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Tritax Eurobox PLC — Governance Information 2021
Jan 8, 2021
5004_rns_2021-01-08_7b815aac-529f-40fb-9b74-1c217acca32e.pdf
Governance Information
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The Companies Act 2006
Articles of Association of Tritax EuroBox Plc
Public Company Limited by Shares (Incorporated on 17 May 2018)
| PRELIMINARY 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Exclusion of Model Articles and Table A 1 | |
| 2. | Definitions and Interpretation 1 | |
| SHARES 8 | ||
| 3. | Rights attaching to shares 8 | |
| 4. | Separate Accounts 8 | |
| 5. | Rights as to income 8 | |
| 6. | Rights as to capital 9 | |
| 7. | Rights as to voting 10 | |
| 8. | C Shares: further provisions 10 | |
| 9. | Conversion of C Shares 11 | |
| 10. | Redemption of shares 12 | |
| 11. | Deferred Shares: further provisions12 | |
| 12. | Purchase of shares 13 | |
| 13. | Financial assistance 13 | |
| 14. | Allotment at a discount 13 | |
| 15. | Payment of commission and brokerage 13 | |
| 16. | Allotment of shares 13 | |
| 17. | Recognition of trusts 14 | |
| SHARE CERTIFICATES 14 | ||
| 18. | Uncertificated shares 14 | |
| 19. | Share certificates and right to share certificates 14 | |
| 20. | Share certificate of joint holders 15 | |
| 21. | Replacement of share certificates 15 | |
| 22. | Payment for share certificates 15 | |
| VARIATION OF RIGHTS 15 | ||
| 23. | Variation of class rights 15 | |
| 24. | Separate general meetings 15 | |
| 25. | Issues of further shares 16 | |
| CALLS ON SHARES 16 | ||
| 26. | Calls 16 | |
| 27. | Timing and payment of calls 16 | |
| 28. | Liability of joint holders 16 | |
| 29. | Interest due on non-payment of calls 16 | |
| 30. | Deemed calls 16 | |
| 31. | Power to differentiate between holders 17 | |
| 32. | Payment of calls in advance 17 | |
| FORFEITURE AND LIEN 17 | ||
| 33. | Notice if call or instalment not paid 17 | |
| 34. | Form of notice 17 | |
| 35. | Forfeiture for non-compliance 17 | |
| 36. | Notice after forfeiture 17 | |
| 37. | Disposal of forfeited shares 18 | |
| 38. | Annulment of forfeiture18 | |
| 39. | Continuing liability 18 | |
| 40. | Lien on partly-paid shares 18 | |
| 41. | Enforcement of lien by sale 18 | |
| 42. | Application of sale proceeds 18 | |
| 43. | Statutory declaration 19 | |
| TRANSFER OF SHARES 19 | ||
| 44. | Transfers of uncertificated shares 19 | |
| 45. | Form of transfer 19 | |
| 46. | Right to decline registration 19 | |
| 47. | Further rights to decline registration19 |
| 48. | Notice of refusal to register 20 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49. | Retention of instruments of transfer 20 | ||||
| 50. | No fee for registration 20 | ||||
| 51. | Destruction of documents 20 | ||||
| TRANSMISSION OF SHARES 21 | |||||
| 52. | Transmission on death 21 | ||||
| 53. | Person entitled by transmission 21 | ||||
| 54. | Restrictions on election 21 | ||||
| 55. | Rights of persons entitled by transmission 22 | ||||
| UNTRACED SHAREHOLDERS 22 | |||||
| 56. | Power to sell shares 22 | ||||
| 57. | Power to sell further shares 22 | ||||
| 58. | Authority to effect sale 23 | ||||
| 59. | No trust 23 | ||||
| 60. | Authority to cease sending cheques 23 | ||||
| ALTERATION OF CAPITAL 23 | |||||
| 61. | Consolidation and sub-division 23 | ||||
| 62. | Fractions of shares 24 | ||||
| 63. | Reduction of share capital 24 | ||||
| GENERAL MEETINGS 24 | |||||
| 64. | Annual general meeting 24 | ||||
| 65. | Convening of general meetings 24 | ||||
| 66. | No quorum 24 | ||||
| NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS 25 | |||||
| 67. | Length and form of notice 25 | ||||
| 68. | Short notice 25 | ||||
| 69. | Omission or non-receipt of notice of resolution or meeting or proxy 25 | ||||
| 70. | Postponement of general meetings 26 | ||||
| PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS 26 | |||||
| 71. | Quorum 26 | ||||
| 72. | Procedure if quorum not present 26 | ||||
| 73. | Arrangements for simultaneous attendance, security and orderly conduct 26 | ||||
| 74. | Chairman of general meetings and casting vote 28 | ||||
| 75. | Adjournments 28 | ||||
| 76. | Entitlement to attend and speak 29 | ||||
| 77. | Amendments to resolutions 29 | ||||
| 78. | Method of voting and demand for a poll 29 | ||||
| 79. | Timing and procedure for a poll 30 | ||||
| VOTES OF MEMBERS 30 | |||||
| 80. | Votes of Members and of joint holders 30 | ||||
| 81. | Voting on behalf of incapable Member 31 | ||||
| 82. | Suspension of rights for non-payment of calls and non-disclosure of interests 31 | ||||
| 83. | Objections to and errors in voting 33 | ||||
| 84. | Voting on a poll 33 | ||||
| 85. | Execution of proxies 33 | ||||
| 86. | Appointment of proxies 33 | ||||
| 87. | Delivery of proxies 33 | ||||
| 88. | Validity of proxies 34 | ||||
| 89. | Authority of proxies to call for a poll 34 | ||||
| 90. | Cancellation of proxy's authority 34 | ||||
| 91. | Corporate representatives 35 | ||||
| 92. | Powers of corporate representatives 35 | ||||
| DIRECTORS 35 | |||||
| 93. | Number of Directors 35 | ||||
| 94. | Directors' shareholding qualification 35 | ||||
| 95. | Age of Directors 35 | ||||
| 96. | Other interests of Directors 35 | ||||
| 97. | Directors' fees 36 |
| 98. | Directors expenses 36 | |
|---|---|---|
| 99. | Additional remuneration36 | |
| ALTERNATE DIRECTORS 36 | ||
| 100. | Alternate Directors 36 | |
| BORROWING POWERS 37 | ||
| 101. | Directors' borrowing powers 37 | |
| POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS 37 | ||
| 102. | Powers of Company vested in the Directors 37 | |
| 103. | Pensions, insurance and gratuities for Directors and others 37 | |
| 104. | Local boards 38 | |
| 105. | Attorneys 38 | |
| 106. | Official seal 38 | |
| 107. | Overseas branch register 39 | |
| 108. | Directors' permitted interests and entitlement to vote 39 | |
| 109. | Exercise of Company's voting powers 42 | |
| 110. | Signing of cheques etc. 42 | |
| 111. | Minutes 42 | |
| DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS 42 | ||
| 112. | Vacation of a Director's office 42 | |
| RETIREMENT AND SUBMISSION FOR RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS 43 | ||
| 113. | Regular submission of Directors for re-election 43 | |
| 114. | Appointment of Directors by separate resolution 43 | |
| 115. | Persons eligible for appointment 43 | |
| 116. | Casual vacancies and additional Directors - powers of Company 43 | |
| 117. | Casual vacancies and additional Directors - powers of Directors 44 | |
| 118. | Power of removal by ordinary resolution 44 | |
| 119. | Appointment of replacement Director 44 | |
| PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS 44 | ||
| 120. | Board meetings and participation 44 | |
| 121. | Quorum at board meetings 44 | |
| 122. | Voting at board meetings 44 | |
| 123. | Notice of board meetings 44 | |
| 124. | Directors below minimum 45 | |
| 125. | Appointment of chairman and deputy chairman of meetings 45 | |
| 126. | Delegation of Directors' powers to committees and otherwise 45 | |
| 127. | Validity of Directors' acts 45 | |
| 128. | Written resolution of Directors 46 | |
| MANAGING AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 46 | ||
| 129. | Appointment of executive Directors 46 | |
| 130. | Remuneration of executive Directors 46 | |
| 131. | Powers of executive Directors 46 | |
| SECRETARY 47 | ||
| 132. | Appointment and removal of Secretary 47 | |
| THE SEAL 47 | ||
| 133. | Use of Seal 47 | |
| RESERVE 47 | ||
| 134. | Establishment of reserve 47 | |
| DIVIDENDS 47 | ||
| 135. | Declarations of dividends by Company 47 | |
| 136. | Payment of interim and fixed dividends by Directors 47 | |
| 137. | Restrictions on dividends and currency of dividends 48 | |
| 138. | Calculation of dividends 48 | |
| 139. | Deductions of amounts due on shares and waiver of dividends 48 | |
| 140. | Dividends other than in cash 48 | |
| 141. | Payment procedure 48 | |
| 142. | Interest 50 | |
| 143. | Forfeiture of dividends 50 | |
| CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS AND SCRIP DIVIDENDS 50 |
| 144. | Power to capitalise 50 |
|---|---|
| 145. | Authority required 51 |
| 146. | Provision for fractions etc. 51 |
| ACCOUNTING RECORDS 51 | |
| 147. | Accounting records to be kept 51 |
| 148. | Location of accounting records 51 |
| 149. | Inspection of accounting records 51 |
| 150. | Power to extend inspection to Members 51 |
| 151. | Limit on Members' right to inspect 51 |
| AUDIT | 52 |
| 152. | Appointment of Auditors 52 |
| NOTICES 52 | |
| 153. | Service of notice and curtailment of postal service 52 |
| 154. | Members resident abroad 53 |
| 155. | Notice deemed served 53 |
| 156. | Notice to joint holders 53 |
| 157. | Service of notice on persons entitled by transmission 53 |
| ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION 54 | |
| 158. | Electronic Communication 54 |
| PROVISION FOR EMPLOYEES 54 | |
| 159. | Provision for employees 54 |
| WINDING UP 54 | |
| 160. | Distribution of assets 54 |
| INDEMNITY 55 | |
| 161. | Indemnity of directors 55 |
| 162. | Funding of expenditure 55 |
| 163. | Limited liability 55 |
| US AND OTHER TAX MATTERS 55 | |
| 164. | US and other tax matters 55 |
| 165. | Liability for loss of financial assets held in custody 57 |
| 166. | Net asset value 57 |
| 167. | Information made available to Members 57 |
| 168. | Valuation 57 |
| NAME | 57 |
| 169. | Change of Name 57 |
(No. 11367705)
The Companies Act 2006
Articles of Association of Tritax EuroBox Plc
Public Company Limited by Shares (Adopted by special resolution on [9] February 2021)
PRELIMINARY
1. Exclusion of Model Articles and Table A
The regulations contained in Model Articles of Association applicable to the Company under or pursuant to the 2006 Act, or in Table A in the schedule to The Companies (Tables A to F) Regulations 1985 and in any Table A applicable to the Company, under any former enactment relating to companies shall not apply to the Company except in so far as they are repeated or contained in these Articles.
2. Definitions and Interpretation
2.1 In these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires:
"the 2006 Act" means the Companies Act 2006;
"address" shall, in any case where electronic form is permitted by or pursuant to these Articles or the 2006 Act, include a number or address used for the purpose of sending or receiving notices, documents or information by electronic means but, in any other case, shall not include any number or address used for such purpose;
"Articles" means these articles of association as altered from time to time;
"Auditors" means the auditors for the time being of the Company;
"Basic Net Asset Value" means the value, as at any date, of the assets of the Group after deduction of all liabilities determined in accordance with the accounting policies adopted by the Group from time to time;
"Business Day" means a day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays) on which banks generally are open for business in London);
"C Shares" means C shares of EUR 0.10 each in the capital of the Company, having the rights and being subject to the restrictions set out in these Articles;
"C Shareholder" means a holder of C Shares;
"Calculation Date" means in relation to any tranche of C Shares, the earliest of:
- (a) the close of business on the date to be determined by the Directors occurring not more than 15 Business Days after the day on which the Manager shall have given notice to the Directors that at least 85 per cent (or such other percentage as the Directors, in consultation with the Manager, may select as part of the terms of issue of any C Shares) of the Net Proceeds of that class of C Shares have been invested in accordance with the Investment Policy; or
- (b) the close of business on the date falling nine calendar months after the allotment of that tranche of C Shares or, if such a date is not a Business Day, the next following Business Day; or
- (c) the close of business on such date as the Directors may decide is necessary to enable the Company to comply with its obligations in respect of Conversion of that tranche of C Shares; or
- (d) the close of business on the day on which the Directors resolve that Force Majeure Circumstances have arisen or are in contemplation in relation to any tranche of C Shares;
"clear days' notice" means that the notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is served or deemed to be served and of the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect;
"Controlling Person" means any person (other than a US Plan Investor) that has discretionary authority or control with respect to the assets of the Company or that provides investment advice for a fee (direct or indirect) with respect to such assets or that is an ''affiliate'' (within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3) of the US Plan Asset Regulation) of such a person;
"Conversion" means conversion of any tranche of C Shares into Ordinary Shares and Deferred Shares in accordance with Article 9;
"Conversion Date" means, in relation to any tranche of C Shares, the close of business on such Business Day as may be selected by the Directors falling as soon as reasonably practicable following, but not later than 15 Business Days after, the Calculation Date of such tranche of C Shares;
"Conversion Ratio" means is the ratio of the Basic Net Asset Value per C Share of the relevant tranche to the Basic Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share, which is calculated to four decimal places (with 0.00005 rounded upwards) as:
$$
Conversion Ratio = \frac{A}{B}
$$
$$
A = \frac{C - D}{E}
$$
$$
B = \frac{F - G}{H}
$$
EUS\367141512.03
where:
"C" is the aggregate of:
- (a) the value of the investments and other non-current assets of the Group attributable to the C Shares of the relevant tranche on the relevant Calculation Date calculated by reference to the Directors' belief and applying the principles used in calculating the Basic Net Asset Value; and
- (b) the amount which, in the Directors' opinion, fairly reflects, on the relevant Calculation Date, the value of the current assets of the Group attributable to the C Shares of the relevant tranche and applying the principles used in calculating Basic Net Asset Value (excluding the investments valued under (a) above but including cash and deposits with or balances at a bank and including any accrued income less accrued expenses and other items of a revenue nature);
"D" is the amount (to the extent not otherwise deducted from the assets attributable to the C Shares of the relevant tranche) which, in the Directors' opinion, fairly reflects the amount of the liabilities of the Group attributable to the C Shares of the relevant tranche on the relevant Calculation Date and applying the principles used in calculating Basic Net Asset Value;
"E" is the number of C Shares of the relevant tranche in issue on the relevant Calculation Date;
"F" is the aggregate of:
- (a) the value of all the investments and other non-current assets of the Group attributable to the Ordinary Shares on the relevant Calculation Date calculated by reference to the Directors' belief and applying the principles used in calculating Basic Net Asset Value; and
- (b) the amount which, in the Directors' opinion, fairly reflects, on the relevant Calculation Date, the value of the current assets of the Group attributable to the Ordinary Shares and applying the principles used in calculating Basic Net Asset Value (excluding the investments valued under (i) above but including cash and deposits with or balances at a bank and including any accrued income less accrued expenses and other items of a revenue nature);
"G" is the amount (to the extent not otherwise deducted in the calculation of the assets attributable to the Ordinary Shares) which, in the Directors' opinion, fairly reflects the amount of the liabilities of the Group attributable to the Ordinary Shares on the relevant Calculation Date and applying the principles used in calculating Basic Net Asset Value; and
"H" is the number of Ordinary Shares in issue on the relevant Calculation Date (excluding any Ordinary Shares held in treasury),
provided that the Directors shall make such adjustments to the value or amount of A and B as the Directors believe to be appropriate having regard among other things, to the assets of the Company immediately prior to the date on which the Company first receives the net proceeds of an issue of C Shares of the relevant tranche and/or to the reasons for the issue of the C Shares of the relevant tranche;
"CRS" means the Common Reporting Standard, which is the standard for automatic exchange of financial account information in tax matters developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development;
"Deferred Shares" means deferred shares of EUR 0.01 each in the capital of the Company;
"Deferred Shareholder" means a holder of Deferred Shares;
"Directors" means the directors for the time being of the Company, or, as the case may be, the board of directors for the time being of the Company or the persons present at a duly convened meeting of the board of directors or any duly authorised committee thereof at which a quorum is present;
"dividend" includes bonus;
"electronic form" and "electronic means" shall, where the context so admits, have the same meaning as in the 2006 Act;
"ERISA" means the US Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the applicable regulations thereunder;
"Existing Ordinary Shares" means the Ordinary Shares in issue immediately prior to Conversion;
"FATCA" means:
- (a) sections 1471 to 1474 of the US Tax Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
- (b) any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; or
- (c) any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction;
"Force Majeure Circumstances" means, in relation to any tranche of C Shares, (a) any political and/or economic circumstances and/or actual or anticipated changes in fiscal or other legislation which, in the reasonable opinion of the Directors, renders Conversion necessary or desirable notwithstanding that less than 85 per cent (or such other percentage as the Directors, in consultation with the Manager, may select as part of the terms of issue of any C Shares) of the assets attributable to the holders of that tranche of C Shares are invested; (b) the issue of any proceedings challenging, or seeking to challenge, the power of the Company and/or its Directors to issue the C Shares of the relevant tranche with the rights proposed to be attached to them and/or to the persons to whom they are, and/or the terms upon which they are proposed to be issued; or (c) the giving of notice of any general meeting of the Company at which a resolution is to be proposed to wind-up the Company, whichever shall happen earliest;
"Group" means the Company and its subsidiary undertakings for the time being;
"Investment Policy" means the Company's published investment policy as in force from time to time;
"London Stock Exchange" means London Stock Exchange plc;
"Manager" means the alternative investment fund manager of the Company, as appointed from time to time;
"Member" means a member of the Company;
"month" means calendar month;
"Net Proceeds" means the net cash proceeds of the issue of C Shares of the relevant tranche (after deduction of those commissions and expenses relating thereto and payable by the Company);
"Non-Qualified Holder" means any holder of shares deemed as such by the Directors in accordance with Article 164.3 or Article 164.4;
"Office" means the registered office for the time being of the Company;
"Onerous Obligation" means any circumstances, including the application of any legislation or regulation, wheresoever enacted, which would or might, in the opinion of the Directors:
- (a) cause all or any portion of the Company's assets to be deemed to constitute "plan assets" of any US Plan Investor under the US Plan Asset Regulation;
- (b) cause all or any portion of the Company's assets to be deemed to constitute assets of any Other Plan Investor for purposes of any Similar Law;
- (c) cause the Company to be required to register as an "investment company" under the US Investment Company Act (including because the holder of the shares is not a Qualified Purchaser) or similar legislation, or to lose an exemption or status thereunder to which it might otherwise be entitled;
- (d) cause the Company (or, in relation to paragraph (d)(ii) herein, any of its appointed investment managers or investment advisers) to have to (i) register or qualify itself or any of the shares in the Company under the US Securities Act or the US Exchange Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, (ii) register as an "investment adviser" under the US Investment Advisers Act, or (iii) register or qualify itself or any of the shares in the Company under any similar legislation in any territory or jurisdiction;
- (e) cause the Company not to be considered a "foreign private issuer" as such term is defined in rule 3b-4(c) under the US Exchange Act;
- (f) cause the Company to be a "controlled foreign corporation" for the purposes of the US Tax Code;
- (g) cause the Company to become subject to any withholding tax or reporting obligation under FATCA or any similar legislation in any territory or jurisdiction (including the United Kingdom's International Tax Compliance Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/878)), or to be unable to avoid or reduce any such tax or to be unable to comply with any such reporting obligation (including by reason of the failure of the member concerned to provide promptly to the Company the Information (as defined in Article 164.1); or
- (h) cause a significant legal or regulatory issue for the Company under the US Bank Holding Company Act or regulations or interpretations thereunder;
"Other Plan Investor" means any governmental plan (within the meaning of Section 3(32) of ERISA, church plan (within the meaning of Section 3(33) of ERISA), non-U.S. plan (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other employee benefit plan that is subject to any Similar Law;
"Ordinary Shares" means the ordinary shares of EUR 0.01 each in the capital of the Company;
"paid up" includes credited as paid up;
"Plan Assets" means "plan assets" as defined in Section 3(42) of ERISA and any regulations promulgated thereunder;
"Prohibited Shares" means shares held by Non-Qualified Holders;
"properly authenticated dematerialised instruction" shall have the same meaning as in the Regulations;
"Qualified Purchaser" means a qualified purchaser as defined under Section 2(a)(51) of the US Investment Company Act;
"Register" means the register of members of the Company required to be kept by the Statutes;
"Regulations" means the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001;
"relevant system" shall have the same meaning as in the Regulations;
"Seal" means the common seal of the Company or any official or securities seal that the Company may have or be permitted to have under the Statutes;
"Secretary" includes a joint, deputy or assistant secretary, and any person appointed by the Directors to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company;
"Separate Account" means a separate internal account of the Group which the Directors may establish and cause to be maintained in accordance with these Articles;
"Similar Law" means any US federal, state or local laws or regulations, or non-US laws or regulations, similar to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the US Tax Code enacted or promulgated from time to time by the US or any other jurisdiction, or by any regulatory authority within the US or any other jurisdiction;
"Similar Report Law" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Article 164.1.
"Statutes" means the Companies Acts as defined by section 2 of the 2006 Act, and includes the Regulations, and every other statute or subordinate legislation for the time being in force concerning companies and affecting the Company;
"treasury shares" means qualifying shares (within the meaning of section 724(2) of the 2006 Act) held by the Company under section 724(3)(a) of the 2006 Act;
"United Kingdom" means Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
"US Bank Holding Company Act" means the US Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended;
"US Exchange Act" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
"US Investment Advisers Act" means the US Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
"US Investment Company Act" means the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
"US Plan Asset Regulation" means the US Department of Labor regulation codified at 29 CFR section 2510.3-101, as modified by section 3(42) of ERISA, or any successor regulation;
"US Plan Investor" means (a) any "employee benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA that is subject to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions of Title I of ERISA; (b) any "plan" that is subject to the prohibited transaction provisions of section 4975 of the US Tax Code (including individual retirement accounts); (c) any entity whose underlying assets include "plan assets" for the purposes of Title I of ERISA or section 4975 of the US Tax Code by reason of a plan's investment in the entity (including, as applicable, an insurance company general account, an insurance company separate account or a collective investment fund); or (d) any "benefit plan investor" as otherwise defined in the US Plan Asset Regulation;
"US Securities Act" means the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
"US Tax Code" means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and
"in writing" and "written" includes printing, lithography, typewriting, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, whether sent or supplied in electronic form, made available on a website or otherwise.
2.2 Nothing in these Articles shall preclude the holding and conducting of a meeting in such a way that persons who are not present together at the same place may by electronic means attend and speak and vote at it.
References to electronic facility mean a device, system, procedure, method or facility (including without limitation conference call systems, website addresses and application software) providing an electronic means of attendance at or participation in (or both attendance at and participation in) a general meeting determined by the Directors pursuant to Article 73.3.
References to a meeting mean a meeting convened and held in any manner permitted by these Articles, including without limitation a general meeting of the Company at which some or all persons entitled to be present attend and participate by means of electronic facility or facilities, and such persons shall be deemed to be present at that meeting for all purposes of the 2006 Act and these Articles and "attend" and "participate", "attending" and "participating" and "attendance" and "participation" shall be construed accordingly.
- 2.3 Words importing the singular number only shall include the plural, and vice versa.
- 2.4 Words importing the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender.
- 2.5 Words importing individuals and words importing persons shall include bodies corporate and unincorporated associations.
- 2.6 Any reference herein to the provisions of any statute or of any subordinate legislation shall include any amendment or re-enactment (with or without amendment) thereof for the time being in force.
- 2.7 Subject as aforesaid, and unless the context otherwise requires, words and expressions defined in the Statutes, or the Regulations, shall bear the same meanings in these Articles.
- 2.8 A special resolution shall be effective for any purpose for which an ordinary resolution is expressed to be required under any provision of these Articles.
- 2.9 References herein to a share being in uncertificated form are references to that share being an uncertificated unit of a security.
- 2.10 Headings to these Articles are for convenience only and shall not affect construction.
SHARES
3. Rights attaching to shares
Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any existing shares or class of shares, any share in the Company may be issued with such rights (including preferred, deferred or other special rights) or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise as the Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution determine (or, in the absence of any such determination, as the Directors may determine).
4. Separate Accounts
- 4.1 The Directors shall have the power to establish and maintain, with respect to shares of any class, a Separate Account, to record (purely as an internal accounting matter) the allocation, on a differentiated basis, of the assets and liabilities of the Group to the holders of shares of any such class in a manner consistent with the rights attaching to the shares.
- 4.2 The proceeds from the issue of shares of any class shall be applied in the books of the Group to the Separate Account and, subject to the provisions of these Articles, to no other Separate Account. In the event that the assets of a Separate Account referable to any class are exhausted, any and all rights which any Members referable to that class shall have no recourse against the assets of any other Separate Account established by the Group.
- 4.3 Where any asset is derived from another asset (whether cash or otherwise), such derivative asset shall be applied in the books of the Company to the same Separate Account as the asset from which it was derived, and on each revaluation of an asset the increase or diminution in value shall be applied to the same Separate Account and, subject to the provisions of these Articles, to no other Separate Account.
- 4.4 In the case of any asset or liability of the Group which the Directors do not consider is attributable to a particular Separate Account, the Directors shall have discretion to determine the basis upon which any such asset or liability shall be allocated between or among Separate Accounts.
- 4.5 The Directors may, in the books of the Company, allocate assets and liabilities to and from Separate Accounts if, as a result of a creditor proceeding against certain of the assets of the Group or otherwise, a liability would be borne in a different manner from that in which it would have been borne if applied under the foregoing Articles.
- 4.6 The Directors may from time to time transfer, allocate or exchange an asset or liability from one Separate Account to another Separate Account provided that at the time of such transfer, allocation or exchange the Directors form the opinion (in good faith) that the value in money or money's worth of each such asset or liability transferred, allocated or exchanged is not significantly less or more than the value in money or money's worth received by the Separate Account from which such asset or liability is transferred, allocated or exchanged.
5. Rights as to income
The holders of the Ordinary Shares, any tranche of C Shares and the Deferred Shares shall, subject to the provisions of these Articles, have the following rights to be paid dividends:
(a) the Deferred Shares (to the extent that any are in issue and extant) shall entitle the holders thereof to a non-cumulative dividend at a fixed rate of one per cent of the nominal amount thereof (the "Deferred Dividend") on the date six months after the Conversion Date on which such Deferred Shares were created in accordance with Article 9 (the "Relevant Conversion Date") and on each anniversary of such date payable to the holders thereof on the Register on that date as holders of Deferred Shares but shall confer no other right, save as provided herein, on the holders thereof to share in the profits of the Company. The Deferred Dividend shall not accrue or become payable in any way until the date six months after the Relevant Conversion Date and shall then only be payable to those holders of Deferred Shares registered in the Register of the Company as holders of Deferred Shares on that date;
- (b) the holders of any tranche of C Shares shall be entitled to receive in that capacity such dividends as the Directors may resolve to pay out of the net assets attributable to the C Shares of that tranche and from profits available for distribution which is attributable to the C Shares of that tranche;
- (c) the Existing Ordinary Shares shall confer the right to dividends declared in accordance with these Articles;
- (d) the Ordinary Shares into which any tranche of C Shares shall convert shall rank pari passu with the Existing Ordinary Shares for dividends and other distributions made or declared by reference to a record date falling after the relevant Calculation Date; and
- (e) no dividend or other distribution shall be made or paid by the Company on any of its shares (other than any Deferred Shares for the time being in issue) between any Calculation Date and the Conversion Date in respect of a tranche of C Shares (both dates inclusive) and no such dividend shall be declared with a record date falling between any Calculation Date and the Conversion Date (both dates inclusive).
6. Rights as to capital
- 6.1 The holders of the Ordinary Shares, any tranche of C Shares and the Deferred Shares shall, subject to the provisions of these Articles, have the following rights as to capital:
- (a) the surplus capital and assets of the Company shall, on a winding-up or on a return of capital (otherwise than on a purchase or redemption by the Company of any of its shares) at a time when one or more tranches of C Shares are for the time being in issue and prior to the Conversion Date, be applied as follows:
- (i) firstly, an amount equivalent to (C D) for each tranche of C Shares in issue using the methods of calculation of C and D given in the definition of Conversion Ratio, which amount(s) shall be applied amongst the C Shareholders of the relevant tranche(s) pro rata according to the nominal capital paid up on their holdings of C Shares of the relevant tranche; and
- (ii) secondly, if there are Deferred Shares in issue, in paying to the holders of Deferred Shares EUR 0.01 in aggregate in respect of every one million Deferred Shares (or part thereof) of which they are respectively the holders; and
- (iii) thirdly, amongst the holders of the Existing Ordinary Shares pro rata according to the nominal capital paid up on their holdings of Existing Ordinary Shares;
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(b) the surplus capital and assets of the Company shall on a winding-up or on a return of capital (otherwise than on a purchase or redemption by the Company of any of its shares) at a time when no C Shares of any tranche are for the time being in issue be applied as follows:
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(i) firstly, if there are Deferred Shares in issue, in paying to the Deferred Shareholders EUR 0.01 in aggregate in respect of every one million Deferred Shares (or part thereof) of which they are respectively the holders; and
- (ii) secondly, the surplus shall be divided amongst the holders of Ordinary Shares pro rata according to the nominal capital paid up on their holdings of Ordinary Shares.
- 6.2 For the purposes of this Article 6, the "Calculation Date" shall be such date as the liquidator may determine.
7. Rights as to voting
The holders of the Ordinary Shares, any tranche of C Shares and the Deferred Shares shall, subject to the provisions of these Articles, have the following rights as to voting and attendance at general meetings of the Company:
- (a) the holders of Ordinary Shares and any tranche of C Shares shall have the right to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, any general meeting of the Company. The voting rights of holders of C Shares will be the same as those applying to holders of Ordinary Shares as if the C Shares and Ordinary Shares were a single class; and
- (b) the Deferred Shares shall not carry any right to receive notice of, nor to attend or vote at, any general meeting of the Company.
8. C Shares: further provisions
- 8.1 If there are in issue at the same time C Shares carrying different rights, each shall be deemed to be a separate tranche of shares. The Directors may, if they so decide, designate each tranche of C Shares in such manner as it sees fit in order that each tranche of C Shares can be separately identified.
- 8.2 Without prejudice to the generality of these Articles, for so long as any C Shares are for the time being in issue it shall be a special right attaching to the Existing Ordinary Shares as a class and to the C Shares as a separate class that without the sanction or consent of such holders given in accordance with these Articles:
- (a) no alteration shall be made to the Articles of Association; and
- (b) no resolution of the Company shall be passed to wind-up the Company.
- 8.3 For the avoidance of doubt, the previous sanction of a special resolution of the holders of Existing Ordinary Shares and/or any tranche of C Shares and/or Deferred Shares shall not be required (and the special rights of any such shares shall be deemed not to be varied by) in respect of:
- (a) the issue of further Ordinary Shares ranking pari passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares (otherwise than in respect of any dividend or other distribution declared, paid or made on the Existing Ordinary Shares) or of any further tranche of C Shares); or
- (b) the sale of any shares held as treasury shares (as such term is defined in section 724 of the 2006 Act) in accordance with sections 727 and 731 of the 2006 Act; or
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(c) the purchase or redemption of any shares by the Company (whether or not such shares are to be held in treasury).
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8.4 For so long as any tranche of C Shares are for the time being in issue, until Conversion of such tranche of C Shares and without prejudice to its obligations under applicable laws, the Company shall:
- (a) procure that the Company's records, and bank and custody accounts shall be operated so that the assets attributable to the C Shares of that tranche can, at all times, be separately identified and, in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall procure that separate cash accounts, broker and other settlement accounts and investment ledger accounts shall be created and maintained in the books of the Company for the assets attributable to the C Shares of that tranche;
- (b) allocate to the assets attributable to the C Shares of that tranche such proportion of the income, expenses and liabilities of the Company incurred or accrued between the date on which the Company first receives the Net Proceeds and the Calculation Date relating to such tranche of C Shares (both dates inclusive) as the Directors fairly consider to be attributable to that tranche of C Shares; and
- (c) give appropriate instructions to the Manager to manage the Company's assets so that such undertakings can be complied with by the Company.
9. Conversion of C Shares
- 9.1 In relation to any tranche of C Shares, the C Shares for the time being in issue of that tranche shall be sub-divided and converted into Ordinary Shares and Deferred Shares on the relevant Conversion Date in accordance with the following provisions:
- (a) the Directors shall procure that within 10 Business Days of the relevant Calculation Date (or such other period as the Directors may determine):
- (i) the Conversion Ratio as at the relevant Calculation Date and the numbers of Ordinary Shares and Deferred Shares to which each C Shareholder of that tranche shall be entitled on Conversion of that tranche shall be calculated; and
- (ii) the auditors shall be requested to confirm that such calculations as have been made by the Company have, in their opinion, been performed in accordance with these Articles and are arithmetically accurate whereupon such calculations shall become final and binding on the Company and all holders of the Company's shares and any other securities issued by the Company that are convertible into the Company's shares, subject to the proviso immediately after the definition of "H" in the definition of Conversion Ratio.
- (b) The Directors shall procure that, as soon as practicable following such confirmation and in any event within 10 Business Days of the relevant Calculation Date, a notice is sent to each C Shareholder of the relevant tranche advising such C Shareholder of the Conversion Date, the Conversion Ratio and the numbers of Ordinary Shares and Deferred Shares to which such C Shareholder will be entitled on Conversion.
- (c) On Conversion, each C Share of the relevant tranche shall automatically be subdivided and converted into such number of Ordinary Shares (having the same rights and being subject to the same restrictions as the Existing Ordinary Shares) and Deferred Shares (having the rights and being subject to the restrictions set out in these Articles) as shall be necessary to ensure that, upon such Conversion being completed:
- (i) the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares into which the C Shares of the relevant tranche in issue on the relevant Calculation Date are converted
equals such number of C Shares of the relevant tranche in issue on the relevant Calculation Date multiplied by the relevant Conversion Ratio (rounded down to the nearest whole new Ordinary Share); and
- (ii) each share resulting from such sub-division which does not so convert into an Ordinary Share shall convert into one Deferred Share.
- (d) The Ordinary Shares and Deferred Shares arising upon Conversion shall be divided amongst the former C Shareholders of the relevant tranche pro rata according to their respective former holdings of C Shares of the relevant tranche (provided always that the Directors may deal in such manner as they think fit with fractional entitlements to Ordinary Shares and Deferred Shares arising upon Conversion and the provisions of Article 62 shall apply.
- (e) Forthwith upon Conversion, the share certificates relating to the C Shares of the relevant tranche shall be cancelled and the Company shall issue to each former C Shareholder of the relevant tranche new certificates in respect of the Ordinary Shares which have arisen upon Conversion to which he or she is entitled unless such Ordinary Shares are held in uncertificated form. Share certificates in respect of the Deferred Shares will not be issued.
- (f) The Directors may make such adjustments to the terms and timing of Conversion as they in their discretion consider are fair and reasonable having regard to the interests of all shareholders.
10. Redemption of shares
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, any shares may be issued which are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the shareholder. The terms and conditions and manner of redemption may be determined by the Directors provided that this is done before the shares are allotted.
11. Deferred Shares: further provisions
The following provisions shall apply to the Deferred Shares:
- (a) the C Shares shall be issued on such terms that the Deferred Shares arising upon Conversion (but not the Ordinary Shares arising on Conversion) may be redeemed by the Company in accordance with the terms set out herein;
- (b) at any time after Conversion of any tranche of C Shares, the Company may, at the option of the Company, redeem all of the Deferred Shares which arise as a result of Conversion of that tranche for an aggregate consideration of EUR 0.01 for all of the Deferred Shares so redeemed and (if the Directors so resolve prior to its despatch) the notice referred to in Article 9.1(b) shall be deemed to constitute notice to each C Shareholder of the relevant tranche (and any person or persons having rights to acquire or acquiring C Shares of the relevant tranche on or after the Calculation Date) that the Deferred Shares shall be so redeemed;
- (c) the Company shall not be obliged to issue share certificates to the Deferred Shareholders in respect of the Deferred Shares and the Company may pay to any one Deferred Shareholder the redemption monies in respect of all such Deferred Shares;
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(d) the Deferred Shares shall not be capable of transfer at any time other than with the prior written consent of the Directors and the Directors shall have the right to refuse to register any transfer undertaken without their prior written consent;
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(e) The Company may at its option and is irrevocably authorised at any time after the creation of the Deferred Shares to:
- (i) appoint any person to act on behalf of any or all holder(s) of a Deferred Share(s), without obtaining the sanction of the holder(s), to transfer any or all of such shares held by such holder(s) for nil consideration to any person appointed by the Directors;
- (ii) without obtaining the sanction of the holder(s), but subject to the Statutes:
- (A) purchase any or all of the Deferred Shares then in issue and to appoint any person to act on behalf of all holders of Deferred Shares to transfer and to execute a contract of sale and a transfer of all the Deferred Shares to the Company for an aggregate consideration of EUR 0.01 payable to one of the holders of Deferred Shares to be selected by lot (who shall not be required to account to the holders of the other Deferred Shares in respect of such consideration); and
- (B) cancel any Deferred Share without making any payment to the holder.
- (f) any offer by the Company to purchase the Deferred Shares may be made by the Directors depositing at the Office a notice addressed to such person as the Directors shall have nominated on behalf of the holders of the Deferred Shares.
12. Purchase of shares
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company may purchase any of its own shares (including any redeemable shares).
13. Financial assistance
The Company shall not give any financial assistance for the acquisition of shares in the Company except and in so far as permitted by the Statutes.
14. Allotment at a discount
The shares of the Company shall not be allotted at a discount and save as permitted by the Statutes shall not be allotted except as paid up at least as to one-quarter of their nominal value and the whole of any premium thereon.
15. Payment of commission and brokerage
The Company may exercise the powers of paying commissions conferred by the Statutes to the full extent thereby permitted. Such commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or partly in one way and partly in the other. The Company may also on any issue of shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.
16. Allotment of shares
Save as otherwise provided in the Statutes or in these Articles, the Directors may allot (with or without conferring a right of renunciation), grant options over, offer or otherwise deal with or dispose of shares in the Company to such persons at such times and generally on such terms and conditions as they may determine. The Directors may at any time after the allotment of any share but before any person has been entered in the Register as the holder, recognise a renunciation thereof by the allottee in favour of some other person and may accord to any allottee of a share a right to effect such renunciation upon and subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may think fit to impose.
17. Recognition of trusts
Except as required by law or pursuant to the provisions of these Articles, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon any trust, and (except only as by these Articles or by law otherwise provided or under an order of a court of competent jurisdiction) the Company shall not be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or any interest in any fractional part of a share or any other rights in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder.
SHARE CERTIFICATES
18. Uncertificated shares
- 18.1 Unless otherwise determined by the Directors and permitted by the Regulations, no person shall be entitled to receive a certificate in respect of any share for so long as the title to that share is evidenced otherwise than by a certificate and for so long as transfers of that share may be made otherwise than by a written instrument by virtue of the Regulations. Notwithstanding any provisions of these Articles, the Directors shall have power to implement any arrangements they may, in their absolute discretion, think fit in relation to the evidencing of title to and transfer of an uncertificated share (subject always to the Regulations and the facilities and requirements of the relevant system concerned). No provision of these Articles shall apply or have effect to the extent that it is in any respect inconsistent with the holding of shares in uncertificated form.
- 18.2 Conversion of a certificated share into an uncertificated share, and vice versa, may be made in such manner as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, think fit (subject always to the Regulations and the facilities and requirements of the relevant system concerned).
- 18.3 The Company shall enter on the Register how many shares are held by each Member in uncertificated form and in certificated form and shall maintain the Register in each case as required by the Regulations and the relevant system concerned. Unless the Directors otherwise determine, holdings of the same holder or joint holders in certificated form and uncertificated form shall be treated as separate holdings.
- 18.4 A class of share shall not be treated as two classes by virtue only of that class comprising both certificated shares and uncertificated shares or as a result of any provision of these Articles or the Regulations which applies only in respect of certificated or uncertificated shares.
- 18.5 The Company shall be entitled, in accordance with regulation 32(2)(c) of the Regulations, to require the conversion of an uncertificated share into certificated form to enable it to deal with that share in accordance with any provision in these Articles, including in particular, Articles 9, 56 to 58, 62 and 82.
- 18.6 The provisions of Articles 19 to 22 inclusive shall not apply to uncertificated shares.
19. Share certificates and right to share certificates
19.1 Every share certificate shall be executed under a seal or in such other manner as the Directors may authorise, and shall specify the number and class and the distinguishing number (if any) of the shares to which it relates and the amount paid up thereon. No certificate shall be issued relating to shares of more than one class. The Directors may by resolution decide, either generally or in any particular case or cases, that any signatures on any share certificates need not be autographic but may be applied to the certificates by some mechanical or electronic or other means or may be printed on them or that the certificates need not be signed by any person.
19.2 Subject to Article 18, every person (other than a recognised clearing house (within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) or a nominee of a recognised clearing house or of a recognised investment exchange (within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in respect of whom the Company is not by law required to complete and have ready for delivery a certificate) upon becoming the holder of a certificated share and whose name is entered as a Member on the Register shall be entitled without payment to receive within two months after allotment or lodgement of transfer (or within such other period as the conditions of issue shall provide) one certificate for all the certificated shares registered in his name or, in the case of shares of more than one class being registered in his name, a separate certificate for each class of certificated share so registered, and where a Member (except such a clearing house or nominee) transfers part of the shares of any class registered in his name he shall be entitled without payment to one certificate for the balance of certificated shares of that class retained by him. If a Member shall require additional certificates he shall pay for each additional certificate such reasonable sum (if any) as the Directors may determine.
20. Share certificate of joint holders
In respect of certificated shares of one class held jointly by more than one person the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate, and delivery of a certificate for such shares to one of the joint holders of such shares shall be sufficient delivery to all such holders.
21. Replacement of share certificates
If any certificate be defaced then upon delivery thereof to the Directors they may order the same to be cancelled and may issue a new certificate in lieu thereof; and if any certificate be worn out, lost or destroyed, then upon proof thereof to the satisfaction of the Directors and on such indemnity with or without security as the Directors deem adequate being given, a new certificate in lieu thereof shall be given to the party entitled to such worn out, lost or destroyed certificate.
22. Payment for share certificates
Every certificate issued under the last preceding Article shall be issued without payment, but there shall be paid to the Company such exceptional out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in connection with the request (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the investigation of such request and the preparation and execution of any such indemnity or security) as the Directors think fit.
VARIATION OF RIGHTS
23. Variation of class rights
The rights attached to any class of shares or any of such rights may, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be abrogated or varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least three-quarters in nominal value of the issued shares of that class (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares), or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.
24. Separate general meetings
To every such separate general meeting the provisions of chapter 3 of part 13 of the 2006 Act (save as stated in section 334(2) to (3)) and the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall, mutatis mutandis, so far as applicable apply, subject to the following provisions, namely:
- 24.1 the necessary quorum at any such meeting, other than an adjourned meeting, shall be two persons present holding at least one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class in question (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares) and at an adjourned meeting one person present holding shares of the class in question; and
- 24.2 any holder of shares of the class in question present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.
For the purposes of Article 24.1 above, where a person is present by proxy or proxies, he is treated as holding only the shares in respect of which those proxies are authorised to exercise voting rights.
25. Issues of further shares
The rights attached to any class of shares shall, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class or by the terms upon which such shares are for the time being held, be deemed not to be abrogated or varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith.
CALLS ON SHARES
26. Calls
The Directors may, subject to the terms of allotment thereof, from time to time make such calls upon the Members as they think fit in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium) and each Member shall (subject to the Company serving on him at least 14 days' notice specifying the time or times and place of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times and place so specified the amount called on his shares. A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Directors may determine. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for all calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect of which the call was made.
27. Timing and payment of calls
A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising the call was passed and may be required to be paid by instalments.
28. Liability of joint holders
The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.
29. Interest due on non-payment of calls
If a sum payable in respect of any call or instalment is not paid on or before the day appointed for payment thereof, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the sum at such rate, not exceeding 15 per cent per annum, as the Directors may determine from the day appointed for the payment thereof until the actual payment thereof, and all expenses that may have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment; but the Directors may, if they shall think fit, waive the payment of such interest and expenses or any part thereof.
30. Deemed calls
Any sum which by the terms of issue of a share becomes payable on allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium, shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made and payable on the date on which by the terms of issue the same becomes payable, and in case of nonpayment all the relevant provisions of these Articles as to payment of interest and expenses, forfeiture or otherwise shall apply as if such sum had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.
31. Power to differentiate between holders
The Directors may, on the issue of shares, differentiate between the holders of such shares as regards the amounts of calls to be paid and the times of payment of such calls.
32. Payment of calls in advance
The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Member willing to advance the same all or any part of the monies, whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium, uncalled and unpaid upon any shares held by him; and upon all or any of the monies so paid in advance the Directors 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) 12 per cent per annum, as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such monies in advance.
FORFEITURE AND LIEN
33. Notice if call or instalment not paid
If any Member fails to pay any call or instalment in full on or before the day appointed for payment thereof, the Directors may, at any time thereafter, serve a notice on him requiring him to pay so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such nonpayment.
34. Form of notice
The notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of 14 days from the date of service of the notice) on or before which, and the place where, such call or instalment and such interest and expenses as aforesaid are to be paid. The notice shall also state that in the event of non-payment at or before the time and at the place appointed, the shares in respect of which such call or instalment is payable will be liable to be forfeited.
35. Forfeiture for non-compliance
If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any share in respect of which such notice has been given may at any time after the day specified in such notice, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect. Such forfeiture shall extend to all dividends declared and other monies payable in respect of the shares so forfeited and not actually paid before such forfeiture. Forfeiture shall be deemed to occur at the time of the passing of the said resolution of the Directors. The Directors may accept a surrender of any share liable to be forfeited hereunder upon such terms and conditions as they think fit.
36. Notice after forfeiture
When any share has been forfeited notice of the forfeiture shall be served upon the person who was before forfeiture the holder of the share, or any person entitled to the share by transmission, and an entry of the forfeiture or surrender, with the date thereof, shall forthwith be made in the Register, but no forfeiture or surrender shall be invalidated by any failure to give such notice or make such entry as aforesaid.
37. Disposal of forfeited shares
A share so forfeited or surrendered shall be deemed to be the property of the Company, and may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of either to the person who was, before forfeiture, the holder or to any other person in such manner, either subject to or discharged from all calls made or instalments due prior to the forfeiture or surrender, as the Directors think fit, provided that the Company shall not exercise any voting rights in respect of such share and any such share not disposed of in accordance with the foregoing within a period of three years from the date of its forfeiture or surrender shall thereupon be cancelled in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes. For the purpose of giving effect to any such sale or other disposition the Directors may authorise some person to transfer the share so sold or otherwise disposed of to, or in accordance with the directions of, the buyer thereof or other person becoming entitled thereto.
38. Annulment of forfeiture
The Directors may, at any time before any share so forfeited or surrendered shall have been cancelled or sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of, annul the forfeiture or surrender upon such terms as they think fit.
39. Continuing liability
Any person whose shares have been forfeited or surrendered shall cease to be a Member in respect of those shares and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the forfeited or surrendered shares, but shall, notwithstanding such forfeiture or surrender, remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which, at the date of the forfeiture or surrender, were payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares, together with interest thereon at such rate, not exceeding 15 per cent per annum, as the Directors may determine from the time of forfeiture or surrender until the time of payment, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all such monies in respect of the shares, together with interest as aforesaid. The Directors may, if they shall think fit, waive the payment of such interest or any part thereof. The Company may enforce payment of such monies without being under any obligation to make any allowance for the value of the shares forfeited or surrendered or for any consideration received on their disposal.
40. Lien on partly-paid shares
The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully-paid share) for all monies (whether presently payable or not) called or payable at a fixed time in respect of such share; but the Directors may at any time waive any lien which has arisen and may declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The Company's lien, if any, on a share shall extend to all amounts payable in respect of it.
41. Enforcement of lien by sale
The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any share on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, nor until the expiration of 14 days after a notice in writing (i) stating, and demanding payment of, the sum presently payable, and (ii) giving notice of intention to sell in default of such payment, has been given to the registered holder for the time being of the share, or the person entitled thereto by reason of his death or bankruptcy or otherwise by operation of law.
42. Application of sale proceeds
The net proceeds of such sale, after payment of the costs thereof, shall be applied in or towards satisfaction of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable. The residue, if any, shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the shares at the date of sale. For giving effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise some person to transfer the shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the buyer.
43. Statutory declaration
A statutory declaration in writing that the declarant is a Director or the Secretary of the Company, and that a share has been duly forfeited or surrendered or sold to satisfy a lien of the Company on a date stated in the declaration, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated therein against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. Such declaration and the receipt of the Company for the consideration (if any) given for the share on the sale, re-allotment or disposal thereof, together with, in the case of certificated shares, the share certificate delivered to a buyer or allottee thereof, shall (subject to the execution of a transfer if the same be required) constitute a good title to the share and the person to whom the share is sold, re-allotted or disposed of shall be registered as the holder of the share and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money (if any) nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the forfeiture, surrender, sale, re-allotment or disposal of the share.
TRANSFER OF SHARES
44. Transfers of uncertificated shares
All transfers of uncertificated shares shall be made in accordance with and be subject to the provisions of the Regulations and the facilities and requirements of the relevant system and, subject thereto, in accordance with any arrangements made by the Directors pursuant to Article 18.1.
45. Form of transfer
- 45.1 All transfers of certificated shares shall be effected by instrument in writing in any usual or common form or any other form which the Directors may approve.
- 45.2 The instrument of transfer of any certificated share in the Company shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor (and, in the case of a share which is not fully paid, shall also be signed by or on behalf of the transferee). In relation to the transfer of any share (whether a certificated or an uncertificated share) 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.
46. Right to decline registration
Subject to Article 82 and the provisions of the Statutes, the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, refuse to register any transfer of any share which is not a fully-paid share (whether certificated or uncertificated) provided that, where any such shares are admitted to the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority or admitted to AIM such discretion may not be exercised in a way which the Financial Conduct Authority or the London Stock Exchange regards as preventing dealings in the shares of the relevant class or classes from taking place on an open and proper basis. The Directors may likewise refuse to register any transfer of a share (whether certificated or uncertificated), whether fully-paid or not, in favour of more than four persons jointly.
47. Further rights to decline registration
47.1 In relation to a certificated share, the Directors may decline to recognise any instrument of transfer unless:
- (a) the instrument of transfer is left at the Office, or at such other place as the Directors may from time to time determine, accompanied (save in the case of a transfer by a person to whom the Company is not required by law to issue a certificate and to whom a certificate has not been issued) by the certificate(s) of the shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors 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
- (b) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share.
- 47.2 In relation to an uncertificated share, the Directors may decline to register a transfer in the circumstances set out in the Regulations, and the facilities and requirements of the relevant system.
48. Notice of refusal to register
If the Directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, in the case of certificated shares, within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company, send to the transferee notice of the refusal and (except in the case of fraud) return to him the instrument of transfer or, in the case of uncertificated shares, notify such person as may be required by the Regulations and the requirements of the relevant system concerned.
49. Retention of instruments of transfer
All instruments of transfer which are registered may be retained by the Company.
50. No fee for registration
No fee shall be charged by the Company on the registration of any instrument of transfer, probate, letters of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney, renunciation of a renounceable letter of allotment, stop notice or other document or instruction relating to or affecting the title to any shares or otherwise for making any entry in the Register affecting the title to any shares.
51. Destruction of documents
The Company shall be entitled to destroy:
- 51.1 any instrument of transfer (which phrase, together with references to documents, shall for the purposes of this Article 51 include electronically generated or stored communications in relation to the transfer of uncertificated shares and any electronic or tangible copies of the same) or other document which has been registered, or on the basis of which registration was made, at any time after the expiration of six years from the date of registration thereof;
- 51.2 any dividend mandate or any variation or cancellation thereof or any notification of change of address (which shall include, in relation to communications in electronic form, any number or address used for the purposes of such communications), at any time after the expiration of two years from the date of recording thereof;
- 51.3 any share certificate which has been cancelled, at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of such cancellation; and
- 51.4 any proxy form, after one year from the date it was used if it was used for a poll, or after one month from the end of the meeting to which it relates if it was not used for a poll;
and it shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the Register purporting to have been made on the basis of an instrument of transfer or other document so destroyed was duly and properly made, that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered, that every share certificate so destroyed was a valid certificate duly and properly cancelled and that every other document destroyed hereunder was a valid and effective document in accordance with the recorded particulars thereof in the books or records of the Company, provided always that:
- (a) the provisions aforesaid 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 any claim (regardless of the parties thereto);
- (b) nothing contained in this Article 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 (a) above are not fulfilled;
- (c) references in this Article to instruments of transfer shall include, in relation to uncertificated shares, instructions and/or notifications made in accordance with the relevant system concerned relating to the transfer of such shares;
- (d) references in this Article to the destruction of any document include references to its disposal in any manner; and
- (e) in relation to uncertificated shares, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the extent the same are consistent with the Regulations.
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
52. Transmission on death
In case of the death of a Member, the survivor or survivors where the deceased was a joint holder, and the legal personal representatives of the deceased where he was a sole or only surviving holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his interest in the shares; but nothing herein contained shall release the estate of a deceased Member from any liability in respect of any share which had been solely or jointly held by him.
53. Person entitled by transmission
Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member or otherwise by operation of law may, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time properly be required by the Directors and subject as hereinafter provided, elect either to be registered himself as holder of the share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the transferee thereof, but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the share by the Member registered as the holder of any such share before his death or bankruptcy or other event, as the case may be.
54. Restrictions on election
If the person so becoming entitled shall elect to be registered himself, he shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him stating that he so elects. If he shall elect to have another person registered he shall testify his election by executing to that person a transfer of the share. All the limitations, restrictions and provisions of these Articles relating to the right to transfer and the registration of transfers of shares shall be applicable to any such notice or transfer as aforesaid as if the death or bankruptcy of the Member or other event had not occurred and the notice or transfer were a transfer signed by the Member registered as the holder of any such share.
55. Rights of persons entitled by transmission
A person becoming entitled to a share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the holder or otherwise by operation of law shall, upon supplying to the Company such evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show his title to the share, be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the share, except that he shall not, before being registered as a Member in respect of the share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company (including meetings of the holders of any class of shares in the Company), provided always that the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the share, and, if the notice is not complied with within 60 days, the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.
UNTRACED SHAREHOLDERS
56. Power to sell shares
The Company shall be entitled to sell, at the best price reasonably obtainable at the time of sale, any share of a Member or any share to which a person is entitled by transmission if and provided that:
- 56.1 for a period of 12 years no cheque, warrant or order sent by the Company in the manner authorised by these Articles in respect of the share in question has been cashed and no communication has been received by the Company from the Member or the person entitled by transmission; provided that, in such period of 12 years, at least three dividends whether interim or final on or in respect of the share in question have become payable and no such dividend during that period has been claimed; and
- 56.2 the Company has, on or after expiration of the said period of 12 years, by advertisement in both a national newspaper and a newspaper circulating in the area in which the last known address of the Member or the address at which service of notices may be effected in the manner authorised in accordance with the provisions of these Articles is located, given notice of its intention to sell such share (but so that such advertisements need not refer to the names of the holder(s) of the share or identify the share in question); and
- 56.3 the Company has not, during the further period of three months after the publication of such advertisements and prior to the exercise of the power of sale, received any communication from the Member or person entitled by transmission; and
- 56.4 if the shares are admitted to the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority or admitted to AIM, the Company has given notice to a Regulatory Information Service (as defined in the Financial Conduct Authority Listing Rules) of its intention to sell such shares.
57. Power to sell further shares
If, during any 12 year period or three month period referred to in Articles 49.1 and 49.3 of the preceding Article, further shares have been issued in respect of those held at the beginning of such 12 year period or of any subsequently issued during such periods and all the other requirements of such Article have been satisfied in respect of the further shares, the Company may also sell such further shares.
58. Authority to effect sale
To give effect to any sale pursuant to the previous two Articles, the Directors may authorise any person to execute as transferor an instrument of transfer of the said share and such instrument of transfer shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the registered holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, such share. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase monies and the title of the transferee shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating thereto. The net proceeds of sale shall belong to the Company which shall be obliged to account to the former Member or other person previously entitled as aforesaid for an amount equal to such proceeds and shall enter the name of such former Member or other person in the books of the Company as a creditor for such amount.
59. No trust
No trust shall be created in respect of the debt, no interest shall be payable in respect of the same and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned on the net proceeds, which may be employed in the business of the Company or invested in such investments (other than shares of the Company or its holding company (if any)) as the Directors may from time to time think fit.
60. Authority to cease sending cheques
If either (i) on two consecutive occasions cheques, warrants or orders in payment of dividends or other monies payable in respect of any share have been sent through the post or otherwise in accordance with the provisions of these Articles but have been returned undelivered or left uncashed during the periods for which the same are valid or any transfer by bank or other funds transfer system has not been satisfied; or (ii) following one such occasion reasonable enquiries have failed to establish any new postal address of the registered holder; the Company need not thereafter despatch further cheques, warrants or orders and need not thereafter transfer any sum (as the case may be) in payment of dividends or other monies payable in respect of the share in question until the Member or other person entitled thereto shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing to the Office an address for the purpose.
ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
61. Consolidation and sub-division
The Company may subject to the passing of a resolution authorising it to do so in accordance with the 2006 Act:
- 61.1 consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of a larger nominal amount than its existing shares;
- 61.2 sub-divide its shares or any of them into shares of smaller nominal amount, provided that:
- (a) in the sub-division, consolidation or division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each resulting share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which that share is derived; and
- (b) the resolution pursuant to which any share is sub-divided may determine that as between the resulting shares one or more of such shares may be given any preference or advantage or be subject to any restriction as regards dividend, capital, voting or otherwise over the others or any other of such shares.
62. Fractions of shares
Subject to any direction by the Company in general meeting, whenever as the result of any consolidation or division of shares Members of the Company are entitled to any issued shares of the Company in fractions, the Directors may deal with such fractions as they shall determine and in particular may sell the shares to which Members are so entitled in fractions to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company) and pay and distribute to and amongst the Members entitled to such shares in due proportions the net proceeds of the sales thereof save for individual entitlements (net of expenses) not exceeding £3 which may be retained for the benefit of the Company. For the purpose of giving effect to any such sale the Directors may, in respect of certificated shares, nominate some person to execute a transfer of the shares sold on behalf of the Members so entitled to, or, in respect of uncertificated shares, nominate any person to transfer such shares in accordance with the facilities and requirements of the relevant system concerned or make such other arrangements as are compatible with the relevant system concerned or, in either case, in accordance with the directions of the buyer thereof and may cause the name of the transferee(s) to be entered in the Register as the holder(s) of the shares comprised in any such transfer, and such transferee(s) shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall such transferee's(s') title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale. For the purposes of this Article, any shares representing fractional entitlements to which any Member would, but for this Article, become entitled may be issued in certificated form or uncertificated form.
63. Reduction of share capital
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company may by special resolution reduce its share capital, any capital redemption reserve, any share premium account and any redenomination reserve in any way.
GENERAL MEETINGS
64. Annual general meeting
The Company shall in accordance with the Statutes, hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place (including, any alternative means of participation and attendance as referred to in Article 65.2) as the Directors shall appoint.
65. Convening of general meetings
- 65.1 The Directors may, whenever they think fit, convene a general meeting, and general meetings shall also be convened on such requisition, or, in default, may be convened by such requisitionists, as provided by the Statutes.
- 65.2 The Directors shall determine in relation to each general meeting any alternative means of attendance at and participation in the meeting, including whether the persons entitled to attend and participate in the general meeting shall be enabled to do so by simultaneous attendance and participation at a satellite meeting place or places in accordance with Article 73.1 anywhere in the world determined by them, and/or by means of electronic facility or facilities determined by them in accordance with Article 73.3.
66. No quorum
If at any time there are not within the United Kingdom sufficient Directors capable of acting to form a quorum, the Directors in the United Kingdom capable of acting may convene a general meeting in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which meetings may be convened by the Directors.
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
67. Length and form of notice
An annual general meeting shall be called by not less than 21 clear days' notice, and a meeting of the Company other than an annual general meeting shall be called by not less than 14 clear days' notice. If the Company is a traded company (as defined in section 360C of the 2006 Act), the provisions of section 307A must be complied with if the meeting is to be called by less than 21 clear days' notice, unless the meeting is of holders of a class of shares. The notice shall state the place (including the place of any satellite meeting determined by the Board pursuant to Article 73.1), the date and the time of meeting and the general nature of that business and shall specify any means of attendance and participation determined by the Directors pursuant to Article 73.3. It shall be given, in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by the Statutes or by the Company in general meeting, to such persons as are entitled to receive such notices from the Company and shall comply with the provisions of the Statutes as to informing Members of their right to appoint proxies. If on three consecutive occasions any notice, document or other information have been sent or supplied (whether through the post or in electronic form) to any Member at his registered address or his address for the service of notices but have been returned undelivered (in the case of an item sent or supplied in electronic form, it will be treated as undelivered if the Company receives notification that it was not delivered to the address to which it was sent), such Member shall not thereafter be entitled to receive notices, documents or information from the Company until he shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing to the Office a new registered address or address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices, documents and information. A notice calling an annual general meeting shall state that the meeting is an annual general meeting and a notice convening a meeting to pass a special resolution shall specify the intention to propose the resolution as such and shall include the text of the resolution.
68. Short notice
A meeting of the Company shall, notwithstanding that it is called by shorter notice than that specified in the last preceding Article, be deemed to have been duly called if it is so agreed:
- 68.1 in the case of a meeting called as the annual general meeting, by all the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and
- 68.2 in the case of any other meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than 95 per cent in nominal value of the shares giving that right (excluding any shares in the Company held as treasury shares).
This Article 68 does not apply to general meetings (other than meetings of holders of a class of shares) of a traded company (as defined in section 360C of the 2006 Act).
69. Omission or non-receipt of notice of resolution or meeting or proxy
The accidental failure to give notice of a meeting, or of a resolution intended to be moved at a meeting, or to issue an invitation to appoint a proxy with a notice where required by these Articles, to any one or more persons entitled to receive notice, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting or of such a resolution or of an invitation to appoint a proxy by any such persons, shall be disregarded for the purpose of determining whether notice of the meeting or of any resolution to be moved at the meeting is duly given.
70. Postponement of general meetings
If the Directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is impractical or unreasonable for any reason to hold a general meeting on the date or at the time or place (including any satellite meeting place to which Article 73.1 applies) or by means of an electronic facility or facilities specified in the notice calling the general meeting, they may change any such place and/or electronic facility or facilities and/or postpone the meeting. When a meeting is so postponed or any place or electronic facility is changed, an announcement of the date, time, place(s) and/or electronic facility(ies) as applicable for the rearranged meeting shall, if practicable, be placed in at least two national newspapers in the United Kingdom. Notice of the business to be transacted at such postponed meeting shall not be required. If a meeting is rearranged in this way, proxy forms are valid if they are received as required by these Articles not less than 48 hours before the time of the rearranged meeting The Directors may further change any such place(s) and/or electronic facility(ies) and/or postpone any rearranged meeting under this Article.
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
71. Quorum
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business; save as herein otherwise provided, two Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum. The appointment of a chairman of the meeting in accordance with the provisions of these Articles shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting.
72. Procedure if quorum not present
If within five minutes (or such longer time as the chairman of the meeting may decide) from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, or if during the meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting, if convened by or upon the requisition of Members, shall be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to such day, time, place (including, if relevant, any satellite meeting place pursuant to Article 73.1) and with such means of attendance and participation (including, if relevant, any electronic facility pursuant to Article 73.3) as the chairman of the meeting shall appoint (save that if the Company is a traded company (as defined in section 360C of the 2006 Act), the provisions of section 307A will also apply, unless the meeting is of holders of a class of shares). If at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within five minutes from the time appointed therefor, the Member or Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall have power to decide upon all matters which could properly have been disposed of at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
73. Arrangements for simultaneous attendance, security and orderly conduct
73.1 In the case of any general meeting, the Directors may, notwithstanding the specification in the notice convening the general meeting of the place at which the chairman of the meeting shall preside (the "Principal Place"), make arrangements for simultaneous attendance and participation at another place or other places anywhere in the world ("a satellite meeting") by Members and proxies and others entitled to attend the general meeting.
The members present in person or by proxy at any satellite meeting place or places shall be counted in the quorum for, and entitled to vote at, the general meeting in question. That meeting shall be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chairman of the meeting believes that adequate facilities are available throughout the meeting to ensure that members attending at the Principal Place and all satellite meeting places are able to:
- (a) hear and see all persons who speak (whether by the use of microphones, loudspeakers, audio-visual communications equipment or otherwise) in the Principal Place and any satellite meeting place;
- (b) be heard and seen by all other persons so present; and
- (c) (if they have the right to vote at the meeting), vote during the meeting, on a poll on resolutions put to the meeting on which they have the right to vote and such members' votes can be taken into account in determining whether or not such resolutions are passed.
- 73.2 Such arrangements for simultaneous attendance at the general meeting may include arrangements regarding the level of attendance at the other place(s) provided that they shall operate so that any Members and proxies excluded from attendance at the Principal Place are able to attend at one of the other places. For the purpose of all other provisions of these Articles any such general meeting shall be treated as being held and taking place at the Principal Place.
- 73.3 In the case of any general meeting, the Directors, may, notwithstanding the specification in the notice convening the general meeting of the Principal Place, make arrangements for simultaneous attendance and participation by members and proxies and others entitled to attend the general meeting by means of electronic facility or facilities and determine the means, or all different means, of attendance and participation used in relation to a general meeting. The members present in person or by proxy by means of such electronic facility or facilities shall be counted in the quorum for, and entitled to participate in, the general meeting in question. That meeting shall be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chairman of the meeting believes that adequate facilities are available throughout the meeting to ensure that members attending the meeting by all means (including by means of electronic facility or facilities) are able to:
- (a) hear all persons who speak at the meeting;
- (b) be heard by all other persons present at the meeting; and
- (c) (if they have the right to vote at the meeting) vote, during the meeting, on a poll on resolutions put to the meeting on which they have the right to vote and such members' votes can be taken into account in determining whether or not such resolutions are passed.
When deciding whether a person is attending or participating in a meeting other than at a physical place, it is immaterial where that person is or how that person is able to communicate with others who are attending and participating.
- 73.4 If it appears to the chairman of the general meeting that an electronic facility has become inadequate for the purposes referred to in Article 73.3, then the chairman may, without the consent of the meeting, adjourn the general meeting. All business conducted at that general meeting up to the time of that adjournment shall be valid and the provisions of Article 75 shall apply to that adjournment.
- 73.5 The Directors may, for the purpose of facilitating the organisation and administration of any general meeting (at the Principal Place and at any satellite meeting place) to which such arrangements apply, from time to time make arrangements, whether involving the issue of tickets or the imposition of some random means of selection or otherwise as they shall in their absolute discretion consider to be appropriate, and may from time to time vary any such arrangements or make new arrangements in their place. The entitlement of any Member or proxy or other person entitled to attend a general meeting at a particular venue shall be subject to such arrangements as may for the time being be in force whether stated in the notice of the general meeting or adjourned meeting to apply to that Meeting or
notified to the Members concerned subsequent to the provision of the notice of the general meeting.
- 73.6 The Directors or the chairman of the meeting or any person authorised by the Directors may direct that Members, proxies or corporate representatives wishing to attend any general meeting or anyone else permitted by the chairman of the meeting to attend should submit to such searches or other security arrangements or restrictions (including, without limitation, restrictions on items of personal property which may be taken into the meeting and requirements for evidence of identity) as the Directors or the chairman of the meeting or such person authorised by the Directors shall consider appropriate in the circumstances. Such persons shall be entitled in their absolute discretion to refuse entry to, or to eject from, such general meeting any such person who fails to submit to such searches or otherwise to comply with such security arrangements or restrictions.
- 73.7 If arrangements for participation by means of electronic facility or facilities have been made pursuant to Article 73.3, the Directors or the chairman of a general meeting or any person authorised by the Directors may make any arrangement and impose any requirement or restriction as are necessary to ensure the identification of those taking part and the security of electronic communications.
- 73.8 The Directors or the chairman of the meeting or any person authorised by the Directors may, at any meeting, take such action as is thought fit to secure the safety of the people attending the meeting and to promote the orderly conduct of the business of the meeting as laid down in the notice of the meeting and the chairman of the meeting's decision on matters of procedure or matters arising incidentally from the business of the meeting shall be final, as shall be his determination as to whether any matter is of such a nature.
74. Chairman of general meetings and casting vote
- 74.1 The chairman, if any, of the board of Directors shall preside as chairman of every general meeting of the Company. If there is no such chairman, or if at any general meeting he shall not be present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman, the Directors present shall select one of their number to be chairman of the meeting; or if no Director is present and willing to take the chair the Members present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
- 74.2 In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or a poll, the chairman of the meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.
75. Adjournments
- 75.1 The chairman of the meeting may, at any time without the consent of the meeting, adjourn any meeting (whether or not it has commenced or has already been adjourned or a quorum is present) either sine die or to another time and/or place (including, if relevant, any satellite meeting place pursuant to Article 73.1) and/or with such means of attendance and participation (including, if relevant, any electronic facility pursuant to Article 73.3) where it appears to him that (i) the Members wishing to attend cannot be conveniently accommodated in the Principal Place or any satellite meeting place, (ii) the conduct of any persons prevents or is likely to prevent the orderly continuation of business or (iii) an adjournment is otherwise necessary so that the business of the meeting may be properly conducted.
- 75.2 The chairman of the meeting may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting either sine die or to another time and/or place (including, if relevant, any satellite meeting place pursuant to Article 73.1) and/or with such means of attendance and participation (including, if relevant, any electronic facility pursuant to Article 73.3). No business shall be transacted at any
adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more, not less than seven clear days' notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given specifying the day, the place (including, if relevant, any satellite meeting place pursuant to Article 73.1), the time and any means of attendance and participation (including, if relevant, any electronic facility pursuant to Article 73.3) of the meeting as in the case of an original meeting, but it shall not be necessary to specify in such notice the nature of the business to be transacted at the adjourned meeting. Save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment.
76. Entitlement to attend and speak
- 76.1 Each Director shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company and at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company. The chairman of the meeting may invite any person to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company whom the chairman of the meeting considers to be equipped by knowledge or experience of the Company's business to assist in the deliberations of the meeting.
- 76.2 All persons seeking to attend and participate in a general meeting by way of electronic facility or facilities are responsible for maintaining adequate facilities to enable them to do so. Any inability of a person to attend or participate in a general meeting by means of electronic facility or facilities shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
77. Amendments to resolutions
If an amendment shall be proposed to any resolution under consideration but shall in good faith be ruled out of order by the chairman of the meeting the proceedings on the substantive resolution shall not be invalidated by any error in such ruling. In the case of a resolution duly proposed as a special resolution no amendment thereto (other than an amendment to correct a patent error) may in any event be considered or voted upon.
78. Method of voting and demand for a poll
- 78.1 At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is (before, or immediately on the declaration of the result of, the show of hands) demanded:
- (a) by the chairman of the meeting; or
- (b) by at least five Members present in person or by proxy and having the right to vote on the resolution; or
- (c) by any Member or Members present in person or by proxy and representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the Members having the right to vote on the resolution (excluding any voting rights attached to any shares in the Company held as treasury shares); or
- (d) by a Member or Members present in person or by proxy holding shares in the Company conferring a right to vote on the resolution 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 (excluding any shares in the Company conferring a right to vote on the resolution which are held as treasury shares).
- 78.2 Unless a poll is so demanded (and the demand is not subsequently withdrawn), a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has on a show of hands been passed or passed unanimously, or with a particular majority, or lost, or an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting of the Company shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without
proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution.
78.3 Except as provided in Article 79, if a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner (including the use of ballot or voting papers or tickets or electronic means) as the chairman of the meeting directs and he may appoint scrutineers and fix a time and means for declaring the result of the poll. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.
79. Timing and procedure for a poll
A poll demanded on the election of a chairman of the meeting or on the question of an adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at such subsequent time (not being more than 30 clear days after the date of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the poll is demanded) and place and/or by such electronic means as the chairman of the meeting may direct. No notice need be given of a poll not taken immediately. Any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded may be proceeded with pending the taking of the poll. The demand for a poll may be withdrawn with the consent of the chairman of the meeting at any time before the close of the meeting or the taking of the poll, whichever is the earlier, and in that event shall not invalidate the result of a show of hands declared before the demand was made.
VOTES OF MEMBERS
80. Votes of Members and of joint holders
- 80.1 Subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class or classes of shares and to any other provisions of these Articles or the Statutes:
- (i) on a show of hands every Member present in person shall have one vote;
- (ii)
- (a) on a show of hands every proxy present who has been duly appointed by one or more Members shall have one vote;
This is subject to (b) below:
- (b) on a show of hands, a proxy has one vote for and one vote against the resolution if:
- (aa) the proxy has been duly appointed by more than one Member entitled to vote on the resolution; and
- (bb) the proxy has been instructed by, or exercises a discretion given by, one or more of those Members to vote for the resolution and has been instructed by, or exercises a discretion given by, one or more other of those Members to vote against it; and
- (iii) on a poll every Member present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for each share held by him.
- 80.2 In the case of joint holders of a share, the vote of the senior holder who votes, 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 share.
81. Voting on behalf of incapable Member
A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court or official having jurisdiction (in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised on his behalf by that court or official, and such receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy provided that evidence to the satisfaction of the Directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote has been delivered at the Office (or at such other place as may be specified in accordance with these Articles for the delivery of appointments of proxy) not later than the last time at which an appointment of a proxy should have been delivered in order to be valid for use at that meeting or on the holding of that poll.
82. Suspension of rights for non-payment of calls and non-disclosure of interests
- 82.1 No Member shall, unless the Directors otherwise determine, be entitled, in respect of any share in the capital of the Company held by him, to be present or to vote on any question, either in person or by proxy, at any general meeting, or separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares of the Company, or to be reckoned in a quorum, if any call or other sum presently payable by him to the Company in respect of such share remains unpaid.
- 82.2 If any Member, or any other person appearing to the Directors to be interested in any shares in the capital of the Company held by such Member, has been duly served with a notice under section 793 of the 2006 Act and is in default for the period of 14 days from the date of service of the notice under the said section 793 in supplying to the Company the information thereby required, then the Company may (at the absolute discretion of the Directors) at any time thereafter by notice (a "restriction notice") to such Member direct that, in respect of the shares in relation to which the default occurred and any other shares held at the date of the restriction notice by the Member, or such of them as the Directors may determine from time to time (the "restricted shares" which expression shall include any further shares which are issued in respect of any restricted shares), the Member shall not, nor shall any transferee to which any of such shares are transferred other than pursuant to a permitted transfer or pursuant to Article 82.3(c) below, be entitled to be present or to vote on any question, either in person or by proxy, at any general meeting of the Company or separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares of the Company, or to be reckoned in a quorum.
- 82.3 Where the restricted shares represent at least 0.25 per cent (in nominal value) of the issued shares of the same class as the restricted shares (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares), then the restriction notice may also direct that:
- (a) any dividend or any part thereof or other monies which would otherwise be payable on or in respect of the restricted shares shall be withheld by the Company; shall not bear interest against the Company; and shall be payable (when the restriction notice ceases to have effect) to the person who would but for the restriction notice have been entitled to them; and/or
- (b) where an offer of the right to elect to receive shares of the Company instead of cash in respect of any dividend or part thereof is or has been made by the Company, any election made thereunder by such Member in respect of such restricted shares shall not be effective; and/or
- (c) no transfer of any of the shares held by such Member shall be recognised or registered by the Directors unless the transfer is a permitted transfer or:
- (i) the Member is not himself in default as regards supplying the information required; and
(ii) the transfer is of part only of the Member's holding and, when presented for registration, is accompanied by a certificate by the Member in a form satisfactory to the Directors to the effect that after due and careful enquiry the Member is satisfied that none of the shares the subject of the transfer are restricted shares.
Upon the giving of a restriction notice its terms shall apply accordingly.
- 82.4 The Company shall send a copy of the restriction notice to each other person appearing to be interested in the shares the subject of such notice, but the failure or omission by the Company to do so shall not invalidate such notice.
- 82.5 Any restriction notice shall have effect in accordance with its terms until not more than seven days after the Directors are satisfied that the default in respect of which the restriction notice was issued no longer continues but shall cease to have effect in relation to any shares which are transferred by such Member by means of a permitted transfer or in accordance with Article 82.3(c) above on receipt by the Company of notice that a transfer as aforesaid has been made. The Company may (at the absolute discretion of the Directors) at any time give notice to the Member cancelling, or suspending for a stated period the operation of, a restriction notice in whole or in part.
- 82.6 For the purposes of this Article 82:
- (a) a person shall be treated as appearing to be interested in any shares if the Member holding such shares has given to the Company a notification whether following service of a notice under the said section 793 or otherwise which either:
- (i) names such person as being so interested; or
- (ii) (after taking into account the said notification and any other relevant information in the possession of the Company) the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the person in question is or may be interested in the shares; and
- (b) a transfer of shares is a permitted transfer if but only if:
- (i) it is a transfer by way of, or in pursuance of, acceptance of a takeover offer for the Company (as defined in section 974 of the 2006 Act); or
- (ii) the Directors are satisfied that the transfer is made pursuant to a bona fide sale of the whole of the beneficial ownership of the shares to a third party unconnected with the transferring Member or with any other person appearing to the Directors to be interested in such shares (and for the purposes of this Article 82.6(b)(ii) any associate (as that term is defined in section 435 of the Insolvency Act 1986) of the Member or of any other person appearing to the Directors to be interested in any of the restricted shares shall be deemed to be connected with the transferring Member); or
- (iii) the transfer results from a sale made on or through a recognised investment exchange as defined in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or on or through any stock exchange outside the United Kingdom on which the Company's shares of the same class as the restricted shares are normally dealt in.
- 82.7 The provisions of this Article 82 are in addition and without prejudice to the provisions of the Statutes.
83. Objections to and errors in voting
No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter or to the counting of, or failure to count, a vote except at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered (or at which the error occurs), and every vote not disallowed at such meeting shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection made in due time shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting, whose decision shall be final and conclusive. Whether a proxy or corporate representative has voted in accordance with any instructions given by the Member who has appointed such proxy or corporate representative need not be verified by the Company or any other person and any vote (whether on a show of hands or a poll) given by such proxy or corporate representative will be valid for all purposes notwithstanding any failure to follow such instructions.
84. Voting on a poll
On a poll votes may be given personally or by proxy and a Member entitled to more than one vote need not, if he votes, use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.
85. Execution of proxies
The appointment of a proxy shall be in any usual or common form, or in any other form which the Directors may approve and shall be:
- (a) under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing; or
- (b) if the appointor is a corporation, either under seal, or under the hand of an officer or attorney or other person duly authorised; or
- (c) if permitted by the Directors, in electronic form in the manner and form and subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may decide.
The signature, if any, on such appointment need not be witnessed.
86. Appointment of proxies
A proxy need not be a Member of the Company. A Member may appoint more than one proxy to attend and to speak and to vote on the same occasion, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by the Member. The appointment of a proxy shall not preclude a Member from attending and voting in person at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
87. Delivery of proxies
- 87.1 The appointment of a proxy shall:
- (a) (in the case of an appointment not sent in electronic form) be deposited at the Office or at such other place or one of such places (if any) within the United Kingdom as is or are specified for that purpose in or by way of note to the notice convening the meeting or any document accompanying such notice; or
- (b) (in the case of an appointment sent in electronic form) where an address has been specified for the purpose by the Company (generally or specifically), be received at such address,
not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote or, in the case of a poll taken otherwise than at or on the same day as the meeting or adjourned meeting, not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll at which it is to be used, and in default the appointment of a proxy shall not be treated as valid. Failing previous registration with the Company, the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which the appointment of a proxy is executed, or a notarially certified copy or a copy certified in accordance with the Powers of Attorney Act 1971 of that power or authority, or a copy in some other way approved by the Directors, shall (whether (a) or (b) above shall apply) also be deposited or received at the Office or at such other place specified in accordance with (a) above, or (if the Directors so agree) at the address or by the means provided in accordance with (b) above, not later than the time by which the appointment of a proxy is required to be deposited or (as the case may be) received in accordance with this Article. When calculating any periods mentioned in this Article, the Directors may specify that no account shall be taken of any part of a day that is not a working day.
Without limiting the foregoing, in relation to any shares which are held in uncertificated form, the Directors may from time to time permit appointments of a proxy to be made by an Uncertificated Proxy Instruction, (that is, a properly authenticated dematerialised instruction, and/or other instruction or notification, which is sent by means of the relevant system concerned and received by such participant in that system acting on behalf of the Company as the Directors may prescribe, in such form and subject to such terms and conditions as may from time to time be prescribed by the Directors (subject always to the facilities and requirements of the relevant system concerned)); and may in a similar manner permit supplements to, or amendments or revocations of, any such Uncertificated Proxy Instruction to be made by like means. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, the Directors may in addition prescribe the method of determining the time at which any such properly authenticated dematerialised instruction (and/or other instruction or notification) is to be treated as received by the Company or such participant. The Directors may treat any such Uncertificated Proxy Instruction which purports to be or is expressed to be sent on behalf of a holder of a share as sufficient evidence of the authority of the person sending that instruction to send it on behalf of that holder.
87.2 If two or more valid but differing appointments of a proxy are delivered or (in the case of appointments in electronic form) received in accordance with Article 87 in respect of the same share for use at the same meeting, the one which is last delivered or, as the case may be, received as aforesaid (regardless of its date, its date of sending or the date of its execution) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the others as regards that share. If the Company is unable to determine which was delivered or received last, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share.
88. Validity of proxies
An appointment of a proxy shall, unless the contrary is stated thereon, be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting to which it relates. No appointment of a proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 12 months from the date of its deposit or receipt in accordance with Article 87.1 except at an adjourned meeting or on a poll demanded at a meeting or adjourned meeting in cases where the meeting was originally held within 12 months from that date.
89. Authority of proxies to call for a poll
The appointment of a proxy to vote on a matter at a meeting of the Company shall be deemed to confer authority on the proxy to demand or join in demanding a poll on that matter.
90. Cancellation of proxy's authority
A vote given or poll demanded in accordance with the terms of an appointment of a proxy or by the duly authorised representative of a corporation shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or determination of the authority of the person voting or demanding a poll, provided that no intimation in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or determination shall have been received by the Company at the Office or such other place (if any) as is specified for depositing the appointment of proxy or, where the appointment of the proxy was in electronic form, at the address at which such appointment was duly received, in each case in accordance with Article 87.1, before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting or the time appointed for taking a poll subsequently thereto at which such vote is given.
91. Corporate representatives
Any corporation which is a Member of the Company may by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise a person or persons to act as its representative or representatives at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members of the Company.
92. Powers of corporate representatives
Any person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise on behalf of the corporation which he represents the same powers as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member of the Company and such corporation shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting if a person so authorised is present thereat. Where the corporation authorises more than one person, the provisions of section 323(3) and (4) of the 2006 Act apply.
DIRECTORS
93. Number of Directors
Unless and until the Company in general meeting shall otherwise determine, the number of Directors shall be not less than two but shall not be subject to any maximum in number. The Company may by ordinary resolution from time to time vary the minimum number and/or maximum number of Directors.
94. Directors' shareholding qualification
A Director shall not be required to hold any shares in the capital of the Company. A Director who is not a Member shall nevertheless be entitled to receive notice of and attend and speak at all general meetings of the Company and all separate general meetings of the holders of any class of shares in the capital of the Company.
95. Age of Directors
There shall not be an age limit for Directors.
96. Other interests of Directors
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, a Director of the Company may be or continue as or become a director or other officer, employee or member of, or a party to any contract, transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate in which the Company may be (directly or indirectly) interested as shareholder or otherwise or any parent undertaking or subsidiary undertaking of any parent undertaking of the Company, and no such Director shall, by reason of his office, be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits which derive from any such office or employment or from any contract, transaction or arrangement with, or from his membership or interest in, such other body corporate or undertaking. No such office, employment, contract, transaction or arrangement or interest shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit.
97. Directors' fees
The Directors shall be paid out of the funds of the Company by way of fees for their services as Directors such sums (if any) as the Directors may from time to time determine (not exceeding in the aggregate an annual sum (excluding amounts payable under any other provision of these Articles) of £400,000 or such larger amount as the Company may by ordinary resolution determine) and such remuneration shall be divided between the Directors as they shall agree or, failing agreement, equally. Such remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day.
98. Directors expenses
The Directors may also be paid all reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending and returning from meetings of the Directors or any committee of the Directors or general meetings of the Company or of the holders of any class of shares or debentures of the Company or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company.
99. Additional remuneration
Any Director who is appointed to any executive office or who serves on any committee or who devotes special attention to the business of the Company, or who otherwise performs services which in the opinion of the Directors are outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a Director, may be paid such extra remuneration by way of salary, percentage of profits or otherwise as the Directors may determine.
ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
100. Alternate Directors
- 100.1 Each Director shall have the power at any time to appoint as an alternate Director either (i) another Director or (ii) any other person approved for that purpose by a resolution of the Directors, and, at any time, to terminate such appointment. Every appointment and removal of an alternate Director shall be in writing signed by the appointor and (subject to any approval required) shall (unless the Directors agree otherwise) only take effect upon receipt of such written appointment or removal at the Office or at a meeting of the Directors or in the case of an appointment or removal in electronic form, at such address (if any) specified by the Company for that purpose. An alternate Director shall not be required to hold any shares in the capital of the Company and shall not be counted in reckoning the maximum and minimum numbers of Directors allowed or required by Article 93.
- 100.2 An alternate Director so appointed shall not be entitled as such to receive any remuneration from the Company except only such part (if any) of the remuneration otherwise payable to his appointor as such appointor may by notice in writing to the Company from time to time direct, but shall otherwise be subject to the provisions of these Articles with respect to Directors. An alternate Director shall during his appointment be an officer of the Company and shall alone be responsible to the Company for his own acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be an agent of his appointor.
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100.3 An alternate Director shall be entitled (subject to his giving to the Company either an address within the United Kingdom or an address for the purpose of sending or receiving documents or information by electronic means at which notices may be served upon him) to receive notices of all meetings of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors of which his appointor is a Member, and shall be entitled to attend and vote as a Director at any such meeting at which his appointor is not personally present and generally in the absence of his appointor to perform and exercise all functions, rights, powers and duties as Director of his appointor.
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100.4 The appointment of an alternate Director shall automatically determine on the happening of any event which, if he were a Director, would cause him to vacate such office or if his appointor shall cease for any reason to be a Director otherwise than by retiring and being re-appointed at the same meeting.
- 100.5 A Director or any other person may act as alternate Director to represent more than one Director and an alternate Director shall be entitled at meetings of the Directors or any committee of the Directors to one vote for every Director whom he represents in addition to his own vote (if any) as a Director, but he shall count as only one for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present.
BORROWING POWERS
101. Directors' borrowing powers
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money, to indemnify, to guarantee and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and, subject to the provisions of the Statutes to issue debentures, debenture stock, and other securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
102. Powers of Company vested in the Directors
The business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may exercise all the powers of the Company subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of these Articles and of the Statutes, and to such directions as may be given by the Company in general meeting by special resolution, provided that no alteration of these Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if such alteration had not been made or such direction had not been given. The general powers conferred upon the Directors by this Article shall not be deemed to be abridged or restricted by any specific power conferred upon the Directors by any other Article.
103. Pensions, insurance and gratuities for Directors and others
- 103.1 The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to give or award pensions, annuities, gratuities or other retirement, superannuation, death or disability allowances or benefits (whether or not similar to the foregoing) to (or to any person in respect of) any persons who are or have at any time been Directors of the Company or of any body corporate which is or was a subsidiary undertaking or a parent undertaking of the Company or another subsidiary undertaking of a parent undertaking of the Company or otherwise associated with the Company or any such body corporate, or a predecessor in business of the Company or any such body corporate, and to the spouses, civil partners, former spouses, former civil partners, children and other relatives and dependants of any such persons and may establish, maintain, support, subscribe to and contribute to all kinds of schemes, trusts and funds (whether contributory or non-contributory) for the benefit of such persons as are hereinbefore referred to or any of them or any class of them, and so that any Director or former Director shall be entitled to receive and retain for his own benefit any such pension, annuity, gratuity, allowance or other benefit (whether under any such trust, fund or scheme or otherwise).
- 103.2 Without prejudice to any other provisions of these Articles, the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any persons who are or were at any time directors of the Company, or of any other body (whether or not incorporated) which is or was its parent undertaking or subsidiary undertaking or another subsidiary undertaking of any such parent undertaking (together
"Group Companies") or otherwise associated with the Company or any Group Company or in which the Company or any such Group Company has or had any interest, whether direct or indirect, or of any predecessor in business of any of the foregoing, or who are or were at any time trustees of (or directors of trustees of) any pension, superannuation or similar fund, trust or scheme or any employees' share scheme or other scheme or arrangement in which any employees of the Company or of any such other body are interested, including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) insurance against any costs, charges, expenses, losses or liabilities suffered or incurred by such persons in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution and/or discharge of their duties and/or the actual or purported exercise of their powers and discretions and/or otherwise in relation to or in connection with their duties, powers or offices in relation to the Company or any such other body, fund, trust, scheme or arrangement.
103.3 Without prejudice to any other provisions of these Articles, the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to establish, maintain, and contribute to any scheme for encouraging or facilitating the holding of shares in the Company or in any connected company by or for the benefit of current or former directors of the Company or any connected company or any company otherwise allied or associated with the Company or connected company or the spouses, civil partners, former spouses, former civil partners, families, connections or dependants of any such persons and, in connection with any such scheme, to establish, maintain and contribute to a trust for the purpose of acquiring and holding shares in the Company or any connected company and to lend money to the trustees of any such trust or to any individual referred to above.
104. Local boards
The Directors may make such arrangements as they think fit for the management and transaction of the Company's affairs in the United Kingdom and elsewhere and may from time to time and at any time establish any local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company in any specified locality, and may appoint any persons to be members of such local board, or any managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration. The Directors from time to time, and at any time, may delegate to any person so appointed any of the powers, authorities, and discretions for the time being vested in the Directors (other than the powers of borrowing and of making calls), with power to sub-delegate, and may authorise the members for the time being of any such local board, or any of them, to fill up any vacancies therein, and to act notwithstanding vacancies; and any such appointment or delegation may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit, and the Directors may at any time remove any person so appointed, and may annul or vary any such delegation.
105. Attorneys
The Directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any body corporate, firm or person or body of persons, to be the attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other appointments may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney or agent as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or agent to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.
106. Official seal
The Company may exercise the powers conferred by the Statutes with regard to having an official seal for use abroad and the powers conferred by the Statutes with regard to having an official seal for sealing securities and for sealing documents creating or evidencing securities, and such powers shall be vested in the Directors.
107. Overseas branch register
The Company may exercise the powers conferred upon the Company by the Statutes with regard to the keeping of an overseas branch register, and the Directors may (subject to the provisions of the Statutes) make and vary such regulations as they may think fit concerning the keeping of any such register.
108. Directors' permitted interests and entitlement to vote
- 108.1 Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, a Director may hold any other office or place of profit with the Company, except that of Auditor, in conjunction with the office of Director and may act by himself or through his firm in a professional capacity for the Company (otherwise than as Auditor), and in any such case on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may decide. Any such remuneration shall be in addition to any remuneration provided for by any other Article. No Director or intending Director shall be disqualified by his office from entering into, or being otherwise interested in, any of the foregoing, or any other contract, transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company has a (direct or indirect) interest. Subject to the provisions of the Statutes and save as therein provided no such contract, transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the grounds of the Director's interest, nor shall any Director be liable to account to the Company for any remuneration or other benefit which derives from any such contract, transaction or arrangement or interest by reason of such Director holding that office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established, but he shall declare the nature of his interest in accordance with the requirements of the Statutes.
- 108.2 Save as herein provided, a Director shall not vote at a meeting of the Directors in respect of any contract, arrangement or transaction whatsoever in which he has an interest which is to his knowledge a material interest otherwise than by virtue of interests in shares or debentures or other securities of or otherwise in or through the Company. A Director shall not be counted in the quorum at a meeting in relation to any resolution on which he is debarred from voting.
- 108.3 A Director shall (in the absence of some other material interest than is indicated below) be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any resolution concerning any of the following matters, namely:
- (a) the giving of any guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings;
- (b) the giving of any guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings for which he himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
- (c) any proposal concerning an offer of securities of or by the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings in which offer he is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which he is to participate;
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(d) any contract, arrangement or transaction concerning any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer or shareholder or otherwise howsoever, provided that he does not to his knowledge hold an interest (within the meaning of sections 820 to 825 of the 2006 Act) in one per cent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such body corporate or of the voting rights available to members of the relevant body corporate;
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(e) any contract, arrangement or transaction for the benefit of employees of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings which does not accord to him any privilege or advantage not generally accorded to the employees to whom the scheme relates;
- (f) any contract, arrangement or transaction concerning any insurance which the Company is to purchase and/or maintain for, or for the benefit of, any Directors or persons including Directors;
- (g) the giving of an indemnity pursuant to Article 161; and
- (h) the provision of funds to any Director to meet, or the doing of anything to enable a Director to avoid incurring, expenditure of the nature described in section 205(1) or 206 of the 2006 Act.
- 108.4 A Director shall not vote or be counted in the quorum on any resolution at any meeting of the Directors concerning his own appointment as the holder of any office or place of profit with the Company or any company in which the Company is interested including fixing or varying the terms of his appointment or the termination thereof.
- 108.5 Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment (including fixing or varying the terms of appointment) of two or more Directors to offices or employments with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, such proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each Director separately and in such cases each of the Directors concerned (if not debarred from voting under paragraph 101.3(d) of this Article) shall be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of each resolution except that concerning his own appointment.
- 108.6 If any question shall arise at any meeting of the Directors as to an interest or as to the entitlement of any Director 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 any Director other than himself shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interests of the Director concerned have not been fairly disclosed.
- 108.7 Subject to the provisions of the Statutes the Company may by ordinary resolution suspend or relax the provisions of this Article to any extent or ratify any contract, arrangement or transaction not duly authorised by reason of a contravention of this Article.
- 108.8 (a) For the purposes of Section 175 of the 2006 Act, the Directors may authorise any matter proposed to them in accordance with these Articles which would, if not so authorised, constitute or give rise to an infringement of duty by a Director under that Section.
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(b) Authorisation of a matter under sub paragraph (a) of this paragraph of this Article shall be effective only if:
- (i) the matter in question shall have been proposed by any person for consideration at a meeting of the Directors, in accordance with the Directors procedures, if any, for the time being relating to matters for consideration by the Directors or in such other manner as the Directors may approve;
- (ii) any requirement as to the quorum at the meeting of the Directors at which the matter is considered is met without counting the Director in question and any other interested Director (together the "Interested Directors"); and
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(iii) the matter was agreed to without the Interested Directors voting or would have been agreed to if the votes of the Interested Directors had not been counted.
- (c) Any authorisation of a matter pursuant to sub paragraph (a) of this paragraph of this Article shall extend to any actual or potential conflict of interest which may reasonably be expected to arise out of the matter so authorised.
- (d) Any authorisation of a matter under sub paragraph (a) of this paragraph of this Article shall be subject to such conditions or limitations as the Directors may specify, whether at the time such authorisation is given or subsequently, and may be terminated or varied by the Directors at any time. A Director shall comply with any obligations imposed on him by the Directors pursuant to any such authorisation.
- (e) A Director shall not, by reason of his office or the fiduciary relationship thereby established, be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefit which derives from any matter authorised by the Directors under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph of this Article and any contract, transaction or arrangement relating thereto shall not be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such remuneration or other benefit or on the ground of the Director having any interest as referred to in the said section 175.
- (f) A Director shall be under no duty to the Company with respect to any information which he obtains or has obtained otherwise than as a director or officer or employee of the Company and in respect of which he owes a duty of confidentiality to another person. However, to the extent that his connection with that other person conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company, this sub-paragraph (f) of this paragraph of this Article applies only if the existence of that connection has been authorised by the Directors under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph of this Article. In particular, the Director shall not be in breach of the general duties he owes to the Company by virtue of sections 171 to 177 of the 2006 Act because he fails:
- (i) to disclose any such information to the Directors or to any Director or other officer or employee of the Company; and/or
- (ii) to use any such information in performing his duties as a Director or officer or employee of the Company.
- (g) Where the existence of a Director's connection with another person has been authorised by the Directors under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph of this Article and his connection with that person conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company, the Director shall not be in breach of the general duties he owes to the Company by virtue of sections 171 to 177 of the 2006 Act because he:
- (i) absents himself from meetings of the Directors or any committee thereof at which any matter relating to the conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest will or may be discussed or from the discussion of any such matter at a meeting or otherwise; and/or
- (ii) makes arrangements not to receive documents and information relating to any matter which gives rise to the conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest sent or supplied by the Company and/or for such documents and information to be received and read by a professional adviser,
for so long as he reasonably believes such conflict of interest (or possible conflict of interest) subsists.
- (h) The provisions of sub-paragraphs (f) and (g) of this paragraph of this Article are without prejudice to any equitable principle or rule of law which may excuse the Director from:
- (i) disclosing information, in circumstances where disclosure would otherwise be required under these Articles or otherwise; or
- (ii) attending meetings or discussions or receiving documents and information as referred to in sub-paragraph (g) of this paragraph of this Article, in circumstances where such attendance or receiving such documents and information would otherwise be required under these Articles.
- (i) For the purposes of this Article, a conflict of interest includes a conflict of interest and duty and a conflict of duties.
109. Exercise of Company's voting powers
The Directors may exercise or procure the exercise of the voting rights conferred by the shares in any other body corporate held or owned by the Company or any power of appointment in relation to any other body corporate, and may exercise any voting rights or power of appointment to which they are entitled as directors of such other body corporate, in such manner as they shall in their absolute discretion think fit, including the exercise thereof in favour of appointing themselves or any of them as directors, officers or servants of such other body corporate, and fixing their remuneration as such, and may vote as Directors of the Company in connection with any of the matters aforesaid.
110. Signing of cheques etc.
All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments, and all receipts for monies paid to the Company, shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed, or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the Directors shall from time to time determine.
111. Minutes
- 111.1 The Directors shall cause minutes to be recorded:
- (a) of all appointments of officers made by the Directors;
- (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 at all meetings of the Company, and of the Directors, and of committees of Directors.
- 111.2 It shall not be necessary for Directors present at any meeting of Directors or committee of Directors to sign their names in any minute book or other book kept for recording attendance. Minutes recorded as aforesaid, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting, or by the chairman of the next succeeding such meeting, shall be receivable as evidence of the matters stated in such minutes.
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
112. Vacation of a Director's office
The office of a Director shall be vacated in any of the following events, namely:
- 112.1 if a bankruptcy order is made against him or he makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally;
- 112.2 if he becomes prohibited by law from acting as a Director;
- 112.3 if, in England or elsewhere, an order is made by any court claiming jurisdiction in that behalf on the ground (however formulated) of mental disorder for his detention or for the appointment of a guardian or receiver or other person to exercise powers with respect to his property or affairs;
- 112.4 if he resigns his office by notice to the Company or offers to resign and the Directors resolve to accept such offer;
- 112.5 if, not having leave of absence from the Directors, he and his alternate (if any) fail to attend the meetings of the Directors for six successive months, unless prevented by illness, unavoidable accident or other cause which may seem to the Directors to be sufficient, and the Directors resolve that his office be vacated;
- 112.6 if, by notice in writing delivered to or received at the Office or, in the case of a notice in electronic form, at such address (if any) specified by the Directors for that purpose or tendered at a meeting of the Directors, his resignation is requested by all of the other Directors (but so that this shall be without prejudice to any claim such Director may have for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company).
RETIREMENT AND SUBMISSION FOR RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
113. Regular submission of Directors for re-election
At every annual general meeting, there shall retire from office any Director who shall have been a Director at each of the preceding two annual general meetings and who was not appointed or re-appointed by the Company in general meeting at, or since, either such meeting. A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-appointment. A Director retiring at a meeting shall, if he is not re-appointed at such meeting, retain office until the meeting appoints someone in his place, or if it does not do so, until the conclusion of such meeting.
114. Appointment of Directors by separate resolution
A single resolution for the appointment of two or more persons as Directors shall not be put at any general meeting, unless an ordinary resolution that it should be so put has first been agreed to by the meeting without any vote being given against it.
115. Persons eligible for appointment
No person other than a Director retiring at the meeting shall, unless recommended by the Directors, be eligible for appointment to the office of Director at any general meeting unless not less than seven nor more than 42 days before the date appointed for the meeting there shall have been left at the Office notice in writing, signed by a Member duly qualified to attend and vote at such meeting, of his intention to propose such person for appointment, and also notice in writing signed by that person of his willingness to be appointed.
116. Casual vacancies and additional Directors - powers of Company
Subject as aforesaid, the Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution appoint a person who is willing to act to be a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional Director.
117. Casual vacancies and additional Directors - powers of Directors
The Directors shall have power at any time, and from time to time, to appoint any person to be a Director of the Company, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Directors, but so that the total number of Directors shall not at any time exceed the maximum number, if any, fixed by or pursuant to these Articles. Any Director so appointed shall hold office only until the next following annual general meeting, and shall then be eligible for reappointment. If not reappointed at such meeting, he shall vacate office at the conclusion thereof.
118. Power of removal by ordinary resolution
The Company may by ordinary resolution, of which special notice has been given in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes, remove any Director before the expiration of his period of office notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director. Such removal shall be without prejudice to any claim such Director may have for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company.
119. Appointment of replacement Director
Subject to Article 115, the Company may by ordinary resolution appoint another person in place of a Director removed from office under the immediately preceding Article.
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
120. Board meetings and participation
The Directors may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit. Without prejudice to the foregoing, all or any of the Directors or of the members of any committee of the Directors may participate in a meeting of the Directors or of that committee by means of a conference telephone or any communication equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other and to address each other. A person so participating shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum accordingly. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled, or, if there is no such group, where the chairman of the meeting is then present. The word "meeting" in these Articles shall be construed accordingly.
121. Quorum at board meetings
The Directors may determine the quorum necessary for the transaction of business. Until otherwise determined two Directors shall constitute a quorum.
122. Voting at board meetings
Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In case of an equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors. Any Director may waive notice of any meeting and any such waiver may be retrospective.
123. Notice of board meetings
Notice of a meeting of the Directors shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is given to him personally or by word of mouth or sent in writing to him at his last known address or any other address given by him to the Company for this purpose or sent in electronic form to such address (if any) for the time being specified by him or on his behalf to the Company for that purpose. A Director absent or intending to be absent from the United Kingdom may request the Directors that notices of meetings of the Directors shall during his absence be sent in writing to him to such address given by him to the Company for this purpose, whether or not out of the United Kingdom, or be sent by electronic means to such address (if any) for the time being notified by him to the Company for that purpose. If no such request is made to the Directors, it shall not be necessary to send notice of a meeting of the Directors to any Director who is for the time being absent from the United Kingdom.
124. Directors below minimum
The continuing Directors or sole continuing Director may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but, if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors, the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to that number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose.
125. Appointment of chairman and deputy chairman of meetings
The Directors may elect one of their number as a chairman of their meetings, and one of their number to be the deputy chairman of their meetings and may at any time remove either of them from such office; but if no such chairman or deputy chairman is elected, or if at any meeting neither the chairman nor the deputy chairman is present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting and willing to act, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of such meeting.
126. Delegation of Directors' powers to committees and otherwise
The Directors may delegate any of their powers or discretions (including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing all powers and discretions whose exercise involves or may involve any payment to or the conferring of any other benefit on all or any of the Directors) to committees consisting of one or more members of their body and (if thought fit) one or more other persons co-opted as hereinafter provided. Insofar as any such power or discretion is delegated to a committee any reference in these Articles to the exercise by the Directors of such power or discretion shall be read and construed as if it were a reference to the exercise of such power or discretion by such committee. Any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers and discretions so delegated conform to any regulations that may from time to time be imposed by the Directors in default of which the meetings and proceedings of a committee consisting of more than one member shall be governed mutatis mutandis by the provisions of these Articles regulating the proceedings and meetings of the Directors. Any such regulations may provide for or authorise the co-option to the committee of persons other than Directors and for such co-opted members to have voting rights as members of the committee.
Any such delegation shall, in the absence of express provision to the contrary in the terms of delegation, be deemed to include authority to sub-delegate to one or more Directors (whether or not acting as a committee) or to any employee or agent of the Company all or any of the powers and discretions delegated and may be made subject to such conditions as the Directors may specify, and may be revoked or altered.
127. Validity of Directors' acts
All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors or by any person acting as a Director or as a member of a committee shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment or continuance in office of any of the persons acting as aforesaid, or that any of such persons were disqualified from holding office or not entitled to vote on the matter in question, or had in any way vacated office, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed or had duly continued in office and was qualified and had continued to be a Director or member of the committee and was entitled to vote.
128. Written resolution of Directors
A resolution in writing, signed or otherwise agreed to by all those Directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the Directors or by all the members of a committee for the time being entitled to receive notice of a committee meeting, (in each case) who would have been entitled to vote on the resolution at a meeting of the Directors or of such committee shall be as valid and effective for all purposes as a resolution passed at a meeting duly convened and held, and may consist of two or more documents in like form each signed or agreed to by one or more of such Directors or members of such committee, provided that all those signing or agreeing to the resolution would have formed a quorum at such a meeting. Such a resolution in writing need not be signed or agreed to by an alternate Director if it is signed or agreed to by the Director who appointed him.
MANAGING AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
129. Appointment of executive Directors
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Directors may from time to time appoint one or more of their body to the office of Managing Director or to hold such other executive office in relation to the management of the business of the Company as they may decide, for such period and on such terms as they think fit, and, subject to the terms of any service contract entered into in any particular case and without prejudice to any claim for damages such Director may have for breach of any such service contract, may revoke such appointment. Without prejudice to any claim for damages such Director may have for breach of any service contract between him and the Company, his appointment shall be automatically determined if he ceases from any cause to be a Director.
130. Remuneration of executive Directors
The salary or remuneration of any Managing Director or other executive Director of the Company shall, subject as provided in any contract, be such as the Directors may from time to time determine, and may either be a fixed sum of money, or may altogether or in part be governed by the business done or profits made, and may include the making of provisions for the payment to him, his widow or other dependants, of a pension on retirement from the office or employment to which he is appointed and for the participation in pension and life assurance and other benefits, or may be upon such other terms as the Directors determine.
131. Powers of executive Directors
The Directors may entrust to and confer upon a Managing Director or other executive Director any of the powers and discretions exercisable by them upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as they may think fit, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and discretions and may from time to time revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of such powers or discretions. Any such delegation shall, in the absence of express provision to the contrary in the terms of delegation, be deemed to include authority to sub-delegate to one or more Directors (whether or not acting as a committee) or to any employee or agent of the Company all or any of the powers and discretions delegated and may be made subject to such conditions as the Directors may specify and may be revoked or altered.
SECRETARY
132. Appointment and removal of Secretary
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Secretary shall be appointed by the Directors for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions as they think fit and any Secretary may be removed by them.
THE SEAL
133. Use of Seal
The Directors shall provide for the safe custody of the Seal and any official seal kept under section 50 of the 2006 Act, and neither shall be used without the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors in that behalf. Every instrument to which either shall be affixed shall be signed autographically by one Director and the Secretary or by two Directors or as otherwise determined by the Directors, save that as regards any certificates for shares or debentures or other securities of the Company to which the official seal is applied, the Directors may by resolution determine that such signatures or either of them shall be dispensed with or affixed by some mechanical or electronic or other means or may be printed on them.
RESERVE
134. Establishment of reserve
The Directors may from time to time set aside out of the profits of the Company such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Directors, be applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the Company may be properly applied, and pending such application may, at the like discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Directors think fit. The Directors may divide the reserve into such special funds as they think fit, and may consolidate into one fund any special funds or any parts of any special funds into which the reserve may have been divided as they think fit. The Directors may also without placing the same to reserve carry forward any profits which they may think prudent not to divide.
DIVIDENDS
135. Declarations of dividends by Company
The Company in general meeting may declare dividends, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors.
136. Payment of interim and fixed dividends by Directors
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Directors:
- (a) may from time to time pay such interim dividends as they think fit; and
- (b) may also pay the fixed dividends payable on any shares of the Company half-yearly or otherwise on fixed dates.
If the Directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the holders of shares conferring preferred rights for any loss they may suffer in consequence of the payment of an interim dividend on any shares having non-preferred or deferred rights.
137. Restrictions on dividends and currency of dividends
No dividend or interim dividend shall be paid otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes. Subject to the terms of issue of any share, dividends may be declared or paid in any currency or currencies determined by the Directors, and the Directors may decide the basis of conversion for any currency conversion that may be required and how any costs involved are to be met.
138. Calculation of dividends
Subject to the Statutes, and to the rights of persons, if any, entitled to shares with any priority, preference or special rights as to dividend, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares in respect whereof the dividend is paid, but no amount paid up on a share in advance of calls shall be treated for the purpose of this Article as paid up on the share. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amounts paid up on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid; but if any share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as if paid up in full or in part from a particular date, whether past or future, such share shall rank for dividend accordingly.
139. Deductions of amounts due on shares and waiver of dividends
- 139.1 The Directors may deduct from any dividend or other monies payable to any Member on or in respect of a share all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in relation to shares of the Company.
- 139.2 The waiver in whole or in part of any dividend on any share by any document (whether or not under seal) shall be effective only if such document is signed by the shareholder (or the person entitled to the share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder or otherwise by operation of law) and delivered to the Company and if or to the extent that the same is accepted as such or acted upon by the Company.
140. Dividends other than in cash
Any general meeting declaring a dividend may, upon the recommendation of the Directors, direct payment of such dividend wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets and in particular of paid up shares or debentures of any other body corporate, and the Directors shall give effect to such direction. Where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient, and in particular may issue fractional certificates and 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 Directors.
141. Payment procedure
- 141.1 All dividends and other distributions shall be paid (subject to any lien of the Company) to those Members whose names shall be on the Register at the date at which such dividend shall be declared or at such other time and/or date as the Company by ordinary resolution or the Directors may determine.
- 141.2 Where a dividend or other monies which is a distribution is payable in respect of a share, it may, subject to Article 141.3, be paid by one or more of the following means:
-
(a) transfer to a bank or building society account specified by the distribution recipient either in writing or as the Directors may otherwise decide;
-
(b) sending a cheque made payable to, or to the order of, the distribution recipient (or to, or to the order of, such person as the distribution recipient has specified either in writing or as the Directors may otherwise decide) by post to the distribution recipient at the distribution recipient's registered address or to such person at such address as the distribution recipient has specified either in writing or as the Directors may otherwise decide;
- (c) by means of a relevant system in respect of shares in uncertificated form in such manner as may be consistent with the facilities and requirements of the relevant system or as the Directors may otherwise decide; or
- (d) by any electronic or other means as the Directors may decide, to an account, or in accordance with the details, specified by the distribution recipient either in writing or as the Directors may otherwise decide.
- 141.3 In respect of the payment of any dividend or other monies which is a distribution, the Directors may decide, and notify distribution recipients, that:
- (a) one or more of the means described in Article 141.2 will be used for payment and a distribution recipient may elect to receive the payment by one of the means so notified in the manner prescribed by the Directors;
- (b) one or more of such means will be used for the payment unless a distribution recipient elects otherwise in the manner prescribed by the Directors; or
- (c) one or more of such means will be used for the payment and that distribution recipients will not be able to elect otherwise.
The Directors may for this purpose decide that different methods of payment may apply to different distribution recipients or groups of distribution recipients.
- 141.4 Payment of any dividend or other monies which is a distribution is made at the risk of the distribution recipient. The Company is not responsible for a payment which is lost or delayed. Payment, in accordance with these Articles, of any cheque by the bank upon which it is drawn, or the transfer of funds by any means, or (in respect of shares in uncertificated form) the making of payment by means of a relevant system, shall be a good discharge to the Company.
- 141.5 In the event that:
- (a) a distribution recipient does not specify an address, or does not specify an account of a type prescribed by the Directors, or other details necessary in order to make a payment of a dividend or other distribution by the means by which the Directors have decided in accordance with this Article that a payment is to be made, or by which the distribution recipient has elected to receive payment, and such address or details are necessary in order for the Company to make the relevant payment in accordance with such decision or election; or
- (b) if payment cannot be made by the Company using the details provided by the distribution recipient,
then the dividend or other distribution shall be treated as unclaimed for the purposes of these Articles.
- 141.6 In these Articles, "the distribution recipient" means, in respect of a share in respect of which a dividend or other monies is payable:
-
(a) the holder of the share; or
-
(b) if the share has two or more joint holders, all of such holders or any one of such holders or whichever of them is named first in the register of members (as the Directors may decide, and they may decide differently for different references above to "distribution recipient"); or
- (c) if the holder is no longer entitled to the share by reason of death or bankruptcy, or otherwise by operation of law, the transmittee(s).
142. Interest
Subject to the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any shares, no dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a share shall bear interest against the Company.
143. Forfeiture of dividends
All dividends or other sums payable on or in respect of any share which remain unclaimed may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Directors for the benefit of the Company until claimed. All dividends unclaimed for a period of 12 years or more after becoming due for payment shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. The payment of any unclaimed dividend or other sum payable by the Company on or in respect of any share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee thereof.
CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS AND SCRIP DIVIDENDS
144. Power to capitalise
Subject to the provisions of Article 145, the Directors may capitalise any part of the amount for the time being standing to the credit of any of the Company's reserve accounts (including any share premium account, capital redemption reserve and redenomination reserve) or to the credit of the profit and loss or retained earnings account (in each case, whether or not such amounts are available for distribution), and appropriate the sum resolved to be capitalised either:
- 144.1 to the holders of ordinary shares (on the Register at such time and on such date as may be specified in, or determined as provided in, the resolution of the general meeting granting authority for such capitalisation) who would have been entitled thereto if distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions (including, for this purpose, any shares in the Company held as treasury shares, as if the restriction on payment of dividends in the Statutes did not apply); and the Directors shall apply such sum on their behalf either in or towards paying up any amounts, if any, for the time being unpaid on any shares held by such holders of ordinary shares respectively or in paying up in full at par new shares or debentures of the Company to be allotted credited as fully paid up to such holders of ordinary shares in the proportions aforesaid, or partly in the one way and partly in the other; or
- 144.2 to such holders of ordinary shares who may, in relation to any dividend or dividends, validly accept an offer or offers on such terms and conditions as the Directors may determine (and subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may consider necessary or expedient to deal with legal or practical problems in respect of overseas shareholders or in respect of shares represented by depository receipts) to receive new ordinary shares, credited as fully paid up, in lieu of the whole or any part of any such dividend or dividends (any such offer being called a "Scrip Dividend Offer"); and the Directors shall apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full at par new shares (in accordance with the terms, conditions and exclusions or other arrangements of the Scrip Dividend Offer) to be allotted credited as fully paid up to such holders respectively.
145. Authority required
- 145.1 The authority of the Company in general meeting shall be required before the Directors implement any Scrip Dividend Offer (which authority may extend to one or more offers).
- 145.2 The authority of the Company in general meeting shall be required for any capitalisation pursuant to Article 144.1 above.
- 145.3 A share premium account, a capital redemption reserve and a redenomination reserve and any other amounts which are not available for distribution may only be applied in the paying up of new shares to be allotted to holders of ordinary shares of the Company credited as fully paid up.
146. Provision for fractions etc.
Whenever a capitalisation requires to be effected, the Directors may do all acts and things which they may consider necessary or expedient to give effect thereto, with full power to the Directors to make such provision as they think fit for the case of shares or debentures becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby fractional entitlements are disregarded or the benefit thereof accrues to the Company rather than to the Members concerned) and also to authorise any person to enter on behalf of all Members concerned into an agreement with the Company providing for any such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned.
ACCOUNTING RECORDS
147. Accounting records to be kept
The Directors shall cause accounting records to be kept in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes.
148. Location of accounting records
The accounting records shall be kept at the Office or, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, at such other place or places as the Directors think fit.
149. Inspection of accounting records
The accounting records shall always be open to the inspection of the officers of the Company.
150. Power to extend inspection to Members
The Directors shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounting records of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being Directors.
151. Limit on Members' right to inspect
No Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document or information of the Company except as conferred by statute or authorised by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting.
AUDIT
152. Appointment of Auditors
Auditors shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes.
NOTICES
153. Service of notice and curtailment of postal service
- 153.1 A notice or other document (including a share certificate) or information may be given, sent, supplied, delivered or provided by the Company to any Member in accordance with the 2006 Act, subject to these Articles. The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion choose to give, send, supply, deliver or provide any notice, document or information in hard copy form alone to some or all Members.
- 153.2 If at any time by reason of the suspension or any curtailment of postal services in the United Kingdom or any part of the United Kingdom, or of services for delivery by electronic means, the Company is unable in the opinion of the Directors effectively to convene a general meeting by notices sent through the post (or by notification by post as to the availability of the notice of meeting on a website) or (in the case of those Members in respect of whom an address has for the time being been notified to the Company, in a manner specified by the Directors, for the purpose of giving notices by electronic means) by electronic means, the Directors may decide that the only persons to whom notice of the affected general meeting must be sent are:
- (a) the Directors;
- (b) the Company's auditors;
- (c) those Members to whom notice to convene the general meeting can validly be sent by electronic means; and
- (d) those Members to whom notice to convene the general meeting can validly be sent by means of a website and to whom notification as to the availability of the notice of meeting on a website can validly be sent by electronic means.
In any such case the Company shall:
- (i) send confirmatory copies of the notice (or a confirmatory notification as to the availability of the notice on the Company's website in the case of those Members to whom notice to convene the general meeting can validly be sent by means of a website but to whom notification as of the availability of the notice of meeting on a website cannot validly be sent by electronic means) by post or (as the case may be) by electronic means if, at least seven days prior to the date of the general meeting, the posting of notices to addresses throughout the United Kingdom or (as the case may be) the sending of notices by electronic means again becomes, in the opinion of the Directors, practicable;
- (ii) advertise the notice of meeting in at least one national newspaper; and
- (iii) make the notice of meeting available on its website from the day the notice was sent until the conclusion of the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
154. Members resident abroad
A Member who has no registered address within the United Kingdom, and has not supplied to the Company an address (not being an address for communication by electronic means) within the United Kingdom at which notices or other documents or information may be given to him, shall not be entitled to receive any notice or other documents or information from the Company.
155. Notice deemed served
- 155.1 Where a notice or other document or information is given, sent, supplied, delivered or provided by the Company by post, service of the notice or other document or information shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, prepaying, and posting it, or a letter containing the notice or other document or information, and to have been effected at the latest at the expiration of 24 hours after posting if first-class post was used and at the latest at the expiration of 48 hours after posting if first-class post was not used. In proving such service it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice, document or information, or the letter containing the same, was properly addressed and put in the post with postage paid.
- 155.2 Where a notice or other document or information is given, sent, supplied, delivered or provided by the Company by electronic means, service of the notice or other document or information shall be deemed to be effected by sending it by electronic means to an address for the time being notified to the person giving the notice or other document or information or as otherwise permitted by the Statutes for that purpose, and to have been effected at the latest at the expiration of 24 hours from when it was sent (even if the Company subsequently sends a hard copy of such notice, document or information by post). In proving such service by electronic means, it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice or other document or information was properly addressed subject to the provisions of section 1147(4) of the 2006 Act as to deemed delivery of documents or information by means of a website.
156. Notice to joint holders
A notice or other document or information may be given, sent, supplied, delivered or provided by the Company to the joint holders of a share by giving, sending, supplying, delivering or providing the notice or other document or information to the joint holder first named in the Register in respect of the share.
Anything to be agreed or specified by joint holders of a share may be agreed or specified by any of the joint holders (and any such agreement or specification shall be deemed for all purposes to be agreed or specified by all the joint holders) unless the Directors require it to be agreed or specified by all the joint holders or by the joint holder first named in the Register in respect of the share.
157. Service of notice on persons entitled by transmission
A notice or other document or information may be given, sent, supplied, delivered or provided by the Company to the persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member or otherwise by operation of law by giving, sending, supplying, delivering or providing it addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description, to the address, if any, within the United Kingdom supplied for the purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled or (until such an address has been so supplied) by giving, sending, supplying, delivering or providing the notice or other document or information in any manner in which the same might have been given, sent, supplied, delivered or provided if the death or bankruptcy or other event had not occurred.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION
158. Electronic Communication
Notwithstanding anything in these Articles to the contrary:
158.1 Any document or information to be given, sent, supplied, delivered or provided to any person by the Company, whether pursuant to these Articles, the Statutes or otherwise, is also to be treated as given, sent, supplied, delivered or provided where it is made available on a website, or is sent in electronic form, in the manner provided by the 2006 Act for the purposes of the 2006 Act (subject to the provisions of these Articles).
For the purposes of paragraph 10(2)(b) of schedule 5 to the 2006 Act, the Company may give, send, supply, deliver or provide documents or information to Members by making them available on a website.
For the purposes of paragraph 6.1.8R(1) of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the Company may use electronic means (as defined therein) to convey information or documents to Members or holders of debt securities (as defined therein).
158.2 The Directors may from time to time make such arrangements or regulations (if any) as they may from time to time in their absolute discretion think fit in relation to the giving of notices or other documents or information by electronic means by or to the Company and otherwise for the purpose of implementing and/or supplementing the provisions of these Articles and the Statutes in relation to electronic means; and such arrangements and regulations (as the case may be) shall have the same effect as if set out in this Article.
PROVISION FOR EMPLOYEES
159. Provision for employees
The power conferred by section 247 of the 2006 Act to make provision for the benefit of persons employed or formerly employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the Company or any subsidiary shall only be exercised by the Company with the prior sanction of a special resolution. If at any time the capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the exercise of such power as aforesaid shall be deemed to be a variation of the rights attached to each class of shares in issue and shall accordingly require either (i) the prior consent in writing of the holders of at least threequarters of the nominal value of the issued shares or (ii) the prior sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of each class, in accordance with the provisions of Article 17.
WINDING UP
160. Distribution of assets
If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, subject to the Statutes, with the sanction of a special resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Statutes, divide amongst the Members in specie or in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may, for such purpose, set such value as he deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any shares or other securities or other assets whereon there is any liability.
INDEMNITY
161. Indemnity of directors
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes (but so that this Article does not extend to any matter insofar as it would cause this Article or any part of it to be void under the Statutes) but without prejudice to any indemnity to which the person concerned may otherwise be entitled, every person who is or was at any time a director of the Company or any Group Company (as defined in Article 103.2) may be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against all costs, charges, expenses, losses or liabilities (together "Liabilities") which he may sustain or incur in or about the actual or purported execution and/or discharge of his duties (including those duties, powers and discretions in relation to any Group Company (as defined in Article 103.2) or any company that is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme (as defined in section 235(6) of the 2006 Act)) and/or the actual or purported exercise of his powers or discretions and/or otherwise in relation thereto or in connection therewith, including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) any Liability suffered or incurred by him in disputing, defending, investigating or providing evidence in connection with any actual or threatened or alleged claims, demands, investigations, or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, or regulatory or in connection with any application under section 661(3) or (4) or section 1157 of the 2006 Act.
162. Funding of expenditure
The Company may also provide funds to any director of the Company or of any Group Company (as defined in Article 103.2) to meet, or do anything to enable a director of the Company or any Group Company (as defined in Article 103.2) to avoid incurring expenditure to the extent permitted by the Statutes.
163. Limited liability
The liability of the Members is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares in the Company respectively held by them.
US AND OTHER TAX MATTERS
164. US and other tax matters
- 164.1 In addition to the right of the Directors to serve a notice under section 793 of the 2006 Act pursuant to Article 82, the Directors may at any time and from time to time serve notice on any Member requiring that Member to promptly provide the Company with any information, representations, certificates, waivers or forms ("Information") relating to such Member (and its direct or indirect owners or account holders or the persons beneficially interested, directly or indirectly in the shares held by such Member) that the Directors determine from time to time is necessary or appropriate for the Company to have in order to:
- (a) satisfy itself that the holding of shares by such Member will not give rise to any Onerous Obligation;
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(b) satisfy any account or payee identification, documentation or other diligence requirements and any reporting requirements imposed under or in relation to FATCA, the CRS or the requirements of any similar laws or regulations to which the Company may be subject enacted from time to time by any other jurisdiction (including without limitation the United Kingdom's International Tax Compliance Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/878)) ("Similar Report Laws"); or
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(c) avoid or reduce any tax otherwise imposed by FATCA or Similar Reporting Laws (including any withholding upon any payments to such Member by the Company); or
- (d) permit the Company to enter into, comply with, or prevent a default under or termination of, an agreement with an applicable governmental or taxation authority for the purposes of FATCA or under Similar Reporting Laws.
- 164.2 The Company and its agents shall be entitled to hold and process the Information for the purposes of carrying out the business of the Company and the administration and protection of its interests.
- 164.3 If any Member is in default of supplying the Information to the Company within the period set out in the notice referred to in Article 164.1 (which shall not be less than ten days after the service of the notice), the Directors may by notice to such Member declare him to be a Non-Qualified Holder for the purposes of these Articles, including without limitation, Articles 164.6 and 164.7 below, and such shares which, in the opinion of the Directors, are held by such Member shall be regarded as Prohibited Shares.
- 164.4 If at any time the holding or beneficial ownership of any shares in the Company by any person (whether on its own or taken with other shares), in the opinion of the Directors, would or might give rise to an Onerous Obligation, then the Directors may by written notice to the holder of such shares declare such holder to be a Non-Qualified Holder and declare that the shares which are held by such holder shall be regarded as Prohibited Shares.
- 164.5 The Directors may at any time, and from time to time, give written notice to any Non-Qualified Holder, requiring him either:
- (a) (in the case of a person who has been declared a Non-Qualified Holder under Article 164.4) to provide the Directors within 14 days of service of such notice with sufficient satisfactory documentary evidence to satisfy the Directors (in their discretion) that such person should not be regarded as a Non-Qualified Holder and that the shares held by such person should not be treated as Prohibited Shares, or, (in the case of a person who has been declared a Non-Qualified Holder under Article 164.3) to provide the Directors within 14 days of service of such notice with the Information so as to satisfy the Directors (in their discretion) that such person should not be regarded as a Non-Qualified Holder and that the shares held by such person should not be treated as Prohibited Shares; or
- (b) to sell or transfer his Prohibited Shares to a person who is not a Non-Qualified Holder within 14 days of service of such notice and within such 14 days to provide the Directors with satisfactory evidence of such sale or transfer and, pending such sale or transfer, the Directors may suspend the exercise of any voting or consent rights and rights to receive notice of or attend any meeting of the Company and any rights to receive dividends or other Distributions with respect to such Prohibited Shares.
- 164.6 Where condition (a) or (b) of Article 164.5 above is not satisfied within 14 days (or such longer period as the Directors may determine) after the serving of the notice, the person will be deemed, upon the expiration of such 14 days, to have forfeited his Prohibited Shares. The Directors may require that any such Prohibited Shares shall be transferred to another person who is not a Non-Qualified Holder, failing which the Company may dispose of the Prohibited Shares at the best price reasonably obtainable and pay the net proceeds of such disposal to the former holder. The provisions of Articles 40, 41, 42 and 43 shall apply mutatis mutandis to any such disposal.
- 164.7 Upon any transfer of a share (whether pursuant to this Article 164 or otherwise), the transferee of such share shall be deemed to have represented and warranted to the Company that (i) unless the Company has expressly consented to such acquisition in writing
in connection with the initial issuance of such share, he is not a US Plan Investor and no portion of the assets used by such transferee to acquire or hold an interest in such share constitutes or will be treated as "plan assets" of any US Plan Investor under the US Plan Asset Regulation, (ii) unless the Company has expressly consented to such acquisition in writing, he is not a Controlling Person, (iii) he is not an Other Plan Investor and is not acquiring the share with assets of an Other Plan Investor unless his purchase, holding, and disposition of the share will not result in a violation of applicable law and/or constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 503 of the U.S. Tax Code or any Similar Law, will not result in any assets of the Company being treated as assets of such Other Plan Investor for purposes of any Similar Law and will not otherwise subject the Company, the Manager or the Investment Committee to any requirements under any Similar Law he is not an Other Plan Investor and no portion of the assets used by such transferee to acquire or hold an interest in such share constitutes or will be treated as assets of any Other Plan Investor for purposes of any Similar Law, and (iv) if he is located in the United States or is a "US person" as defined in Rule 902(k) under the US Securities Act, he is a Qualified Purchaser purchasing for his own account or for the account of one or more US persons, each such person is a Qualified Purchaser.
165. Liability for loss of financial assets held in custody
The Directors, at their discretion, may allow a depositary appointed to safe-keep the Company's assets to avail of a contractual discharge of liability for loss of such assets (including in cases where the law of a country that is not part of the European Economic Area requires assets to be held by a local custodian), provided always that all other conditions for such discharge have been met.
166. Net asset value
The net asset value per share shall be calculated at least annually and disclosed to Members from time to time in such manner as may be determined by the Directors.
167. Information made available to Members
- 167.1 Investor Disclosures shall be made available to Members and prospective members in such manner as may be determined by the Directors from time to time (including, without limitation and where so determined, by posting some or all of the Investor Disclosures on the Company's website or by electronic notice).
- 167.2 For the purposes of this Article 167 the term "Investor Disclosures" means the information required to be made available to Members and prospective members pursuant to FUND 3.2.2R of the FCA Handbook as amended or replaced from time to time.
168. Valuation
Without prejudice to any other provision of these Articles, valuation of the Company's assets shall be performed in accordance with prevailing accounting standards.
NAME
169. Change of Name
The Company may change its name by resolution of the Directors