transmission of and its receipt of such electronic communications including, for the avoidance of doubt, imposing any security or encryption arrangements as may be specified by the Company. If any document or information required to be sent to the Company under this Bye-law is sent to the Company by electronic means, such document or information is not treated as validly delivered to or deposited with the Company if the same is not received by the Company at its designated electronic address or designated electronic platform (as the case may be) provided in accordance with this Bye-law.
- (2) The instrument appointing a proxy and (if required by the Board) the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed, or a certified copy of such power or authority, shall be delivered to such place or one of such places (if any) as may be specified for that purpose in or by way of a note to or in any document accompanying the notice convening the meeting (or, if no place is so specified at the Registration Office or the Office, as may be appropriate), or shall be received at the electronic address or electronic platform specified pursuant to the preceding paragraph, not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting or postponed meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote or, in the case of a poll taken subsequently to the date of a meeting or adjourned meeting, not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid. No instrument appointing a proxy shall be valid after the expiration of twelve (12) months from the date named in it as the date of its execution, except at an adjourned meeting or on a poll demanded at a meeting or an adjourned postponed meeting in cases where the meeting was originally held within twelve (12) months from such date. Delivery of an instrument appointing a proxy shall not preclude a Member from attending and voting in person at the meeting convened and in such event, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to be revoked.
78+. Instruments of proxy shall be in any common form or in such other form as the Board may approve (provided that this shall not preclude the use of the two-way form) and the Board may, if it thinks fit, send out with the notice of any meeting forms of instrument of proxy for use at the meeting. The instrument of proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll and to vote on any amendment of a resolution put to the meeting for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit. The instrument of proxy shall, unless the contrary is stated therein, be valid as well for any adjournment or postponement of the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates. The Board may decide, either generally or in any particular case, to treat a proxy appointment as valid notwithstanding that the appointment or any of the information required under these Bye-laws has not been received in accordance with the requirements of these Bye-laws. Subject to aforesaid, if the proxy appointment and any of the information required under these Bye-laws is not received in the manner set out in these Bye-laws, the appointee shall not be entitled to vote in respect of the shares in question.
-
A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal, or revocation of the instrument of proxy or of the authority under which it was executed, provided that no intimation in writing of such death, insanity or revocation shall have been received by the Company at the Office or the Registration Office (or such other place as may be specified for the delivery of instruments of proxy in the notice convening the meeting or other document sent therewith) two (2) hours at least before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting; or the taking of the poll postponed meeting, at which the instrument of proxy is used.
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Anything which under these Bye-laws a Member may do by proxy he may likewise do by his duly appointed attorney and the provisions of these Bye-laws relating to proxies and instruments appointing proxies shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to any such attorney and the instrument under which such attorney is appointed.
CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES
- (1) Any corporation which is a Member may by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members. The person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of such corporation as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member and such corporation shall for the purposes of these Bye-laws be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting if a person so authorised is present thereat.
(2) Where a Member is a clearing house (or its nominee(s) and, in each case, being a corporation), it may authorise such persons as it thinks fit to act as its representatives at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Bye-law shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of the shares of the Company held by the clearing house (or its nominee(s)) in respect of the number and class of shares specified in the relevant authorisation including, the right to speak and vote; and, where a show of hands is allowed, the right to vote individually on a show of hands.
WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS OF MEMBERS
- (1) Subject to the Act, a resolution in writing signed (in such manner as to indicate, expressly or impliedly, unconditional approval) by or on behalf of all persons for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company shall, for the purposes of these Bye-laws, be treated as a resolution duly passed at a general meeting of the Company and, where relevant, as a special resolution or extraordinary resolution so passed. Any such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed at a meeting held on the date on which it was signed by the last Member to sign, and where the resolution states a date as being the date of his signature thereof by any Member the statement shall be prima facie evidence that it was signed by him on that date. Such a resolution may consist of several documents in the like form, each signed by one or more relevant Members.
(2) Notwithstanding any provisions contained in these Bye-laws, a resolution in writing shall not be passed for the purpose of removing a Director before the expiration of his term of office under Bye-law 863(4) or for the purposes set out in Bye-law 1562(3) relating to the removal and appointment of the Auditor.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
863.
(1) Unless otherwise determined by the Company in general meeting, the number of Directors shall not be less than two (2). There shall be no maximum number of Directors unless otherwise determined from time to time by the Members in general meeting. The Directors shall be elected or appointed in the first place at the statutory meeting of Members and thereafter at the annual general meeting in accordance with Bye-law 874 or at any special general meeting called for such purpose and who shall hold office until the next appointment of Directors for such term as the Members may determine or, in the absence of such determination, in accordance with Bye-law 84 or until their successors are elected or appointed or their office is otherwise vacated. Any general meeting may authorise the Board to fill any vacancy in their number left unfilled at a general meeting.
(2) 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, subject to authorisation by the Members in general meeting, 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 so appointed shall hold office only until the first next following annual general meeting of the Company after his appointment and shall then be eligible for re-election.
(4) The Members may, at any general meeting convened and held in accordance with these Bye-laws, by ordinary resolution remove a Director at any time before the expiration of his term period of office notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bye-laws or in any agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice to any claim for damages under any such agreement) provided that the Notice of any such meeting convened for the purpose of removing a Director shall contain a statement of the intention so to do 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.
RETIREMENT OF DIRECTORS
874.
(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions in these the Bye-laws, at each annual general meeting one-third of the Directors for the time being: (or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three (3), then the number nearest to but not less than one-third;) shall retire from office by rotation provided that every Director shall be subject to retirement by rotation at least once every three years.
(2) A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-election and shall continue to act as a Director throughout the meeting at which he retires. The Directors to retire by rotation shall include (so far as necessary to ascertain the number of directors to retire by rotation) any Director who wishes to retire and not to offer himself for re-election. Any further Directors so to retire shall be those of the other Directors subject to retirement by rotation who have been longest in office since their last re-election or appointment and so that as between persons who became or were last re-elected Directors on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot. Any Director appointed pursuant to Bye-law 863(2) shall not be taken into account in determining which particular Directors or the number of Directors who are to retire by rotation.
885.
No person other than a Director retiring at the meeting shall, unless recommended by the Directors for election, be eligible for election as a Director at any general meeting unless a Notice signed by a Member (other than the person to be proposed) duly qualified to attend and vote at the meeting for which such notice is given of his intention to propose such person for election and also a Notice signed by the person to be proposed of his willingness to be elected shall have been lodged at the head office or at the Registration Office provided that the minimum length of the period, during which such Notice(s) are given, shall be at least seven (7) days and that (if the Notices are submitted after the dispatch despatch of the notice of the general meeting appointed for such election) the period for lodgment of such Notice(s) shall commence on the day after the dispatch despatch of the notice of the general meeting appointed for such election and end no later than seven (7) days prior to the date of such general meeting.
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
896.
The office of a Director shall be vacated if the Director:
(1) resigns his office by notice in writing delivered to the Company at the Office or tendered at a meeting of the Board;
(2) becomes of unsound mind or dies;
(3) without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from meetings of the Board for six consecutive months, and his alternate Director, if any, shall not during such period have attended in his stead and the Board resolves that his office be vacated; or
(4) becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against him or suspends payment or compounds with his creditors;
(5) is prohibited by law from being a Director; or
(6) ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Statutes or is removed from office pursuant to these Bye-laws.
No Director shall be required to vacate office or be ineligible for re-election or re-appointment as a Director, and no person shall be ineligible for appointment as a Director, by reason only of his having attained any particular age.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
9087.
The Board may from time to time appoint any one or more of its body to be a 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. Any such revocation or termination as aforesaid shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages that such Director may have against the Company or the Company may have against such Director. A Director appointed to an office under this Bye-law shall be subject to the same provisions as to removal as the other Directors of the Company, and he shall (subject to the provisions of any contract between him and the Company) ipso facto and immediately cease to hold such office if he shall cease to hold the office of Director for any cause.
9188.
Notwithstanding Bye-laws 93, 94, 95 and 96, 97, 98 and 99, an executive director appointed to an office under Bye-law 9087 hereof shall receive such remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, 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 determine, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration as a Director.
ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
892.
Any Director may at any time by Notice delivered to the Office or head office or at a meeting of the Directors appoint any person (including another Director) to be his alternate Director. Any person so appointed shall have all the rights and powers of the Director or Directors for whom such person is appointed in the alternative provided that such person shall not be counted more than once in determining whether or not a quorum is present. An alternate Director may be removed at any time by the person or body which appointed him and, subject thereto, the office of alternate Director shall continue until the next annual election of Directors or, if earlier, the date on which the relevant Director happening of any event which, if he were a Director, would cause him to vacate such office or if his appointer ceases for any reason to be a Director. Any appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be effected by Notice signed by the appointor and delivered to the Office or head office or tendered at a meeting of the Board. An alternate Director may also be a Director in his own right and may act as alternate to more than one Director. An alternate Director shall, if his appointor so requests, be entitled to receive notices of meetings of the Board or of committees of the Board to the same extent as, but in lieu of, the Director appointing him and shall be entitled to such extent to attend and vote as a Director at any such meeting at which the Director appointing him is not personally present and generally at such meeting to exercise and discharge all the functions, powers and duties of his appointor as a Director and for the purposes of the proceedings at such meeting the provisions of these Bye-laws shall apply as if he were a Director save that as an alternate for more than one Director his voting rights shall be cumulative.
930.
An alternate Director shall only be a Director for the purposes of the Act and shall only be subject to the provisions of the Act insofar as they relate to the duties and obligations of a Director when performing the functions of the Director for whom he is appointed in the alternative and shall alone be responsible to the Company for his acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of or for the Director appointing him. An alternate Director shall be entitled to contract and be interested in and benefit from contracts or arrangements or transactions and to be repaid expenses and to be indemnified by the Company to the same extent mutatis mutandis as if he were a Director but he shall not be entitled to receive from the Company any fee in his capacity as an alternate Director except only such part, if any, of the remuneration otherwise payable to his appointor as such appointor may by Notice to the Company from time to time direct.
941.
Every person acting as an alternate Director shall have one vote for each Director for whom he acts as alternate (in addition to his own vote if he is also a Director). If his appointor is for the time being absent from Hong Kong or otherwise not available or unable to act, the signature of an alternate Director to any resolution in writing of the Board or a committee of the Board of which his appointor is a member shall, unless the notice of his appointment provides to the contrary, be as effective as the signature of his appointor.
952.
An alternate Director shall ipso facto cease to be an alternate Director if his appointor ceases for any reason to be a Director, however, such alternate Director or any other person may be re-appointed by the Directors to serve as an alternate Director PROVIDED always that, if at any meeting any Director retires but is re-elected at the same meeting, any appointment of such alternate Director pursuant to these Bye-laws which was in force immediately before his retirement shall remain in force as though he had not retired.
DIRECTORS' FEES AND EXPENSES
963.
The ordinary remuneration of the Directors shall from time to time be determined by the Company in general meeting and shall (unless otherwise directed by the resolution by which it is voted) be divided amongst the Board in such proportions and in such manner as the Board may agree or, failing agreement, equally, except that any Director who shall hold office for part only of the period in respect of which such remuneration is payable shall be entitled only to rank in such division for a proportion of remuneration related to the period during which he has held office. Such remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day.
974.
Each Director shall be entitled to be repaid or prepaid all travelling, hotel and incidental expenses reasonably incurred or expected to be incurred by him in attending meetings of the Board or committees of the Board 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 his duties as a Director.
985.
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.
996.
The Board shall obtain the approval of the Company in general meeting before making any payment to any Director or past Director of the Company by way of compensation for loss of office, or as consideration for or in connection with his retirement from office (not being payment to which the Director is contractually entitled).
DIRECTORS' INTERESTS
- A Director may:
(a) hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of Auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and, subject to the relevant provisions of the Act, upon such terms as the Board may determine. Any remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) paid to any Director in respect of any such other office or place of profit shall be in addition to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Bye-law;
(b) act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company (otherwise than as Auditor) and he or his firm may be remunerated for professional services as if he were not a Director;
(c) continue to be or become a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of any other company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a vendor, shareholder or otherwise and (unless otherwise agreed) no such Director shall be accountable for any remuneration, profits or other benefits received by him as a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of or from his interests in any such other company. Subject as otherwise provided by these Bye-laws the Directors may exercise or cause to be exercised the voting powers conferred by the shares in any other company held or owned by the Company, or exercisable by them as directors of such other company in such manner in all respects as they think fit (including the exercise thereof in favour of any resolution appointing themselves or any of them directors, managing directors, joint managing directors, deputy managing directors, executive directors, managers or other officers of such company) or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration to the director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officers of such other company and any Director may vote in favour of the exercise of such voting rights in manner aforesaid notwithstanding that he may be, or about to be, appointed a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer of such a company, and that as such he is or may become interested in the exercise of such voting rights in manner aforesaid.
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10198.
Subject to the Act and to these 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 whatever 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 of the fiduciary relationship thereby established provided that such Director shall disclose the nature of his interest in any contract or arrangement in which he is interested in accordance with Bye-law 10299 herein.
10299.
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 considered, 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. For the purposes of this Bye-law, a general Notice to the Board by a Director to the effect that:
(a) he is a member or officer of a specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of the Notice be made with that company or firm; or
(b) he is to be regarded as interested in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of the Notice be made with a specified person who is connected with him;
shall be deemed to be a sufficient declaration of interest under this Bye-law in relation to any such contract or arrangement, provided that no such Notice shall be effective unless either it is given at a meeting of the Board or the Director takes reasonable steps to secure that it is brought up and read at the next Board meeting after it is given.
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103100.
(1) A Director shall not vote (nor be counted in the quorum) on any resolution of the Board approving any contract or arrangement or any other proposal in which he or any of his close associates is materially interested, but this prohibition shall not apply to any of the following matters namely:
(i) the giving of any security or indemnity either:-
(a)(i) any contract or arrangement for the giving to such to the Director or his close associate(s) any 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 them at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or
(b)(ii) any contract or arrangement for the giving of any 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 close associate(s) has himself/ themselves assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
(iii) any contract or arrangement proposal concerning an offer of shares or debentures or other securities of or by the Company or any other company which the Company may promote or be interested in for subscription or purchase; where the Director or his close associate(s) is/are or is/are to be interested as a participant in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of the offer;
(iv)(ii) any contract proposal 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 concerning the benefit of employees of the Company or its subsidiaries including:
(a) the adoption, modification or operation of any employees' share scheme or any share incentive or share option scheme under which the Director or his close associate(s) may benefit; or
(v) 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 executive or a shareholder or in which the Director and any of his associates are not in aggregate beneficially interested in five (5) per cent 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
(b)(vi) 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 the dDirectors, his close associates(s) and employees(s) of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries and does not provide in respect of any Director, or his close associate(s), as such any privilege or advantage not accorded generally accorded to the class of persons to which such scheme or fund relates; and
(2) A company shall be deemed to be a company in which a Director and/or his associate(s) owns five (5) per cent. or more if and so long as (but only if and so long as) he and/or his associates, (either directly or indirectly) are the holders of or beneficially interested in five (5) per cent. or more of any class of the equity share capital of such company or of the voting rights available to members of such company (or of any third company through which his interest or that of any of his associates is derived). For the purpose of this paragraph there shall be disregarded any shares held by a Director or his associate(s) as bare or custodian trustee and in which he or any of them has no beneficial interest, any shares comprised in a trust in which the interest of the Director or his associate(s) is/are in reversion or remainder if and so long as some other person is entitled to receive the income thereof, and any shares comprised in an authorised unit trust scheme in which the Director or his associate(s) is/are interested only as a unit holder.
(iv) any contract or arrangement in which the Director or his close associate(s) is/are interested in the same manner as other holders of shares or debentures or other securities of the Company by virtue of his/their interest in shares or debentures or other securities of the Company.
(3) Where a company in which a Director and/or his associate(s) holds five (5) per cent. or more is materially interested in a transaction, then that Director and/or his associate(s) shall also be deemed materially interested in such transaction.
(42) If any question shall arise at any meeting of the Board as to the materiality of the interest of a Director (other than the chairman of the meeting) or as to the entitlement of any Director (other than such chairman) to vote and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting, such question shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and his ruling in relation to such other Director shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of the Director concerned as known to such Director has not been fairly disclosed to the Board. If any question as aforesaid shall arise in respect of the chairman of the meeting such question shall be decided by a resolution of the Board (for which purpose such chairman shall not vote thereon) and such resolution shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of such chairman as known to such chairman has not been fairly disclosed to the Board.
GENERAL POWERS OF THE DIRECTORS
1041.
(1) The business of the Company shall be managed and conducted by the Board, which may pay all expenses incurred in forming and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the Company (whether relating to the management of the business of the Company or otherwise) which are not by the Statutes or by these Bye-laws required to be exercised by the Company in general meeting, subject nevertheless to the provisions of the Statutes and of these Bye-laws and to such regulations being not inconsistent with such provisions, as may be prescribed by the Company in general meeting, but no regulations made by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if such regulations had not been made. The general powers given by this Bye-law shall not be limited or restricted by any special authority or power given to the Board by any other Bye-law.
...
1052.
The Board may establish any regional or local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company in any place, and may appoint any persons to be members of such local boards, or any managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration (either by way of salary or by commission or by conferring the right to participation in the profits of the Company or by a combination of two or more of these modes) and pay the working expenses of any staff employed by them upon the business of the Company. The Board may delegate to any regional or local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in or exercisable by the Board (other than its powers to make calls and forfeit shares), with power to sub-delegate, and may authorise the members of any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies. Any such appointment or delegation may be made upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board may think fit, and the Board may remove any person appointed as aforesaid, and may revoke or vary such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby.
1063.
The Board may by power of attorney appoint under the Seal any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, 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 Board under these Bye-laws) and for such period and subject to such conditions as it 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 Board may think fit, and may also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. Such attorney or attorneys may, if so authorised under the Seal of the Company, execute any deed or instrument under their personal seal with the same effect as the affixation of the Seal.
1074.
The Board may entrust to and confer upon a managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, an executive director or any Director any of the powers exercisable by it 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, and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of such powers but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby.
1085.
All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other instruments, whether negotiable or transferable or not, and all receipts for moneys paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the Board shall from time to time by resolution determine. The Company's banking accounts shall be kept with such banker or bankers as the Board shall from time to time determine.
1096.
(1) 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 moneys 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 under the Company or any of its subsidiary companies) and ex-employees of the Company and their dependants or any class or classes of such person.
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BORROWING POWERS
1107.
The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow money and 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 Act, to issue debentures, bonds and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
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Debentures, bonds and other securities may be made assignable free from any equities between the Company and the person to whom the same may be issued.
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Any debentures, bonds or other securities may be issued at a discount (other than shares), premium or otherwise and with any special privileges as to redemption, surrender, drawings, allotment of shares, attending and voting at general meetings of the Company, appointment of Directors and otherwise.
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(1) Where any uncalled capital of the Company is charged, all persons taking any subsequent charge thereon shall take the same subject to such prior charge, and shall not be entitled, by notice to the Members or otherwise, to obtain priority over such prior charge.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE DIRECTORS
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The Board may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn or postpone and otherwise regulate its meetings as it considers appropriate. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes. In the case of any equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have an additional or casting vote.
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A meeting of the Board may be convened by the Secretary on request of a Director or by any Director. The Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Board of which notice may be given in writing whenever he shall be required so to do by any Director. Notice of a meeting of the Board shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is given to such Director in writing or verbally (including in person or by telephone) or by electronic means to an electronic address from time to time notified to the Company by such Director or (if the recipient consents to it being made available on a website) by making it available on a website or by telephone or in such other manner as the Board may from time to time determine whenever he shall be required so to do by the president or chairman, as the case may be, or any Director.
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(1) 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 (2). An alternate Director shall be counted in a quorum in the case of the absence of a Director for whom he is the alternate provided that he shall not be counted more than once for the purpose of determining whether or not a quorum is present.
| Bye-law No. | Proposed Amendments (showing changes to Existing Bye-Laws) |
|---|---|
| 1174. | The continuing Directors or a sole continuing Director may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the Board but, if and so long as the number of Directors is reduced below the minimum number fixed by or in accordance with these Bye-laws, the continuing Directors or Director, notwithstanding that the number of Directors is below the number fixed by or in accordance with these Bye-laws as the quorum or that there is only one continuing Director, may act for the purpose of filling vacancies in the Board or of summoning general meetings of the Company but not for any other purpose. |
| 1185. | The Board may elect none or more chairman and one or more deputy chairman of its meetings and determine the period for which they are respectively to hold such office. If no chairman or deputy chairman is elected, or if at any meeting neither-therno chairman nor any-deputy chairman is present within five (5) minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
| 1196. | 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. |
| 12017. | (1) The Board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions to committees, consisting of such Director or Directors and other persons as it thinks fit, and they 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. Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and discretions so delegated, conform to any regulations which may be imposed on it by the Board. |
| ... | |
| 1218. | The meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed by the provisions contained in these Bye-laws for regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Board so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by any regulations imposed by the Board under the last preceding Bye-law. |
12219.
Unless required otherwise by the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, a resolution in writing signed by all the Directors except such as are temporarily unable to act through ill-health or disability, and all the alternate Directors, if appropriate, whose appointors are temporarily unable to act as aforesaid shall be as valid and effectual as if a resolution had been passed at a meeting of the Board duly convened and held provided that such number is sufficient to constitute a quorum and that a copy of such resolution has been given or the contents thereof communicated to all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notices of Board meetings in the same manner as notices of meetings are required to be given by these Bye-laws and further provided that no Director is aware of or has received any objection to the resolution from any Director. A notification of consent to such resolution given by a Director in writing to the Board by any means (including by means of electronic communication) shall be deemed to be his/her signature to such resolution in writing for the purpose of this Bye-law. Such resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in like form each signed by one or more of the Directors or alternate Directors and for this purpose a facsimile signature of a Director or an alternate Director shall be treated as valid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a resolution in writing shall not be passed in lieu of a meeting of the Board for the purposes of considering any matter or business in which a substantial shareholder of the Company or a Director has a conflict of interest and the Board has determined that such conflict of interest to be material.
1230.
All acts bona fide done by the Board or by any committee or by any person acting as a Director or members 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 such committee or person acting as aforesaid or that they or any of them were disqualified or had vacated office, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified and had continued to be a Director or member of such committee.
MANAGERS
1241.
The Board may from time to time appoint a general manager, a manager or managers of the Company and may fix his or their remuneration either by way of salary or commission or by conferring the right to participation in the profits of the Company or by a combination of two or more of these modes and pay the working expenses of any of the staff of the general manager, manager or managers who may be employed by him or them upon the business of the Company.
1252.
The appointment of such general manager, manager or managers may be for such period as the Board may decide, and the Board may confer upon him or them all or any of the powers of the Board as it may think fit.
1263.
The Board may enter into such agreement or agreements with any such general manager, manager or managers upon such terms and conditions in all respects as the Board may in their absolute discretion think fit, including a power for such general manager, manager or managers to appoint an assistant manager or managers or other employees whatsoever under them for the purpose of carrying on the business of the Company.
OFFICERS
1274.
(1) The officers of the Company shall consist of a president and vice-president or chairman and deputy chairman, the Directors and Secretary and such additional officers (who may or may not be Directors) as the Board may from time to time determine, all of whom shall be deemed to be officers for the purposes of the Act and, subject to Bye-law 128(4), these Bye-laws.
(2) The Directors shall, as soon as may be after each appointment or election of Directors, elect amongst the Directors a president and a vice-president or a chairman and a deputy chairman; and if more than one (1) Director is proposed for either of these offices, the election to such office shall take place in such manner as the Directors may determine.
(32) The officers shall receive such remuneration as the Directors may from time to time determine.
(43) Where the Company appoints and maintains a resident representative ordinarily resident in Bermuda in accordance with the Act, the resident representative shall comply with the provisions of the Act.
(4) The Company shall provide the resident representative with such documents and information as the resident representative may require in order to be able to comply with the provisions of the Act.
(5) The resident representative shall be entitled to have notice of, attend and be heard at all meetings of the Directors or of any committee of such Directors or general meetings of the Company.
1285.
(1) The Secretary and additional officers, if any, shall be appointed by the Board and shall hold office on such terms and for such period as the Board may determine. If thought fit, two (2) or more persons may be appointed as joint Secretaries. The Board may also appoint from time to time on such terms as it thinks fit one or more assistant or deputy Secretaries.
(2) The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Members and shall keep correct minutes of such meetings and enter the same in the proper books provided for the purpose. He shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the Act or these Bye-laws or as may be prescribed by the Board.
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Subject to these Bye-laws, the president or the chairman, as the case may be, shall act as chairman at all meetings of the Members and of the Directors at which he is present.
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The officers of the Company shall have such powers and perform such duties in the management, business and affairs of the Company as may be delegated to them by the Directors from time to time.
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A provision of the Act or of these Bye-laws requiring or authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the same person acting both as Director and as or in place of the Secretary.
REGISTER OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
- (1) The Board shall cause to be kept in one or more books at the Office a Register of Directors and Officers and shall enter therein the following particulars with respect to each Director and Officer, that is to say:
(a) in the case of an individual, his or her present first name, surname and address; and
(b) in the case of a company, its name and registered office.
(2) The Board shall within a period of fourteen (14) days from the occurrence of:
(a) any change among the Directors and Officers; or
(b) any change in the particulars contained in the Register of Directors and Officers,
cause to be entered on the Register of Directors and Officers the particulars of such change and of the date on which it occurred.
MINUTES
- (1) The Board shall cause Minutes to be duly entered in books provided for the purpose:
(a) of all elections and appointments of officers;
(b) of the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors;
(c) of all resolutions and proceedings of each general meeting of the Members and meetings of the Board.
SEAL
1340.
(1) The Company shall have one or more Seals, as the Board may determine. For the purpose of sealing documents creating or evidencing securities issued by the Company, the Company may have a securities seal which is a facsimile of the Seal with the addition of the words "Securities Seal" on its face or in such other form as the Board may approve. The Board shall provide for the custody of each Seal and no Seal shall be used without the authority of the Board or of a committee of the Board authorised by the Board in that behalf. Subject as otherwise provided in these Bye-laws, any instrument to which a Seal is affixed shall be signed autographically by one Director and the Secretary or by two Directors or by such other person (including a Director) or persons as the Board may appoint, either generally or in any particular case, save that as regards any certificates for shares or debentures or other securities of the Company the Board may by resolution determine that such signatures or either of them shall be dispensed with or affixed by some method or system of mechanical signature. Every instrument executed in the manner provided by this Bye-law shall be deemed to be sealed and executed with the authority of the Board previously given.
AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS
1351.
Any Director or the Secretary or any person appointed by the Board for the purpose may authenticate any documents affecting the constitution of the Company and any resolution passed by the Company or the Board or any committee, and any books, records, documents and accounts relating to the business of the Company, and to certify copies thereof or extracts therefrom as true copies or extracts, and if any books, records, documents or accounts are elsewhere than at the Office or the head office the local manager or other officer of the Company having the custody thereof shall be deemed to be a person so appointed by the Board. A document purporting to be a copy of a resolution, or an extract from the minutes of a meeting, of the Company or of the Board or any committee which is so certified shall be conclusive evidence in favour of all persons dealing with the Company upon the faith thereof that such resolution has been duly passed or, as the case may be, that such minutes or extract is a true and accurate record of proceedings at a duly constituted meeting.
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DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
1362.
(1) The Company shall be entitled to destroy the following documents at the following times:
(a) any share certificate which has been cancelled at any time after the expiry of one (1) year from the date of such cancellation;
(b) any dividend mandate or any variation or cancellation thereof or any notification of change of name or address at any time after the expiry of two (2) years from the date such mandate variation cancellation or notification was recorded by the Company;
(c) any instrument of transfer of shares which has been registered at any time after the expiry of seven (7) years from the date of registration;
(d) any allotment letters after the expiry of seven (7) years from the date of issue thereof; and
(e) copies of powers of attorney, grants of probate and letters of administration at any time after the expiry of seven (7) years after the account to which the relevant power of attorney, grant of probate or letters of administration related has been closed;
and it shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the Register purporting to be made on the basis of any such documents so destroyed was duly and properly made and every share certificate so destroyed was a valid certificate duly and properly cancelled and that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered 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: (1) the foregoing provisions of this Bye-law shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without express notice to the Company that the preservation of such document was relevant to a claim; (2) nothing contained in this Bye-law shall be construed as imposing upon the Company any liability in respect of the destruction of any such document earlier than as aforesaid or in any case where the conditions of proviso (1) above are not fulfilled; and (3) references in this Bye-law to the destruction of any document include references to its disposal in any manner.
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS
-
Subject to the Act, the Company in general meeting may from time to time 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 the Members out of any contributed surplus (as ascertained in accordance with the 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 accounts.
-
Except in so far as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide:
(a) all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares 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 Bye-law as paid up on the share; and
(b) all dividends shall be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid up on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid.
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The Board may from time to time pay to the Members such interim dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the profits of the Company and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes, the Board may pay such interim dividends in respect of those shares in the capital of the Company which confer on the holders thereof deferred or non-preferential rights as well as in respect of those shares which confer on the holders thereof preferential rights with regard to dividend and provided that the Board acts bona fide the Board shall not incur any responsibility to the holders of shares conferring any preference for any damage that they may suffer by reason of the payment of an interim dividend on any shares having deferred or non-preferential rights and may also pay any fixed dividend which is payable on any shares of the Company half-yearly or on any other dates, whenever such profits, in the opinion of the Board, justifies such payment.
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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.
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No dividend or other moneys payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear interest against the Company.
1439.
Any dividend, interest or other sum payable in cash to the holder of shares may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post addressed to the holder at his registered address or, in the case of joint holders, addressed to the holder whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the shares at his address as appearing in the Register or addressed to such person and at such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first on the Register in respect of such shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company notwithstanding that it may subsequently appear that the same has been stolen or that any endorsement thereon has been forged. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of the shares held by such joint holders. For the avoidance of doubt, any dividend, interest, or other sum payable in cash may also be paid by electronic funds transfer on such terms and conditions as the Directors may determine, to the extent permitted by the Statutes, applicable laws, rules and regulations.
1440.
All dividends or bonuses other sums payable on or in respect of a share unclaimed for one (1) year after having been declared may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board for the benefit of the Company until claimed. Any dividend or bonuses other sums payable unclaimed after a period of six (6) years from the date of declaration shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. The payment by the Board of any unclaimed dividend or other sums payable on or in respect of a share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof.
1451.
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 and in particular of paid up shares, debentures or warrants to subscribe securities of the Company or any other company, or in any one or more of such ways, and where any difficulty arises in regard to the distribution the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient, and in particular may issue certificates in respect of fractions of shares, disregard fractional entitlements or round the same up or down, and may fix the value for distribution of such specific assets, or any part thereof, and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all parties, and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board and may appoint any person to sign any requisite instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of the persons entitled to the dividend, and such appointment shall be effective and binding on the Members. The Board may resolve that no such assets shall be made available to Members with registered addresses in any particular territory or territories where, in the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities, such distribution of assets would or might, in the opinion of the Board, be unlawful or impracticable and in such event the only entitlement of the Members aforesaid shall be to receive cash payments as aforesaid. 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.
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1462.
(1) Whenever the Board or the Company in general meeting has resolved that a dividend be paid or declared on any class of 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 if the Board so determines) in cash in lieu of such allotment. In such case, the following provisions shall apply:
(i) the basis of any such allotment shall be determined by the Board;
(ii) the Board, after determining the basis of allotment, shall give not less than two (2) weeks’ Notice to the holders of the relevant shares of the right of election accorded to them and shall send with such notice forms of election and specify the procedure to be followed and the place at which and the latest date and time by which duly completed forms of election must be lodged in order to be effective;
(iii) the right of election may be exercised in respect of the whole or part of that portion of the dividend in respect of which the right of election has been accorded; and
(iv) the dividend (or that part of the dividend to be satisfied by the allotment of shares as aforesaid) shall not be payable in cash on shares in respect whereof the cash election has not been duly exercised (“the non-elected shares”) and in satisfaction thereof shares of the relevant class shall be allotted credited as fully paid up to the holders of the non-elected shares on the basis of allotment determined as aforesaid and for such purpose the Board shall capitalise and apply out of any part of the undivided profits of the Company (including profits carried and standing to the credit of any reserves or other special account other than the Subscription Rights Reserve (as defined below)) as the Board may determine, such sum as may be required to pay up in full the appropriate number of shares of the relevant class for allotment and distribution to and amongst the holders of the non-elected shares on such basis; or
(b) that the shareholders entitled to such dividend shall 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. In such case, the following provisions shall apply:
(i) the basis of any such allotment shall be determined by the Board;
(ii) the Board, after determining the basis of allotment, shall give not less than two (2) weeks’ Notice to the holders of the relevant shares of the right of election accorded to them and shall send with such notice forms of election and specify the procedure to be followed and the place at which and the latest date and time by which duly completed forms of election must be lodged in order to be effective;
(iii) the right of election may be exercised in respect of the whole or part of that portion of the dividend in respect of which the right of election has been accorded; and
(iv) the dividend (or that part of the dividend in respect of which a right of election has been accorded) shall not be payable in cash on shares in respect whereof the share election has been duly exercised (“the elected shares”) and in lieu thereof shares of the relevant class shall be allotted credited as fully paid up to the holders of the elected shares on the basis of allotment determined as aforesaid and for such purpose the Board shall capitalise and apply out of any part of the undivided profits of the Company (including profits carried and standing to the credit of any reserves or other special account other than the Subscription Rights Reserve (as defined below)) as the Board may determine, such sum as may be required to pay up in full the appropriate number of shares of the relevant class for allotment and distribution to and amongst the holders of the elected shares on such basis.
(c) For the purposes of paragraph (1) of this Bye-law, the Company may, at its absolute discretion and subject to compliance with the Listing Rules, provide an electronic address or electronic platform for the receipt of any such forms of election relating to the dividend, subject as hereafter provided and subject to any other limitations or conditions specified by the Company when providing the electronic address or electronic platform. Without limitation, the Company may from time to time determine that any such electronic address or electronic platform may be used generally for such matters or specifically for particular distribution and, if so, the Company may provide different electronic addresses or electronic platforms for different distribution. The Company may also impose any conditions on the transmission of and its receipt of such electronic communications including, for the avoidance of doubt, imposing any verification, security or encryption arrangements as may be specified by the Company (including any arrangements for the purpose of verifying the authenticity of instructions or that enables identity authentication). If any such form of election required to be sent to the Company under paragraph (1) of this Bye-law is sent to the Company by electronic means, such form of election is not treated as validly delivered to the Company if the same is not received by the Company at its designated electronic address or designated electronic platform (as the case may be) provided in accordance with this Bye-law.
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(2) (a) The shares allotted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Bye-law shall rank pari passu in all respects with shares of the same class (if any) then in issue save only as regards participation in the relevant dividend or in any other distributions, bonuses or rights paid, made, declared or announced prior to or contemporaneously with the payment or declaration of the relevant dividend unless, contemporaneously with the announcement by the Board of their proposal to apply the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (21) of this Bye-law in relation to the relevant dividend or contemporaneously with their announcement of the distribution, bonus or rights in question, the Board shall specify that the shares to be allotted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Bye-law shall rank for participation in such distribution, bonus or rights.
(b) The Board may do all acts and things considered necessary or expedient to give effect to any capitalisation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Bye-law, with full power to the Board to make such provisions as it thinks fit in the case of shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby, in whole or in part, fractional entitlements are aggregated and sold and the net proceeds distributed to those entitled, or are disregarded or rounded up or down or whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrues to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Board may authorise any person to enter into on behalf of all Members interested, an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made pursuant to such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned.
RESERVES
1473.
Before recommending any dividend, the Board may set aside out of the profits of the Company such sums as it determines as reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the Company may be properly applied and pending such application may, also at such discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Board may from time to time think fit and so that it shall not be necessary to keep any investments constituting the reserve or reserves separate or distinct from any other investments of the Company. The Board may also without placing the same to reserve carry forward any profits which it may think prudent not to distribute.
CAPITALISATION
1484.
(1) 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 or fund (including the profit and loss account) whether or not the same is available for distribution and accordingly that such amount be set free for distribution among the Members or any class of Members who would be entitled thereto if it were distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions, on the footing that the same is not paid in cash but is applied either in or towards paying up the amounts for the time being unpaid on any shares in the Company held by such 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 such Members, or partly in one way and partly in the other, and the Board shall give effect to such resolution provided that, for the purposes of this Bye-law and subject to Section 40(2A) of the Act, a share premium account and any reserve or fund representing unrealised profits, may be applied only in paying up in full unissued shares of the Company to be allotted to such Members credited as fully paid. In carrying sums to reserve and in applying the same the Board shall comply with the provisions of the Act.
(2) Notwithstanding any provisions in these Bye-laws, the Board may resolve to capitalise all or any part of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including the profit and loss account) whether or not the same is available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up unissued shares to be allotted to (i) employees (including directors) of the Company and/or its affiliates (meaning any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated association or other entity (other than the Company) that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company) upon exercise or vesting of any options or awards granted under any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Members at a general meeting, or (ii) any trustee of any trust to whom shares are to be allotted and issued by the Company in connection with the operation of any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Members at a general meeting.
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1495.
The Board may settle, as it considers appropriate, any difficulty arising in regard to any distribution under the last preceding Bye-law and in particular may issue certificates in respect of fractions of shares or 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. The Board may appoint any person to sign on behalf of the persons entitled to participate in the distribution any contract necessary or desirable for giving effect thereto and such appointment shall be effective and binding upon the Members.
SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS RESERVE
15046.
The following provisions shall have effect to the extent that they are not prohibited by and are in compliance with the Act:
(1) If, so long as any of the rights attached to any warrants issued by the Company to subscribe for shares of the Company shall remain exercisable, the Company does any act or engages in any transaction which, as a result of any adjustments to the subscription price in accordance with the provisions of the conditions of the warrants, would reduce the subscription price to below the nominal value of a share, then the following provisions shall apply:
ACCOUNTING RECORDS
15447.
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 Act or necessary to give a true and fair view of the Company's affairs and to explain its transactions.
15248.
The accounting records shall be kept at the Office or, subject to the Act, at such other place or places as the Board decides and shall always be open to inspection by the Directors. 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.
15349.
Subject to Section 88 of the Act and Bye-law 1540, 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 at the same time as the notice of annual general meeting and laid before the Company in at the annual general meeting in accordance with the requirements of the Act provided that this Bye-law shall not require a copy of those documents to be sent to any person whose address the Company is not aware of or to more than one of the joint holders of any shares or debentures.
1540.
To the extent permitted by and subject to due compliance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Listing Rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, and to obtaining all necessary consents, if any, required thereunder, the requirements of Bye-law 15349 shall be deemed satisfied in relation to any person by sending to the person in any manner not prohibited by the Statutes, a summary summarised financial statements derived from the Company's annual accounts and the directors' report which shall be in the form and containing the information required by applicable laws and regulations, provided that any person who is otherwise entitled to the annual financial statements of the Company and the directors' report thereon may, if he so requires by notice in writing served on the Company, demand that the Company sends to him, in addition to a summary summarised financial statements, a complete printed copy of the Company's annual financial statement and the directors' report thereon.
1551.
The requirement to send to a person referred to in Bye-law 15349 the documents referred to in that provision or a summary financial report in accordance with Bye-law 1540 shall be deemed satisfied where, in accordance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Listing Rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company publishes copies of the documents referred to in Bye-law 15349 and, if applicable, a summary financial report complying with Bye-law 1540, in any manner permitted by these Bye-laws, including on the Company's computer network website or in any other permitted manner (including by sending any form of electronic communication), and that person has agreed or is deemed to have agreed to treat the publication or receipt of such documents in such manner as discharging the Company's obligation to send to him a copy of such documents subject to compliance with the Listing Rules, the Statutes and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations from time to time in force.
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AUDIT
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(1) Subject to Section 88 of the Act, at the annual general meeting or at a subsequent special general meeting in each year, the Members shall by ordinary resolution 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.
-
Subject to Section 88 of the Act the accounts of the Company shall be audited at least once in every year.
-
The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Company by ordinary resolution in general meeting or in such manner as the Members may determine (including delegating the fixing of such remuneration to the Board).
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The Directors may fill any casual vacancy in the office of Auditor but while any such vacancy continues the surviving or continuing Auditor or Auditors, if any, may act. The remuneration of any Auditor appointed by the Directors under this Bye-law may be fixed by the Board. Subject to Bye-law 1562(3), an Auditor appointed under this Bye-law shall hold office until the next following annual general meeting of the Company and shall then be subject to appointment by the Members under Bye-law 1562(1) at such remuneration to be determined by the Members under Bye-law 158154.
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The Auditor shall at all reasonable times have access to all books kept by the Company and to all accounts and vouchers relating thereto; and he may call on the Directors or officers of the Company for any information in their possession relating to the books or affairs of the Company.
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The statement of income and expenditure and the balance sheet provided for by these Bye-laws shall be examined by the Auditor and compared by him with the books, accounts and vouchers relating thereto; and he shall make a written report thereon stating whether such statement and balance sheet are drawn up so as to present fairly the financial position of the Company and the results of its operations for the period under review and, in case information shall have been called for from Directors or officers of the Company, whether the same has been furnished and has been satisfactory. 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 or jurisdiction.
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NOTICES
16258.
(1) Any Notice or document (including any “corporate communication” and “actionable corporate communication” within the meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules of the Designated Stock Exchange), whether or not, to be given or issued under these Bye-laws from by the Company to a Member shall be in writing or by cable, telex or facsimile transmission message or other form of electronic transmission or electronic communication and, subject to compliance with the Listing Rules, any such Notice and document may be served or delivered by the Company on or to any Member either personally or given or issued by the following means:
(a) by serving it personally on the relevant person;
(b) by sending it through the post in a prepaid envelope addressed to such Member at his registered address as appearing in the Register or at any other address supplied by him to the Company for the purpose or, as the case may be, by transmitting it to any such address or transmitting it to any telex or facsimile transmission number or electronic number or address or website supplied;
(c) by delivering or leaving it at such address as aforesaid;
(d) by him to the Company for the giving of Notice to him or which the person transmitting the notice reasonably and bona fide believes at the relevant time will result in the Notice being duly received by the Member or may also be served by placing an advertisement in appointed newspapers or other publication and where applicable, (as defined in the Act) or in newspapers published daily and circulating generally in the territory of and in accordance with the requirements of the Designated Stock Exchange or, to the extent permitted by the applicable laws, by placing it on the Company’s website or the website of the Designated Stock Exchange, and giving to the member a notice stating that the notice or other document is available there (a “notice of availability”). The notice of availability may be given to the Member by any of the means set out above;
(e) by sending or transmitting it as an electronic communication to the relevant person at such electronic address as he may provide under Bye-law 158(3) without the need for any additional consent or notification;
(f) by publishing it on the Company’s website or the website of the Designated Stock Exchange without the need for any additional consent or notification;
(g) by sending or otherwise making it available to such person through such other means to the extent permitted by and in accordance with the Statutes and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.
(2) In the case of joint holders of a share all notices shall be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register and notice so given shall be deemed a sufficient service on or delivery to all the joint holders.
(3) Every Member or a person who is entitled to receive notice from the Company under the provisions of the Statutes or these Bye-laws may register with the Company an electronic address to which Notices can be served upon him.
(4) Subject to any applicable laws, rules and regulations and the terms of these Bye-laws, any notice, document or publication, including but not limited to the documents referred to in Bye-laws 149, 150 and 158 may be given in the English language only or in both the English language and the Chinese language or, with the consent of or election by any Member, in the Chinese language only to such Member.
16359.
Any Notice or other document:
(a) if served or delivered by post, shall where appropriate be sent by airmail and shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day following that on which the envelope containing the same, properly prepaid and addressed, is put into the post; in proving such service or delivery it shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope or wrapper containing the notice or document was properly addressed and put into the post and a certificate in writing signed by the Secretary or other officer of the Company or other person appointed by the Board that the envelope or wrapper containing the Notice or other document was so addressed and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence thereof;
(b) if sent by electronic communication, shall be deemed to behave been given on the day on which it is transmitted from the server of the Company or its agent. A notice;
(c) if placed or published on either the Company's website or the website of the Designated Stock Exchange, is deemed given by the Company to a Member on the day following that on which a notice of availability is deemed served on the Member; shall be deemed to have been given or served on the day on which the notice, document or publication first so appears on the relevant website, unless the Listing Rules specify a different date. In such cases, the deemed date of service shall be as provided or required by the Listing Rules;
(ed) if served or delivered in any other manner contemplated by these Bye-laws, shall be deemed to have been served or delivered at the time of personal service or delivery or, as the case may be, at the time of the relevant despatch, transmission or publication; and in proving such service or delivery a certificate in writing signed by the Secretary or other officer of the Company or other person appointed by the Board as to the fact and time of such service, delivery, despatch, transmission or publication shall be conclusive evidence thereof; and
(d) may be given to a Member either in the English language or the Chinese language, subject to due compliance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations.
(e) if published as an advertisement in a newspaper or other publication permitted under these Bye-laws, shall be deemed to have been served on the day on which the advertisement first so appears.
1640.
(1) Any Notice or other document delivered or sent by post to or left at the registered address of any Member in pursuance of in any manner permitted by these Bye-laws shall, notwithstanding that such Member is then dead or bankrupt or that any other event has occurred, and whether or not the Company has notice of the death or bankruptcy or other event, be deemed to have been duly served or delivered in respect of any share registered in the name of such Member as sole or joint holder unless his name shall, at the time of the service or delivery of the Notice or document, have been removed from the Register as the holder of the share, and such service or delivery shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service or delivery of such Notice or document on or to all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the share.
(2) A Notice may be given by the Company to the person entitled to a share in consequence of the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy of a Member by sending it via electronic means or through the post in a prepaid letter, envelope or wrapper addressed to him by name, or by the title of representative of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description, at the electronic or postal address, if any, supplied for the purpose by the person claiming to be so entitled, or (until such an electronic or postal address has been so supplied) by giving the Notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy had not occurred.
(3) Any person who by operation of law, transfer or other means whatsoever shall become entitled to any share shall be bound by every Notice in respect of such share which prior to his name and address being entered on the Register shall have been duly given to the person from whom he derives his title to such share.
SIGNATURES
1651.
For the purposes of these Bye-laws, a cable-or-telex-or-facsimile or electronic transmission message purporting to come from a holder of shares or a duly appointed attorney or agent thereof, or, as the case may be, a Director or alternate Director, or, in the case of a corporation which is a holder of shares from a director or the secretary thereof or a duly appointed attorney or agent or duly authorised representative thereof for it and on its behalf, shall in the absence of express evidence to the contrary available to the person relying thereon at the relevant time be deemed to be a document or instrument in writing signed by such holder or Director or alternate Director in the terms in which it is received. The signature to any notice or document to be given by the Company may be written, printed or in electronic form.
WINDING UP
1662.
(1) Subject to Bye-laws 1662(2), the Board shall have power in the name and on behalf of the Company to present a petition to the court for the Company to be wound up.
1673.
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 Act, 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 properties of one kind or shall consist of properties to be divided as aforesaid 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 the Members as the liquidator with the like authority shall think fit, and the liquidation of the Company may be closed and the Company dissolved, but so that no contributory shall be compelled to accept any shares or other property in respect of which there is a liability.
INDEMNITY
1684.
(1) The Directors, Secretary and other officers and every Auditor for the time being of the Company at any time, whether at present or in the past, and the liquidator or trustees (if any) for the time being acting or who have acted in relation to any of the affairs of the Company and everyone of them, and everyone of their heirs, executors and administrators, shall be indemnified and secured harmless out of the assets and profits of the Company from and against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them, their or any of their heirs, executors or administrators, shall or may incur or sustain by or by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in or about the execution of their duty, or supposed duty, in their respective offices or trusts; and none of them shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of the other or others of them or for joining in any receipts for the sake of conformity, or for any bankers or other persons with whom any moneys or effects belonging to the Company shall or may be lodged or deposited for safe custody, or for insufficiency or deficiency of any security upon which any moneys of or belonging to the Company shall be placed out on or invested, or for any other loss, misfortune or damage which may happen in the execution of their respective offices or trusts, or in relation thereto; PROVIDED THAT this indemnity shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty which may attach to any of said persons.
ALTERATION OF BYE-LAWS AND AMENDMENT TO MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION AND NAME OF COMPANY
1695.
No Bye-law shall be rescinded, altered or amended and no new Bye-law shall be made until the same has been approved by a resolution of the Directors and confirmed by a special resolution of the Members. A special resolution shall be required to alter the provisions of the memorandum of association of the Company or to change the name of the Company.
INFORMATION
17066.
No Member shall be entitled to require discovery of or any information in respect of any detail of the Company's trading or any matter which is or may be in the nature of a trade secret or secret process which may relate to the conduct of the business of the Company and which in the opinion of the Directors it will be inexpedient in the interests of the Members to communicate to the public.
PAYMENT OF CORPORATE ACTION PROCEEDS AND ELECTRONIC INSTRUCTIONS
- To the extent permitted by applicable law and unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by the Listing Rules, the Company shall:
(a) accept instructions from Members and its securities holders (including but not limited to dividend election instructions, payment choice instructions, responses to "corporate communication" and "actionable corporate communications" within the meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules, and instructions regarding any meeting of the securities holders such as meeting attendance indications, proxy appointments, revocations, voting directions, and responses to corporate communications) transmitted by electronic means, in such manner and subject to reasonable authentication measures as the Board may from time to time determine;
(b) pay any "corporate action proceeds" (such term as defined under the Listing Rules, which for the time being include proceeds paid by the Company to Members and its securities holders in connection with its corporate actions, such as the distribution of dividends and other entitlements, refunds in respect of applications for, and/or (where applicable) excess applications in connection with, rights issues, open offers, and offers made to a specified group of such holders on a preferential basis; and payments in connection with takeovers and privatisations) by any electronic means, including through any payment system in Hong Kong operated by Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited for settling inter-bank payments on a real-time gross settlement basis, or by such other means as the Board considers appropriate; and
(c) accept payment from Members and its securities holders by any electronic means, including through any payment system in Hong Kong operated by Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited for settling inter-bank payments on a real-time gross settlement basis, or by such other means as the Board considers appropriate, if the Company makes an offer to Members and its securities holders to subscribe for any new securities.
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UNCERTIFICATED SECURITIES AND ELECTRONIC PROCESSES
168.
The Company shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Securities and Futures Ordinance, the USM Rules and any other subsidiary legislation of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, to facilitate the holding, transfer, and registration of its shares or other prescribed securities in Uncertificated form, including via the Electronic System, the UNSRT System or other systems approved by the SFC and/or the Designated Stock Exchange. The Company may adopt any technology, process, system, or method for the issuance, holding, and transfer of shares or securities, whether currently existing or developed in the future, provided such adoption complies with applicable law and regulations. The Company is authorised to take all reasonably practicable steps to support electronic communication with the Members and its securities holders, including but not limited to electronic voting, proxy instructions, and distribution of "corporate action proceeds" (such term as defined under the Listing Rules), and to maintain compatibility with the uncertificated securities market regime. Any provisions in these Bye-laws relating to the issuance, holding, or transfer of securities (including shares) or concerning share certificates shall be interpreted to permit compliance with such electronic processes and systems, to the extent permitted by the laws of Bermuda.
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