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Tata Communications Limited Board/Management Information 2021

Jun 30, 2021

60418_rns_2021-06-30_696fcf86-eda8-4d92-b5c9-66fd14c75d3a.pdf

Board/Management Information

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HQ/CS/35 AGM/17158 June 30, 2021

National Stock Exchange of India Limited Exchange Plaza, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai - 400 051 SYMBOL: TATACOMM

BSE Limited P.J. Towers. Dalal Street, Mumbai - 400 001 Scrip Code: 500483

Dear Sir / Madam.

Sub: Amendment to Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of Tata Communications Limited ('the Company')

Pursuant to the requirement of Regulation 30 read with Schedule III of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we hereby inform you that the Members of the Company, at the 35th Annual General Meeting held today, June 30, 2021 have approved:

  • a) Alteration of the Objects Clause of the Memorandum of Association ('MoA') of the Company; and
  • b) Alteration of the Articles of Association ('AoA') of the Company.

A summary of the amendments to the MoA and AoA of the Company, as approved by the Members, is attached at Annexure 1.

This is for your information and records.

Yours faithfully, For Tata Communications Limited

Zubin Patel Company Secretary and Compliance Officer

Tata Communications Limited Regd. Office: VSB Mahatma Gandhi Road Fort Mumbai - 400 001 Tel: 91 22 6659 1968 email: [email protected] CIN: L64200MH1986PLC039266 website: www.tatacommunications.com

Annexure 1

1. The modification, substitution, addition and deletion in the Objects Clause (Clause III) of the Memorandum of Association of the Company as follows:

  • A. The existing sub-clause numbered 1 of Clause III A be deleted.
  • B. The existing sub-clauses numbered 2 to 8 of Clause III A be renumbered serially as sub-clauses 1 to 7.
  • C. The sub-clauses numbered 9 to 58 under Part B of Clause III be re-numbered serially as sub-clauses 8 to 57."
    1. The deletion and modification in the Articles of Association of the Company are as follows:
Article No. Article Description
Article 1(i) "The President" means the President of India.
Article 1(u) "Government of India or Government" means the President of
India, as represented by and acting through the Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology, Government of
India.
Article $1(v)$ "Strategic Partner" means Panatone Finvest Limited, a
company duly incorporated and existing under the provisions of
the Companies Act, 1956 and who has purchased 25% of the
equity shareholding of the Company from the Government of
India, in the year 2002.
Article 1(w) "Shareholder(s)" means Panatone and Tata Sons the Strategic
Partner and the Government.
Article $1(x)$ "Other Shareholders" means the shareholders of the Company
other than the Strategic Partner and the Government.
Article $1(y)$ "All Shareholders" means collectively the Strategic Partner,
Government and Other Shareholders.
Article $1(z)$ "Parties" means collectively the Government and the Strategic
Partner and Party means either of them.
Article 1(aa) "Affiliate", with respect to a specified Person, means any other
Person (a) directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by or

A. The following Articles are Deleted:

under common Control with such specified Person; and/or (b)
which is a holding company or subsidiary of such specified
Person; provided, however, that for the purposes of this
Agreement:
(i) the terms "holding company" and "subsidiary" shall have the
meanings set forth in Section 2 of the Act and;
(ii) in no event shall the Company be deemed an Affiliate of
either the Government or the Strategic Partner;
Article 1(bb) "Controlling", "Controlled by" or "Control", with respect to any
Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management,
business or policies or actions of such Person, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, or
the power to elect or appoint at least 50% of the directors,
managers, partners or other individuals exercising similar
authority with respect to such Person(s);
Article 1(cc) individual, sole
proprietorship,
any
"Person"
means
unincorporated association, unincorporated organization, body
corporate, corporation, company, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, Government Authority or trust or any
other entity or organization;
Article 1(dd) "Audited Financial Statement" shall mean the accounts of the
Company as on 31 March 2001 prepared and audited by M/s.
Khandelwal Jain & Co. and M/s. Kalyaniwala & Mistry and that
have been made available to the Strategic Partner;
Article 1(ee) "Principal(s)" means a Person or Person(s), other than the
Government, who Control(s) a Shareholder (other than the
Government) in relation to the Strategic Partner.
Article 1(gg) "Shareholders' Agreement" means the agreement dated 13th
February 2002, entered into between the Government and the
Strategic Partner, to record the manner in which the business
of the Company is to be conducted as between the Government
and the Strategic Partner.
οf
Heading
Article 37
How far new shares to rank with share in original Capital
Article 37 Except so far as otherwise provided by the conditions of issue,
or by these Articles, any Capital raised by the creation of new
shares shall be considered part of the original Capital and shall
be subject to the provisions herein contained with reference to
the payment of calls and instalments, transfer and transmission,

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$\overline{3}$

lien, voting, surrender and otherwise. Such new shares shall
rank pari passu with the existing Shares in all respects except
for the purposes of dividend that shall be pro rated to the period
for which such newly issued shares are in existence.
Article 38(c) If any offer to subscribe for voting equity shares of the Company
pursuant to Article 38(a) (such offer, the "Right") includes a right
to renounce the Right in favour of any other Person, then, no
Shareholder shall renounce such Right in favour of any other
Person (other than an Affiliate of the renouncing Shareholder)
without first giving the other Shareholder a reasonable
opportunity to acquire such Right, either directly or through its
nominees on the same terms and conditions that such Right is
proposed to be renounced in favour of any other Person (other
than an Affiliate of the renouncing Shareholder).
Article 45(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 45(2), at least one
authorised representative each of the Government and the
Strategic Partner, in case of a general meeting, shall be
necessary to constitute quorum for any meeting in which a
resolution for any of the matters specified in Article 69(2) is to
be passed and a notice of not less than 21 (twenty one)days
shall be given to the Government and the Strategic Partner for
any such meeting.
Article 50(3) In the event that no authorised representative of the same
Shareholder, whose authorised representative was not present
in the meeting referred to in Article 45(3), is present at the
adjourned meeting referred to in Article 50(2) above, such
meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week,
at the same time and place, or to such later day as may be
notified to such Shareholder.
Article 50(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article 45(3) above,
in the event that no authorised representative of the same
Shareholder, whose authorised representative was not present
in the meetings referred to in Articles 45(3) and 50(2), is present
at the adjourned meeting referred to in Article 50(3), it shall be
deemed that the presence of the authorised representatives of
such Shareholder is not required for such meeting and the
shareholders present at such adjourned general meeting shall
be entitled to proceed with the items on the agenda in such
manner as they deem fit even though such items may be
relating to matters listed in Article 69(2).
Heading
οf
Article 51
Right of President to appoint any person as his representative

Article 51 (1) The President, so long as he is a shareholder of the
Company, may, from time to time, appoint one or more persons
(who need not be a member or members of the Company) to
represent him at all or any meeting of the Company.
(2) Any one of the persons appointed under sub clause (1) of
this Article shall be deemed to be a member of the Company
and shall be entitled to vote and be present in person and
exercise the same rights and powers (including the right to vote
by proxy) as the President could exercise as a member of the
Company.
(3) The President may, from time to time, cancel any
appointment made under sub clause (1) of this Article and make
fresh appointment.
(4) The production at the meeting of an order of the President
evidenced as provided in the Constitution, shall be accepted by
the Company as sufficient evidence of any such appointment or
cancellation as aforesaid.
Heading
Article 53
of How questions be decided at meetings
Article 53 (1) Every question submitted to a meeting shall be decided in
the first instance by a show of hands.
Article 65 (2) As long as the Government holds atleast 10% of the voting
equity share capital of the Company the composition of the
Board shall be as under:
(i) Four out of twelve directors shall be permanent or non-
retiring directors, of which the Government and the Strategic
Partner shall be entitled to appoint two directors each.
(ii) The balance eight directors shall be liable to retire by
rotation. Of the retiring directors, four directors shall be
independent directors on the Board.
(iii) Of the four independent directors the Strategic Partner and
the Government shall be entitled to nominate and recommend
names of two independent directors each.
(iv) The composition of the balance four directors i.e. the retiring
and non independent directors shall be as under:
iv.i As long as the Strategic Partner together with its Affiliates
holds 25% of the voting equity share capital of the Company,
two directors shall be nominated each by the Government
and the Strategic Partner.

$\mathcal{L}$

$\overline{5}$

iv.ii As soon as the Strategic Partner acquires and holds more
than 25% but less than 30% of the voting equity share capital
of the Company, the Strategic Partner shall have the right to
appoint three directors on the Board and the Government
shall have the right to appoint one Director on the Board.
iv.iii As soon as the Strategic Partner acquires and holds
more than 30% of the voting equity share capital of the
Company, the Strategic Partner shall have the right to appoint
all the four directors.
(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein (i) the
Government shall have the right to appoint two non retiring
Directors so long as the Government holds atleast 10% of the
voting equity share capital of the Company. and (ii) the
Government shall be entitled to appoint one non retiring
director on the Board so long as the Government is a
shareholder in the Company.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at least three-fourths of the
total number of directors on the Board shall, at all times, be
Indian Nationals.
(5) For purposes of clarity and avoidance of doubt, the
Government and the Strategic Partner agree that if additional
independent directors are required to be appointed to the Board
to comply with any Laws or regulation or to comply with the
provisions of any listing agreement, then, by mutual agreement
between the Government and the Strategic Partner, either the
strength of the Board shall be increased to the extent required
or the number of directors that each of the Government and the
Strategic Partner shall be entitled to appoint shall be
proportionately reduced.
Article 69(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles
or
otherwise permitted or provided under the Act, no obligation of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be entered into, no
decision shall be made and no action shall be taken by or with
respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in relation to
the following matters unless such obligation, decision or action
as the case may be, is approved , if at any meeting of the
Company's shareholders, duly called for the purpose of
considering such obligation, decision or action, by an affirmative
vote of the one authorised representative of both the
Government and the Strategic Partner, and if at the meeting of
the Board by an affirmative vote of, at least one nominee
director of each of the Government and the Strategic Partner:

N

$\overline{6}$

(i) Any change in the Memorandum of Association and
Articles of Association;
(ii) The granting of any security or the creation of any
Encumbrance on the assets of the Company or the
incurrence of any indebtedness or guaranteeing the
debts of any Person which in the aggregate at any time
exceeds the net worth of the Company;
(iii) The taking of any steps to wind-up or terminate the
corporate existence of the Company or any of its
Affiliates or entering into any arrangement with the
creditors of the Company in relation to all or substantial
part of the assets of the Company;
(iv) Any one or a series of transactions which causes a
sale lease, exchange or disposition of land and building
of the Company or its subsidiary which are acquired by
the Company at any time prior to the Closing;
(v) Subject to Article 69(2)(xv) hereunder, any sale,
lease, exchange or disposition of any property, assets or
equipments (other than land and building) of the
Company or its subsidiary which are acquired by the
Company at any time prior to the Closing;
(vi) The making, directly or indirectly, of loans or
advances in excess of Rs.500 million to any Person
other than in the ordinary course of business of the
Company;
(vii) The entering into of an amalgamation, merger or
consolidation with any other company or body corporate;
(viii) Any change in the number of directors of the
Company from that provided in this Article;
(ix) Any agreement with or commitment to any
Shareholder or its Principal(s) or their respective
Affiliates, except where, and to the extent, (a) such
agreement or commitment between the Company or any
of its Affiliates on the one hand and the Government or
any Government Authority on the other is required under
applicable Law or (b) such agreement is on an arms'
length basis and in good faith;
(x) Establishment of any subsidiary or associated
company by Company;
(xi) Transfer of any rights or interest in Affiliates of the
Company including, without limitation, Transfer of
Relevant Interests in securities of such Affiliates held by
the Company;

7

$\overline{7}$

(xii) Any agreement, license or permission in respect of
the use of the name and/or logo of the Company (except
where such agreement, license or permission is for the
purpose of, or in connection with, advertising or
promotional activities only by the Company);
(xiii) The delegation by the Board to any Person of the
Board's authority to approve or authorize any matter
described in this Article 69(2);
(xiv) Change directly or indirectly in the use of land and
building of the Company other than for the purposes of
the main objects of the Company as defined in the
Memorandum of Association of the Company;
(xv) Any one or a series of transactions, which causes a
sale, lease, exchange or disposition of obsolete
equipments or equipments not in use, of the Company or
its subsidiary having an aggregate value exceeding 25%
of the total value of the net fixed assets of the Company
as specified in the Audited Financial Statement;
(xvi) Any commitment or agreement to do any of the
foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in these Articles, in the event any of the
aforesaid items of business mentioned in Article 69 (2) is
not approved by the Board or Shareholders at a meeting
or otherwise then such non-approved items shall not be
implemented by the Company and the Parties shall not
directly or indirectly take any steps to cause the
Company to implement such items of business.
$75(2)$ ,
Article
75(3)
Article
$75(4)$ ,
Article
Article 75(5)
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article 75(1)
above, the presence of atleast one nominee director each of
the Government and the Strategic Partner, in case of a Board
meeting, shall be necessary to constitute quorum for any
meeting in which a resolution for any of the matters specified
in Article 69(2) is to be passed and a notice of not less than $7$
(seven) days shall be given to the Government and the
Strategic Partner for any such meeting,
unless
the
Government and the Strategic Partner agrees to a shorter
notice in writing.
(3) In the event that no nominee director of either the
Government or the Strategic Partner is present at a meeting
referred to in Article 75(2) above, such meeting shall stand
adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same time

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and place, or to such later day as may be notified to the
Government or the Strategic Partner as the case may be.
(4) In the event that no nominee director of the same
Shareholder, whose nominee director was not present in the
meeting referred to in Article 75(2), is present at the adjourned
meeting referred to in Article 75(3) above, such meeting shall
stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same
time and place, or to such later day as may be notified to such
Shareholder.
(5) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article 75(2)
above, in the event that no nominee director of the same
Shareholder, whose nominee director was not present in the
meetings referred to in Articles 75(2) and 75(3), is present at
the adjourned meeting referred to in Article 75(4), it shall be
deemed that the presence of the nominee director of such
Shareholder is not required for such meeting and the directors
present at such adjourned Board Meeting shall be entitled to
proceed with the items on the agenda in such manner as they
deem fit even though such items may be relating to matters
listed in Article 69(2).
Article 120 The Company acknowledges that the Government and the
Shareholders'
Strategic Partner have entered into the
Agreement, which is a binding voting and inter se shareholders'
agreement between them or any transferees from them and any
successors in interest. Salient terms of the Shareholders'
Agreement are set out in appendix I hereto to notify the
shareholders of their covenants. The Company has undertaken
that it shall not aid and/or abet any violation of the Shareholders'
Agreement.
Appendix I containing salient features of Shareholders'
Agreement is attached.
Appendix I Extract of the Shareholders' Agreement dated 13 February
2002

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B. The following Articles are Replaced / Modified as follows:

Article No. Revised Article Description
Article 1(f) "The Chairman" means the Chairman or the Chairperson of
the Board of Directors for the time being of the Company.
Article 18 If a share certificate is worn out, defaced, lost, or destroyed,
it may be renewed in accordance with the applicable rules
under the Act on payment of fee as prescribed under the
Act and on such terms, if any, as to evidence and indemnity
and the payment of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Company in investigating evidence as the Board may think
fit.
Article $20(2)(b)$ Upon all or any of the moneys so advanced may, until the
same would, but for such advance, become presently
payable, pay interest at such rate not exceeding, unless the
Company in general meeting shall otherwise direct, an
amount as prescribed under the Act per annum as may be
agreed upon between the Board and the member paying
the sum in advance and the Board of Directors may, at any
repay the amount so advanced upon giving to such
time.
members three months notice in writing. Moneys paid in
advance of calls shall not in respect thereof confer a right to
dividend or to participate in the profits of the Company.
Article 43 1) A general meeting of the Company may be called by
giving not less than twenty one days notice in writing.
2) A general meeting may be called after giving shorter
notice than that specified in clause (1) of this Article if
consent is accorded as per relevant provisions of the
Companies Act 2013 as amended from time to time.
Article 44 The ordinary business of an annual general meeting shall
consideration and approval of the financial
be: (i)
statements, consolidated financial statements, if any, and
the reports of the Board of Directors and Auditors; (ii) the
declaration of any dividend; (iii) the appointment of
Directors in the place of those retiring; and (iv) the
appointment and fixing of remuneration of the Auditors. All
other business transacted at such meeting and all business
transacted at an extra ordinary meeting shall be deemed
special.
Article 46 The first annual general meeting of the Company shall be
held within eighteen months of its incorporation and
thereafter, the annual general meeting shall be held within

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$10°$

six months after the expiry of each financial year, except in
the case when, for any special reason time for holding any
annual general meeting (not being the first annual general
meeting) is extended by the Registrar under Section 96 of
the Act, no greater interval than fifteen months shall be
allowed to elapse between the date of one annual general
meeting and that of the next. Every annual general meeting
shall be held during business hours on a day other than a
national holiday either at the registered office of the
company or at some other place as the Board may decide,
and the notice calling the meeting shall specify it as the
annual general meeting. All other meetings of the Company
shall be called "Extraordinary General Meeting".
Article 50(2) If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting
quorum is not present, such meeting shall stand
a
adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same
time and place, or to such later day as may be notified by
the Company.
Heading
of
Article 53
Voting at General Meeting
Article 53 At any general meeting a resolution put to vote of the
meeting shall be in accordance with the provisions of the
Companies Act and other applicable regulations.
If a poll is duly demanded, it shall be taken in such manner
and at such time and place as the Chairman of the meeting
directs and either at once or after an interval or adjournment
or otherwise, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to
be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was
demanded. The demand of a poll may be withdrawn
anytime before the declaration of the results.
Article 54 Every member present in person or by proxy, or by duly
authorised representative and upon a poll shall have one
vote for every share held by him.
Article 57 A member of unsound mind or in respect of whom an order
has been made by any Court having jurisdiction, in lunacy,
may vote, by his committee or other legal guardian, and any
such committee or guardian may on a poll, vote by proxy.
Article 59 A member entitled to attend and vote at a meeting may
appoint another person (whether a member or not) as his
proxy to attend a meeting. No member shall appoint more
than one proxy to attend on the same occasion. The
instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and be

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$\overline{11}$

signed by the appointer or his attorney duly authorised in
writing or if the appointer is a body corporate, be under its
seal or be signed by an officer or an attorney duly
authorised by it.
Article 65 Until otherwise determined by a General Meeting of the
Company and subject to the provisions of Section 149 of
the Act, the Board shall comprise of a minimum of three and
a maximum of fifteen Directors.
The Directors are not required to hold any qualification
shares. The Board shall also have such number of
independent directors as required under the Act or under
the applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Board of India.
Article 66B Subject to the provisions of Section 161 of the Act, the
Board shall have power at any time and from time to time,
appoint any other qualified person(s) to be an Additional
Director(s). Any such additional Director (s) shall hold office
only upto the date of the next Annual General Meeting.
Heading
οf
Article 66G
Managing Director
Article 66G The Managing Director shall not, while he continues to hold
that office be subject to retirement by rotation in accordance
with Article 65 D. If he otherwise, ceases to hold the office
of Director he shall ipso facto and immediately cease to be
a Managing Director.
Article 66H (a) A person other than a retiring Director shall be eligible for
appointment to the office of Director at any General
Meeting, if he or some member intending to propose him
has, not less than fourteen days before the Meeting, left at
the Registered Office, a notice in writing under his hand,
signifying his candidature for the office of Director or the
intention of such Member to propose him as a candidate for
that office, as the case may be, as may be prescribed by
the Act.
Article 68 (1) Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Board may, from
time to time, delegate such of its powers as it may think fit
to the Chairman, and/or Managing Director(s), subject to
such terms, conditions and restrictions as it may deem
necessary to impose and may, from time to time, revoke,
amend or vary all or any of the powers so delegated.

(2) The Chairman, and/or Managing Director(s) may sub-
delegate any of the powers delegated to him by the Board
to any officer or other employees of the Company, subject
to condition that every such sub-delegation of his powers
will be reported to the Board.
Heading
of
Article 69
Powers of Chairman.
Article 69 The property, business and affairs of the Company shall be
managed exclusively by and be under the direction of the
Board. The Board may exercise all such powers of the
Company and have such authority and do all such lawful
acts and things as are permitted by applicable Law and the
Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association. All
decisions, actions and resolutions of the Board shall be
adopted by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the
members of Board. In case of an equality of votes, the
Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
Article 70 Without prejudice to the general powers conferred by Article
67 and the other powers conferred by these Articles, but
subject to the provisions of Sections 179 to 183, of the Act,
the Board of Directors shall have the following powers, that
is to say power:
Article 73 A Director may at any time convene a meeting of the Board
Directors. Questions arising at any meeting shall be
decided by majority of votes.
Article 74(2) Every officer of the company, whose duty is to give notice
as aforesaid and who fails to do so shall be punishable with
a fine as prescribed under the Act.
Article 78 The Board may, subject to the relevant provisions of the Act,
delegate any of their powers to Committees consisting of
such number of their body as they think fit, and may, from
time to time, revoke such delegation. Any committee so
formed, shall in the exercise of the power so delegated,
conform to any regulation that may, from time to time, be
imposed upon it by the Board of Directors. The proceedings
of such a Committee shall be placed before the Board of
Directors at its next meeting.
Article 79 The Chairman for any Committee of Directors shall be
appointed by the Board. A Committee of Directors may elect
a Chairman of their meetings, if no such Chairman is
appointed by the Board or if at any meeting the Chairman is
not present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for

(R)

$13$

holding the same, the members present may choose one of
their number to be Chairman of the meeting.
Article 81 Subject to the provisions of Section 179 of the Act, and such
other provisions of the Act as may be applicable, resolutions
of the Board can be passed by circulation and they shall be
as valid and effectual as if they have been passed at a
meeting of the Board of Directors duly called and
constituted. No resolution shall, however, be deemed to
have been duly passed by the Board or by a Committee
thereof by circulation unless the resolution has been
circulated in draft, together with the necessary papers, if
any, to all the Directors, or to all the members of the
Committee then in India (not being less in number than the
quorum fixed for a meeting of the Board or Committee as
the case may be), and to all other Directors or members at
their usual address in India, or through electronic means,
and has been approved by a majority of Directors, as are
entitled to vote on the resolution.

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