UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of December 2024
Commission File Number: 001-39111
XChange TEC.INC
(Registrant’s Name)
Room 1610
No.801, Building 1, 1136 Xinzha Road
JingAn District, Shanghai, 200041
People’s Republic of China
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form
40-F ☐
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This report on Form 6-K, including
the exhibits hereof, is hereby incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 initially filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2021 (Registration No. 333-258187) and shall be a part thereof from the
date on which this current report is furnished, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.
EXHIBIT INDEX
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
XChange TEC.INC |
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Yong Zhang |
|
Name: |
Yong Zhang |
|
Title: |
Chairman of the Board of Directors
and Chief Executive Officer |
Date: December 31, 2024
2
Exhibit
99.1
XChange
TEC.INC
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON January 24, 2025
NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual general meeting of XChange TEC.INC (the “Company”) will be held on January
24, 2025 at 7:00 AM (Beijing time) at No.801, Building 1, 1136 Xinzha Road, JingAn District, Shanghai, China for the following
purposes:
A:
ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS
To
consider and, if thought fit, pass with or without amendment the following resolutions as ordinary resolutions of the Company:
| (a) | every
one hundred thousand (100,000) issued and unissued shares of the Company of a nominal or
par value of US$0.0000001 each (the “Existing Shares”) be consolidated
into one (1) share of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each (each a “Consolidated
Share”), such Consolidated Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects
with each other (the “Share Consolidation”) so that following the Share
Consolidation the authorized share capital of the Company will be changed from (a) US$48,000,000
divided into 480,000,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, of
which 419,500,000,000,000 are Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, 60,000,000,000,000 are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each and 500,000,000,000 are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each;
to (b) US$48,000,000 divided into 4,800,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01
each, of which 4,195,000,000 are Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01
each, 600,000,000 are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each and
5,000,000 are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each; |
| (b) | the
Directors be authorized to settle as they consider expedient any difficulty which arises
in relation to the Share Consolidation, including but without prejudice to the generality
of the foregoing capitalizing all or any part of any amount for the time being standing to
the credit of any reserve or fund of the Company (including its share premium account and
profit and loss account) whether or not the same is available for distribution and applying
such sum in paying up unissued Consolidated Shares to be issued to shareholders of the Company
to round up any fractions of Consolidated Shares issued to or registered in the name of such
shareholders of the Company following or as a result of the Share Consolidation (the “Fractional
Share Arrangement”); and |
| (c) | upon
the Share Consolidation becoming effective, the authorised share capital of the Company be
increased from (a) US$48,000,000 divided into 4,800,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value
of US$0.01 each of which 4,195,000,000 shall be designated as Class A Ordinary Shares of
a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, 600,000,000 shall be designated as Class B Ordinary
Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, and 5,000,000 shall be designated as Preferred
Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, to (b) US$50,000,000,000,000 divided into
5,000,000,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, of which 4,374,500,000,000,000
are Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, 625,000,000,000,000
are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each and 500,000,000,000
are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, by the creation of an additional
4,374,495,805,000,000 unissued Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01
each to rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Class A Ordinary Shares,
624,999,400,000,000 unissued Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01
each to rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Class B Ordinary Shares,
and 499,995,000,000 unissued Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each to
rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Preferred Shares (the “Authorised
Share Capital Increase”). |
B:
SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS
To
consider and, if thought fit, pass with or without amendment the following resolutions as special resolutions of the Company:
| 2. | THAT
upon the Share Consolidation and the Authorised Share Capital Increase becoming effective,
the third amended and restated memorandum and fifth amended and restated articles of association
of the Company (together the “New M&A-1”), which contains the proposed
Share Consolidation and the Authorised Share Capital Increase and a copy of which has been
attached as Annex A to this notice, be and are hereby approved and adopted in substitution
for and to the exclusion of the existing memorandum and articles of association of the Company
with immediate effect, and any Director, registered office provider or company secretary
of the Company be and is hereby authorised to do all such acts, deeds and things and execute
all such documents and make all such arrangements that he/she shall, in his/her absolute
discretion, deem necessary or expedient to give effect and implement, or otherwise required
in connection with, the adoption of the New M&A-1, including without limitation, attending
to the necessary filings with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands and with any
other relevant authorities. |
| 3. | THAT
subject to and conditional upon, amongst other things, (i) the Share Consolidation and
the Authorised Share Capital Increase becoming effective; (ii) an order being made by the
Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (the “Court”) confirming the Capital
Reduction (as defined below); (iii) registration by the Registrar of Companies of Cayman
Islands of a copy of the order of the Court confirming the Capital Reduction and the minute
approved by the Court containing the particulars required under the Companies Act (As Revised)
of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”) in respect of the Capital
Reduction and compliance with any conditions the Court may impose (if applicable); and (iv)
obtaining of all necessary approvals from the regulatory authorities or otherwise as may
be required in respect of the Capital Reduction (if applicable), with effect from the date
on which these conditions are fulfilled: |
| (a) | the
par value of each issued Consolidated Share of par value of US$0.01 each in the share capital
of the Company be reduced to US$0.0000001 par value each (the “Capital Reduction”)
by cancelling the paid-up capital to the extent of US$0.0099999 on each of the then issued
Consolidated Shares; |
| (b) | the
credit arising from the Capital Reduction be authorised to be applied towards offsetting
the accumulated losses of the Company (if any) as at the effective date of the Capital Reduction
(the “Accumulated Losses”) and the balance of any such credit (if any)
remaining after offsetting the Accumulated Losses be transferred to a distributable reserve
account of the Company which may be utilised by the Company as the Directors may deem fit
and in any manner as permitted by all applicable laws and the memorandum and articles of
association of the Company, including, without limitation, eliminating or setting off the
accumulated losses of the Company which may arise from time to time and/or paying dividends
and/or making any other distribution out of such account from time to time; |
| (c) | each
of the authorised but unissued Consolidated Shares of a par value of US$0.01 each be sub-divided
into 100,000 unissued shares of the Company of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each
(the “Share Subdivision”) such that the authorized share capital of the
Company shall be US$50,000,000,000,000 divided into 500,000,000,000,000,000,000 shares of
a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, of which 437,450,000,000,000,000,000 are Class
A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, 62,500,000,000,000,000,000
are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each and 50,000,000,000,000,000
are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each; |
| (d) | upon
the effectiveness of the Capital Reduction and the Share Subdivision, the Company cancels
US$49,999,500,000,000 of its authorised and unissued share capital, by the cancellation of
437,445,625,500,000,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, 62,499,375,000,000,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each and 49,999,500,000,000,000 Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, each not having been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, such that following
such cancellation, the authorized share capital of the Company will be diminished from (i)
US$50,000,000,000,000 divided into 500,000,000,000,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par
value of US$0.0000001 each, of which 437,450,000,000,000,000,000 are Class A Ordinary Shares
of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, 62,500,000,000,000,000,000 are Class B Ordinary
Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each and 50,000,000,000,000,000 are Preferred
Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each to (ii) US$500,000,000 divided into
5,000,000,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, of which 4,374,500,000,000,000
are Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, 625,000,000,000,000
are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each and 500,000,000,000
are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each (the “Diminution
of Authorised Share Capital”); and |
| (e) | immediately
following the Capital Reduction, the Share Subdivision and the Diminution of Authorised Share
Capital becoming effective, the fourth amended and restated memorandum and sixth amended
and restated articles of association of the Company (together the “New M&A-2”),
which contains the proposed Capital Reduction, Share Subdivision and the Diminution of Authorised
Share Capital and a copy of which has been attached as Annex B to this notice, be and are
hereby approved and adopted in substitution for and to the exclusion of the then existing
memorandum and articles of association of the Company with immediate effect, and any Director,
registered office provider or company secretary of the Company be and is hereby authorised
to do all such acts, deeds and things and execute all such documents and make all such arrangements
that he/she shall, in his/her absolute discretion, deem necessary or expedient to give effect
and implement, or otherwise required in connection with, the adoption of the New M&A-2,
including without limitation, attending to the necessary filings with the Registrar of Companies
in the Cayman Islands and with any other relevant authorities. |
The
board of directors of the Company has fixed the close of business in the Cayman Islands on December 26, 2024, as the record date (the
“Record Date”). Only holders of the Company’s ordinary shares (being Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary
Shares), whether or not represented by American Depositary shares (the “ADS”), on the Record Date are entitled to
receive notice of the Company’s annual general meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
If
you are a holder of the Company’s ordinary shares on the Record Date, you are cordially invited to attend the annual general meeting
in person.
|
BY ORDER OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
|
|
|
/s/
Yong Zhang |
|
Name: |
Yong Zhang |
|
Title: |
Director |
|
Date: |
December 31, 2024 |
Annex
A
THE
NEW M&A-1
(in
redline)
THE
COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
EXEMPTED
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
SECONDTHIRD
AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
XChange
TEC.INC
(Adopted by special resolution of the shareholders
passed on 20 May 2024[ ]
and effective on 21 May 2024[
])
| 1. | The
name of the Company is XChange TEC.INC. |
| 2. | The
Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Conyers Trust Company (Cayman)
Limited, Cricket Square, Hutchins Drive, P.O. 2681, Grand Cayman KY1-1111, Cayman Islands. |
| 3. | Subject
to the following provisions of this Memorandum, the objects for which the Company is established
are unrestricted. |
| 4. | Subject
to the following provisions of this Memorandum, the Company shall have and be capable of
exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question
of corporate benefit, as provided by Section 27(2) of the Companies Act. |
| 5. | Nothing
in this Memorandum shall permit the Company to carry on a business for which a licence is
required under the laws of the Cayman Islands unless duly licensed. |
| 6. | The
Company shall not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except
in furtherance of the business of the Company carried on outside the Cayman Islands; provided
that nothing in this clause shall be construed as to prevent the Company effecting and concluding
contracts in the Cayman Islands, and exercising in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary
for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
| 7. | The
liability of each member is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such member’s
shares. |
| 8. | The share capital of the Company is US$4850,000,000,000,000
divided into 485,000,000,000,000,000
shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, of which 419,374,500,000,000,000
shall be designated as Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, 6025,000,000,000,000
shall be designated as Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, and 500,000,000,000 shall be designated as Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each. |
| 9. | The
Company may exercise the power contained in the Companies Act to deregister in the Cayman
Islands and be registered by way of continuation in another jurisdiction. |
The
Companies Act (As Revised)
Exempted
Company Limited by Shares
FOURTHFIFTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES
OF ASSOCIATION
OF
XChange
TEC.INC
(Adopted by way of a special resolution passed on 20
May 2024[ ]
and effective on 21 May 2024[ ])
I
N D E X
SUBJECT |
|
Article No. |
Table A |
|
1 |
Interpretation |
|
2 |
Share Capital |
|
3 |
Alteration Of Capital |
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4-7 |
Share Rights |
|
8-9 |
Variation Of Rights |
|
10-11 |
Shares |
|
12-15 |
Share Certificates |
|
16-21 |
Lien |
|
22-24 |
Calls On Shares |
|
25-33 |
Forfeiture Of Shares |
|
34-42 |
Register Of Members |
|
43-44 |
Record Dates |
|
45 |
Transfer Of Shares |
|
46-51 |
Transmission Of Shares |
|
52-54 |
Untraceable Members |
|
55 |
General Meetings |
|
56-58 |
Notice Of General Meetings |
|
59-60 |
Proceedings At General Meetings |
|
61-64 |
No Action by Written Resolutions |
|
65 |
Voting |
|
66-77 |
Proxies |
|
78-83 |
Corporations Acting By Representatives |
|
84 |
Board Of Directors |
|
85 |
Disqualification Of Directors |
|
86 |
Executive Directors |
|
87-88 |
Alternate Directors |
|
89-92 |
Directors’ Fees And Expenses |
|
93-96 |
Directors’ Interests |
|
97-100 |
General Powers Of The Directors |
|
101-106 |
Borrowing Powers |
|
107-110 |
Proceedings Of The Directors |
|
111-120 |
Audit Committee |
|
121-123 |
Officers |
|
124-127 |
Register of Directors and Officers |
|
128 |
Minutes |
|
129 |
Seal |
|
130 |
Authentication Of Documents |
|
131 |
Destruction Of Documents |
|
132 |
Dividends And Other Payments |
|
133-142 |
Reserves |
|
143 |
Capitalisation |
|
144-145 |
Subscription Rights Reserve |
|
146 |
Accounting Records |
|
147-151 |
Audit |
|
152-157 |
Notices |
|
158-160 |
Signatures |
|
161 |
Winding Up |
|
162-163 |
Indemnity |
|
164 |
Financial Year |
|
165 |
Amendment To Memorandum
and Articles of Association And Name of Company |
|
166 |
Information |
|
167 |
INTERPRETATION
TABLE
A
| 1. | The
regulations in Table A in the Schedule to the Companies Act (As Revised) do not apply to the Company. |
INTERPRETATION
| 2. | (1)
In these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires, the words standing in the first column of the following table shall bear the
meaning set opposite them respectively in the second column. |
|
WORD |
MEANING |
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“Affiliate” |
shall have the meaning given to it in Rule 405 of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
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“Audit Committee” |
the audit committee of the Company formed by the Board pursuant to Article 121 hereof, or any successor audit committee. |
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“Auditor” |
the independent auditor of the Company which shall be an internationally recognized firm of independent accountants. |
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“Articles” |
these Articles in their present form or as supplemented or amended or substituted from time to time. |
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“Board” or “Directors” |
the board of directors of the Company or the directors present at a meeting of directors of the Company at which a quorum is present. |
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“capital” |
the share capital from time to time of the Company. |
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“Class A Ordinary Shares” |
class A ordinary shares of par value US$0.0000001
each of the Company having the rights set out in these Articles. |
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“Class B Ordinary Shares” |
class B ordinary shares of par value US$0.0000001
each of the Company having the rights set out in these Articles. |
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“clear days” |
in relation to the period of a notice, that period excluding the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect. |
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“clearing house” |
a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the shares of the Company (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction. |
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“Company” |
XChange TEC.INC |
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“competent regulatory authority” |
a competent regulatory authority in the territory where the shares of the Company (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such territory. |
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“Conversion Date” |
in respect of a Conversion Notice means the day on which that Conversion Notice is delivered. |
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“Conversion Notice” |
a written notice delivered to the Company at its Office (and as otherwise stated therein) stating that a holder of Class B Ordinary Shares elects to convert the number of Class B Ordinary Shares specified therein pursuant to Article 9. |
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“Conversion Number” |
in relation to any Class B Ordinary Shares, such number of Class A Ordinary Shares as may, upon exercise of the Conversion Right, be issued at the Conversion Rate. |
|
“Conversion Rate” |
means, at any time, on a 1 : 1 basis. |
|
|
|
|
“Conversion Right” |
in respect of a Class B Ordinary Share means the right of its holder, subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any applicable fiscal or other laws or regulations including the Law, to convert all or any of its Class B Ordinary Shares, into the Conversion Number of Class A Ordinary Shares in its discretion. |
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“debenture” and “debenture holder” |
include debenture stock and debenture stockholder respectively. |
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“Designated Stock Exchange” |
means The NASDSAQ for so long as the Company’s Shares or ADSs are there listed and any other stock exchange on which the Company’s Shares or ADSs are listed for trading. |
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|
“dollars” and “$” |
dollars, the legal currency of the United States of America. |
|
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“Exchange Act” |
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
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“head office” |
such office of the Company as the Directors may from time to time determine to be the principal office of the Company. |
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“Law” |
The Companies Act Cap. 22 (Law 3 of 1961, as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands. |
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“Member” |
a duly registered holder from time to time of the shares in the capital of the Company. |
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“month” |
a calendar month. |
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“Notice” |
written notice unless otherwise specifically stated and as further defined in these Articles. |
|
“Office” |
the registered office of the Company for the time being. |
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|
“ordinary resolution” |
a resolution shall be an ordinary resolution when it has been passed by a simple majority of votes cast by such Members as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, in the case of any Member being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which not less than ten (10) clear days’ Notice has been duly given; |
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“Ordinary Shares” |
Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares collectively. |
|
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“paid up” |
paid up or credited as paid up. |
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“Register” |
the principal register and where applicable, any branch register of Members of the Company to be maintained at such place within or outside the Cayman Islands as the Board shall determine from time to time. |
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“Registration Office” |
in respect of any class of share capital such place as the Board may from time to time determine to keep a branch register of Members in respect of that class of share capital and where (except in cases where the Board otherwise directs) the transfers or other documents of title for such class of share capital are to be lodged for registration and are to be registered. |
|
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“SEC” |
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. |
|
|
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“Seal” |
common seal or any one or more duplicate seals of the Company (including a securities seal) for use in the Cayman Islands or in any place outside the Cayman Islands. |
|
|
|
|
“Secretary” |
any person, firm or corporation appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties of secretary of the Company and includes any assistant, deputy, temporary or acting secretary. |
|
|
|
|
“special resolution” |
a resolution shall be a special resolution when it has been passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of votes cast by such Members as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, in the case of such Members as are corporations, by their respective duly authorised representative or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which not less than ten (10) clear days’ Notice, specifying (without prejudice to the power contained in these Articles to amend the same) the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution, has been duly given, provided that, except in the case of an annual general meeting, if it is so agreed by a majority in number of the Members having the right to attend and vote at any such meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety-five (95) per cent. in nominal value of the shares giving that right and in the case of an annual general meeting, if it is so agreed by all Members entitled to attend and vote thereat, a resolution may be proposed and passed as a special resolution at a meeting of which less than ten (10) clear days’ Notice has been given; |
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|
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 or the Statutes. |
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“Statutes” |
the Law and every other law of the Legislature of the Cayman Islands for the time being in force applying to or affecting the Company, its Memorandum of Association and/or these Articles. |
|
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“year” |
a calendar year. |
(2)
In these Articles, unless there be something within the subject or context inconsistent with such construction:
| (a) | words
importing the singular include the plural and vice versa; |
| (b) | words
importing a gender include both gender and the neuter; |
| (c) | words
importing persons include companies, associations and bodies of persons whether corporate
or not; |
| (i) | “may”
shall be construed as permissive; |
| (ii) | “shall”
or “will” shall be construed as imperative; |
| (e) | expressions
referring to writing shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as including
printing, lithography, photography and other modes of representing words or figures in a
visible form, and including where the representation takes the form of electronic display,
provided that both the mode of service of the relevant document or notice and the
Member’s election comply with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations; |
| (f) | references
to any law, ordinance, statute or statutory provision shall be interpreted as relating to
any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force; |
| (g) | save
as aforesaid words and expressions defined in the Statutes shall bear the same meanings in
these Articles if not inconsistent with the subject in the context; |
| (h) | references
to a document being executed include references to it being executed under hand or under
seal or by electronic signature or by any other method and references to a notice or document
include a notice or document recorded or stored in any digital, electronic, electrical, magnetic
or other retrievable form or medium and information in visible form whether having physical
substance or not; |
| (i) | Section
8 and Section 19 of the Electronic Transactions Act of the Cayman Islands, as amended from
time to time, shall not apply to these Articles to the extent it imposes obligations or requirements
in addition to those set out in these Articles. |
SHARE
CAPITAL
| 3. | (1) The share capital of
the Company at the date on which these Articles come into effect shall be US$4850,000,000,000,000
divided into 485,000,000,000,000,000
shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, of which 419,374,500,000,000,000
shall be designated as Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, 6025,000,000,000,000
shall be designated as Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, and 500,000,000,000 shall be designated as Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each as the Board may determine in accordance with Article 12. |
(2)
Subject to the Law, the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock
Exchange and/or any competent regulatory authority, the Company shall have the power to purchase or otherwise acquire its own shares
and such power shall be exercisable by the Board in such manner, upon such terms and subject to such conditions as it in its absolute
discretion thinks fit and any determination by the Board of the manner of purchase shall be deemed authorised by these Articles for purposes
of the Law. The Company is hereby authorised to make payments in respect of the purchase of its shares out of capital or out of any other
account or fund which can be authorised for this purpose in accordance with the Law.
(3)
Subject to compliance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange and any other competent regulatory authority, the
Company may give financial assistance for the purpose of or in connection with a purchase made or to be made by any person of any shares
in the Company.
(4)
The Board may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid share.
(5)
No share shall be issued to bearer.
ALTERATION
OF CAPITAL
| 4. | (1)
The Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution in accordance with the Law alter
the conditions of its Memorandum of Association to: |
| (a) | increase
its capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such amounts, as the resolution shall
prescribe; |
| (b) | consolidate
and divide all or any of its capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares; |
| (c) | without
prejudice to the powers of the Board under Article 12, divide its shares into several classes
and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of existing
shares attach thereto respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights,
privileges, conditions or such restrictions which in the absence of any such determination
by the Company in general meeting, as the Board may determine provided always that,
for the avoidance of doubt, where a class of shares has been authorized by the Members no
resolution of the Members in general meeting is required for the issuance of shares of that
class and the Board may issue shares of that class and determine such rights, privileges,
conditions or restrictions attaching thereto as aforesaid, and further provided that
where the Company issues shares which do not carry voting rights, the words “non-voting”
shall appear in the designation of such shares and where the equity capital includes shares
with different voting rights, the designation of each class of shares, other than those with
the most favourable voting rights, must include the words “restricted voting”
or “limited voting”; |
| (d) | sub-divide
its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum
of Association (subject, nevertheless, to the Law), and may by such resolution determine
that, as between the holders of the shares resulting from such sub-division, one or more
of the shares may have any such preferred, deferred or other rights or be subject to any
such restrictions as compared with the other or others as the Company has power to attach
to unissued or new shares; |
| (e) | cancel
any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken, or agreed
to be taken, by any person, and diminish the amount of its capital by the amount of the shares
so cancelled or, in the case of shares, without par value, diminish the number of shares
into which its capital is divided. |
(2)
No alteration may be made of the kind contemplated by Article 4(1), or otherwise, to the par value of the Class A Ordinary Shares or
the Class B Ordinary Shares unless an identical alteration is made to the par value of the Class B Ordinary Shares or the Class A Ordinary
Shares, as the case may be.
| 5. | The
Board may settle as it considers expedient any difficulty which arises in relation to any
consolidation and division under Article 4 and in particular but without prejudice to the
generality of the foregoing may issue certificates in respect of fractions of shares or arrange
for the sale of the shares representing fractions and the distribution of the net proceeds
of sale (after deduction of the expenses of such sale) in due proportion amongst the Members
who would have been entitled to the fractions, and for this purpose the Board may authorise
some persons to transfer the shares representing fractions to their purchaser or resolve
that such net proceeds be paid to the Company for the Company’s benefit. Such purchaser
will not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor will his title to the
shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. |
| 6. | The
Company may from time to time by special resolution, subject to any confirmation or consent
required by the Law, reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any manner
permitted by the Law. |
| 7. | Except
so far as otherwise provided by the conditions of issue, or by these Articles, any capital
raised by the creation of new shares shall be treated as if it formed part of the original
capital of the Company, and such shares shall be subject to the provisions contained in these
Articles with reference to the payment of calls and instalments, transfer and transmission,
forfeiture, lien, cancellation, surrender, voting and otherwise. |
SHARE
RIGHTS
| 8. | (1)
Subject to the provisions of the Law, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange and the
Memorandum and Articles of Association and to any special rights conferred on the holders
of any shares or class of shares, and without prejudice to Article 12 hereof, any share in
the Company (whether forming part of the present capital or not) may be issued with or have
attached thereto such rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return
of capital or otherwise as the Board may determine, including without limitation on terms
that they may be, or at the option of the Company or the holder are, liable to be redeemed
on such terms and in such manner, including out of capital, as the Board may deem fit. |
(2)
Subject to the Law and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, any preferred shares may be issued or converted into shares that,
at a designated date or at the option of the Company or the holder if so authorised by its Memorandum of Association, are liable to be
redeemed on such terms and in such manner as the Members before the issue or conversion may by ordinary resolution of the Members determine.
Where the Company purchases for redemption a redeemable share, purchases not made through the market or by tender shall be limited to
a maximum price as may from time to time be determined by the Board, either generally or with regard to specific purchases. If purchases
are by tender, tenders shall comply with applicable laws and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.
| 9. | Subject
to Article 8(1), the Memorandum of Association and any resolution of the Members to the contrary
and without prejudice to any special rights conferred thereby on the holders of any other
shares or class of shares, the share capital of the Company shall be divided into shares
of two classes, Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares. Class A Ordinary Shares
and Class B Ordinary Shares shall carry equal rights and rank pari passu with one another
other than as set out below. |
| (i) | Subject
to the provisions hereof and to compliance with all fiscal and other laws and regulations
applicable thereto, including the Law, a holder of Class B Ordinary Shares shall have the
Conversion Right in respect of each Class B Ordinary Share. For the avoidance of doubt, a
holder of Class A Ordinary Shares shall have no rights to convert Class A Ordinary Shares
into Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances. |
| (ii) | Each
Class B Ordinary Share shall be converted at the option of the holder, at any time after
issue and without the payment of any additional sum, into one fully paid Class A Ordinary
Share calculated at the Conversion Rate. Such conversion shall take effect on the Conversion
Date. A Conversion Notice shall not be effective if it is not accompanied by the share certificates
in respect of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares and such other evidence (if any) as the
Directors may reasonably require to prove the title of the person exercising such right (or,
if such certificates have been lost or destroyed, such evidence of title and such indemnity
as the Directors may reasonably require). Any and all taxes and stamp, issue and registration
duties (if any) arising on conversion shall be borne by the holder of Class B Ordinary Shares
requesting conversion. |
| (iii) | On
the Conversion Date, every Class B Ordinary Share to be converted shall automatically be
re-designated and re-classified as a Class A Ordinary Share with such rights and restrictions
attached thereto and shall rank pari passu in all respects with the Class A Ordinary Shares
then in issue and the Company shall enter or procure the entry of the name of the relevant
holder of Class B Ordinary Shares as the holder of the same number of Class A Ordinary Shares
resulting from the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares in, and make any other necessary
and consequential changes to, the Register of Members and shall procure that certificates
in respect of the relevant Class A Ordinary Shares, together with a new certificate for any
unconverted Class B Ordinary Shares comprised in the certificate(s) surrendered by the holder
of the Class B Ordinary Shares, are issued to the holders thereof. |
| (iv) | Until
such time as the Class B Ordinary Shares have been converted into Class A Ordinary Shares,
the Company shall: |
| (1) | at
all times keep available for issue and free of all liens, charges, options, mortgages, pledges,
claims, equities, encumbrances and other third-party rights of any nature, and not subject
to any pre-emptive rights out of its authorised but unissued share capital, such number of
authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares as would enable all Class B Ordinary Shares
to be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares and any other rights of conversion into, subscription
for or exchange into Class A Ordinary Shares to be satisfied in full; and |
| (2) | not
make any issue, grant or distribution or take any other action if the effect would be that
on the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares it would be required
to issue Class A Ordinary Shares at a price lower than the par value thereof. |
| (b) | As
regards Voting Rights |
Holders
of Ordinary Shares have the right to receive notice of, attend, speak and vote at general meetings of the Company. Holders of shares
of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares shall, at all times (other than in respect of separate general meetings of the
holders of a class or series of shares held in accordance with Article 10(a) below), vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote for Members’ consent. Each Class A Ordinary Share shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all matters subject to the vote
at general meetings of the Company, and each Class B Ordinary Share shall be entitled to ten (10) votes on all matters subject to the
vote at general meetings of the Company.
Upon
any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of Class B Ordinary Shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is not (i)
an Affiliate of such holder or (ii) a trust whose beneficiary is an Affiliate of such holder, such Class B Ordinary Shares validly transferred
to the new holder shall be automatically and immediately converted into an equal number of Class A Ordinary Shares.
For
the avoidance of doubt, (i) no automatic conversion as outlined above shall occur on any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of
Class B Ordinary Shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is an Affiliate of such holder or a trust whose beneficiary
is an Affiliate of such holder; (ii) a sale, transfer, assignment or disposition shall be effective upon the Company’s registration
of such sale, transfer, assignment or disposition in the Company’s Register of Members; and (ii) the creation of any pledge, charge,
encumbrance or other third party right of whatever description on any of Class B Ordinary Shares to secure a holder’s contractual or
legal obligations shall not be deemed as a sale, transfer, assignment or disposition unless and until any such pledge, charge, encumbrance
or other third party right is enforced and results in the third party holding legal title to the related Class B Ordinary Shares, in
which case all the related Class B Ordinary Shares shall be automatically converted into the same number of Class A Ordinary Shares upon
the Company’s registration of the third party or its designee as a Member holding that number of Class A Ordinary Shares in the Register
of Members.
VARIATION
OF RIGHTS
| 10. | Subject
to the Law and without prejudice to Article 8, all or any of the special rights for the time
being attached to the shares or any class of shares may, unless otherwise provided by the
terms of issue of the shares of that class, from time to time (whether or not the Company
is being wound up) be varied, modified or abrogated with the sanction of a special resolution
passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. To every
such separate general meeting all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings
of the Company shall, mutatis mutandis, apply, but so that: |
| (a) | separate
general meetings of the holders of a class or series of shares may be called only by (i)
the Chairman of the Board, or (ii) a majority of the Board (unless otherwise specifically
provided by the terms of issue of the shares of such class or series). Nothing in this Article
10 shall be deemed to give any Member or Members the right to call a class or series meeting; |
| (b) | the
necessary quorum (whether at a separate general meeting or at its adjourned meeting) shall
be a person or persons (or in the case of a Member being a corporation, its duly authorized
representative) together holding or representing by proxy not less than one-third of
the voting power of the issued shares of that class; |
| (c) | every
holder of shares of the class shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for every such share
held by him; and |
| (d) | any
holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy or authorised representative
may demand a poll. |
| 11. | The
special rights conferred upon the holders of any shares or class of shares shall not, unless
otherwise expressly provided in the rights attaching to or the terms of issue of such shares,
be deemed to be varied, modified or abrogated by the creation or issue of further shares
ranking pari passu therewith. |
SHARES
| 12. | (1)
Subject to the Law, these Articles and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock
Exchange and without prejudice to any special rights or restrictions for the time being attached
to any shares or any class of shares, the unissued shares of the Company (whether forming
part of the original or any increased capital) shall be at the disposal of the Board, which
may offer, allot, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, at such
times and for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the Board may in its
absolute discretion determine but so that no shares shall be issued at a discount to par
value. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Board
is hereby empowered to authorize by resolution or resolutions from time to time the issuance
of one or more classes or series of preferred shares and to fix the designations, powers,
preferences and relative, participating, optional and other rights, if any, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof, if any, including, without limitation, the number of
shares constituting each such class or series, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption
privileges, voting powers, full or limited or no voting powers, and liquidation preferences,
and to increase or decrease the size of any such class or series (but not below the number
of shares of any class or series of preferred shares then outstanding) to the extent permitted
by the Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions
providing for the establishment of any class or series of preferred shares may, to the extent
permitted by the Law, provide that such class or series shall be superior to, rank equally
with or be junior to the preferred shares of any other class or series. |
(2)
Neither the Company nor the Board shall be obliged, when making or granting any allotment of, offer of, option over or disposal of shares,
to make, or make available, any such allotment, offer, option or shares to Members or others with registered addresses in any particular
territory or territories being a territory or territories where, in the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities,
this would or might, in the opinion of the Board, be unlawful or impracticable. Members affected as a result of the foregoing sentence
shall not be, or be deemed to be, a separate class of members for any purpose whatsoever. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the
resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment of any class or series of preferred shares, no vote of the holders of preferred
shares or ordinary shares shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any class or series of the preferred shares authorized
by and complying with the conditions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
(3)
The Board may issue options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders
thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of shares or securities in the capital of the Company on such terms as it may
from time to time determine.
| 13. | The
Company may in connection with the issue of any shares exercise all powers of paying commission
and brokerage conferred or permitted by the Law. Subject to the Law, the commission may be
satisfied by the payment of cash or by the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or partly
in one and partly in the other. |
| 14. | Except
as required by the Law, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share
upon any trust and the Company shall not be bound by or required in any way to recognise
(even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in
any share or any fractional part of a share or (except only as otherwise provided by these
Articles or by the Law) any other rights in respect of any share except an absolute right
to the entirety thereof in the registered holder. |
| 15. | Subject
to the Law and these Articles, the Board may at any time after the allotment of shares but
before any person has been entered in the Register as the Member, 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 Board considers fit to impose. |
SHARE
CERTIFICATES
| 16. | A
share certificate may be issued under the Seal or a facsimile thereof and shall specify the
number and class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the shares to which it relates, and
the amount paid up thereon and may otherwise be in such form as the Board may from time to
time determine. No certificate shall be issued representing shares of more than one class.
The Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in any particular case or cases,
that any signatures on any such certificates (or certificates in respect of other securities)
need not be autographic but may be affixed to such certificates by some mechanical means
or may be printed thereon. |
| 17. | (1)
In the case of a share held jointly by several persons, the Company shall not be bound to
issue more than one certificate therefor and delivery of a certificate to one of several
joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all such holders. |
(2)
Where a share stands in the names of two or more persons, the person first named in the Register shall as regards service of notices
and, subject to the provisions of these Articles, all or any other matters connected with the Company, except the transfer of the shares,
be deemed the sole holder thereof.
| 18. | Every
person whose name is entered, upon an allotment of shares, as a Member in the Register shall
be entitled, without payment, to receive one certificate for all such shares of any one class
or several certificates each for one or more of such shares of such class upon payment for
every certificate after the payment of such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses as
the Board from time to time determines, provided however, the Company is not obligated to
issue a share certificate to a Members unless the Member requests it from the Company.. |
| 19. | Upon
request by a Member, a share certificates shall be issued within the relevant time limit
as prescribed by the Law or as the Designated Stock Exchange may from time to time determine,
whichever is the shorter, after allotment or, except in the case of a transfer which the
Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after
lodgment of a transfer with the Company. |
| 20. | (1)
Upon every transfer of shares the certificate held by the transferor shall be given up to
be cancelled, and shall forthwith be cancelled accordingly, and a new certificate may be
issued to the transferee in respect of the shares transferred to him at such fee as is provided
in paragraph (2) of this Article 20. If any of the shares included in the certificate so
given up shall be retained by the transferor a new certificate for the balance may be issued
to him at the aforesaid fee payable by the transferor to the Company in respect thereof. |
(2)
The fee referred to in paragraph (1) above shall be an amount not exceeding the relevant maximum amount as the Designated Stock Exchange
may from time to time determine provided that the Board may at any time determine a lower amount for such fee.
| 21. | If
a share certificate shall be damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed
a new certificate representing the same shares may be issued to the relevant Member upon
request and on payment of such fee as the Board may determine and, subject to compliance
with such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and to payment of the costs and reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in investigating such evidence and preparing
such indemnity as the Board may think fit and, in case of damage or defacement, on delivery
of the old certificate to the Company provided always that where share warrants have
been issued, no new share warrant shall be issued to replace one that has been lost unless
the Board has determined that the original has been destroyed. |
LIEN
| 22. | The
Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share that is not a fully paid share,
for all moneys (whether presently payable or not) called or payable at a fixed time in respect
of that share. The Company shall also have a first and paramount lien on every share that
is not a fully paid share registered in the name of a Member (whether or not jointly with
other Members) for all amounts of money presently payable by such Member or his estate to
the Company whether the same shall have been incurred before or after notice to the Company
of any equitable or other interest of any person other than such member, and whether the
payment or discharge of the same shall have actually become due or not, and notwithstanding
that the same are joint debts or liabilities of such Member or his estate and any other person,
whether a Member of the Company or not. The Company’s lien on a share shall extend
to all dividends or other moneys payable thereon or in respect thereof. The Board may at
any time, generally or in any particular case, waive any lien that has arisen or declare
any share exempt in whole or in part, from the provisions of this Article 22. |
| 23. | Subject
to these Articles, the Company may sell in such manner as the Board determines any share
on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless some sum in respect of
which the lien exists is presently payable, or the liability or engagement in respect of
which such lien exists is liable to be presently fulfilled or discharged nor until the expiration
of fourteen (14) clear days after a Notice, stating and demanding payment of the sum presently
payable, or specifying the liability or engagement and demanding fulfilment or discharge
thereof and giving notice of the intention to sell in default, has been served on the registered
holder for the time being of the share or the person entitled thereto by reason of his death
or bankruptcy. |
| 24. | The
net proceeds of the sale shall be received by the Company and applied in or towards payment
or discharge of the debt or liability in respect of which the lien exists, so far as the
same is presently payable, and any residue shall, subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities
not presently payable as existed upon the share prior to the sale, be paid to the person
entitled to the share at the time of the sale. To give effect to any such sale the Board
may authorise some person to transfer the shares sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser
shall be registered as the holder of the shares so transferred and he shall not be bound
to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the shares be affected
by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. |
CALLS
ON SHARES
| 25. | Subject
to these Articles and to the terms of allotment, the Board may from time to time make calls
upon the Members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the
nominal value of the shares or by way of premium), and each Member shall (subject to being
given at least fourteen (14) clear days’ Notice specifying the time and place of payment)
pay to the Company as required by such notice the amount called on his shares. A call may
be extended, postponed or revoked in whole or in part as the Board determines but no Member
shall be entitled to any such extension, postponement or revocation except as a matter of
grace and favour. |
| 26. | A
call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Board authorising
the call was passed and may be made payable either in one lump sum or by instalments. |
| 27. | A
person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding
the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect of which the call was made. The joint holders
of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls and instalments due in
respect thereof or other moneys due in respect thereof. |
| 28. | If
a sum called in respect of a share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment
thereof, the person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from
the day appointed for payment thereof to the time of actual payment at such rate (not exceeding
twenty per cent. (20%) per annum) as the Board may determine, but the Board may in its absolute
discretion waive payment of such interest in whole or in part. |
| 29. | No
Member shall be entitled to receive any dividend or bonus or to be present and vote (save
as proxy for another Member) at any general meeting either personally or by proxy, or be
reckoned in a quorum, or exercise any other privilege as a Member until all calls or instalments
due by him to the Company, whether alone or jointly with any other person, together with
interest and expenses (if any) shall have been paid. |
| 30. | On
the trial or hearing of any action or other proceedings for the recovery of any money due
for any call, it shall be sufficient to prove that the name of the Member sued is entered
in the Register as the holder, or one of the holders, of the shares in respect of which such
debt accrued, that the resolution making the call is duly recorded in the minute book, and
that notice of such call was duly given to the Member sued, in pursuance of these Articles;
and it shall not be necessary to prove the appointment of the Directors who made such call,
nor any other matters whatsoever, but the proof of the matters aforesaid shall be conclusive
evidence of the debt. |
| 31. | Any
amount payable in respect of a share upon allotment or at any fixed date, whether in respect
of nominal value or premium or as an instalment of a call, shall be deemed to be a call duly
made and payable on the date fixed for payment and if it is not paid the provisions of these
Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call duly
made and notified. |
| 32. | On
the issue of shares the Board may differentiate between the allottees or holders as to the
amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment. |
| 33. | The
Board may, if it thinks fit, receive from any Member willing to advance the same, and either
in money or money’s worth, all or any part of the moneys uncalled and unpaid or instalments
payable upon any shares held by him and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced (until
the same would, but for such advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate
(if any) as the Board may decide. The Board may at any time repay the amount so advanced
upon giving to such Member not less than one month’s Notice of its intention in that
behalf, unless before the expiration of such notice the amount so advanced shall have been
called up on the shares in respect of which it was advanced. Such payment in advance shall
not entitle the holder of such share or shares to participate in respect thereof in a dividend
subsequently declared. |
FORFEITURE
OF SHARES
| 34. | (1)
If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Board may give to the person
from whom it is due not less than fourteen (14) clear days’ Notice: |
| (a) | requiring
payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and which
may still accrue up to the date of actual payment; and |
| (b) | stating
that if the Notice is not complied with the shares on which the call was made will be liable
to be forfeited. |
(2)
If the requirements of any such notice are not complied with, any share in respect of which such notice has been given may at any time
thereafter, before payment of all calls and interest due in respect thereof has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Board
to that effect, and such forfeiture shall include all dividends and bonuses declared in respect of the forfeited share but not actually
paid before the forfeiture.
| 35. | 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. No forfeiture shall be invalidated by any
omission or neglect to give such notice. |
| 36. | The
Board may accept the surrender of any share liable to be forfeited hereunder and, in such
case, references in these Articles to forfeiture will include surrender. |
| 37. | Any
share so forfeited shall be deemed the property of the Company and may be sold, re-allotted
or otherwise disposed of to such person, upon such terms and in such manner as the Board
determines, and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture
may be annulled by the Board on such terms as the Board determines. |
| 38. | A
person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of the forfeited
shares but nevertheless shall remain liable to pay the Company all moneys which at the date
of forfeiture were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares, with,
if the Board shall in its discretion so requires, interest thereon from the date of forfeiture
until payment at such rate (not exceeding twenty per cent. (20%) per annum) as the Board
determines. The Board may enforce payment thereof if it thinks fit, and without any deduction
or allowance for the value of the forfeited shares, at the date of forfeiture, but his liability
shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all such moneys
in respect of the shares. For the purposes of this Article 38 any sum which, by the terms
of issue of a share, is payable thereon at a fixed time which is subsequent to the date of
forfeiture, whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium, shall
notwithstanding that time has not yet arrived be deemed to be payable at the date of forfeiture,
and the same shall become due and payable immediately upon the forfeiture, but interest thereon
shall only be payable in respect of any period between the said fixed time and the date of
actual payment. |
| 39. | A
declaration by a Director or the Secretary that a share has been forfeited on a specified
date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming
to be entitled to the share, and such declaration shall (subject to the execution of an instrument
of transfer by the Company if necessary) constitute a good title to the share, and the person
to whom the share is disposed of shall be registered as the holder of the share and shall
not be bound to see to the application of the consideration (if any), nor shall his title
to the share be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference
to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the share. When any share shall have been forfeited,
notice of the declaration shall be given to the Member in whose name it stood immediately
prior to the forfeiture, and an entry of the forfeiture, with the date thereof, shall forthwith
be made in the Register, but no forfeiture shall be in any manner invalidated by any omission
or neglect to give such notice or make any such entry. |
| 40. | Notwithstanding
any such forfeiture as aforesaid the Board may at any time, before any shares so forfeited
shall have been sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of, permit the shares forfeited
to be bought back upon the terms of payment of all calls and interest due upon and expenses
incurred in respect of the share, and upon such further terms (if any) as it thinks fit. |
| 41. | The
forfeiture of a share shall not prejudice the right of the Company to any call already made
or instalment payable thereon. |
| 42. | The
provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment
of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether
on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium, as if the same had been
payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
REGISTER
OF MEMBERS
| 43. | (1)
The Company shall keep in one or more books a Register of its Members and shall enter therein
the following particulars, that is to say: |
| (a) | the
name and address of each Member, the number and class of shares held by him and the amount
paid or agreed to be considered as paid on such shares; |
| (b) | the
date on which each person was entered in the Register; and |
| (c) | the
date on which any person ceased to be a Member. |
(2)
The Company may keep an overseas or local or other branch register of Members resident in any place, and the Board may make and vary
such regulations as it determines in respect of the keeping of any such register and maintaining a Registration Office in connection
therewith.
| 44. | The
Register and branch register of Members, as the case may be, shall be open to inspection
for such times and on such days as the Board shall determine by Members without charge or
by any other person, upon a maximum payment of $2.50 or such other sum specified by the Board,
at the Office or Registration Office or such other place at which the Register is kept in
accordance with the Law. The Register including any overseas or local or other branch register
of Members may, after compliance with any notice requirement of the Designated Stock Exchange,
be closed at such times or for such periods not exceeding in the whole thirty (30) days in
each year as the Board may determine and either generally or in respect of any class of shares. |
RECORD
DATES
| 45. | For
the purpose of determining the Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any general meeting,
or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution
or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of shares or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board
may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of the Members,
which date shall not be more than forty (40) days nor less than ten (10) days before the
date of such meeting, nor more than forty (40) days prior to any other such action. |
If
the Board does not fix a record date for any general meeting, the record date for determining the Members entitled to a notice of or
to vote at such meeting shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if in accordance
with these Articles notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. The record
date for determining the Members for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution
relating thereto.
A
determination of the Members of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Members shall apply to any adjournment of
the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
TRANSFER
OF SHARES
| 46. | (1)
Subject to these Articles including, without limitation, in the case of Class B Ordinary
Shares, Article 9(c), any Member may transfer all or any of his shares by an instrument of
transfer in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the Designated Stock Exchange
or in any other form approved by the Board and may be under hand or, if the transferor or
transferee is a clearing house or a central depository house or its nominee(s), by hand or
by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Board may approve
from time to time. |
(2)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (1) above, for so long as any shares are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, titles
to such listed shares may be evidenced and transferred in accordance with the laws applicable to and the rules and regulations of the
Designated Stock Exchange that are or shall be applicable to such listed shares. The register of members of the Company in respect of
its listed shares (whether the Register or a branch register) may be kept by recording the particulars required by Section 40 of the
Law in a form otherwise than legible if such recording otherwise complies with the laws applicable to and the rules and regulations of
the Designated Stock Exchange that are or shall be applicable to such listed shares.
| 47. | The
instrument of transfer shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and the transferee
provided that the Board may dispense with the execution of the instrument of transfer
by the transferee in any case which it thinks fit in its discretion to do so. Without prejudice
to Article 46, the Board may also resolve, either generally or in any particular case, upon
request by either the transferor or transferee, to accept mechanically executed transfers.
The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share until the name of the transferee
is entered in the Register in respect thereof. Nothing in these Articles shall preclude the
Board from recognising a renunciation of the allotment or provisional allotment of any share
by the allottee in favour of some other person. |
| 48. | (1)
The Board may, in its absolute discretion, and without giving any reason therefor, refuse
to register a transfer of any share that is not a fully paid up share to a person of whom
it does not approve, or any share issued under any share incentive scheme for employees upon
which a restriction on transfer imposed thereby still subsists, and it may also, without
prejudice to the foregoing generality, refuse to register a transfer of any share to more
than four joint holders or a transfer of any share that is not a fully paid up share on which
the Company has a lien. |
(2)
The Board in so far as permitted by any applicable law may, in its absolute discretion, at any time and from time to time transfer any
share upon the Register to any branch register or any share on any branch register to the Register or any other branch register. In the
event of any such transfer, the Member requesting such transfer shall bear the cost of effecting the transfer unless the Board otherwise
determines.
(3)
Unless the Board otherwise agrees (which agreement may be on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board in its absolute discretion
may from time to time determine, and which agreement the Board shall, without giving any reason therefore, be entitled in its absolute
discretion to give or withhold), no shares upon the Register shall be transferred to any branch register nor shall shares on any branch
register be transferred to the Register or any other branch register and all transfers and other documents of title shall be lodged for
registration, and registered, in the case of any shares on a branch register, at the relevant Registration Office, and, in the case of
any shares on the Register, at the Office or such other place at which the Register is kept in accordance with the Law.
| 49. | Without
limiting the generality of Article 48, the Board may decline to recognise any instrument
of transfer unless: |
| (a) | a
fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchange may determine to be payable or such
lesser sum as the Board may from time to time require is paid to the Company in respect thereof; |
| (b) | the
instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share; |
| (c) | the
instrument of transfer is lodged at the Office or such other place at which the Register
is kept in accordance with the Law or the Registration Office (as the case may be) accompanied
by the relevant share certificate(s) and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably
require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer (and, if the instrument
of transfer is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person
so to do); and |
| (d) | if
applicable, the instrument of transfer is duly and properly stamped. |
| 50. | If
the Board refuses to register a transfer of any share, it shall, within three months after
the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company, send to each of the transferor
and transferee notice of the refusal. |
| 51. | The
registration of transfers of shares or of any class of shares may, after compliance with
any notice requirement of the Designated Stock Exchange, be suspended at such times and for
such periods (not exceeding in the whole thirty (30) days in any year) as the Board may determine. |
TRANSMISSION
OF SHARES
| 52. | If
a Member dies, the survivor or survivors where the deceased was a joint holder, and his legal
personal representatives where he was a sole or only surviving holder, will be the only persons
recognised by the Company as having any title to his interest in the shares; but nothing
in this Article will release the estate of a deceased Member (whether sole or joint) from
any liability in respect of any share which had been solely or jointly held by him. |
| 53. | Any
person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up
of a Member may, upon such evidence as to his title being produced as may be required by
the Board, elect either to become the holder of the share or to have some person nominated
by him registered as the transferee thereof. If he elects to become the holder he shall notify
the Company in writing either at the Registration Office or the Office, as the case may be,
to that effect. If he elects to have another person registered he shall execute a transfer
of the share in favour of that person. The provisions of these Articles relating to the transfer
and registration of transfers of shares shall apply to such notice or transfer as aforesaid
as if the death or bankruptcy of the Member had not occurred and the notice or transfer were
a transfer signed by such Member. |
| 54. | A
person becoming entitled to a share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up
of a Member shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would
be entitled if he were the registered holder of the share. However, the Board may, if it
thinks fit, withhold the payment of any dividend payable or other advantages in respect of
such share until such person shall become the registered holder of the share or shall have
effectually transferred such share, but, subject to the requirements of Article 75(2) being
met, such a person may vote at meetings. |
UNTRACEABLE
MEMBERS
| 55. | (1)
Without prejudice to the rights of the Company under paragraph (2) of this Article 55, the
Company may cease sending cheques for dividend entitlements or dividend warrants by post
if such cheques or warrants have been left uncashed on two consecutive occasions. However,
the Company may exercise the power to cease sending cheques for dividend entitlements or
dividend warrants after the first occasion on which such a cheque or warrant is returned
undelivered. |
(2)
The Company shall have the power to sell, in such manner as the Board thinks fit, any shares of a Member who is untraceable, but no such
sale shall be made unless:
| (a) | all
cheques or warrants in respect of dividends of the shares in question, being not less than
three in total number, for any sum payable in cash to the holder of such shares sent during
the relevant period in the manner authorised by these Articles have remained uncashed; |
| (b) | so
far as it is aware at the end of the relevant period, the Company has not at any time during
the relevant period received any indication of the existence of the Member who is the holder
of such shares or of a person entitled to such shares by death, bankruptcy or operation of
law; and |
| (c) | the
Company, if so required by the rules governing the listing of shares on the Designated Stock
Exchange, has given notice to, and caused advertisement in newspapers to be made in accordance
with the requirements of the Designated Stock Exchange of its intention to sell such shares
in the manner required by the Designated Stock Exchange, and a period of three months or
such shorter period as may be allowed by the Designated Stock Exchange has elapsed since
the date of such advertisement. |
For
the purpose of the foregoing, the “relevant period” means the period commencing twelve (12) years before the date of publication
of the advertisement referred to in paragraph (c) of this Article and ending at the expiry of the period referred to in that paragraph.
(3)
To give effect to any such sale the Board may authorise some person to transfer the said shares and an instrument of transfer signed
or otherwise executed by or on behalf of such person shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the registered holder or the
person entitled by transmission to such shares, and the purchaser shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money
nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. The net proceeds
of the sale will belong to the Company and upon receipt by the Company of such net proceeds it shall become indebted to the former Member
for an amount equal to such net proceeds. No trust shall be created in respect of such debt and no interest shall be payable in respect
of it and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned from the net proceeds which may be employed in the business
of the Company or as it thinks fit. Any sale under this Article 55 shall be valid and effective notwithstanding that the Member holding
the shares sold is dead, bankrupt or otherwise under any legal disability or incapacity.
GENERAL
MEETINGS
| 56. | The
Company may (but shall not be obliged to, unless as required by applicable law or rules of
the Designated Stock Exchange) hold an annual general meeting and shall specify the meeting
as such in the notices calling it. An annual general meeting of the Company shall be held
at such time and place as may be determined by the Board. |
| 57. | Each
general meeting, other than an annual general meeting, shall be called an extraordinary general
meeting. General meetings may be held at such times and in any location in the world as may
be determined by the Board. |
| 58. | (1)
(i) A majority of the Board, or (ii) the Chairman of the Board, or (iii) any Director, where
required to give effect to a requisition received under Article 58(2), may call extraordinary
general meetings, which extraordinary general meetings shall be held at such times and locations
(as permitted hereby) as such person or persons shall determine. |
(2)
Any one or more Members holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than two-thirds of the voting power of the Company’s
share capital in issue carrying the right of voting at general meetings of the Company shall at all times have the right, by written
requisition to the Board or the Secretary of the Company, to require an extraordinary general meeting to be called by the Board for the
transaction of any business permitted by the Law or these Articles (subject to the provisions of Article 58(3)) as specified in such
requisition; and such meeting shall be held within two (2) months after the deposit of such requisition. If within twenty-one (21)
days of such deposit the Board fails to proceed to convene such meeting the requisitionist(s) himself (themselves) may do so in the same
manner, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the requisitionist(s) as a result of the failure of the Board shall be reimbursed to
the requisitionist(s) by the Company.
(3)
A meeting requisitioned under Article 58(2) shall not be permitted to consider or vote upon (A) any resolutions with respect to the election,
appointment or removal of Directors or with respect to the size of the Board, unless such proposal is first approved by the Nomination
Committee of the Board; or (B) other than a special resolution in respect of the appointment or removal of any Director, any special
resolution or any matters required to be passed by way of special resolution pursuant to these Articles or the Law.
(4)
Other than by way of requisition under Article 58(2), Members have no right to propose resolutions or other business to be considered
and voted upon at any general meeting of the Company.
NOTICE
OF GENERAL MEETINGS
| 59. | (1)
An annual general meeting and any extraordinary general meeting may be called by not less
than ten (10) clear days’ Notice but a general meeting may be called by shorter notice,
subject to the Law, if it is so agreed: |
| (a) | in
the case of a meeting called as an annual general meeting, by all the Members entitled to
attend and vote thereat; and |
| (b) | in
the case of any other meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having the right to
attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety-five
per cent. (95%) in nominal value of the issued shares giving that right. |
(2)
The notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the general nature of the business. The notice convening an annual general
meeting shall specify the meeting as such. Notice of every general meeting shall be given to all Members other than to such Members as,
under the provisions of these Articles or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notices from the
Company, to all persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up of a Member and to each of the
Directors.
| 60. | The
accidental omission to give Notice of a meeting or (in cases where instruments of proxy are
sent out with the notice) to send such instrument of proxy to, or the non-receipt of
such notice or such instrument of proxy by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall
not invalidate any resolution passed or the proceedings at that meeting. |
PROCEEDINGS
AT GENERAL MEETINGS
| 61. | (1)
No business other than the appointment of a chairman of a meeting shall be transacted at
any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the commencement of the business. At any
general meeting of the Company, one or more Members entitled to vote and present in person
or by proxy or (in the case of a Member being a corporation) by its duly authorised representative
representing not less than one-third of all voting power of the Company’s share capital
in issue throughout the meeting shall form a quorum for all purposes. |
(2)
If within thirty (30) minutes (or such longer time not exceeding one hour as the chairman of the meeting may determine to wait) after
the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the
same time and place or to such time and place as the Board may determine. If at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within
half an hour from the time appointed for holding the meeting, the meeting shall be dissolved.
| 62. | The
Chairman of the Board shall preside as chairman at every general meeting. If at any meeting
the chairman is not present within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed for holding
the meeting, or is not willing to act as chairman, the Directors present shall choose one
of their number to act, or if one Director only is present he shall preside as chairman if
willing to act. If no Director is present, or if each of the Directors present declines to
take the chair, or if the chairman chosen shall retire from the chair, the Members present
in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall elect one of their members to be chairman. |
| 63. | The
chairman may adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business
shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which might lawfully
have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place. When a meeting is
adjourned for fourteen (14) days or more, at least seven (7) clear days’ notice of
the adjourned meeting shall be given specifying the time and place of the adjourned meeting
but it shall not be necessary to specify in such notice the nature of the business to be
transacted at the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted.
Save as aforesaid, it shall be unnecessary to give notice of an adjournment. |
| 64. | If
an amendment is proposed to any resolution under consideration but is in good faith 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 a mere clerical amendment to correct
a patent error) may in any event be considered or voted upon. |
NO
ACTION BY WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS OF MEMBERS
| 65. | Any
action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or extraordinary general meetings
of the Company may be taken only upon the vote of the Members at an annual or extraordinary
general meeting duly noticed and convened in accordance with these Articles and the Law and
may not be taken by written resolution of Members without a meeting. |
VOTING
| 66. | (1)
Holders of Ordinary Shares have the right to receive notice of, attend, speak and vote at
general meetings of the Company. Except as required by applicable law and subject to these
Articles (including without limitation Article 10(a)), holders of Class A Ordinary Shares
and Class B Ordinary Shares shall at all times vote together as one class on all matters
submitted to a vote of the Shareholders. |
(2)
Subject to any special rights or restrictions as to voting for the time being attached to any shares by or in accordance with these Articles,
at any general meeting on a poll:
| (a) | every
Member holding Class A Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a
Member being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative shall have one (1) vote
for every fully paid Class A Ordinary Share of which he is the holder; and |
| (b) | every
Member holding Class B Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a
Member being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative shall have ten (10) votes
for every fully paid Class B Ordinary Share of which he is the holder. |
(3)
No amount paid up or credited as paid up on a share in advance of calls or instalments is treated for the foregoing purposes as paid
up on the share.
(4)
A resolution put to the vote of a meeting shall be decided by way of a poll save that the chairman of the meeting may in good faith,
allow a resolution which relates purely to a procedural or administrative matter to be voted on by a show of hands in which case (i)
every Member holding Class A Shares present in person (or being a corporation, is present by a duly authorized representative), or by
proxy(ies) shall have one (1) vote, and (ii) every Member holding Class B Shares present in person (or being a corporation, is present
by a duly authorized representative), or by proxy(ies) shall have ten (10) votes, provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in
these Articles, where more than one proxy is appointed by a Member which is a clearing house or a central depository house (or its nominee(s)),
each such proxy shall have one vote on a show of hands. For the purposes of these Articles, procedural and administrative matters are
those that (i) are not on the agenda of the general meeting or in any supplementary circular that may be issued by the Company to its
Members; and (ii) relate to the chairman’s duties to maintain the orderly conduct of the meeting and/or allow the business of the
meeting to be properly and effectively dealt with, whilst allowing all Members a reasonable opportunity to express their views.
| 67. | Where
a show of hands is allowed pursuant to these Articles, before or on the declaration of the
result of the show of hands, a poll may be demanded: |
| (a) | by
at least three Members present in person or in the case of a Member being a corporation by
its duly authorised representative or by proxy for the time being entitled to vote at the
meeting; or |
| (b) | by
a Member or Members present in person or in the case of a Member being a corporation by its
duly authorised representative or by proxy and representing not less than one-tenth of
the total voting rights of all Members having the right to vote at the meeting; or |
| (c) | by
a Member or Members present in person or in the case of a Member being a corporation by its
duly authorised representative or by proxy and holding shares in the Company conferring a
right to vote at the meeting being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal
to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all shares conferring that right. |
A
demand by a person as proxy for a Member or in the case of a Member being a corporation by its duly authorised representative shall be
deemed to be the same as a demand by the Member.
| 68. | Where
a resolution is voted on by a show of hands, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution
has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or not carried by
a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect made in the minute book of the
Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts without proof of the number or proportion
of the votes recorded for or against the resolution. |
| 69. | The
result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll
was demanded. There shall be no requirement for the chairman to disclose the voting figures
on a poll. |
| 70. | The
demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting or the transaction of any
business other than the question on which the poll has been demanded, and, with the consent
of the chairman, it may be withdrawn at any time before the close of the meeting or the taking
of the poll, whichever is the earlier. |
| 71. | On
a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy. |
| 72. | A
person entitled to more than one vote on a poll need not use all his votes or cast all the
votes he uses in the same way. |
| 73. | All
questions submitted to a meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of votes cast by such
Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, by proxy or, in the case of a Member
being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative except where a greater majority
is required by these Articles or by the Law. |
| 74. | Where
there are joint holders of any share any one of such joint holder may vote, either in person
or by proxy, in respect of such share as if he were solely entitled thereto, but if more
than one of such joint holders be present at any meeting the vote of the senior who tenders
a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of
the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order
in which the names stand in the Register in respect of the joint holding. Several executors
or administrators of a deceased Member in whose name any share stands shall for the purposes
of this Article be deemed joint holders thereof. |
| 75. | (1)
A Member who is a patient for any purpose relating to mental health or in respect of whom
an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction for the protection or management
of the affairs of persons incapable of managing their own affairs may vote, by his receiver,
committee, curator bonis or other person in the nature of a receiver, committee or curator
bonis appointed by such court, and such receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person
may vote on a poll by proxy, and may otherwise act and be treated as if he were the registered
holder of such shares for the purposes of general meetings, provided that such evidence
as the Board may require of the authority of the person claiming to vote shall have been
deposited at the Office, head office or Registration Office, as appropriate, not less than
forty-eight (48) hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting, or adjourned
meeting or poll, as the case may be. |
(2)
Any person entitled under Article 53 to be registered as the holder of any shares may vote at any general meeting in respect thereof
in the same manner as if he were the registered holder of such shares, provided that forty-eight (48) hours at least before
the time of the holding of the meeting or adjourned meeting, as the case may be, at which he proposes to vote, he shall satisfy the Board
of his entitlement to such shares, or the Board shall have previously admitted his right to vote at such meeting in respect thereof.
| 76. | No
Member shall, unless the Board otherwise determines, be entitled to attend and vote and to
be reckoned in a quorum at any general meeting unless he is duly registered and all calls
or other sums presently payable by him in respect of shares in the Company have been paid. |
| (a) | any
objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter; or |
| (b) | any
votes have been counted which ought not to have been counted or which might have been rejected;
or |
| (c) | any
votes are not counted which ought to have been counted; |
the
objection or error shall not vitiate the decision of the meeting or adjourned meeting on any resolution unless the same is raised or
pointed out at the meeting or, as the case may be, the adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which
the error occurs. Any objection or error shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and shall only vitiate the decision of the
meeting on any resolution if the chairman decides that the same may have affected the decision of the meeting. The decision of the chairman
on such matters shall be final and conclusive.
PROXIES
| 78. | Any
Member entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company shall be entitled
to appoint another person as his proxy to attend and vote instead of him. A Member who is
the holder of two or more shares may appoint more than one proxy to represent him and vote
on his behalf at a general meeting of the Company or at a class meeting. A proxy need not
be a Member. In addition, a proxy or proxies representing either a Member who is an individual
or a Member which is a corporation shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf
of the Member which he or they represent as such Member could exercise. |
| 79. | The
instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his
attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under its
seal or under the hand of an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign the same.
In the case of an instrument of proxy purporting to be signed on behalf of a corporation
by an officer thereof it shall be assumed, unless the contrary appears, that such officer
was duly authorised to sign such instrument of proxy on behalf of the corporation without
further evidence of the facts. |
| 80. | The
instrument appointing a proxy and, if required by the Board, the power of attorney or other
authority, if any, under which it is signed, or a certified copy of such power or authority,
shall be delivered to such place or one of such places, if any, as may be specified for that
purpose in or by way of note to or in any document accompanying the notice convening the
meeting or, if no place is so specified at the Registration Office or the Office, as may
be appropriate, not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time appointed for holding
the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to
vote or, in the case of a poll taken subsequently to the date of a meeting or adjourned meeting,
not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the time appointed for the taking of the
poll and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid. No instrument
appointing a proxy shall be valid after the expiration of twelve (12) months from the date
named in it as the date of its execution, except at an adjourned meeting or on a poll demanded
at a meeting or an adjourned meeting in cases where the meeting was originally held within
twelve (12) months from such date. Delivery of an instrument appointing a proxy shall not
preclude a Member from attending and voting in person at the meeting convened and in such
event, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to be revoked. |
| 81. | Instruments
of proxy shall be in any common form or in such other form as the Board may approve (provided
that this shall not preclude the use of the two-way form) and the Board may, if it
thinks fit, send out with the notice of any meeting forms of instrument of proxy for use
at the meeting. The instrument of proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or
join in demanding a poll and to vote on any amendment of a resolution put to the meeting
for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit. The instrument of proxy shall, unless the
contrary is stated therein, be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the
meeting to which it relates. |
| 82. | A
vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding
the previous death or insanity of the principal, or revocation of the instrument of proxy
or of the authority under which it was executed, provided that no intimation in writing
of such death, insanity or revocation shall have been received by the Company at the Office
or the Registration Office (or such other place as may be specified for the delivery of instruments
of proxy in the notice convening the meeting or other document sent therewith) two (2) hours
at least before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting, or the taking of the
poll, at which the instrument of proxy is used. |
| 83. | Anything
which under these Articles a Member may do by proxy he may likewise do by his duly appointed
attorney and the provisions of these Articles relating to proxies and instruments appointing
proxies shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to any such attorney and the instrument
under which such attorney is appointed. |
CORPORATIONS
ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES
| 84. | (1)
Any corporation which is a Member may by resolution of its directors or other governing body
authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the
Company or at any meeting of any class of Members. The person so authorised shall be entitled
to exercise the same powers on behalf of such corporation as the corporation could exercise
if it were an individual Member and such corporation shall for the purposes of these Articles
be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting if a person so authorised is present
thereat. |
(2)
If a clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or a central depository entity, being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons
as it thinks fit to act as its representatives at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided
that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each
person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the
facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the clearing house or central depository entity (or its nominee(s))
as if such person was the registered holder of the shares of the Company held by the clearing house or a central depository entity (or
its nominee(s)) including the right to vote individually on a show of hands.
(3)
Any reference in these Articles to a duly authorised representative of a Member being a corporation shall mean a representative authorised
under the provisions of this Article.
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
| 85. | (1)
The number of Directors shall not be less than three (3). The Directors shall be elected
or appointed in accordance with this Article 85. |
(2)
No person may be nominated for, or appointed as, a Director, nor removed from any such appointment as a Director, unless such nomination,
appointment or removal has been approved by the Nomination Committee of the Company prior to such nomination, appointment or removal.
(3)
Subject to Article 85(11), (i) any person appointed as a Director as of the date (the “IPO Date”) of the closing of
the Company’s initial public offering of Class A Ordinary Shares represented by American Depositary Shares on the Designated Stock Exchange
shall hold office for a period of three years from the IPO Date, or such other term as may be approved in the resolution appointing them;
and (ii) any person appointed as a Director after the IPO Date shall hold office for a period of three years from the date of such appointment,
or such other term as may be approved in the resolution appointing them. Each Director shall hold office until the expiration of his
term, or his resignation, removal or retirement from the Board, or his disqualification as a Director.
(4)
Subject to the Articles and the Law, the Members may by ordinary resolution elect any person to be a Director either to fill a casual
vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board.
(5)
The Directors shall have the power from time to time and at any time, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors present
and voting at a Board meeting, to appoint any person as a Director to fill a casual vacancy on the Board or as an addition to the existing
Board.
(6)
No Director shall be required to hold any shares of the Company by way of qualification and a Director who is not a Member shall be entitled
to receive notice of and to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company and of all classes of shares of the Company.
(7)
Subject to any provision to the contrary in these Articles, a Director may, at any time before the expiration of his period of office
(notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice to any claim
for damages under any such agreement)) be removed by way of either:
| (i) | a
special resolution of the Members; or |
| (ii) | the
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the other Directors present and voting at a Board meeting; or |
| (iii) | a
resolution in writing (which complies with the requirements of the provisos contained in Article 119) signed by all the Directors other
than the Director being removed. |
(8)
A vacancy on the Board created by the removal of a Director under the provisions of subparagraph (7) above may be filled by the election
or appointment by way of either:
| (i) | an
ordinary resolution of the Members at the meeting at which such Director is removed; or, |
| (ii) | the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a Board meeting; or |
| (iii) | a
resolution in writing (which complies with the requirements of the provisos contained in Article 119) signed by all the Directors other
than the Director so removed. |
(9)
The Members may from time to time in general meeting by ordinary resolution increase or reduce the number of Directors but so that the
number of Directors shall never be less than three (3).
(10)
A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-election from the date commencing six (6) months prior to the date of expiry of his
term of office, and shall continue to act as a Director throughout the meeting at which his re-election is considered.
(11)
Where the retirement of any Director would cause the number of Directors to fall below the minimum number required pursuant to these
Articles, then such Director shall continue to act as a Director until the appointment of such additional Director(s) as would not result
in the Director’s retirement causing the number of Directors to fall below the minimum number required pursuant to these Articles,
at which time they shall retire.
DISQUALIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS
| 86. | The
office of a Director shall be vacated if the Director: |
(1)
resigns his office by Notice delivered to the Company at the Office or tendered at a meeting of the Board;
(2)
becomes of unsound mind or dies;
(3)
without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from meetings of the Board for three (3) consecutive times, unless the Board
resolves that his office not be vacated; or
(4)
becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against him or suspends payment or compounds with his creditors;
(5)
is prohibited by law from being a Director;
(6)
ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Statutes or is removed from office pursuant to these Articles;
(7)
for any Director that is not an Independent Director, without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from more than fifty
per cent. (50%) of the weekly management meetings of the Company in any financial year, unless the Board resolves that his office not
be vacated; or
(8)
for any Director that is not an Independent Director, without special leave of absence from the Board, is present at the premises of
the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, for less than 60 Business Days in any financial year, unless the Board resolves that his office
not be vacated.
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS
| 87. | The
Board may from time to time appoint any one or more of its body to be a managing director,
joint managing director or deputy managing director or to hold any other employment or executive
office with the Company for such period (subject to their continuance as Directors) and upon
such terms as the Board may determine and the Board may revoke or terminate any of such appointments.
Any such revocation or termination as aforesaid shall be without prejudice to any claim for
damages that such Director may have against the Company or the Company may have against such
Director. A Director appointed to an office under this Article 87 shall be subject to the
same provisions as to removal as the other Directors of the Company, and he shall (subject
to the provisions of any contract between him and the Company) ipso facto and immediately
cease to hold such office if he shall cease to hold the office of Director for any cause. |
| 88. | Notwithstanding
Articles 93, 94, 95 and 96, an executive director appointed to an office under Article 87
hereof shall receive such remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation
in profits or otherwise or by all or any of those modes) and such other benefits (including
pension and/or gratuity and/or other benefits on retirement) and allowances as the Board
may from time to time determine, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration
as a Director. |
ALTERNATE
DIRECTORS
| 89. | (1)
Each Director shall use his or her best efforts to attend all meetings of the Board. |
(2)
Any Director may at any time appoint another Director to be his alternate Director. Any such appointment shall be in respect of a specific
meeting of Directors only and such appointment shall automatically cease upon termination of such meeting. An alternate Director may
also be removed as an alternate Director at any time by the Director who appointed him.
(3)
Any appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be effected by Notice signed by the appointor and delivered to the Chairman
of the Board at the Company’s principal executive offices in the People’s Republic of China from time to time. Any notice
appointing an alternate Director shall be delivered to, and received by, Chairman of the Board not less than three (3) days prior to
the date of the relevant meeting of the Board for which such alternate shall been appointed. Any notice removing an alternate Director
may be delivered to, and received by, Chairman of the Board at any time prior to the date of the relevant meeting of the Board for which
such alternate has been appointed.
(4)
Any person so appointed shall have all the rights and powers of the Director for whom such person is appointed in the alternative (in
addition to being counted in a quorum as a Director).
(5)
An alternate Director shall not act as alternate to more than one Director. An alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notices
of meetings of the Board or of committees of the Board to the same extent as, but in lieu of, the Director appointing him and shall be
entitled to such extent to attend and vote as a Director at any such meeting at which the Director appointing him is not personally present
and generally at such meeting to exercise and discharge all the functions, powers and duties of his appointor as a Director and for the
purposes of the proceedings at such meeting the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if he were a Director.
| 90. | An
alternate Director shall only be a Director for the purposes of the Law and shall only be
subject to the provisions of the Law insofar as they relate to the duties and obligations
of a Director when performing the functions of the Director for whom he is appointed in the
alternative and shall alone be responsible to the Company for his acts and defaults and shall
not be deemed to be the agent of or for the Director appointing him. An alternate Director
shall be entitled to contract and be interested in and benefit from contracts or arrangements
or transactions and to be repaid expenses and to be indemnified by the Company to the same
extent mutatis mutandis as if he were a Director but he shall not be entitled to receive
from the Company any fee in his capacity as an alternate Director except only such part,
if any, of the remuneration otherwise payable to his appointor as such appointor may by Notice
to the Company from time to time direct. |
| 91. | Every
person acting as an alternate Director shall have one vote for each Director for whom he
acts as alternate (in addition to his own vote as a Director). |
| 92. | An
alternate Director shall ipso facto cease to be an alternate Director if his appointor ceases
for any reason to be a Director, however, such alternate Director or any other person may
be re-appointed by the Directors to serve as an alternate Director provided always
that, if at any meeting any Director retires but is re-elected at the same meeting, any
appointment of such alternate Director pursuant to these Articles which was in force immediately
before his retirement shall remain in force as though he had not retired. |
DIRECTORS’
FEES AND EXPENSES
| 93. | The
Directors shall receive such remuneration as the Board may from time to time determine. |
| 94. | Each
Director shall be entitled to be repaid or prepaid all travelling, hotel and incidental expenses
reasonably incurred or expected to be incurred by him in attending meetings of the Board
or committees of the Board or general meetings or separate meetings of any class of shares
or of debentures of the Company or otherwise in connection with the discharge of his duties
as a Director. |
| 95. | Any
Director who, by request, goes or resides abroad for any purpose of the Company or who performs
services which in the opinion of the Board go beyond the ordinary duties of a Director may
be paid such extra remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits
or otherwise) as the Board may determine and such extra remuneration shall be in addition
to or in substitution for any ordinary remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other
Article. |
| 96. | The
Board shall determine any payment to any Director or past Director of the Company by way
of compensation for loss of office, or as consideration for or in connection with his retirement
from office (not being payment to which the Director is contractually entitled). |
DIRECTORS’
INTERESTS
| (a) | hold
any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of Auditor) in conjunction
with his office of Director for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine.
Any remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise)
paid to any Director in respect of any such other office or place of profit shall be in addition
to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Article; |
| (b) | act
by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company (otherwise than as Auditor)
and he or his firm may be remunerated for professional services as if he were not a Director; |
| (c) | continue
to be or become a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director,
executive director, manager or other officer or member of any other company promoted by the
Company or in which the Company may be interested as a vendor, shareholder or otherwise and,
unless otherwise agreed, no such Director shall be accountable for any remuneration, profits
or other benefits received by him as a director, managing director, joint managing director,
deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of or from
his interests in any such other company. Subject as otherwise provided by these Articles
the Directors may exercise or cause to be exercised the voting powers conferred by the shares
in any other company held or owned by the Company, or exercisable by them as Directors of
such other company in such manner in all respects as they think fit (including the exercise
thereof in favour of any resolution appointing themselves or any of them directors, managing
directors, joint managing directors, deputy managing directors, executive directors, managers
or other officers of such company) or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration
to the director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive
director, manager or other officers of such other company and any Director may vote in favour
of the exercise of such voting rights in manner aforesaid notwithstanding that he may be,
or about to be, appointed a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy
managing director, executive director, manager or other officer of such other company, and
that as such he is or may become interested in the exercise of such voting rights in manner
aforesaid. |
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no “Independent Director” as defined in the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under
the Exchange Act, and with respect of whom the Board has determined constitutes an “Independent Director” for purposes of
compliance with applicable law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, shall take any of the foregoing actions or any other action
that would reasonably be likely to affect such Director’s status as an “Independent Director” of the Company without
the consent of the Audit Committee.
| 98. | Subject
to the Law and to these Articles, no Director or proposed or intending Director shall be
disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company, either with regard to his tenure
of any office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or in any other manner whatever,
nor shall any such contract or any other contract or arrangement in which any Director is
in any way interested be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being
so interested be liable to account to the Company or the Members for any remuneration, profit
or other benefits realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director
holding that office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established provided
that such Director shall disclose the nature of his interest in any contract or arrangement
in which he is interested in accordance with Article 99 herein. Any such transaction that
would reasonably be likely to affect a Director’s status as an “Independent Director”,
or that would constitute a “related party transaction”, as defined under applicable
law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, shall require the approval of the Audit
Committee pursuant to the applicable law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange. |
| 99. | A
Director who to his knowledge is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in
a contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement with the Company shall declare
the nature of his interest at the meeting of the Board at which the question of entering
into the contract or arrangement is first considered, if he knows his interest then exists,
or in any other case at the first meeting of the Board after he knows that he is or has become
so interested. For the purposes of this Article, a general Notice to the Board by a Director
to the effect that: |
| (a) | he
is a member or officer of a specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested
in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of the Notice be made with that company
or firm; or |
| (b) | he
is to be regarded as interested in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of
the Notice be made with a specified person who is connected with him; |
shall
be deemed to be a sufficient declaration of interest under this Article in relation to any such contract or arrangement, provided
that no such notice shall be effective unless either it is given at a meeting of the Board or the Director takes reasonable steps
to secure that it is brought up and read at the next Board meeting after it is given.
| 100. | Following
a declaration being made pursuant to the last preceding two Articles, subject to any separate
requirement for Audit Committee approval under applicable law or the listing rules of the
Company’s Designated Stock Exchange, and unless disqualified by the chairman of the
relevant Board meeting, a Director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract
or arrangement in which such Director is interested and may be counted in the quorum at such
meeting. |
GENERAL
POWERS OF THE DIRECTORS
| 101. | (1)
The business of the Company shall be managed and conducted by the Board, which may pay all
expenses incurred in forming and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the
Company (whether relating to the management of the business of the Company or otherwise)
which are not by the Statutes or by these Articles required to be exercised by the Members
in a general meeting, subject nevertheless to the provisions of the Statutes and of these
Articles and to such regulations being not inconsistent with such provisions, as may be prescribed
by the Members in a general meeting, but no regulations made by the Members in a general
meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if such regulations
had not been made. The general powers given by this Article shall not be limited or restricted
by any special authority or power given to the Board by any other Article. |
(2)
Any person contracting or dealing with the Company in the ordinary course of business shall be entitled to rely on any written or oral
contract or agreement or deed, document or instrument entered into or executed as the case may be by any two of the Directors acting
jointly on behalf of the Company and the same shall be deemed to be validly entered into or executed by the Company as the case may be
and shall, subject to any rule of law, be binding on the Company.
(3)
Without prejudice to the general powers conferred by these Articles it is hereby expressly declared that the Board shall have the following
powers:
| (a) | To
give to any person the right or option of requiring at a future date that an allotment shall
be made to him of any share at par or at such premium as may be agreed. |
| (b) | To
give to any Directors, officers or employees of the Company an interest in any particular
business or transaction or participation in the profits thereof or in the general profits
of the Company either in addition to or in substitution for a salary or other remuneration. |
| (c) | To
resolve that the Company be deregistered in the Cayman Islands and continued in a named jurisdiction
outside the Cayman Islands subject to the provisions of the Law. |
| 102. | The
Board may establish any regional or local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs
of the Company in any place, and may appoint any persons to be members of such local boards,
or any managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration (either by way of salary or by
commission or by conferring the right to participation in the profits of the Company or by
a combination of two or more of these modes) and pay the working expenses of any staff employed
by them upon the business of the Company. The Board may delegate to any regional or local
board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in or exercisable
by the Board (other than its powers to make calls and forfeit shares), with power to sub-delegate,
and may authorise the members of any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding
vacancies. Any such appointment or delegation may be made upon such terms and subject to
such conditions as the Board may think fit, and the Board may remove any person appointed
as aforesaid, and may revoke or vary such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith
and without notice of any such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby. |
| 103. | The
Board may by power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body
of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be the attorney or
attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions
(not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Articles) and for
such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit, and any such power of attorney
may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any
such attorney as the Board may think fit, and may also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate
all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. Such attorney or attorneys
may, if so authorised under the Seal of the Company, execute any deed or instrument under
their personal seal with the same effect as the affixation of the Company’s Seal. |
| 104. | The
Board may entrust to and confer upon a managing director, joint managing director, deputy
managing director, an executive director or any Director any of the powers exercisable by
it upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as it thinks fit, and either
collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, its own powers, and may from time to time revoke
or vary all or any of such powers but no person dealing in good faith and without notice
of such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby. |
| 105. | All
cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other instruments, whether negotiable
or transferable or not, and all receipts for moneys paid to the Company shall be signed,
drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the
Board shall from time to time by resolution determine. The Company’s banking accounts
shall be kept with such banker or bankers as the Board shall from time to time determine. |
| 106. | (1)
The Board may establish or concur or join with other companies (being subsidiary companies
of the Company or companies with which it is associated in business) in establishing and
making contributions out of the Company’s moneys to any schemes or funds for providing
pensions, sickness or compassionate allowances, life assurance or other benefits for employees
(which expression as used in this and the following paragraph shall include any Director
or ex-Director who may hold or have held any executive office or any office of profit
under the Company or any of its subsidiary companies) and ex-employees of the Company
and their dependants or any class or classes of such person. |
(2)
The Board may pay, enter into agreements to pay or make grants of revocable or irrevocable pensions or other benefits to employees and
ex-employees and their dependants, or to any of such persons, including pensions or benefits additional to those, if any, to which
such employees or ex-employees or their dependants are or may become entitled under any such scheme or fund as mentioned in the last
preceding paragraph. Any such pension or benefit may, as the Board considers desirable, be granted to an employee either before and in
anticipation of or upon or at any time after his actual retirement, and may be subject or not subject to any terms or conditions as the
Board may determine.
BORROWING
POWERS
| 107. | The
Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow money and to mortgage
or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and
uncalled capital of the Company and, subject to the Law, to issue debentures, bonds and other
securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation
of the Company or of any third party. |
| 108. | Debentures,
bonds and other securities may be made assignable free from any equities between the Company
and the person to whom the same may be issued. |
| 109. | Any
debentures, bonds or other securities may be issued at a discount (other than shares), premium
or otherwise and with any special privileges as to redemption, surrender, drawings, allotment
of shares, attending and voting at general meetings of the Members, appointment of Directors
and otherwise. |
| 110. | (1)
Where any uncalled capital of the Company is charged, all persons taking any subsequent charge
thereon shall take the same subject to such prior charge, and shall not be entitled, by notice
to the Members or otherwise, to obtain priority over such prior charge. |
(2)
The Board shall cause a proper register to be kept, in accordance with the provisions of the Law, of all charges specifically affecting
the property of the Company and of any series of debentures issued by the Company and shall duly comply with the requirements of the
Law in regard to the registration of charges and debentures therein specified and otherwise.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE DIRECTORS
| 111. | The
Board may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings
as it considers appropriate. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority
of votes, other than (i) any removal of any person as a Director, or (ii) any appointment
or removal of any person as the Chairman of the Board, or (iii) any removal of any person
as chairman or other member of any committee of the Board which, in each case, shall be determined
by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of votes cast by such Directors
as, being entitled so to do, vote at a meeting of the Board. In the case of any equality
of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have an additional or casting vote. |
| 112. | (1)
A meeting of the Board may be convened by (i) the Chairman of the Board, or (ii) a majority
of the Directors. The Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Board whenever so required
to do by the Chairman of the Board or a majority of the Directors by notice in writing to
each Director. |
(2)
A meeting of the Board may be called by not less than two (2) clear days’ notice. A meeting of the Board may be called by shorter
notice if it is so agreed by all the Directors entitled to attend and vote at such a meeting.
(3)
Any notice of a meeting of the Board shall (i) specify the time and place of the meeting, and (ii) set out in reasonable detail the nature
of the business to be discussed at the meeting. Notice may be given in writing or by telephone or in such other manner as the Board may
from time to time determine.
| 113. | (1)
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the
Board and, unless so fixed at any other number, shall be not less than half of the number
of the Directors then in office, and shall always include the Chairman of the Board. An alternate
Director shall be counted in a quorum in the case of the absence of a Director for whom he
is the alternate (in addition to being counted in a quorum as a Director). |
(2)
Directors may participate in any meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone, electronic or other communications equipment
through which all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and, for the
purpose of counting a quorum, such participation shall constitute presence at a meeting as if those participating were present in person.
(3)
Any Director who ceases to be a Director at a Board meeting may continue to be present and to act as a Director and be counted in the
quorum until the termination of such Board meeting if no other Director objects and if otherwise a quorum of Directors would not be present.
(4)
No business other than that set out in the notice of the relevant meeting shall be discussed, or any resolutions passed in respect of
such business, unless unanimously agreed by all the Directors present at such meeting.
| 114. | The
continuing Directors or a sole continuing Director may act notwithstanding any vacancy in
the Board but, if and so long as the number of Directors is reduced below the minimum number
fixed by or in accordance with these Articles as the quorum, the continuing Directors or
Director, notwithstanding that the number of Directors is below the number fixed by or in
accordance with these Articles as the quorum or that there is only one continuing Director,
may act for the purpose of filling vacancies in the Board or of summoning general meetings
of the Company but not for any other purpose. |
| 115. | The
Chairman of the Board shall be the chairman of all meetings of the Board. If the Chairman
of the Board is not present at any meeting within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed
for holding the same, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman
of the meeting. |
| 116. | A
meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the
powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Board. |
| 117. | (1)
The Board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions to committees (including,
without limitation, the Audit Committee), consisting of such Director or Directors and other
persons as it thinks fit, and they may, from time to time, revoke such delegation or revoke
the appointment of and discharge any such committees either wholly or in part, and either
as to persons or purposes. Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers,
authorities and discretions so delegated, conform to any regulations which may be imposed
on it by the Board. |
(2)
All acts done by any such committee in conformity with such regulations, and in fulfilment of the purposes for which it was appointed,
but not otherwise, shall have like force and effect as if done by the Board, and the Board (or if the Board delegates such power, the
committee) shall have power to remunerate the members of any such committee, and charge such remuneration to the current expenses of
the Company.
| 118. | The
meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed
by the provisions contained in these Articles for regulating the meetings and proceedings
of the Board so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by any regulations
imposed by the Board under the last preceding Article, indicating, without limitation, any
committee charter adopted by the Board for purposes or in respect of any such committee. |
| 119. | A
resolution in writing signed by all the Directors (other than in the circumstances set out
in Article 85) except such as are temporarily unable to act due to ill-health or disability
shall (provided that (i) the circulation of such resolutions has the prior approval
of, and is initiated by, the Chairman of the Board, (ii) such number of signatories includes
the Chairman of the Board and is sufficient to constitute a quorum, and (iii) further provided
that a copy of such resolution has been given or the contents thereof communicated to
all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notices of Board meetings in the
same manner as notices of meetings are required to be given by these Articles) be as valid
and effectual as if a resolution had been passed at a meeting of the Board duly convened
and held. Such resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in like
form each signed by one or more of the Directors and for this purpose a facsimile signature
of a Director shall be treated as valid. |
| 120. | All
acts bona fide done by the Board or by any committee or by any person acting as a Director
or members of a committee, shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there
was some defect in the appointment of any member of the Board or such committee or person
acting as aforesaid or that they or any of them were disqualified or had vacated office,
be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified and had continued
to be a Director or member of such committee. |
COMMITTEES
| 121. | Without
prejudice to the freedom of the Directors to establish any other committees, and subject
to the provisions of Article 111(iii), for so long as the shares of the Company (or depositary
receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Board shall
establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the Board. |
| 122. | The
composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules of the
Designated Stock Exchange and the rules and regulations of the SEC. |
| 123. | For
so long as the shares of the Company (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted
on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all
related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilize the Audit Committee for
the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest pursuant to the applicable laws
and rules of the Designated Stock Exchange. |
OFFICERS
| 124. | (1)
The officers of the Company shall consist of the Chairman of the Board, the Directors and
such additional officers (who may or may not be Directors) as the Board may from time to
time determine, all of whom shall be deemed to be officers for the purposes of the Law and
these Articles. In addition to the officers of the Company, the Board may also from time
to time determine and appoint managers and delegate to the same such powers and duties as
are prescribed by the Board. |
(2)
The Directors shall elect the Chairman of the Board from amongst the Directors then in office. Such election shall be by way of a resolution
passed by not less than two-thirds of votes cast by such Directors as, being entitled so to do, vote at a meeting of the Board.
(3)
The officers shall receive such remuneration as the Directors may from time to time determine.
| 125. | (1)
The Secretary and additional officers, if any, shall be appointed by the Board and shall
hold office on such terms and for such period as the Board may determine. If thought fit,
two or more persons may be appointed as joint Secretaries. The Board may also appoint from
time to time on such terms as it thinks fit one or more assistant or deputy Secretaries. |
(2)
The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Members and shall keep correct minutes of such meetings and enter the same in the proper
books provided for the purpose. He shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the Law or these Articles or as may be prescribed
by the Board.
| 126. | The
officers of the Company shall have such powers and perform such duties in the management,
business and affairs of the Company as may be delegated to them by the Directors from time
to time. |
| 127. | A
provision of the Law or of these Articles requiring or authorising a thing to be done by
or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the
same person acting both as Director and as or in place of the Secretary. |
REGISTER
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
| 128. | The
Company shall cause to be kept in one or more books at its Office a Register of Directors
and Officers in which there shall be entered the full names and addresses of the Directors
and Officers and such other particulars as required by the Law or as the Directors may determine.
The Company shall send to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands a copy of such
register, and shall from time to time notify to the said Registrar of any change that takes
place in relation to such Directors and Officers as required by the Law. |
MINUTES
|
129. |
(1) The Board shall cause minutes to be duly entered in books provided for the purpose: |
| (a) | of
all elections and appointments of officers; |
| (b) | of
the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee
of the Directors; |
| (c) | of
all resolutions and proceedings of each general meeting of the Members, meetings of the Board
and meetings of committees of the Board and where there are managers, of all proceedings
of meetings of the managers. |
(2) Minutes shall be kept by the Secretary at the Office for a period of not less than ten (10) years from the date of the relevant meeting, or for any longer period as may be required by the Statutes.
(3) Minutes shall be signed by the chairman of the relevant meeting.
SEAL
| 130. | (1)
The Company shall have one or more Seals, as the Board may determine. For the purpose of
sealing documents creating or evidencing securities issued by the Company, the Company may
have a securities seal which is a facsimile of the Seal of the Company with the addition
of the word “Securities” on its face or in such other form as the Board may approve.
The Board shall provide for the custody of each Seal and no Seal shall be used without the
authority of the Board or of a committee of the Board authorised by the Board in that behalf.
Subject as otherwise provided in these Articles, any instrument to which a Seal is affixed
shall be signed autographically by one Director and the Secretary or by two Directors or
by such other person (including a Director) or persons as the Board may appoint, either generally
or in any particular case, save that as regards any certificates for shares or debentures
or other securities of the Company the Board may by resolution determine that such signatures
or either of them shall be dispensed with or affixed by some method or system of mechanical
signature. Every instrument executed in manner provided by this Article 130 shall be deemed
to be sealed and executed with the authority of the Board previously given. |
(2)
Where the Company has a Seal for use abroad, the Board may by writing under the Seal appoint any agent or committee abroad to be the
duly authorised agent of the Company for the purpose of affixing and using such Seal and the Board may impose restrictions on the use
thereof as may be thought fit. Wherever in these Articles reference is made to the Seal, the reference shall, when and so far as may
be applicable, be deemed to include any such other Seal as aforesaid.
AUTHENTICATION
OF DOCUMENTS
| 131. | Any
Director or the Secretary or any person appointed by the Board for the purpose may authenticate
any documents affecting the constitution of the Company and any resolution passed by the
Company or the Board or any committee, and any books, records, documents and accounts relating
to the business of the Company, and to certify copies thereof or extracts therefrom as true
copies or extracts, and if any books, records, documents or accounts are elsewhere than at
the Office or the head office the local manager or other officer of the Company having the
custody thereof shall be deemed to be a person so appointed by the Board. A document purporting
to be a copy of a resolution, or an extract from the minutes of a meeting, of the Company
or of the Board or any committee thereof which is so certified shall be conclusive evidence
in favour of all persons dealing with the Company upon the faith thereof that such resolution
has been duly passed or, as the case may be, that such minutes or extract is a true and accurate
record of proceedings at a duly constituted meeting. |
DESTRUCTION
OF DOCUMENTS
132. |
(1) The Company shall be entitled to destroy the following documents at the following times: |
| (a) | any
share certificate which has been cancelled at any time after the expiry of one (1) year from
the date of such cancellation; |
| (b) | any
dividend mandate or any variation or cancellation thereof or any notification of change of
name or address at any time after the expiry of two (2) years from the date such mandate
variation cancellation or notification was recorded by the Company; |
| (c) | any
instrument of transfer of shares which has been registered at any time after the expiry of
seven (7) years from the date of registration; |
| (d) | any
allotment letters after the expiry of seven (7) years from the date of issue thereof; and |
| (e) | copies
of powers of attorney, grants of probate and letters of administration at any time after
the expiry of seven (7) years after the account to which the relevant power of attorney,
grant of probate or letters of administration related has been closed; |
and
it shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the Register purporting to be made on the basis of any
such documents so destroyed was duly and properly made and every share certificate so destroyed was a valid certificate duly and properly
cancelled and that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered and that
every other document destroyed hereunder was a valid and effective document in accordance with the recorded particulars thereof in the
books or records of the Company. Provided always that: (1) the foregoing provisions of this Article 132 shall apply only to the
destruction of a document in good faith and without express notice to the Company that the preservation of such document was relevant
to a claim; (2) nothing contained in this Article 132 shall be construed as imposing upon the Company any liability in respect of the
destruction of any such document earlier than as aforesaid or in any case where the conditions of proviso (1) above are not fulfilled;
and (3) references in this Article to the destruction of any document include references to its disposal in any manner.
(2)
Notwithstanding any provision contained in these Articles, the Directors may, if permitted by applicable law, authorise the destruction
of documents set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of paragraph (1) of this Article 132 and any other documents in relation to share registration
which have been microfilmed or electronically stored by the Company or by the share registrar on its behalf provided always that
this Article shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without express notice to the Company and its share
registrar that the preservation of such document was relevant to a claim.
DIVIDENDS
AND OTHER PAYMENTS
| 133. | Subject
to the Law and any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any class or classes
of shares and these Articles, the Board may from time to time declare dividends in any currency
to be paid to the Members and other distributions on shares in issue and authorise payment
of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. At any and every
time the Board declares dividends, Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares shall
have identical rights in the dividends so declared. |
| 134. | Dividends
may be declared and paid out of the profits of the Company, realised or unrealised, or from
any reserve set aside from profits which the Directors determine is no longer needed. The
Board may also declare and pay dividends out of share premium account or any other fund or
account which can be authorised for this purpose in accordance with the Law. |
| 135. | Except
in so far as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide, |
| (a) | all
dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares in respect
of which the dividend is paid, but no amount paid up on a share in advance of calls shall
be treated for the purposes of this Article as paid up on the share; and |
| (b) | all
dividends shall be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid up on the
shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid. |
| 136. | The
Board may from time to time pay to the Members such interim dividends as appear to the Board
to be justified by the profits of the Company and in particular (but without prejudice to
the generality of the foregoing) if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided
into different classes, the Board may pay such interim dividends in respect of those shares
in the capital of the Company which confer on the holders thereof deferred or non-preferential
rights as well as in respect of those shares which confer on the holders thereof preferential
rights with regard to dividend and may also pay any fixed dividend which is payable on any
shares of the Company half-yearly or on any other dates, whenever such profits, in the
opinion of the Board, justifies such payment. The Board shall not incur any responsibility
to the holders of shares conferring any preference for any damage that they may suffer by
reason of the payment of an interim dividend on any shares having deferred or non-preferential
rights |
| 137. | The
Board may deduct from any dividend or other moneys payable to a Member by the Company on
or in respect of any shares all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company
on account of calls or otherwise. |
| 138. | No
dividend or other moneys payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear
interest against the Company. |
| 139. | Any
dividend, interest or other sum payable in cash to the holder of shares may be paid by cheque
or warrant sent through the post addressed to the holder at his registered address or, in
the case of joint holders, addressed to the holder whose name stands first in the Register
in respect of the shares at his address as appearing in the Register or addressed to such
person and at such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such
cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable
to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose
name stands first on the Register in respect of such shares, and shall be sent at his or
their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute
a good discharge to the Company notwithstanding that it may subsequently appear that the
same has been stolen or that any endorsement thereon has been forged. Any one of two or more
joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends or other moneys payable or property
distributable in respect of the shares held by such joint holders. |
| 140. | All
dividends or bonuses unclaimed for one (1) year after having been declared may be invested
or otherwise made use of by the Board for the benefit of the Company until claimed. Any dividend
or bonuses unclaimed after a period of six (6) years from the date of declaration shall be
forfeited and shall revert to the Company. The payment by the Board of any unclaimed dividend
or other sums payable on or in respect of a share into a separate account shall not constitute
the Company a trustee in respect thereof. |
| 141. | Whenever
the Board has resolved that a dividend be paid or declared, the Board may further resolve
that such dividend be satisfied wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets
of any kind and in particular of paid up shares, debentures or warrants to subscribe securities
of the Company or any other company, or in any one or more of such ways, and where any difficulty
arises in regard to the distribution the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient,
and in particular may issue certificates in respect of fractions of shares, disregard fractional
entitlements or round the same up or down, and may fix the value for distribution of such
specific assets, or any part thereof, and may determine that cash payments shall be made
to any Members upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all
parties, and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board
and may appoint any person to sign any requisite instruments of transfer and other documents
on behalf of the persons entitled to the dividend, and such appointment shall be effective
and binding on the Members. The Board may resolve that no such assets shall be made available
to Members with registered addresses in any particular territory or territories where, in
the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities, such distribution of
assets would or might, in the opinion of the Board, be unlawful or impracticable and in such
event the only entitlement of the Members aforesaid shall be to receive cash payments as
aforesaid. Members affected as a result of the foregoing sentence shall not be or be deemed
to be a separate class of Members for any purpose whatsoever. |
142. |
(1) Whenever the Board has resolved that a dividend
be paid or declared on any class of the share capital of the Company, the Board may further resolve either: |
| (a) | that
such dividend be satisfied wholly or in part in the form of an allotment of shares credited
as fully paid up, provided that the Members entitled thereto will be entitled to elect
to receive such dividend (or part thereof if the Board so determines) in cash in lieu of
such allotment. In such case, the following provisions shall apply: |
| (i) | the
basis of any such allotment shall be determined by the Board; |
| (ii) | the
Board, after determining the basis of allotment, shall give not less than ten (10) days’
Notice to the holders of the relevant shares of the right of election accorded to them and
shall send with such notice forms of election and specify the procedure to be followed and
the place at which and the latest date and time by which duly completed forms of election
must be lodged in order to be effective; |
| (iii) | the
right of election may be exercised in respect of the whole or part of that portion of the
dividend in respect of which the right of election has been accorded; and |
| (iv) | the
dividend (or that part of the dividend to be satisfied by the allotment of shares as aforesaid)
shall not be payable in cash on shares in respect whereof the cash election has not been
duly exercised (“the non-elected shares”) and in satisfaction thereof shares
of the relevant class shall be allotted credited as fully paid up to the holders of the non-elected
shares on the basis of allotment determined as aforesaid and for such purpose the Board shall
capitalise and apply out of any part of the undivided profits of the Company (including profits
carried and standing to the credit of any reserves or other special account, share premium
account, capital redemption reserve other than the Subscription Rights Reserve) as the Board
may determine, such sum as may be required to pay up in full the appropriate number of shares
of the relevant class for allotment and distribution to and amongst the holders of the non-elected
shares on such basis; or |
| (b) | that
the Members entitled to such dividend shall be entitled to elect to receive an allotment
of shares credited as fully paid up in lieu of the whole or such part of the dividend as
the Board may think fit. In such case, the following provisions shall apply: |
| (i) | the
basis of any such allotment shall be determined by the Board; |
| (ii) | the
Board, after determining the basis of allotment, shall give not less than ten (10) days’
Notice to the holders of the relevant shares of the right of election accorded to them and
shall send with such notice forms of election and specify the procedure to be followed and
the place at which and the latest date and time by which duly completed forms of election
must be lodged in order to be effective; |
| (iii) | the
right of election may be exercised in respect of the whole or part of that portion of the
dividend in respect of which the right of election has been accorded; and |
| (iv) | the
dividend (or that part of the dividend in respect of which a right of election has been accorded)
shall not be payable in cash on shares in respect whereof the share election has been duly
exercised (“the elected shares”) and in satisifaction thereof shares of the relevant
class shall be allotted credited as fully paid up to the holders of the elected shares on
the basis of allotment determined as aforesaid and for such purpose the Board shall capitalise
and apply out of any part of the undivided profits of the Company (including profits carried
and standing to the credit of any reserves or other special account, share premium account,
capital redemption reserve other than the Subscription Rights Reserve) as the Board may determine,
such sum as may be required to pay up in full the appropriate number of shares of the relevant
class for allotment and distribution to and amongst the holders of the elected shares on
such basis. |
| (2) | (a) |
The shares allotted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph
(1) of this Article 142 shall rank pari passu in all respects with shares of the same class (if any) then in issue save only as
regards participation in the relevant dividend or in any other distributions, bonuses or rights paid, made, declared or announced prior
to or contemporaneously with the payment or declaration of the relevant dividend unless, contemporaneously with the announcement by the
Board of their proposal to apply the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (2) of this Article 142 in relation to the
relevant dividend or contemporaneously with their announcement of the distribution, bonus or rights in question, the Board shall specify
that the shares to be allotted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article shall rank for participation in such distribution,
bonus or rights. |
| (b) | The
Board may do all acts and things considered necessary or expedient to give effect to any
capitalisation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article 142 , with full
power to the Board to make such provisions as it thinks fit in the case of shares becoming
distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby, in whole or in part, fractional
entitlements are aggregated and sold and the net proceeds distributed to those entitled,
or are disregarded or rounded up or down or whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements
accrues to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Board may authorise any
person to enter into on behalf of all Members interested, an agreement with the Company providing
for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made pursuant to
such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned. |
(3)
The Board may resolve in respect of any one particular dividend of the Company that notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of
this Article 142 a dividend may be satisfied wholly in the form of an allotment of shares credited as fully paid up without offering
any right to shareholders to elect to receive such dividend in cash in lieu of such allotment.
(4)
The Board may on any occasion determine that rights of election and the allotment of shares under paragraph (1) of this Article 142 shall
not be made available or made to any shareholders with registered addresses in any territory where, in the absence of a registration
statement or other special formalities, the circulation of an offer of such rights of election or the allotment of shares would or might,
in the opinion of the Board, be unlawful or impracticable, and in such event the provisions aforesaid shall be read and construed subject
to such determination. Members affected as a result of the foregoing sentence shall not be or be deemed to be a separate class of Members
for any purpose whatsoever.
(5)
Any resolution declaring a dividend on shares of any class may specify that the same shall be payable or distributable to the persons
registered as the holders of such shares at the close of business on a particular date, notwithstanding that it may be a date prior to
that on which the resolution is passed, and thereupon the dividend shall be payable or distributable to them in accordance with their
respective holdings so registered, but without prejudice to the rights inter se in respect of such dividend of transferors and transferees
of any such shares. The provisions of this Article shall mutatis mutandis apply to bonuses, capitalisation issues, distributions
of realised capital profits or offers or grants made by the Company to the Members.
RESERVES
| 143. | (1)
The Board shall establish an account to be called the share premium account and shall carry
to the credit of such account from time to time a sum equal to the amount or value of the
premium paid on the issue of any share in the Company. Unless otherwise provided by the provisions
of these Articles, the Board may apply the share premium account in any manner permitted
by the Law. The Company shall at all times comply with the provisions of the Law in relation
to the share premium account. |
(2)
Before recommending any dividend, the Board may set aside out of the profits of the Company such sums as it determines as reserves which
shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the Company may be properly applied and
pending such application may, also at such discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments
as the Board may from time to time think fit and so that it shall not be necessary to keep any investments constituting the reserve or
reserves separate or distinct from any other investments of the Company. The Board may also without placing the same to reserve carry
forward any profits which it may think prudent not to distribute.
CAPITALISATION
| 144. | (1)
The Company may, upon the recommendation of the Board, at any time and from time to time
pass an ordinary resolution to the effect that it is desirable to capitalise all or any part
of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including
a share premium account and capital redemption reserve and the profit and loss account) whether
or not the same is available for distribution and accordingly that such amount be set free
for distribution among the Members or any class of Members who would be entitled thereto
if it were distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions, on the basis that
the same is not paid in cash but is applied either in or towards paying up the amounts for
the time being unpaid on any shares in the Company held by such Members respectively or in
paying up in full unissued shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company, to be
allotted and distributed credited as fully paid up among such Members, or partly in one way
and partly in the other, and the Board shall give effect to such resolution provided
that, for the purposes of this Article 144, a share premium account and any capital redemption
reserve or fund representing unrealised profits, may be applied only in paying up in full
unissued shares of the Company to be allotted to such Members credited as fully paid. |
(2)
Notwithstanding any provisions in these Articles, the Board may resolve to capitalise all or any part of any amount for the time being
standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including a share premium account and the profit and loss account) whether or not the
same is available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up unissued shares to be allotted to (i) employees (including directors)
of the Company and/or its affiliates (meaning any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
association or other entity (other than the Company) that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled
by or is under common control with, the Company) upon exercise or vesting of any options or awards granted under any share incentive
scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Members
at a general meeting, or (ii) any trustee of any trust to whom shares are to be allotted and issued by the Company in connection with
the operation of any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been
adopted or approved by the Members at a general meeting.
| 145. | The
Board may settle, as it considers appropriate, any difficulty arising in regard to any distribution
under Article 144 and in particular may issue certificates in respect of fractions of shares
or authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may resolve that the distribution
should be as nearly as may be practicable in the correct proportion but not exactly so or
may ignore fractions altogether, and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any
Members in order to adjust the rights of all parties, as may seem expedient to the Board.
The Board may appoint any person to sign on behalf of the persons entitled to participate
in the distribution any contract necessary or desirable for giving effect thereto and such
appointment shall be effective and binding upon the Members. |
SUBSCRIPTION
RIGHTS RESERVE
| 146. | The
following provisions shall have effect to the extent that they are not prohibited by and
are in compliance with the Law: |
(1) If, so long as any of the rights attached to any warrants issued by the Company to subscribe for shares of the Company shall remain exercisable, the Company does any act or engages in any transaction which, as a result of any adjustments to the subscription price in accordance with the provisions of the conditions of the warrants, would reduce the subscription price to below the par value of a share, then the following provisions shall apply:
| (a) | as
from the date of such act or transaction the Company shall establish and thereafter (subject
as provided in this Article 146) maintain in accordance with the provisions of this Article
146 a reserve (the “Subscription Rights Reserve”) the amount of which shall at
no time be less than the sum which for the time being would be required to be capitalised
and applied in paying up in full the nominal amount
of the additional shares required to be issued and allotted credited as fully paid pursuant to sub-paragraph (c) below on the exercise
in full of all the subscription rights outstanding and shall apply the Subscription Rights Reserve in paying up such additional shares
in full as and when the same are allotted; |
| (b) | the
Subscription Rights Reserve shall not be used for any purpose other than that specified above
unless all other reserves of the Company (other than share premium account) have been extinguished
and will then only be used to make good losses of the Company if and so far as is required
by the Law; |
| (c) | upon
the exercise of all or any of the subscription rights represented by any warrant, the relevant
subscription rights shall be exercisable in respect of a nominal amount of shares equal to
the amount in cash which the holder of such warrant is required to pay on exercise of the
subscription rights represented thereby (or, as the case may be the relevant portion thereof
in the event of a partial exercise of the subscription rights) and, in addition, there shall
be allotted in respect of such subscription rights to the exercising warrantholder, credited
as fully paid, such additional nominal amount of shares as is equal to the difference between: |
| (i) | the
said amount in cash which the holder of such warrant is required to pay on exercise of the
subscription rights represented thereby (or, as the case may be, the relevant portion thereof
in the event of a partial exercise of the subscription rights); and |
| (ii) | the
nominal amount of shares in respect of which such subscription rights would have been exercisable
having regard to the provisions of the conditions of the warrants, had it been possible for
such subscription rights to represent the right to subscribe for shares at less than par
and immediately upon such exercise so much of the sum standing to the credit of the Subscription
Rights Reserve as is required to pay up in full such additional nominal amount of shares
shall be capitalised and applied in paying up in full such additional nominal amount of shares
which shall forthwith be allotted credited as fully paid to the exercising warrantholders;
and |
| (d) | if,
upon the exercise of the subscription rights represented by any warrant, the amount standing
to the credit of the Subscription Rights Reserve is not sufficient to pay up in full such
additional nominal amount of shares equal to such difference as aforesaid to which the exercising
warrantholder is entitled, the Board shall apply any profits or reserves then or thereafter
becoming available (including, to the extent permitted by the Law, share premium account)
for such purpose until such additional nominal amount of shares is paid up and allotted as
aforesaid and until then no dividend or other distribution shall be paid or made on the fully
paid shares of the Company then in issue. Pending such payment and allotment, the exercising
warrantholder shall be issued by the Company with a certificate evidencing his right to the
allotment of such additional nominal amount of shares. The rights represented by any such
certificate shall be in registered form and shall be transferable in whole or in part in
units of one share in the like manner as the shares for the time being are transferable,
and the Company shall make such arrangements in relation to the maintenance of a register
therefor and other matters in relation thereto as the Board may think fit and adequate particulars
thereof shall be made known to each relevant exercising warrantholder upon the issue of such
certificate. |
(2) Shares allotted pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall rank pari passu in all respects with the other shares allotted on the relevant exercise of the subscription rights represented by the warrant concerned. Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph (1) of this Article, no fraction of any share shall be allotted on exercise of the subscription rights.
(3) The provision of this Article as to the establishment and maintenance of the Subscription Rights Reserve shall not be altered or added to in any way which would vary or abrogate, or which would have the effect of varying or abrogating the provisions for the benefit of any warrantholder or class of warrantholders under this Article without the sanction of a special resolution of such warrantholders or class of warrantholders.
(4) A certificate or report by the auditors for the time being of the Company as to whether or not the Subscription Rights Reserve is required to be established and maintained and if so the amount thereof so required to be established and maintained, as to the purposes for which the Subscription Rights Reserve has been used, as to the extent to which it has been used to make good losses of the Company, as to the additional nominal amount of shares required to be allotted to exercising warrantholders credited as fully paid, and as to any other matter concerning the Subscription Rights Reserve shall (in the absence of manifest error) be conclusive and binding upon the Company and all warrantholders and shareholders.
ACCOUNTING
RECORDS
| 147. | The
Board shall cause true accounts to be kept of the sums of money received and expended by
the Company, and the matters in respect of which such receipt and expenditure take place,
and of the property, assets, credits and liabilities of the Company and of all other matters
required by the Law or necessary to give a true and fair view of the Company’s affairs
and to explain its transactions. |
| 148. | The
accounting records shall be kept at the Office or, at such other place or places as the Board
decides and shall always be open to inspection by the Directors. No Member (other than a
Director) shall have any right of inspecting any accounting record or book or document of
the Company except as conferred by the Law or authorised by the Board or the Members in general
meeting. |
| 149. | Subject
to Article 150, a printed copy of the Directors’ report, accompanied by the balance
sheet and profit and loss account, including every document required by the Law to be annexed
thereto, made up to the end of the applicable financial year and containing a summary of
the assets and liabilities of the Company under convenient heads and a statement of income
and expenditure, together with a copy of the Auditors’ report, shall be sent to each
person entitled thereto at least ten (10) days before the date of the general meeting and
laid before the Company at the annual general meeting held in accordance with Article 56
provided that this Article 150 shall not require a copy of those documents to be sent
to any person whose address the Company is not aware or to more than one of the joint holders
of any shares or debentures. |
| 150. | Subject
to due compliance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations, including, without
limitation, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, and to obtaining all necessary consents,
if any, required thereunder, the requirements of Article 149 shall be deemed satisfied in
relation to any person by sending to the person in any manner not prohibited by the Statutes,
a summary financial statement derived from the Company’s annual accounts and the directors’
report which shall be in the form and containing the information required by applicable laws
and regulations, provided that any person who is otherwise entitled to the annual
financial statements of the Company and the directors’ report thereon may, if he so
requires by Notice served on the Company, demand that the Company sends to him, in addition
to a summary financial statement, a complete printed copy of the Company’s annual financial
statement and the directors’ report thereon. |
| 151. | The
requirement to send to a person referred to in Article 149 the documents referred to in that
article or a summary financial report in accordance with Article 150 shall be deemed satisfied
where, in accordance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations, including, without
limitation, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company publishes copies of the
documents referred to in Article 149 and, if applicable, a summary financial report complying
with Article 150, on the Company’s computer network or in any other permitted manner
(including by sending any form of electronic communication), and that person has agreed or
is deemed to have agreed to treat the publication or receipt of such documents in such manner
as discharging the Company’s obligation to send to him a copy of such documents. |
AUDIT
| 152. | Subject
to applicable law and rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Board may appoint an Auditor,
who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Board, to audit the
accounts of the Company. Such auditor may be a Member but no Director or officer or employee
of the Company shall, during his continuance in office, be eligible to act as an auditor
of the Company. |
| 153. | Subject
to the Law the accounts of the Company shall be audited at least once in every year. |
| 154. | The
remuneration of the Auditor shall be determined by the Audit Committee or, in the absence
of such an Audit Committee, by the Board. |
| 155. | If
the office of auditor becomes vacant by the resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his
becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his
services are required, the Directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration
of such Auditor. |
| 156. | The
Auditor shall at all reasonable times have access to all books kept by the Company and to
all accounts and vouchers relating thereto; and he may call on the Directors or officers
of the Company for any information in their possession relating to the books or affairs of
the Company. |
| 157. | The
statement of income and expenditure and the balance sheet provided for by these Articles
shall be examined by the Auditor and compared by him with the books, accounts and vouchers
relating thereto; and he shall make a written report thereon stating whether such statement
and balance sheet are drawn up so as to present fairly the financial position of the Company
and the results of its operations for the period under review and, in case information shall
have been called for from Directors or officers of the Company, whether the same has been
furnished and has been satisfactory. The financial statements of the Company shall be audited
by the Auditor in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The Auditor shall
make a written report thereon in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and
the report of the Auditor shall be submitted to the Audit Committee. The generally accepted
auditing standards referred to herein may be those of a country or jurisdiction other than
the Cayman Islands. If so, the financial statements and the report of the Auditor should
disclose this fact and name such country or jurisdiction. |
NOTICES
| 158. | Any
Notice or document, whether or not, to be given or issued under these Articles from the Company
to a Member shall be in writing or by cable, telex or facsimile transmission message or other
form of electronic transmission or communication and any such notice and document may be
served or delivered by the Company on or to any Member either personally or by sending it
through the post in a prepaid envelope addressed to such Member at his registered address
as appearing in the Register or at any other address supplied by him to the Company for the
purpose or, as the case may be, by transmitting it to any such address or transmitting it
to any telex or facsimile transmission number or electronic number or address or website
supplied by him to the Company for the giving of notice to him or which the person transmitting
the notice reasonably and bona fide believes at the relevant time will result in the Notice
being duly received by the Member or may also be served by advertisement in appropriate newspapers
in accordance with the requirements of the Designated Stock Exchange or, to the extent permitted
by the applicable laws and the requirements of the Designated Stock Exchange, by placing
it on the Company’s website. In the case of joint holders of a share all notices shall
be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register and notice
so given shall be deemed a sufficient service on or delivery to all the joint holders. |
| 159. | Any
Notice or other document: |
| (a) | if
served or delivered by post, shall where appropriate be sent by airmail and shall be deemed
to have been served or delivered on the day following that on which the envelope containing
the same, properly prepaid and addressed, is put into the post; in proving such service or
delivery it shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope or wrapper containing the notice
or document was properly addressed and put into the post and a certificate in writing signed
by the Secretary or other officer of the Company or other person appointed by the Board that
the envelope or wrapper containing the notice or other document was so addressed and put
into the post shall be conclusive evidence thereof; |
| (b) | if
sent by electronic communication, shall be deemed to be given on the day on which it is transmitted
from the server of the Company or its agent. A notice placed on the Company’s website
is deemed given by the Company to a Member on the day following that on which a notice of
availability is deemed served on the Member; |
| (c) | if
served or delivered in any other manner contemplated by these Articles, shall be deemed to
have been served or delivered at the time of personal service or delivery or, as the case
may be, at the time of the relevant despatch or transmission; and in proving such service
or delivery a certificate in writing signed by the Secretary or other officer of the Company
or other person appointed by the Board as to the act and time of such service, delivery,
despatch or transmission shall be conclusive evidence thereof; and |
| (d) | may
be given to a Member in the English language or such other language as may be approved by
the Directors, subject to due compliance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations. |
| 160. | (1)
Any Notice or other document delivered or sent by post to or left at the registered address
of any Member in pursuance of these Articles shall, notwithstanding that such Member is then
dead or bankrupt or that any other event has occurred, and whether or not the Company has
notice of the death or bankruptcy or other event, be deemed to have been duly served or delivered
in respect of any share registered in the name of such Member as sole or joint holder unless
his name shall, at the time of the service or delivery of the notice or document, have been
removed from the Register as the holder of the share, and such service or delivery shall
for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service or delivery of such Notice or document on
all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the
share. |
(2)
A notice may be given by the Company to the person entitled to a share in consequence of the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy of
a Member by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter, envelope or wrapper addressed to him by name, or by the title of representative
of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for the purpose by the person
claiming to be so entitled, or (until such an address has been so supplied) by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might
have been given if the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy had not occurred.
(3)
Any person who by operation of law, transfer or other means whatsoever shall become entitled to any share shall be bound by every notice
in respect of such share which prior to his name and address being entered on the Register shall have been duly given to the person from
whom he derives his title to such share.
SIGNATURES
| 161. | For
the purposes of these Articles, a cable or telex or facsimile or electronic transmission
message purporting to come from a holder of shares or, as the case may be, a Director, or,
in the case of a corporation which is a holder of shares from a director or the secretary
thereof or a duly appointed attorney or duly authorised representative thereof for it and
on its behalf, shall in the absence of express evidence to the contrary available to the
person relying thereon at the relevant time be deemed to be a document or instrument in writing
signed by such holder or Director in the terms in which it is received. |
WINDING
UP
| 162. | (1)
The Board shall have power in the name and on behalf of the Company to present a petition
to the court for the Company to be wound up. |
(2)
A resolution that the Company be wound up by the court or be wound up voluntarily shall be a special resolution.
| 163. | (1)
Subject to any special rights, privileges or restrictions as to the distribution of available
surplus assets on liquidation for the time being attached to any class or classes of shares
(i) if the Company shall be wound up and the assets available for distribution amongst the
Members of the Company shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the capital paid
up at the commencement of the winding up, the excess shall be distributed pari passu
amongst such members in proportion to the amount paid up on the shares held by them respectively
and (ii) if the Company shall be wound up and the assets available for distribution amongst
the Members as such shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the paid-up capital such
assets shall be distributed so that, a nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the
Members in proportion to the capital paid up, or which ought to have been paid up, at the
commencement of the winding up on the shares held by them respectively. |
(2)
If the Company shall be wound up (whether the liquidation is voluntary or by the court) the liquidator may, with the authority of a special
resolution and any other sanction required by the Law, divide among the Members in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets
of the Company and whether or not the assets shall consist of properties of one kind or shall consist of properties to be divided as
aforesaid of different kinds, and may for such purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any one or more class or classes of property
and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may,
with the like authority, vest any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator with
the like authority shall think fit, and the liquidation of the Company may be closed and the Company dissolved, but so that no contributory
shall be compelled to accept any shares or other property in respect of which there is a liability.
INDEMNITY
| 164. | (1)
The Directors, Secretary and other officers and every Auditor of the Company at any time,
whether at present or in the past, and the liquidator or trustees (if any) acting or who
have acted in relation to any of the affairs of the Company and every one of them, and every
one of their heirs, executors and administrators, shall be indemnified and secured harmless
out of the assets and profits of the Company from and against all actions, costs, charges,
losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them, their or any of their heirs, executors
or administrators, shall or may incur or sustain by or by reason of any act done, concurred
in or omitted in or about the execution of their duty, or supposed duty, in their respective
offices or trusts; and none of them shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects
or defaults of the other or others of them or for joining in any receipts for the sake of
conformity, or for any bankers or other persons with whom any moneys or effects belonging
to the Company shall or may be lodged or deposited for safe custody, or for insufficiency
or deficiency of any security upon which any moneys of or belonging to the Company shall
be placed out on or invested, or for any other loss, misfortune or damage which may happen
in the execution of their respective offices or trusts, or in relation thereto, provided
that this indemnity shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty
which may attach to any of said persons. |
(2)
Each Member agrees to waive any claim or right of action he might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against
any Director on account of any action taken by such Director, or the failure of such Director to take any action in the performance of
his duties with or for the Company, provided that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty
which may attach to such Director.
FINANCIAL
YEAR
| 165. | Unless
otherwise determined by the Directors, the financial year of the Company shall end on the
30th day of September in each year. |
AMENDMENT
TO MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
AND
NAME OF COMPANY
| 166. | No
Article shall be rescinded, altered or amended and no new Article shall be made until the
same has been approved by a special resolution of the Members. A special resolution shall
be required to alter the provisions of the Memorandum of Association or to change the name
of the Company. |
INFORMATION
| 167. | No
Member shall be entitled to require discovery of or any information respecting any detail
of the Company’s trading or any matter which is or may be in the nature of a trade
secret or secret process which may relate to the conduct of the business of the Company and
which in the opinion of the Directors it will be inexpedient in the interests of the members
of the Company to communicate to the public. |
Annex
B
THE
NEW M&A-2
(in
redline)
THE
COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
EXEMPTED
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRDFOURTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
XChange
TEC.INC
(Adopted by special resolution of the shareholders
passed on [ ] and effective on [ ])
| 1. | The
name of the Company is XChange TEC.INC. |
| 2. | The
Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Conyers Trust Company (Cayman)
Limited, Cricket Square, Hutchins Drive, P.O. 2681, Grand Cayman KY1-1111, Cayman Islands. |
| 3. | Subject
to the following provisions of this Memorandum, the objects for which the Company is established
are unrestricted. |
| 4. | Subject
to the following provisions of this Memorandum, the Company shall have and be capable of
exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question
of corporate benefit, as provided by Section 27(2) of the Companies Act. |
| 5. | Nothing
in this Memorandum shall permit the Company to carry on a business for which a licence is
required under the laws of the Cayman Islands unless duly licensed. |
| 6. | The
Company shall not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except
in furtherance of the business of the Company carried on outside the Cayman Islands; provided
that nothing in this clause shall be construed as to prevent the Company effecting and concluding
contracts in the Cayman Islands, and exercising in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary
for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
| 7. | The
liability of each member is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such member’s
shares. |
| 8. | The share capital of the Company is US$50,000,000,000,000
divided into 5,000,000,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, of which 4,374,500,000,000,000 shall be designated as Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, 625,000,000,000,000 shall be designated as Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, and 500,000,000,000 shall be designated as Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each. |
| 9. | The
Company may exercise the power contained in the Companies Act to deregister in the Cayman
Islands and be registered by way of continuation in another jurisdiction. |
The
Companies Act (As Revised)
Exempted
Company Limited by Shares
FIFTHSIXTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES
OF ASSOCIATION
OF
XChange
TEC.INC
(Adopted by way of a special resolution passed
on [ ] and effective on [ ])
I
N D E X
SUBJECT |
|
Article No. |
Table A |
|
1 |
Interpretation |
|
2 |
Share Capital |
|
3 |
Alteration Of Capital |
|
4-7 |
Share Rights |
|
8-9 |
Variation Of Rights |
|
10-11 |
Shares |
|
12-15 |
Share Certificates |
|
16-21 |
Lien |
|
22-24 |
Calls On Shares |
|
25-33 |
Forfeiture Of Shares |
|
34-42 |
Register Of Members |
|
43-44 |
Record Dates |
|
45 |
Transfer Of Shares |
|
46-51 |
Transmission Of Shares |
|
52-54 |
Untraceable Members |
|
55 |
General Meetings |
|
56-58 |
Notice Of General Meetings |
|
59-60 |
Proceedings At General Meetings |
|
61-64 |
No Action by Written Resolutions |
|
65 |
Voting |
|
66-77 |
Proxies |
|
78-83 |
Corporations Acting By Representatives |
|
84 |
Board Of Directors |
|
85 |
Disqualification Of Directors |
|
86 |
Executive Directors |
|
87-88 |
Alternate Directors |
|
89-92 |
Directors’ Fees And Expenses |
|
93-96 |
Directors’ Interests |
|
97-100 |
General Powers Of The Directors |
|
101-106 |
Borrowing Powers |
|
107-110 |
Proceedings Of The Directors |
|
111-120 |
Audit Committee |
|
121-123 |
Officers |
|
124-127 |
Register of Directors and Officers |
|
128 |
Minutes |
|
129 |
Seal |
|
130 |
Authentication Of Documents |
|
131 |
Destruction Of Documents |
|
132 |
Dividends And Other Payments |
|
133-142 |
Reserves |
|
143 |
Capitalisation |
|
144-145 |
Subscription Rights Reserve |
|
146 |
Accounting Records |
|
147-151 |
Audit |
|
152-15 |
Notices |
|
158-160 |
Signatures |
|
161 |
Winding Up |
|
162-163 |
Indemnity |
|
164 |
Financial Year |
|
165 |
Amendment To Memorandum
and Articles of Association And Name of Company |
|
166 |
Information |
|
167 |
INTERPRETATION
TABLE
A
| 1. | The
regulations in Table A in the Schedule to the Companies Act (As Revised) do not apply to the Company. |
INTERPRETATION
| 2. | (1)
In these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires, the words standing in the first column of the following table shall bear the
meaning set opposite them respectively in the second column. |
|
WORD |
MEANING |
|
|
|
|
“Affiliate” |
shall have the meaning given to it in Rule 405 of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
|
|
|
|
“Audit Committee” |
the audit committee of the Company formed by the Board pursuant to Article 121 hereof, or any successor audit committee. |
|
|
|
|
“Auditor” |
the independent auditor of the Company which shall be an internationally recognized firm of independent accountants. |
|
|
|
|
“Articles” |
these Articles in their present form or as supplemented or amended or substituted from time to time. |
|
|
|
|
“Board” or “Directors” |
the board of directors of the Company or the directors present at a meeting of directors of the Company at which a quorum is present. |
|
|
|
|
“capital” |
the share capital from time to time of the Company. |
|
|
|
|
“Class A Ordinary Shares” |
class A ordinary
shares of par value US$0.0000001 each of the Company having the rights
set out in these Articles. |
|
|
|
|
“Class B Ordinary Shares” |
class B ordinary shares of par value US$0.0000001
each of the Company having the rights set out in these Articles. |
|
|
|
|
“clear days” |
in relation to the period of a notice, that period excluding the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect. |
|
|
|
|
“clearing house” |
a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the shares of the Company (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction. |
|
|
|
|
“Company” |
XChange TEC.INC |
|
|
|
|
“competent regulatory authority” |
a competent regulatory authority in the territory where the shares of the Company (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange
or interdealer quotation system in such territory. |
|
“Conversion Date” |
in respect of a Conversion Notice means the day on which that Conversion Notice is delivered. |
|
|
|
|
“Conversion Notice” |
a written notice delivered to the Company at its Office (and as otherwise stated therein) stating that a holder of Class B Ordinary Shares elects to convert the number of Class B Ordinary Shares specified therein pursuant to Article 9. |
|
|
|
|
“Conversion Number” |
in relation to any Class B Ordinary Shares, such number of Class A Ordinary Shares as may, upon exercise of the Conversion Right, be issued at the Conversion Rate. |
|
|
|
|
“Conversion Rate” |
means, at any time, on a 1 : 1 basis. |
|
|
|
|
“Conversion Right” |
in respect of a Class B Ordinary Share means the right of its holder, subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any applicable fiscal or other laws or regulations including the Law, to convert all or any of its Class B Ordinary Shares, into the Conversion Number of Class A Ordinary Shares in its discretion. |
|
|
|
|
“debenture” and “debenture holder”
| include debenture stock and debenture stockholder respectively. |
|
|
|
|
“Designated Stock Exchange” |
means The NASDSAQ for so long as the Company’s Shares or ADSs are there listed and any other stock exchange on which the Company’s Shares or ADSs are listed for trading. |
|
|
|
|
“dollars” and “$” |
dollars, the legal currency of the United States of America. |
|
|
|
|
“Exchange Act” |
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
|
|
|
|
“head office” |
such office of the Company as the Directors may from time to time determine to be the principal office of the Company. |
|
|
|
|
“Law” |
The Companies Act Cap. 22 (Law 3 of 1961, as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands. |
|
|
|
|
“Member” |
a duly registered holder from time to time of the shares in the capital of the Company. |
|
|
|
|
“month” |
a calendar month. |
|
|
|
|
“Notice” |
written notice unless otherwise specifically stated and as further defined in these Articles. |
|
“Office” |
the registered office of the Company for the time being. |
|
|
|
|
“ordinary resolution” |
a resolution shall be an ordinary resolution when it has been passed by a simple majority of votes cast by such Members as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, in the case of any Member being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which not less than ten (10) clear days’ Notice has been duly given; |
|
|
|
|
“Ordinary Shares” |
Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares collectively. |
|
|
|
|
“paid up” |
paid up or credited as paid up. |
|
|
|
|
“Register” |
the principal register and where applicable, any branch register of Members of the Company to be maintained at such place within or outside the Cayman Islands as the Board shall determine from time to time. |
|
|
|
|
“Registration Office” |
in respect of any class of share capital such place as the Board may from time to time determine to keep a branch register of Members in respect of that class of share capital and where (except in cases where the Board otherwise directs) the transfers or other documents of title for such class of share capital are to be lodged for registration and are to be registered. |
|
|
|
|
“SEC” |
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. |
|
|
|
|
“Seal” |
common seal or any one or more duplicate seals of the Company (including a securities seal) for use in the Cayman Islands or in any place outside the Cayman Islands. |
|
|
|
|
“Secretary” |
any person, firm or corporation appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties of secretary of the Company and includes any assistant, deputy, temporary or acting secretary. |
|
|
|
|
“special resolution” |
a resolution shall be a special resolution when it has been passed by
a majority of not less than two-thirds of votes cast by such Members as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, in the case of
such Members as are corporations, by their respective duly authorised representative or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a
general meeting of which not less than ten (10) clear days’ Notice, specifying (without prejudice to the power contained in
these Articles to amend the same) the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution, has been duly given, provided
that, except in the case of an annual general meeting, if it is so agreed by a majority in number of the Members having the right to
attend and vote at any such meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety-five (95) per cent. in nominal value of
the shares giving that right and in the case of an annual general meeting, if it is so agreed by all Members entitled to attend and
vote thereat, a resolution may be proposed and passed as a special resolution at a meeting of which less than ten (10) clear
days’ Notice has been given; |
|
|
|
|
|
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 or the Statutes. |
|
|
|
|
“Statutes” |
the Law and every other law of the Legislature of the Cayman Islands for the time being in force applying to or affecting the Company, its Memorandum of Association and/or these Articles. |
|
|
|
|
“year” |
a calendar year. |
(2)
In these Articles, unless there be something within the subject or context inconsistent with such construction:
| (a) | words
importing the singular include the plural and vice versa; |
| (b) | words
importing a gender include both gender and the neuter; |
| (c) | words
importing persons include companies, associations and bodies of persons whether corporate
or not; |
| (i) | “may”
shall be construed as permissive; |
| (ii) | “shall”
or “will” shall be construed as imperative; |
| (e) | expressions
referring to writing shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as including
printing, lithography, photography and other modes of representing words or figures in a
visible form, and including where the representation takes the form of electronic display,
provided that both the mode of service of the relevant document or notice and the
Member’s election comply with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations; |
| (f) | references
to any law, ordinance, statute or statutory provision shall be interpreted as relating to
any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force; |
| (g) | save
as aforesaid words and expressions defined in the Statutes shall bear the same meanings in
these Articles if not inconsistent with the subject in the context; |
| (h) | references
to a document being executed include references to it being executed under hand or under
seal or by electronic signature or by any other method and references to a notice or document
include a notice or document recorded or stored in any digital, electronic, electrical, magnetic
or other retrievable form or medium and information in visible form whether having physical
substance or not; |
| (i) | Section
8 and Section 19 of the Electronic Transactions Act of the Cayman Islands, as amended from
time to time, shall not apply to these Articles to the extent it imposes obligations or requirements
in addition to those set out in these Articles. |
SHARE
CAPITAL
| 3. | (1)
The share capital
of the Company at the date on which these Articles come into effect shall be US$50,000,000,000,000
divided into 5,000,000,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, of which 4,374,500,000,000,000 shall be designated as Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, 625,000,000,000,000 shall be designated as Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, and 500,000,000,000 shall be designated as Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each as the Board may determine in accordance with Article 12. |
(2)
Subject to the Law, the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock
Exchange and/or any competent regulatory authority, the Company shall have the power to purchase or otherwise acquire its own shares
and such power shall be exercisable by the Board in such manner, upon such terms and subject to such conditions as it in its absolute
discretion thinks fit and any determination by the Board of the manner of purchase shall be deemed authorised by these Articles for purposes
of the Law. The Company is hereby authorised to make payments in respect of the purchase of its shares out of capital or out of any other
account or fund which can be authorised for this purpose in accordance with the Law.
(3)
Subject to compliance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange and any other competent regulatory authority, the
Company may give financial assistance for the purpose of or in connection with a purchase made or to be made by any person of any shares
in the Company.
(4)
The Board may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid share.
(5)
No share shall be issued to bearer.
ALTERATION
OF CAPITAL
| 4. | (1)
The Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution in accordance with the Law alter
the conditions of its Memorandum of Association to: |
| (a) | increase
its capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such amounts, as the resolution shall
prescribe; |
| (b) | consolidate
and divide all or any of its capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares; |
| (c) | without
prejudice to the powers of the Board under Article 12, divide its shares into several classes
and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of existing
shares attach thereto respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights,
privileges, conditions or such restrictions which in the absence of any such determination
by the Company in general meeting, as the Board may determine provided always that,
for the avoidance of doubt, where a class of shares has been authorized by the Members no
resolution of the Members in general meeting is required for the issuance of shares of that
class and the Board may issue shares of that class and determine such rights, privileges,
conditions or restrictions attaching thereto as aforesaid, and further provided that
where the Company issues shares which do not carry voting rights, the words “non-voting”
shall appear in the designation of such shares and where the equity capital includes shares
with different voting rights, the designation of each class of shares, other than those with
the most favourable voting rights, must include the words “restricted voting”
or “limited voting”; |
| (d) | sub-divide
its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum
of Association (subject, nevertheless, to the Law), and may by such resolution determine
that, as between the holders of the shares resulting from such sub-division, one or more
of the shares may have any such preferred, deferred or other rights or be subject to any
such restrictions as compared with the other or others as the Company has power to attach
to unissued or new shares; |
| (e) | cancel
any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken, or agreed
to be taken, by any person, and diminish the amount of its capital by the amount of the shares
so cancelled or, in the case of shares, without par value, diminish the number of shares
into which its capital is divided. |
(2)
No alteration may be made of the kind contemplated by Article 4(1), or otherwise, to the par value of the Class A Ordinary Shares or
the Class B Ordinary Shares unless an identical alteration is made to the par value of the Class B Ordinary Shares or the Class A Ordinary
Shares, as the case may be.
| 5. | The
Board may settle as it considers expedient any difficulty which arises in relation to any
consolidation and division under Article 4 and in particular but without prejudice to the
generality of the foregoing may issue certificates in respect of fractions of shares or arrange
for the sale of the shares representing fractions and the distribution of the net proceeds
of sale (after deduction of the expenses of such sale) in due proportion amongst the Members
who would have been entitled to the fractions, and for this purpose the Board may authorise
some persons to transfer the shares representing fractions to their purchaser or resolve
that such net proceeds be paid to the Company for the Company’s benefit. Such purchaser
will not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor will his title to the
shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. |
| 6. | The
Company may from time to time by special resolution, subject to any confirmation or consent
required by the Law, reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any manner
permitted by the Law. |
| 7. | Except
so far as otherwise provided by the conditions of issue, or by these Articles, any capital
raised by the creation of new shares shall be treated as if it formed part of the original
capital of the Company, and such shares shall be subject to the provisions contained in these
Articles with reference to the payment of calls and instalments, transfer and transmission,
forfeiture, lien, cancellation, surrender, voting and otherwise. |
SHARE
RIGHTS
| 8. | (1)
Subject to the provisions of the Law, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange and the
Memorandum and Articles of Association and to any special rights conferred on the holders
of any shares or class of shares, and without prejudice to Article 12 hereof, any share in
the Company (whether forming part of the present capital or not) may be issued with or have
attached thereto such rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return
of capital or otherwise as the Board may determine, including without limitation on terms
that they may be, or at the option of the Company or the holder are, liable to be redeemed
on such terms and in such manner, including out of capital, as the Board may deem fit. |
(2)
Subject to the Law and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, any preferred shares may be issued or converted into shares that,
at a designated date or at the option of the Company or the holder if so authorised by its Memorandum of Association, are liable to be
redeemed on such terms and in such manner as the Members before the issue or conversion may by ordinary resolution of the Members determine.
Where the Company purchases for redemption a redeemable share, purchases not made through the market or by tender shall be limited to
a maximum price as may from time to time be determined by the Board, either generally or with regard to specific purchases. If purchases
are by tender, tenders shall comply with applicable laws and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.
| 9. | Subject
to Article 8(1), the Memorandum of Association and any resolution of the Members to the contrary
and without prejudice to any special rights conferred thereby on the holders of any other
shares or class of shares, the share capital of the Company shall be divided into shares
of two classes, Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares. Class A Ordinary Shares
and Class B Ordinary Shares shall carry equal rights and rank pari passu with one another
other than as set out below. |
| (i) | Subject
to the provisions hereof and to compliance with all fiscal and other laws and regulations
applicable thereto, including the Law, a holder of Class B Ordinary Shares shall have the
Conversion Right in respect of each Class B Ordinary Share. For the avoidance of doubt, a
holder of Class A Ordinary Shares shall have no rights to convert Class A Ordinary Shares
into Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances. |
| (ii) | Each
Class B Ordinary Share shall be converted at the option of the holder, at any time after
issue and without the payment of any additional sum, into one fully paid Class A Ordinary
Share calculated at the Conversion Rate. Such conversion shall take effect on the Conversion
Date. A Conversion Notice shall not be effective if it is not accompanied by the share certificates
in respect of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares and such other evidence (if any) as the
Directors may reasonably require to prove the title of the person exercising such right (or,
if such certificates have been lost or destroyed, such evidence of title and such indemnity
as the Directors may reasonably require). Any and all taxes and stamp, issue and registration
duties (if any) arising on conversion shall be borne by the holder of Class B Ordinary Shares
requesting conversion. |
| (iii) | On
the Conversion Date, every Class B Ordinary Share to be converted shall automatically be
re-designated and re-classified as a Class A Ordinary Share with such rights and restrictions
attached thereto and shall rank pari passu in all respects with the Class A Ordinary Shares
then in issue and the Company shall enter or procure the entry of the name of the relevant
holder of Class B Ordinary Shares as the holder of the same number of Class A Ordinary Shares
resulting from the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares in, and make any other necessary
and consequential changes to, the Register of Members and shall procure that certificates
in respect of the relevant Class A Ordinary Shares, together with a new certificate for any
unconverted Class B Ordinary Shares comprised in the certificate(s) surrendered by the holder
of the Class B Ordinary Shares, are issued to the holders thereof. |
| (iv) | Until
such time as the Class B Ordinary Shares have been converted into Class A Ordinary Shares,
the Company shall: |
| (1) | at
all times keep available for issue and free of all liens, charges, options, mortgages, pledges,
claims, equities, encumbrances and other third-party rights of any nature, and not subject
to any pre-emptive rights out of its authorised but unissued share capital, such number of
authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares as would enable all Class B Ordinary Shares
to be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares and any other rights of conversion into, subscription
for or exchange into Class A Ordinary Shares to be satisfied in full; and |
| (2) | not
make any issue, grant or distribution or take any other action if the effect would be that
on the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares it would be required
to issue Class A Ordinary Shares at a price lower than the par value thereof. |
| (b) | As
regards Voting Rights |
Holders
of Ordinary Shares have the right to receive notice of, attend, speak and vote at general meetings of the Company. Holders of shares
of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares shall, at all times (other than in respect of separate general meetings of the
holders of a class or series of shares held in accordance with Article 10(a) below), vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote for Members’ consent. Each Class A Ordinary Share shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all matters subject to the vote
at general meetings of the Company, and each Class B Ordinary Share shall be entitled to ten (10) votes on all matters subject to the
vote at general meetings of the Company.
Upon
any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of Class B Ordinary Shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is not (i)
an Affiliate of such holder or (ii) a trust whose beneficiary is an Affiliate of such holder, such Class B Ordinary Shares validly transferred
to the new holder shall be automatically and immediately converted into an equal number of Class A Ordinary Shares.
For
the avoidance of doubt, (i) no automatic conversion as outlined above shall occur on any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of
Class B Ordinary Shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is an Affiliate of such holder or a trust whose beneficiary
is an Affiliate of such holder; (ii) a sale, transfer, assignment or disposition shall be effective upon the Company’s registration
of such sale, transfer, assignment or disposition in the Company’s Register of Members; and (ii) the creation of any pledge, charge,
encumbrance or other third party right of whatever description on any of Class B Ordinary Shares to secure a holder’s contractual or
legal obligations shall not be deemed as a sale, transfer, assignment or disposition unless and until any such pledge, charge, encumbrance
or other third party right is enforced and results in the third party holding legal title to the related Class B Ordinary Shares, in
which case all the related Class B Ordinary Shares shall be automatically converted into the same number of Class A Ordinary Shares upon
the Company’s registration of the third party or its designee as a Member holding that number of Class A Ordinary Shares in the Register
of Members.
VARIATION
OF RIGHTS
| 10. | Subject
to the Law and without prejudice to Article 8, all or any of the special rights for the time
being attached to the shares or any class of shares may, unless otherwise provided by the
terms of issue of the shares of that class, from time to time (whether or not the Company
is being wound up) be varied, modified or abrogated with the sanction of a special resolution
passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. To every
such separate general meeting all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings
of the Company shall, mutatis mutandis, apply, but so that: |
| (a) | separate
general meetings of the holders of a class or series of shares may be called only by (i)
the Chairman of the Board, or (ii) a majority of the Board (unless otherwise specifically
provided by the terms of issue of the shares of such class or series). Nothing in this Article
10 shall be deemed to give any Member or Members the right to call a class or series meeting; |
| (b) | the
necessary quorum (whether at a separate general meeting or at its adjourned meeting) shall
be a person or persons (or in the case of a Member being a corporation, its duly authorized
representative) together holding or representing by proxy not less than one-third of
the voting power of the issued shares of that class; |
| (c) | every
holder of shares of the class shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for every such share
held by him; and |
| (d) | any
holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy or authorised representative
may demand a poll. |
| 11. | The
special rights conferred upon the holders of any shares or class of shares shall not, unless
otherwise expressly provided in the rights attaching to or the terms of issue of such shares,
be deemed to be varied, modified or abrogated by the creation or issue of further shares
ranking pari passu therewith. |
SHARES
| 12. | (1)
Subject to the Law, these Articles and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock
Exchange and without prejudice to any special rights or restrictions for the time being attached
to any shares or any class of shares, the unissued shares of the Company (whether forming
part of the original or any increased capital) shall be at the disposal of the Board, which
may offer, allot, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, at such
times and for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the Board may in its
absolute discretion determine but so that no shares shall be issued at a discount to par
value. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Board
is hereby empowered to authorize by resolution or resolutions from time to time the issuance
of one or more classes or series of preferred shares and to fix the designations, powers,
preferences and relative, participating, optional and other rights, if any, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof, if any, including, without limitation, the number of
shares constituting each such class or series, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption
privileges, voting powers, full or limited or no voting powers, and liquidation preferences,
and to increase or decrease the size of any such class or series (but not below the number
of shares of any class or series of preferred shares then outstanding) to the extent permitted
by the Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions
providing for the establishment of any class or series of preferred shares may, to the extent
permitted by the Law, provide that such class or series shall be superior to, rank equally
with or be junior to the preferred shares of any other class or series. |
(2)
Neither the Company nor the Board shall be obliged, when making or granting any allotment of, offer of, option over or disposal of shares,
to make, or make available, any such allotment, offer, option or shares to Members or others with registered addresses in any particular
territory or territories being a territory or territories where, in the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities,
this would or might, in the opinion of the Board, be unlawful or impracticable. Members affected as a result of the foregoing sentence
shall not be, or be deemed to be, a separate class of members for any purpose whatsoever. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the
resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment of any class or series of preferred shares, no vote of the holders of preferred
shares or ordinary shares shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any class or series of the preferred shares authorized
by and complying with the conditions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
(3)
The Board may issue options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders
thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of shares or securities in the capital of the Company on such terms as it may
from time to time determine.
| 13. | The
Company may in connection with the issue of any shares exercise all powers of paying commission
and brokerage conferred or permitted by the Law. Subject to the Law, the commission may be
satisfied by the payment of cash or by the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or partly
in one and partly in the other. |
| 14. | Except
as required by the Law, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share
upon any trust and the Company shall not be bound by or required in any way to recognise
(even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in
any share or any fractional part of a share or (except only as otherwise provided by these
Articles or by the Law) any other rights in respect of any share except an absolute right
to the entirety thereof in the registered holder. |
| 15. | Subject
to the Law and these Articles, the Board may at any time after the allotment of shares but
before any person has been entered in the Register as the Member, 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 Board considers fit to impose. |
SHARE
CERTIFICATES
| 16. | A
share certificate may be issued under the Seal or a facsimile thereof and shall specify the
number and class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the shares to which it relates, and
the amount paid up thereon and may otherwise be in such form as the Board may from time to
time determine. No certificate shall be issued representing shares of more than one class.
The Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in any particular case or cases,
that any signatures on any such certificates (or certificates in respect of other securities)
need not be autographic but may be affixed to such certificates by some mechanical means
or may be printed thereon. |
| 17. | (1)
In the case of a share held jointly by several persons, the Company shall not be bound to
issue more than one certificate therefor and delivery of a certificate to one of several
joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all such holders. |
(2)
Where a share stands in the names of two or more persons, the person first named in the Register shall as regards service of notices
and, subject to the provisions of these Articles, all or any other matters connected with the Company, except the transfer of the shares,
be deemed the sole holder thereof.
| 18. | Every
person whose name is entered, upon an allotment of shares, as a Member in the Register shall
be entitled, without payment, to receive one certificate for all such shares of any one class
or several certificates each for one or more of such shares of such class upon payment for
every certificate after the payment of such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses as
the Board from time to time determines, provided however, the Company is not obligated to
issue a share certificate to a Members unless the Member requests it from the Company.. |
| 19. | Upon
request by a Member, a share certificates shall be issued within the relevant time limit
as prescribed by the Law or as the Designated Stock Exchange may from time to time determine,
whichever is the shorter, after allotment or, except in the case of a transfer which the
Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after
lodgment of a transfer with the Company. |
| 20. | (1)
Upon every transfer of shares the certificate held by the transferor shall be given up to
be cancelled, and shall forthwith be cancelled accordingly, and a new certificate may be
issued to the transferee in respect of the shares transferred to him at such fee as is provided
in paragraph (2) of this Article 20. If any of the shares included in the certificate so
given up shall be retained by the transferor a new certificate for the balance may be issued
to him at the aforesaid fee payable by the transferor to the Company in respect thereof. |
(2)
The fee referred to in paragraph (1) above shall be an amount not exceeding the relevant maximum amount as the Designated Stock Exchange
may from time to time determine provided that the Board may at any time determine a lower amount for such fee.
| 21. | If
a share certificate shall be damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed
a new certificate representing the same shares may be issued to the relevant Member upon
request and on payment of such fee as the Board may determine and, subject to compliance
with such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and to payment of the costs and reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in investigating such evidence and preparing
such indemnity as the Board may think fit and, in case of damage or defacement, on delivery
of the old certificate to the Company provided always that where share warrants have
been issued, no new share warrant shall be issued to replace one that has been lost unless
the Board has determined that the original has been destroyed. |
LIEN
| 22. | The
Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share that is not a fully paid share,
for all moneys (whether presently payable or not) called or payable at a fixed time in respect
of that share. The Company shall also have a first and paramount lien on every share that
is not a fully paid share registered in the name of a Member (whether or not jointly with
other Members) for all amounts of money presently payable by such Member or his estate to
the Company whether the same shall have been incurred before or after notice to the Company
of any equitable or other interest of any person other than such member, and whether the
payment or discharge of the same shall have actually become due or not, and notwithstanding
that the same are joint debts or liabilities of such Member or his estate and any other person,
whether a Member of the Company or not. The Company’s lien on a share shall extend
to all dividends or other moneys payable thereon or in respect thereof. The Board may at
any time, generally or in any particular case, waive any lien that has arisen or declare
any share exempt in whole or in part, from the provisions of this Article 22. |
| 23. | Subject
to these Articles, the Company may sell in such manner as the Board determines any share
on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless some sum in respect of
which the lien exists is presently payable, or the liability or engagement in respect of
which such lien exists is liable to be presently fulfilled or discharged nor until the expiration
of fourteen (14) clear days after a Notice, stating and demanding payment of the sum presently
payable, or specifying the liability or engagement and demanding fulfilment or discharge
thereof and giving notice of the intention to sell in default, has been served on the registered
holder for the time being of the share or the person entitled thereto by reason of his death
or bankruptcy. |
| 24. | The
net proceeds of the sale shall be received by the Company and applied in or towards payment
or discharge of the debt or liability in respect of which the lien exists, so far as the
same is presently payable, and any residue shall, subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities
not presently payable as existed upon the share prior to the sale, be paid to the person
entitled to the share at the time of the sale. To give effect to any such sale the Board
may authorise some person to transfer the shares sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser
shall be registered as the holder of the shares so transferred and he shall not be bound
to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the shares be affected
by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. |
CALLS
ON SHARES
| 25. | Subject
to these Articles and to the terms of allotment, the Board may from time to time make calls
upon the Members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the
nominal value of the shares or by way of premium), and each Member shall (subject to being
given at least fourteen (14) clear days’ Notice specifying the time and place of payment)
pay to the Company as required by such notice the amount called on his shares. A call may
be extended, postponed or revoked in whole or in part as the Board determines but no Member
shall be entitled to any such extension, postponement or revocation except as a matter of
grace and favour. |
| 26. | A
call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Board authorising
the call was passed and may be made payable either in one lump sum or by instalments. |
| 27. | A
person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding
the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect of which the call was made. The joint holders
of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls and instalments due in
respect thereof or other moneys due in respect thereof. |
| 28. | If
a sum called in respect of a share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment
thereof, the person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from
the day appointed for payment thereof to the time of actual payment at such rate (not exceeding
twenty per cent. (20%) per annum) as the Board may determine, but the Board may in its absolute
discretion waive payment of such interest in whole or in part. |
| 29. | No
Member shall be entitled to receive any dividend or bonus or to be present and vote (save
as proxy for another Member) at any general meeting either personally or by proxy, or be
reckoned in a quorum, or exercise any other privilege as a Member until all calls or instalments
due by him to the Company, whether alone or jointly with any other person, together with
interest and expenses (if any) shall have been paid. |
| 30. | On
the trial or hearing of any action or other proceedings for the recovery of any money due
for any call, it shall be sufficient to prove that the name of the Member sued is entered
in the Register as the holder, or one of the holders, of the shares in respect of which such
debt accrued, that the resolution making the call is duly recorded in the minute book, and
that notice of such call was duly given to the Member sued, in pursuance of these Articles;
and it shall not be necessary to prove the appointment of the Directors who made such call,
nor any other matters whatsoever, but the proof of the matters aforesaid shall be conclusive
evidence of the debt. |
| 31. | Any
amount payable in respect of a share upon allotment or at any fixed date, whether in respect
of nominal value or premium or as an instalment of a call, shall be deemed to be a call duly
made and payable on the date fixed for payment and if it is not paid the provisions of these
Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call duly
made and notified. |
| 32. | On
the issue of shares the Board may differentiate between the allottees or holders as to the
amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment. |
| 33. | The
Board may, if it thinks fit, receive from any Member willing to advance the same, and either
in money or money’s worth, all or any part of the moneys uncalled and unpaid or instalments
payable upon any shares held by him and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced (until
the same would, but for such advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate
(if any) as the Board may decide. The Board may at any time repay the amount so advanced
upon giving to such Member not less than one month’s Notice of its intention in that
behalf, unless before the expiration of such notice the amount so advanced shall have been
called up on the shares in respect of which it was advanced. Such payment in advance shall
not entitle the holder of such share or shares to participate in respect thereof in a dividend
subsequently declared. |
FORFEITURE
OF SHARES
| 34. | (1)
If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Board may give to the person
from whom it is due not less than fourteen (14) clear days’ Notice: |
| (a) | requiring
payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and which
may still accrue up to the date of actual payment; and |
| (b) | stating
that if the Notice is not complied with the shares on which the call was made will be liable
to be forfeited. |
(2)
If the requirements of any such notice are not complied with, any share in respect of which such notice has been given may at any time
thereafter, before payment of all calls and interest due in respect thereof has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Board
to that effect, and such forfeiture shall include all dividends and bonuses declared in respect of the forfeited share but not actually
paid before the forfeiture.
| 35. | 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. No forfeiture shall be invalidated by any
omission or neglect to give such notice. |
| 36. | The
Board may accept the surrender of any share liable to be forfeited hereunder and, in such
case, references in these Articles to forfeiture will include surrender. |
| 37. | Any
share so forfeited shall be deemed the property of the Company and may be sold, re-allotted
or otherwise disposed of to such person, upon such terms and in such manner as the Board
determines, and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture
may be annulled by the Board on such terms as the Board determines. |
| 38. | A
person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of the forfeited
shares but nevertheless shall remain liable to pay the Company all moneys which at the date
of forfeiture were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares, with,
if the Board shall in its discretion so requires, interest thereon from the date of forfeiture
until payment at such rate (not exceeding twenty per cent. (20%) per annum) as the Board
determines. The Board may enforce payment thereof if it thinks fit, and without any deduction
or allowance for the value of the forfeited shares, at the date of forfeiture, but his liability
shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all such moneys
in respect of the shares. For the purposes of this Article 38 any sum which, by the terms
of issue of a share, is payable thereon at a fixed time which is subsequent to the date of
forfeiture, whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium, shall
notwithstanding that time has not yet arrived be deemed to be payable at the date of forfeiture,
and the same shall become due and payable immediately upon the forfeiture, but interest thereon
shall only be payable in respect of any period between the said fixed time and the date of
actual payment. |
| 39. | A
declaration by a Director or the Secretary that a share has been forfeited on a specified
date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming
to be entitled to the share, and such declaration shall (subject to the execution of an instrument
of transfer by the Company if necessary) constitute a good title to the share, and the person
to whom the share is disposed of shall be registered as the holder of the share and shall
not be bound to see to the application of the consideration (if any), nor shall his title
to the share be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference
to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the share. When any share shall have been forfeited,
notice of the declaration shall be given to the Member in whose name it stood immediately
prior to the forfeiture, and an entry of the forfeiture, with the date thereof, shall forthwith
be made in the Register, but no forfeiture shall be in any manner invalidated by any omission
or neglect to give such notice or make any such entry. |
| 40. | Notwithstanding
any such forfeiture as aforesaid the Board may at any time, before any shares so forfeited
shall have been sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of, permit the shares forfeited
to be bought back upon the terms of payment of all calls and interest due upon and expenses
incurred in respect of the share, and upon such further terms (if any) as it thinks fit. |
| 41. | The
forfeiture of a share shall not prejudice the right of the Company to any call already made
or instalment payable thereon. |
| 42. | The
provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment
of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether
on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium, as if the same had been
payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
REGISTER
OF MEMBERS
| 43. | (1)
The Company shall keep in one or more books a Register of its Members and shall enter therein
the following particulars, that is to say: |
| (a) | the
name and address of each Member, the number and class of shares held by him and the amount
paid or agreed to be considered as paid on such shares; |
| (b) | the
date on which each person was entered in the Register; and |
| (c) | the
date on which any person ceased to be a Member. |
(2)
The Company may keep an overseas or local or other branch register of Members resident in any place, and the Board may make and vary
such regulations as it determines in respect of the keeping of any such register and maintaining a Registration Office in connection
therewith.
| 44. | The
Register and branch register of Members, as the case may be, shall be open to inspection
for such times and on such days as the Board shall determine by Members without charge or
by any other person, upon a maximum payment of $2.50 or such other sum specified by the Board,
at the Office or Registration Office or such other place at which the Register is kept in
accordance with the Law. The Register including any overseas or local or other branch register
of Members may, after compliance with any notice requirement of the Designated Stock Exchange,
be closed at such times or for such periods not exceeding in the whole thirty (30) days in
each year as the Board may determine and either generally or in respect of any class of shares. |
RECORD
DATES
| 45. | For
the purpose of determining the Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any general meeting,
or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution
or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of shares or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board
may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of the Members,
which date shall not be more than forty (40) days nor less than ten (10) days before the
date of such meeting, nor more than forty (40) days prior to any other such action. |
If
the Board does not fix a record date for any general meeting, the record date for determining the Members entitled to a notice of or
to vote at such meeting shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if in accordance
with these Articles notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. The record
date for determining the Members for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution
relating thereto.
A
determination of the Members of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Members shall apply to any adjournment of
the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
TRANSFER
OF SHARES
| 46. | (1)
Subject to these Articles including, without limitation, in the case of Class B Ordinary
Shares, Article 9(c), any Member may transfer all or any of his shares by an instrument of
transfer in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the Designated Stock Exchange
or in any other form approved by the Board and may be under hand or, if the transferor or
transferee is a clearing house or a central depository house or its nominee(s), by hand or
by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Board may approve
from time to time. |
(2)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (1) above, for so long as any shares are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, titles
to such listed shares may be evidenced and transferred in accordance with the laws applicable to and the rules and regulations of the
Designated Stock Exchange that are or shall be applicable to such listed shares. The register of members of the Company in respect of
its listed shares (whether the Register or a branch register) may be kept by recording the particulars required by Section 40 of the
Law in a form otherwise than legible if such recording otherwise complies with the laws applicable to and the rules and regulations of
the Designated Stock Exchange that are or shall be applicable to such listed shares.
| 47. | The
instrument of transfer shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and the transferee
provided that the Board may dispense with the execution of the instrument of transfer
by the transferee in any case which it thinks fit in its discretion to do so. Without prejudice
to Article 46, the Board may also resolve, either generally or in any particular case, upon
request by either the transferor or transferee, to accept mechanically executed transfers.
The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share until the name of the transferee
is entered in the Register in respect thereof. Nothing in these Articles shall preclude the
Board from recognising a renunciation of the allotment or provisional allotment of any share
by the allottee in favour of some other person. |
| 48. | (1)
The Board may, in its absolute discretion, and without giving any reason therefor, refuse
to register a transfer of any share that is not a fully paid up share to a person of whom
it does not approve, or any share issued under any share incentive scheme for employees upon
which a restriction on transfer imposed thereby still subsists, and it may also, without
prejudice to the foregoing generality, refuse to register a transfer of any share to more
than four joint holders or a transfer of any share that is not a fully paid up share on which
the Company has a lien. |
(2)
The Board in so far as permitted by any applicable law may, in its absolute discretion, at any time and from time to time transfer any
share upon the Register to any branch register or any share on any branch register to the Register or any other branch register. In the
event of any such transfer, the Member requesting such transfer shall bear the cost of effecting the transfer unless the Board otherwise
determines.
(3)
Unless the Board otherwise agrees (which agreement may be on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board in its absolute discretion
may from time to time determine, and which agreement the Board shall, without giving any reason therefore, be entitled in its absolute
discretion to give or withhold), no shares upon the Register shall be transferred to any branch register nor shall shares on any branch
register be transferred to the Register or any other branch register and all transfers and other documents of title shall be lodged for
registration, and registered, in the case of any shares on a branch register, at the relevant Registration Office, and, in the case of
any shares on the Register, at the Office or such other place at which the Register is kept in accordance with the Law.
| 49. | Without
limiting the generality of Article 48, the Board may decline to recognise any instrument
of transfer unless: |
| (a) | a
fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchange may determine to be payable or such
lesser sum as the Board may from time to time require is paid to the Company in respect thereof; |
| (b) | the
instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share; |
| (c) | the
instrument of transfer is lodged at the Office or such other place at which the Register
is kept in accordance with the Law or the Registration Office (as the case may be) accompanied
by the relevant share certificate(s) and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably
require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer (and, if the instrument
of transfer is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person
so to do); and |
| (d) | if
applicable, the instrument of transfer is duly and properly stamped. |
| 50. | If
the Board refuses to register a transfer of any share, it shall, within three months after
the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company, send to each of the transferor
and transferee notice of the refusal. |
| 51. | The
registration of transfers of shares or of any class of shares may, after compliance with
any notice requirement of the Designated Stock Exchange, be suspended at such times and for
such periods (not exceeding in the whole thirty (30) days in any year) as the Board may determine. |
TRANSMISSION
OF SHARES
| 52. | If
a Member dies, the survivor or survivors where the deceased was a joint holder, and his legal
personal representatives where he was a sole or only surviving holder, will be the only persons
recognised by the Company as having any title to his interest in the shares; but nothing
in this Article will release the estate of a deceased Member (whether sole or joint) from
any liability in respect of any share which had been solely or jointly held by him. |
| 53. | Any
person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up
of a Member may, upon such evidence as to his title being produced as may be required by
the Board, elect either to become the holder of the share or to have some person nominated
by him registered as the transferee thereof. If he elects to become the holder he shall notify
the Company in writing either at the Registration Office or the Office, as the case may be,
to that effect. If he elects to have another person registered he shall execute a transfer
of the share in favour of that person. The provisions of these Articles relating to the transfer
and registration of transfers of shares shall apply to such notice or transfer as aforesaid
as if the death or bankruptcy of the Member had not occurred and the notice or transfer were
a transfer signed by such Member. |
| 54. | A
person becoming entitled to a share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up
of a Member shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would
be entitled if he were the registered holder of the share. However, the Board may, if it
thinks fit, withhold the payment of any dividend payable or other advantages in respect of
such share until such person shall become the registered holder of the share or shall have
effectually transferred such share, but, subject to the requirements of Article 75(2) being
met, such a person may vote at meetings. |
UNTRACEABLE
MEMBERS
| 55. | (1)
Without prejudice to the rights of the Company under paragraph (2) of this Article 55, the
Company may cease sending cheques for dividend entitlements or dividend warrants by post
if such cheques or warrants have been left uncashed on two consecutive occasions. However,
the Company may exercise the power to cease sending cheques for dividend entitlements or
dividend warrants after the first occasion on which such a cheque or warrant is returned
undelivered. |
(2)
The Company shall have the power to sell, in such manner as the Board thinks fit, any shares of a Member who is untraceable, but no such
sale shall be made unless:
| (a) | all
cheques or warrants in respect of dividends of the shares in question, being not less than
three in total number, for any sum payable in cash to the holder of such shares sent during
the relevant period in the manner authorised by these Articles have remained uncashed; |
| (b) | so
far as it is aware at the end of the relevant period, the Company has not at any time during
the relevant period received any indication of the existence of the Member who is the holder
of such shares or of a person entitled to such shares by death, bankruptcy or operation of
law; and |
| (c) | the
Company, if so required by the rules governing the listing of shares on the Designated Stock
Exchange, has given notice to, and caused advertisement in newspapers to be made in accordance
with the requirements of the Designated Stock Exchange of its intention to sell such shares
in the manner required by the Designated Stock Exchange, and a period of three months or
such shorter period as may be allowed by the Designated Stock Exchange has elapsed since
the date of such advertisement. |
For
the purpose of the foregoing, the “relevant period” means the period commencing twelve (12) years before the date of publication
of the advertisement referred to in paragraph (c) of this Article and ending at the expiry of the period referred to in that paragraph.
(3)
To give effect to any such sale the Board may authorise some person to transfer the said shares and an instrument of transfer signed
or otherwise executed by or on behalf of such person shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the registered holder or the
person entitled by transmission to such shares, and the purchaser shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money
nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. The net proceeds
of the sale will belong to the Company and upon receipt by the Company of such net proceeds it shall become indebted to the former Member
for an amount equal to such net proceeds. No trust shall be created in respect of such debt and no interest shall be payable in respect
of it and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned from the net proceeds which may be employed in the business
of the Company or as it thinks fit. Any sale under this Article 55 shall be valid and effective notwithstanding that the Member holding
the shares sold is dead, bankrupt or otherwise under any legal disability or incapacity.
GENERAL
MEETINGS
| 56. | The
Company may (but shall not be obliged to, unless as required by applicable law or rules of
the Designated Stock Exchange) hold an annual general meeting and shall specify the meeting
as such in the notices calling it. An annual general meeting of the Company shall be held
at such time and place as may be determined by the Board. |
| 57. | Each
general meeting, other than an annual general meeting, shall be called an extraordinary general
meeting. General meetings may be held at such times and in any location in the world as may
be determined by the Board. |
| 58. | (1)
(i) A majority of the Board, or (ii) the Chairman of the Board, or (iii) any Director, where
required to give effect to a requisition received under Article 58(2), may call extraordinary
general meetings, which extraordinary general meetings shall be held at such times and locations
(as permitted hereby) as such person or persons shall determine. |
(2)
Any one or more Members holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than two-thirds of the voting power of the Company’s
share capital in issue carrying the right of voting at general meetings of the Company shall at all times have the right, by written
requisition to the Board or the Secretary of the Company, to require an extraordinary general meeting to be called by the Board for the
transaction of any business permitted by the Law or these Articles (subject to the provisions of Article 58(3)) as specified in such
requisition; and such meeting shall be held within two (2) months after the deposit of such requisition. If within twenty-one (21)
days of such deposit the Board fails to proceed to convene such meeting the requisitionist(s) himself (themselves) may do so in the same
manner, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the requisitionist(s) as a result of the failure of the Board shall be reimbursed to
the requisitionist(s) by the Company.
(3)
A meeting requisitioned under Article 58(2) shall not be permitted to consider or vote upon (A) any resolutions with respect to the election,
appointment or removal of Directors or with respect to the size of the Board, unless such proposal is first approved by the Nomination
Committee of the Board; or (B) other than a special resolution in respect of the appointment or removal of any Director, any special
resolution or any matters required to be passed by way of special resolution pursuant to these Articles or the Law.
(4)
Other than by way of requisition under Article 58(2), Members have no right to propose resolutions or other business to be considered
and voted upon at any general meeting of the Company.
NOTICE
OF GENERAL MEETINGS
| 59. | (1)
An annual general meeting and any extraordinary general meeting may be called by not less
than ten (10) clear days’ Notice but a general meeting may be called by shorter notice,
subject to the Law, if it is so agreed: |
| (a) | in
the case of a meeting called as an annual general meeting, by all the Members entitled to
attend and vote thereat; and |
| (b) | in
the case of any other meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having the right to
attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety-five
per cent. (95%) in nominal value of the issued shares giving that right. |
(2)
The notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the general nature of the business. The notice convening an annual general
meeting shall specify the meeting as such. Notice of every general meeting shall be given to all Members other than to such Members as,
under the provisions of these Articles or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notices from the
Company, to all persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up of a Member and to each of the
Directors.
| 60. | The
accidental omission to give Notice of a meeting or (in cases where instruments of proxy are
sent out with the notice) to send such instrument of proxy to, or the non-receipt of
such notice or such instrument of proxy by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall
not invalidate any resolution passed or the proceedings at that meeting. |
PROCEEDINGS
AT GENERAL MEETINGS
| 61. | (1)
No business other than the appointment of a chairman of a meeting shall be transacted at
any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the commencement of the business. At any
general meeting of the Company, one or more Members entitled to vote and present in person
or by proxy or (in the case of a Member being a corporation) by its duly authorised representative
representing not less than one-third of all voting power of the Company’s share capital
in issue throughout the meeting shall form a quorum for all purposes. |
(2)
If within thirty (30) minutes (or such longer time not exceeding one hour as the chairman of the meeting may determine to wait) after
the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the
same time and place or to such time and place as the Board may determine. If at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within
half an hour from the time appointed for holding the meeting, the meeting shall be dissolved.
| 62. | The
Chairman of the Board shall preside as chairman at every general meeting. If at any meeting
the chairman is not present within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed for holding
the meeting, or is not willing to act as chairman, the Directors present shall choose one
of their number to act, or if one Director only is present he shall preside as chairman if
willing to act. If no Director is present, or if each of the Directors present declines to
take the chair, or if the chairman chosen shall retire from the chair, the Members present
in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall elect one of their members to be chairman. |
| 63. | The
chairman may adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business
shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which might lawfully
have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place. When a meeting is
adjourned for fourteen (14) days or more, at least seven (7) clear days’ notice of
the adjourned meeting shall be given specifying the time and place of the adjourned meeting
but it shall not be necessary to specify in such notice the nature of the business to be
transacted at the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted.
Save as aforesaid, it shall be unnecessary to give notice of an adjournment. |
| 64. | If
an amendment is proposed to any resolution under consideration but is in good faith 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 a mere clerical amendment to correct
a patent error) may in any event be considered or voted upon. |
NO
ACTION BY WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS OF MEMBERS
| 65. | Any
action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or extraordinary general meetings
of the Company may be taken only upon the vote of the Members at an annual or extraordinary
general meeting duly noticed and convened in accordance with these Articles and the Law and
may not be taken by written resolution of Members without a meeting. |
VOTING
| 66. | (1)
Holders of Ordinary Shares have the right to receive notice of, attend, speak and vote at
general meetings of the Company. Except as required by applicable law and subject to these
Articles (including without limitation Article 10(a)), holders of Class A Ordinary Shares
and Class B Ordinary Shares shall at all times vote together as one class on all matters
submitted to a vote of the Shareholders. |
(2)
Subject to any special rights or restrictions as to voting for the time being attached to any shares by or in accordance with these Articles,
at any general meeting on a poll:
| (a) | every
Member holding Class A Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a
Member being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative shall have one (1) vote
for every fully paid Class A Ordinary Share of which he is the holder; and |
| (b) | every
Member holding Class B Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a
Member being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative shall have ten (10) votes
for every fully paid Class B Ordinary Share of which he is the holder. |
(3)
No amount paid up or credited as paid up on a share in advance of calls or instalments is treated for the foregoing purposes as paid
up on the share.
(4)
A resolution put to the vote of a meeting shall be decided by way of a poll save that the chairman of the meeting may in good faith,
allow a resolution which relates purely to a procedural or administrative matter to be voted on by a show of hands in which case (i)
every Member holding Class A Shares present in person (or being a corporation, is present by a duly authorized representative), or by
proxy(ies) shall have one (1) vote, and (ii) every Member holding Class B Shares present in person (or being a corporation, is present
by a duly authorized representative), or by proxy(ies) shall have ten (10) votes, provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in
these Articles, where more than one proxy is appointed by a Member which is a clearing house or a central depository house (or its nominee(s)),
each such proxy shall have one vote on a show of hands. For the purposes of these Articles, procedural and administrative matters are
those that (i) are not on the agenda of the general meeting or in any supplementary circular that may be issued by the Company to its
Members; and (ii) relate to the chairman’s duties to maintain the orderly conduct of the meeting and/or allow the business of the
meeting to be properly and effectively dealt with, whilst allowing all Members a reasonable opportunity to express their views.
| 67. | Where
a show of hands is allowed pursuant to these Articles, before or on the declaration of the
result of the show of hands, a poll may be demanded: |
| (a) | by
at least three Members present in person or in the case of a Member being a corporation by
its duly authorised representative or by proxy for the time being entitled to vote at the
meeting; or |
| (b) | by
a Member or Members present in person or in the case of a Member being a corporation by its
duly authorised representative or by proxy and representing not less than one-tenth of
the total voting rights of all Members having the right to vote at the meeting; or |
| (c) | by
a Member or Members present in person or in the case of a Member being a corporation by its
duly authorised representative or by proxy and holding shares in the Company conferring a
right to vote at the meeting being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal
to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all shares conferring that right. |
A
demand by a person as proxy for a Member or in the case of a Member being a corporation by its duly authorised representative shall be
deemed to be the same as a demand by the Member.
| 68. | Where
a resolution is voted on by a show of hands, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution
has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or not carried by
a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect made in the minute book of the
Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts without proof of the number or proportion
of the votes recorded for or against the resolution. |
| 69. | The
result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll
was demanded. There shall be no requirement for the chairman to disclose the voting figures
on a poll. |
| 70. | The
demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting or the transaction of any
business other than the question on which the poll has been demanded, and, with the consent
of the chairman, it may be withdrawn at any time before the close of the meeting or the taking
of the poll, whichever is the earlier. |
| 71. | On
a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy. |
| 72. | A
person entitled to more than one vote on a poll need not use all his votes or cast all the
votes he uses in the same way. |
| 73. | All
questions submitted to a meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of votes cast by such
Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, by proxy or, in the case of a Member
being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative except where a greater majority
is required by these Articles or by the Law. |
| 74. | Where
there are joint holders of any share any one of such joint holder may vote, either in person
or by proxy, in respect of such share as if he were solely entitled thereto, but if more
than one of such joint holders be present at any meeting the vote of the senior who tenders
a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of
the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order
in which the names stand in the Register in respect of the joint holding. Several executors
or administrators of a deceased Member in whose name any share stands shall for the purposes
of this Article be deemed joint holders thereof. |
| 75. | (1)
A Member who is a patient for any purpose relating to mental health or in respect of whom
an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction for the protection or management
of the affairs of persons incapable of managing their own affairs may vote, by his receiver,
committee, curator bonis or other person in the nature of a receiver, committee or curator
bonis appointed by such court, and such receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person
may vote on a poll by proxy, and may otherwise act and be treated as if he were the registered
holder of such shares for the purposes of general meetings, provided that such evidence
as the Board may require of the authority of the person claiming to vote shall have been
deposited at the Office, head office or Registration Office, as appropriate, not less than
forty-eight (48) hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting, or adjourned
meeting or poll, as the case may be. |
(2)
Any person entitled under Article 53 to be registered as the holder of any shares may vote at any general meeting in respect thereof
in the same manner as if he were the registered holder of such shares, provided that forty-eight (48) hours at least before
the time of the holding of the meeting or adjourned meeting, as the case may be, at which he proposes to vote, he shall satisfy the Board
of his entitlement to such shares, or the Board shall have previously admitted his right to vote at such meeting in respect thereof.
| 76. | No
Member shall, unless the Board otherwise determines, be entitled to attend and vote and to
be reckoned in a quorum at any general meeting unless he is duly registered and all calls
or other sums presently payable by him in respect of shares in the Company have been paid. |
| (a) | any
objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter; or |
| (b) | any
votes have been counted which ought not to have been counted or which might have been rejected;
or |
| (c) | any
votes are not counted which ought to have been counted; |
the
objection or error shall not vitiate the decision of the meeting or adjourned meeting on any resolution unless the same is raised or
pointed out at the meeting or, as the case may be, the adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which
the error occurs. Any objection or error shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and shall only vitiate the decision of the
meeting on any resolution if the chairman decides that the same may have affected the decision of the meeting. The decision of the chairman
on such matters shall be final and conclusive.
PROXIES
| 78. | Any
Member entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company shall be entitled
to appoint another person as his proxy to attend and vote instead of him. A Member who is
the holder of two or more shares may appoint more than one proxy to represent him and vote
on his behalf at a general meeting of the Company or at a class meeting. A proxy need not
be a Member. In addition, a proxy or proxies representing either a Member who is an individual
or a Member which is a corporation shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf
of the Member which he or they represent as such Member could exercise. |
| 79. | The
instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his
attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under its
seal or under the hand of an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign the same.
In the case of an instrument of proxy purporting to be signed on behalf of a corporation
by an officer thereof it shall be assumed, unless the contrary appears, that such officer
was duly authorised to sign such instrument of proxy on behalf of the corporation without
further evidence of the facts. |
| 80. | The
instrument appointing a proxy and, if required by the Board, the power of attorney or other
authority, if any, under which it is signed, or a certified copy of such power or authority,
shall be delivered to such place or one of such places, if any, as may be specified for that
purpose in or by way of note to or in any document accompanying the notice convening the
meeting or, if no place is so specified at the Registration Office or the Office, as may
be appropriate, not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time appointed for holding
the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to
vote or, in the case of a poll taken subsequently to the date of a meeting or adjourned meeting,
not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the time appointed for the taking of the
poll and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid. No instrument
appointing a proxy shall be valid after the expiration of twelve (12) months from the date
named in it as the date of its execution, except at an adjourned meeting or on a poll demanded
at a meeting or an adjourned meeting in cases where the meeting was originally held within
twelve (12) months from such date. Delivery of an instrument appointing a proxy shall not
preclude a Member from attending and voting in person at the meeting convened and in such
event, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to be revoked. |
| 81. | Instruments
of proxy shall be in any common form or in such other form as the Board may approve (provided
that this shall not preclude the use of the two-way form) and the Board may, if it
thinks fit, send out with the notice of any meeting forms of instrument of proxy for use
at the meeting. The instrument of proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or
join in demanding a poll and to vote on any amendment of a resolution put to the meeting
for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit. The instrument of proxy shall, unless the
contrary is stated therein, be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the
meeting to which it relates. |
| 82. | A
vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding
the previous death or insanity of the principal, or revocation of the instrument of proxy
or of the authority under which it was executed, provided that no intimation in writing
of such death, insanity or revocation shall have been received by the Company at the Office
or the Registration Office (or such other place as may be specified for the delivery of instruments
of proxy in the notice convening the meeting or other document sent therewith) two (2) hours
at least before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting, or the taking of the
poll, at which the instrument of proxy is used. |
| 83. | Anything
which under these Articles a Member may do by proxy he may likewise do by his duly appointed
attorney and the provisions of these Articles relating to proxies and instruments appointing
proxies shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to any such attorney and the instrument
under which such attorney is appointed. |
CORPORATIONS
ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES
| 84. | (1)
Any corporation which is a Member may by resolution of its directors or other governing body
authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the
Company or at any meeting of any class of Members. The person so authorised shall be entitled
to exercise the same powers on behalf of such corporation as the corporation could exercise
if it were an individual Member and such corporation shall for the purposes of these Articles
be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting if a person so authorised is present
thereat. |
(2)
If a clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or a central depository entity, being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons
as it thinks fit to act as its representatives at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided
that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each
person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the
facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the clearing house or central depository entity (or its nominee(s))
as if such person was the registered holder of the shares of the Company held by the clearing house or a central depository entity (or
its nominee(s)) including the right to vote individually on a show of hands.
(3)
Any reference in these Articles to a duly authorised representative of a Member being a corporation shall mean a representative authorised
under the provisions of this Article.
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
| 85. | (1)
The number of Directors shall not be less than three (3). The Directors shall be elected
or appointed in accordance with this Article 85. |
(2)
No person may be nominated for, or appointed as, a Director, nor removed from any such appointment as a Director, unless such nomination,
appointment or removal has been approved by the Nomination Committee of the Company prior to such nomination, appointment or removal.
(3)
Subject to Article 85(11), (i) any person appointed as a Director as of the date (the “IPO Date”) of the closing of
the Company’s initial public offering of Class A Ordinary Shares represented by American Depositary Shares on the Designated Stock Exchange
shall hold office for a period of three years from the IPO Date, or such other term as may be approved in the resolution appointing them;
and (ii) any person appointed as a Director after the IPO Date shall hold office for a period of three years from the date of such appointment,
or such other term as may be approved in the resolution appointing them. Each Director shall hold office until the expiration of his
term, or his resignation, removal or retirement from the Board, or his disqualification as a Director.
(4)
Subject to the Articles and the Law, the Members may by ordinary resolution elect any person to be a Director either to fill a casual
vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board.
(5)
The Directors shall have the power from time to time and at any time, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors present
and voting at a Board meeting, to appoint any person as a Director to fill a casual vacancy on the Board or as an addition to the existing
Board.
(6)
No Director shall be required to hold any shares of the Company by way of qualification and a Director who is not a Member shall be entitled
to receive notice of and to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company and of all classes of shares of the Company.
(7)
Subject to any provision to the contrary in these Articles, a Director may, at any time before the expiration of his period of office
(notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice to any claim
for damages under any such agreement)) be removed by way of either:
| (i) | a
special resolution of the Members; or |
| (ii) | the
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the other Directors present and voting at a Board meeting; or |
| (iii) | a
resolution in writing (which complies with the requirements of the provisos contained in Article 119) signed by all the Directors other
than the Director being removed. |
(8)
A vacancy on the Board created by the removal of a Director under the provisions of subparagraph (7) above may be filled by the election
or appointment by way of either:
| (i) | an
ordinary resolution of the Members at the meeting at which such Director is removed; or, |
| (ii) | the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a Board meeting; or |
| (iii) | a
resolution in writing (which complies with the requirements of the provisos contained in Article 119) signed by all the Directors other
than the Director so removed. |
(9)
The Members may from time to time in general meeting by ordinary resolution increase or reduce the number of Directors but so that the
number of Directors shall never be less than three (3).
(10)
A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-election from the date commencing six (6) months prior to the date of expiry of his
term of office, and shall continue to act as a Director throughout the meeting at which his re-election is considered.
(11)
Where the retirement of any Director would cause the number of Directors to fall below the minimum number required pursuant to these
Articles, then such Director shall continue to act as a Director until the appointment of such additional Director(s) as would not result
in the Director’s retirement causing the number of Directors to fall below the minimum number required pursuant to these Articles,
at which time they shall retire.
DISQUALIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS
| 86. | The
office of a Director shall be vacated if the Director: |
(1)
resigns his office by Notice delivered to the Company at the Office or tendered at a meeting of the Board;
(2)
becomes of unsound mind or dies;
(3)
without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from meetings of the Board for three (3) consecutive times, unless the Board
resolves that his office not be vacated; or
(4)
becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against him or suspends payment or compounds with his creditors;
(5)
is prohibited by law from being a Director;
(6)
ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Statutes or is removed from office pursuant to these Articles;
(7)
for any Director that is not an Independent Director, without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from more than fifty
per cent. (50%) of the weekly management meetings of the Company in any financial year, unless the Board resolves that his office not
be vacated; or
(8)
for any Director that is not an Independent Director, without special leave of absence from the Board, is present at the premises of
the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, for less than 60 Business Days in any financial year, unless the Board resolves that his office
not be vacated.
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS
| 87. | The
Board may from time to time appoint any one or more of its body to be a managing director,
joint managing director or deputy managing director or to hold any other employment or executive
office with the Company for such period (subject to their continuance as Directors) and upon
such terms as the Board may determine and the Board may revoke or terminate any of such appointments.
Any such revocation or termination as aforesaid shall be without prejudice to any claim for
damages that such Director may have against the Company or the Company may have against such
Director. A Director appointed to an office under this Article 87 shall be subject to the
same provisions as to removal as the other Directors of the Company, and he shall (subject
to the provisions of any contract between him and the Company) ipso facto and immediately
cease to hold such office if he shall cease to hold the office of Director for any cause. |
| 88. | Notwithstanding
Articles 93, 94, 95 and 96, an executive director appointed to an office under Article 87
hereof shall receive such remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation
in profits or otherwise or by all or any of those modes) and such other benefits (including
pension and/or gratuity and/or other benefits on retirement) and allowances as the Board
may from time to time determine, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration
as a Director. |
ALTERNATE
DIRECTORS
| 89. | (1)
Each Director shall use his or her best efforts to attend all meetings of the Board. |
(2)
Any Director may at any time appoint another Director to be his alternate Director. Any such appointment shall be in respect of a specific
meeting of Directors only and such appointment shall automatically cease upon termination of such meeting. An alternate Director may
also be removed as an alternate Director at any time by the Director who appointed him.
(3)
Any appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be effected by Notice signed by the appointor and delivered to the Chairman
of the Board at the Company’s principal executive offices in the People’s Republic of China from time to time. Any notice
appointing an alternate Director shall be delivered to, and received by, Chairman of the Board not less than three (3) days prior to
the date of the relevant meeting of the Board for which such alternate shall been appointed. Any notice removing an alternate Director
may be delivered to, and received by, Chairman of the Board at any time prior to the date of the relevant meeting of the Board for which
such alternate has been appointed.
(4)
Any person so appointed shall have all the rights and powers of the Director for whom such person is appointed in the alternative (in
addition to being counted in a quorum as a Director).
(5)
An alternate Director shall not act as alternate to more than one Director. An alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notices
of meetings of the Board or of committees of the Board to the same extent as, but in lieu of, the Director appointing him and shall be
entitled to such extent to attend and vote as a Director at any such meeting at which the Director appointing him is not personally present
and generally at such meeting to exercise and discharge all the functions, powers and duties of his appointor as a Director and for the
purposes of the proceedings at such meeting the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if he were a Director.
| 90. | An
alternate Director shall only be a Director for the purposes of the Law and shall only be
subject to the provisions of the Law insofar as they relate to the duties and obligations
of a Director when performing the functions of the Director for whom he is appointed in the
alternative and shall alone be responsible to the Company for his acts and defaults and shall
not be deemed to be the agent of or for the Director appointing him. An alternate Director
shall be entitled to contract and be interested in and benefit from contracts or arrangements
or transactions and to be repaid expenses and to be indemnified by the Company to the same
extent mutatis mutandis as if he were a Director but he shall not be entitled to receive
from the Company any fee in his capacity as an alternate Director except only such part,
if any, of the remuneration otherwise payable to his appointor as such appointor may by Notice
to the Company from time to time direct. |
| 91. | Every
person acting as an alternate Director shall have one vote for each Director for whom he
acts as alternate (in addition to his own vote as a Director). |
| 92. | An
alternate Director shall ipso facto cease to be an alternate Director if his appointor ceases
for any reason to be a Director, however, such alternate Director or any other person may
be re-appointed by the Directors to serve as an alternate Director provided always
that, if at any meeting any Director retires but is re-elected at the same meeting, any
appointment of such alternate Director pursuant to these Articles which was in force immediately
before his retirement shall remain in force as though he had not retired. |
DIRECTORS’
FEES AND EXPENSES
| 93. | The
Directors shall receive such remuneration as the Board may from time to time determine. |
| 94. | Each
Director shall be entitled to be repaid or prepaid all travelling, hotel and incidental expenses
reasonably incurred or expected to be incurred by him in attending meetings of the Board
or committees of the Board or general meetings or separate meetings of any class of shares
or of debentures of the Company or otherwise in connection with the discharge of his duties
as a Director. |
| 95. | Any
Director who, by request, goes or resides abroad for any purpose of the Company or who performs
services which in the opinion of the Board go beyond the ordinary duties of a Director may
be paid such extra remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits
or otherwise) as the Board may determine and such extra remuneration shall be in addition
to or in substitution for any ordinary remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other
Article. |
| 96. | The
Board shall determine any payment to any Director or past Director of the Company by way
of compensation for loss of office, or as consideration for or in connection with his retirement
from office (not being payment to which the Director is contractually entitled). |
DIRECTORS’
INTERESTS
| (a) | hold
any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of Auditor) in conjunction
with his office of Director for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine.
Any remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise)
paid to any Director in respect of any such other office or place of profit shall be in addition
to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Article; |
| (b) | act
by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company (otherwise than as Auditor)
and he or his firm may be remunerated for professional services as if he were not a Director; |
| (c) | continue
to be or become a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director,
executive director, manager or other officer or member of any other company promoted by the
Company or in which the Company may be interested as a vendor, shareholder or otherwise and,
unless otherwise agreed, no such Director shall be accountable for any remuneration, profits
or other benefits received by him as a director, managing director, joint managing director,
deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of or from
his interests in any such other company. Subject as otherwise provided by these Articles
the Directors may exercise or cause to be exercised the voting powers conferred by the shares
in any other company held or owned by the Company, or exercisable by them as Directors of
such other company in such manner in all respects as they think fit (including the exercise
thereof in favour of any resolution appointing themselves or any of them directors, managing
directors, joint managing directors, deputy managing directors, executive directors, managers
or other officers of such company) or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration
to the director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive
director, manager or other officers of such other company and any Director may vote in favour
of the exercise of such voting rights in manner aforesaid notwithstanding that he may be,
or about to be, appointed a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy
managing director, executive director, manager or other officer of such other company, and
that as such he is or may become interested in the exercise of such voting rights in manner
aforesaid. |
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no “Independent Director” as defined in the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under
the Exchange Act, and with respect of whom the Board has determined constitutes an “Independent Director” for purposes of
compliance with applicable law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, shall take any of the foregoing actions or any other action
that would reasonably be likely to affect such Director’s status as an “Independent Director” of the Company without
the consent of the Audit Committee.
| 98. | Subject
to the Law and to these Articles, no Director or proposed or intending Director shall be
disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company, either with regard to his tenure
of any office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or in any other manner whatever,
nor shall any such contract or any other contract or arrangement in which any Director is
in any way interested be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being
so interested be liable to account to the Company or the Members for any remuneration, profit
or other benefits realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director
holding that office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established provided
that such Director shall disclose the nature of his interest in any contract or arrangement
in which he is interested in accordance with Article 99 herein. Any such transaction that
would reasonably be likely to affect a Director’s status as an “Independent Director”,
or that would constitute a “related party transaction”, as defined under applicable
law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, shall require the approval of the Audit
Committee pursuant to the applicable law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange. |
| 99. | A
Director who to his knowledge is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in
a contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement with the Company shall declare
the nature of his interest at the meeting of the Board at which the question of entering
into the contract or arrangement is first considered, if he knows his interest then exists,
or in any other case at the first meeting of the Board after he knows that he is or has become
so interested. For the purposes of this Article, a general Notice to the Board by a Director
to the effect that: |
| (a) | he
is a member or officer of a specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested
in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of the Notice be made with that company
or firm; or |
| (b) | he
is to be regarded as interested in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of
the Notice be made with a specified person who is connected with him; |
shall
be deemed to be a sufficient declaration of interest under this Article in relation to any such contract or arrangement, provided
that no such notice shall be effective unless either it is given at a meeting of the Board or the Director takes reasonable steps
to secure that it is brought up and read at the next Board meeting after it is given.
| 100. | Following
a declaration being made pursuant to the last preceding two Articles, subject to any separate
requirement for Audit Committee approval under applicable law or the listing rules of the
Company’s Designated Stock Exchange, and unless disqualified by the chairman of the
relevant Board meeting, a Director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract
or arrangement in which such Director is interested and may be counted in the quorum at such
meeting. |
GENERAL
POWERS OF THE DIRECTORS
| 101. | (1)
The business of the Company shall be managed and conducted by the Board, which may pay all
expenses incurred in forming and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the
Company (whether relating to the management of the business of the Company or otherwise)
which are not by the Statutes or by these Articles required to be exercised by the Members
in a general meeting, subject nevertheless to the provisions of the Statutes and of these
Articles and to such regulations being not inconsistent with such provisions, as may be prescribed
by the Members in a general meeting, but no regulations made by the Members in a general
meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if such regulations
had not been made. The general powers given by this Article shall not be limited or restricted
by any special authority or power given to the Board by any other Article. |
(2)
Any person contracting or dealing with the Company in the ordinary course of business shall be entitled to rely on any written or oral
contract or agreement or deed, document or instrument entered into or executed as the case may be by any two of the Directors acting
jointly on behalf of the Company and the same shall be deemed to be validly entered into or executed by the Company as the case may be
and shall, subject to any rule of law, be binding on the Company.
(3)
Without prejudice to the general powers conferred by these Articles it is hereby expressly declared that the Board shall have the following
powers:
| (a) | To
give to any person the right or option of requiring at a future date that an allotment shall
be made to him of any share at par or at such premium as may be agreed. |
| (b) | To
give to any Directors, officers or employees of the Company an interest in any particular
business or transaction or participation in the profits thereof or in the general profits
of the Company either in addition to or in substitution for a salary or other remuneration. |
| (c) | To
resolve that the Company be deregistered in the Cayman Islands and continued in a named jurisdiction
outside the Cayman Islands subject to the provisions of the Law. |
| 102. | The
Board may establish any regional or local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs
of the Company in any place, and may appoint any persons to be members of such local boards,
or any managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration (either by way of salary or by
commission or by conferring the right to participation in the profits of the Company or by
a combination of two or more of these modes) and pay the working expenses of any staff employed
by them upon the business of the Company. The Board may delegate to any regional or local
board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in or exercisable
by the Board (other than its powers to make calls and forfeit shares), with power to sub-delegate,
and may authorise the members of any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding
vacancies. Any such appointment or delegation may be made upon such terms and subject to
such conditions as the Board may think fit, and the Board may remove any person appointed
as aforesaid, and may revoke or vary such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith
and without notice of any such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby. |
| 103. | The
Board may by power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body
of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be the attorney or
attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions
(not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Articles) and for
such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit, and any such power of attorney
may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any
such attorney as the Board may think fit, and may also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate
all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. Such attorney or attorneys
may, if so authorised under the Seal of the Company, execute any deed or instrument under
their personal seal with the same effect as the affixation of the Company’s Seal. |
| 104. | The
Board may entrust to and confer upon a managing director, joint managing director, deputy
managing director, an executive director or any Director any of the powers exercisable by
it upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as it thinks fit, and either
collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, its own powers, and may from time to time revoke
or vary all or any of such powers but no person dealing in good faith and without notice
of such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby. |
| 105. | All
cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other instruments, whether negotiable
or transferable or not, and all receipts for moneys paid to the Company shall be signed,
drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the
Board shall from time to time by resolution determine. The Company’s banking accounts
shall be kept with such banker or bankers as the Board shall from time to time determine. |
| 106. | (1)
The Board may establish or concur or join with other companies (being subsidiary companies
of the Company or companies with which it is associated in business) in establishing and
making contributions out of the Company’s moneys to any schemes or funds for providing
pensions, sickness or compassionate allowances, life assurance or other benefits for employees
(which expression as used in this and the following paragraph shall include any Director
or ex-Director who may hold or have held any executive office or any office of profit
under the Company or any of its subsidiary companies) and ex-employees of the Company
and their dependants or any class or classes of such person. |
(2)
The Board may pay, enter into agreements to pay or make grants of revocable or irrevocable pensions or other benefits to employees and
ex-employees and their dependants, or to any of such persons, including pensions or benefits additional to those, if any, to which
such employees or ex-employees or their dependants are or may become entitled under any such scheme or fund as mentioned in the last
preceding paragraph. Any such pension or benefit may, as the Board considers desirable, be granted to an employee either before and in
anticipation of or upon or at any time after his actual retirement, and may be subject or not subject to any terms or conditions as the
Board may determine.
BORROWING
POWERS
| 107. | The
Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow money and to mortgage
or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and
uncalled capital of the Company and, subject to the Law, to issue debentures, bonds and other
securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation
of the Company or of any third party. |
| 108. | Debentures,
bonds and other securities may be made assignable free from any equities between the Company
and the person to whom the same may be issued. |
| 109. | Any
debentures, bonds or other securities may be issued at a discount (other than shares), premium
or otherwise and with any special privileges as to redemption, surrender, drawings, allotment
of shares, attending and voting at general meetings of the Members, appointment of Directors
and otherwise. |
| 110. | (1)
Where any uncalled capital of the Company is charged, all persons taking any subsequent charge
thereon shall take the same subject to such prior charge, and shall not be entitled, by notice
to the Members or otherwise, to obtain priority over such prior charge. |
(2)
The Board shall cause a proper register to be kept, in accordance with the provisions of the Law, of all charges specifically affecting
the property of the Company and of any series of debentures issued by the Company and shall duly comply with the requirements of the
Law in regard to the registration of charges and debentures therein specified and otherwise.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE DIRECTORS
| 111. | The
Board may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings
as it considers appropriate. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority
of votes, other than (i) any removal of any person as a Director, or (ii) any appointment
or removal of any person as the Chairman of the Board, or (iii) any removal of any person
as chairman or other member of any committee of the Board which, in each case, shall be determined
by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of votes cast by such Directors
as, being entitled so to do, vote at a meeting of the Board. In the case of any equality
of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have an additional or casting vote. |
| 112. | (1)
A meeting of the Board may be convened by (i) the Chairman of the Board, or (ii) a majority
of the Directors. The Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Board whenever so required
to do by the Chairman of the Board or a majority of the Directors by notice in writing to
each Director. |
(2)
A meeting of the Board may be called by not less than two (2) clear days’ notice. A meeting of the Board may be called by shorter
notice if it is so agreed by all the Directors entitled to attend and vote at such a meeting.
(3)
Any notice of a meeting of the Board shall (i) specify the time and place of the meeting, and (ii) set out in reasonable detail the nature
of the business to be discussed at the meeting. Notice may be given in writing or by telephone or in such other manner as the Board may
from time to time determine.
| 113. | (1)
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the
Board and, unless so fixed at any other number, shall be not less than half of the number
of the Directors then in office, and shall always include the Chairman of the Board. An alternate
Director shall be counted in a quorum in the case of the absence of a Director for whom he
is the alternate (in addition to being counted in a quorum as a Director). |
(2)
Directors may participate in any meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone, electronic or other communications equipment
through which all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and, for the
purpose of counting a quorum, such participation shall constitute presence at a meeting as if those participating were present in person.
(3)
Any Director who ceases to be a Director at a Board meeting may continue to be present and to act as a Director and be counted in the
quorum until the termination of such Board meeting if no other Director objects and if otherwise a quorum of Directors would not be present.
(4)
No business other than that set out in the notice of the relevant meeting shall be discussed, or any resolutions passed in respect of
such business, unless unanimously agreed by all the Directors present at such meeting.
| 114. | The
continuing Directors or a sole continuing Director may act notwithstanding any vacancy in
the Board but, if and so long as the number of Directors is reduced below the minimum number
fixed by or in accordance with these Articles as the quorum, the continuing Directors or
Director, notwithstanding that the number of Directors is below the number fixed by or in
accordance with these Articles as the quorum or that there is only one continuing Director,
may act for the purpose of filling vacancies in the Board or of summoning general meetings
of the Company but not for any other purpose. |
| 115. | The
Chairman of the Board shall be the chairman of all meetings of the Board. If the Chairman
of the Board is not present at any meeting within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed
for holding the same, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman
of the meeting. |
| 116. | A
meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the
powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Board. |
| 117. | (1)
The Board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions to committees (including,
without limitation, the Audit Committee), consisting of such Director or Directors and other
persons as it thinks fit, and they may, from time to time, revoke such delegation or revoke
the appointment of and discharge any such committees either wholly or in part, and either
as to persons or purposes. Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers,
authorities and discretions so delegated, conform to any regulations which may be imposed
on it by the Board. |
(2)
All acts done by any such committee in conformity with such regulations, and in fulfilment of the purposes for which it was appointed,
but not otherwise, shall have like force and effect as if done by the Board, and the Board (or if the Board delegates such power, the
committee) shall have power to remunerate the members of any such committee, and charge such remuneration to the current expenses of
the Company.
| 118. | The
meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed
by the provisions contained in these Articles for regulating the meetings and proceedings
of the Board so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by any regulations
imposed by the Board under the last preceding Article, indicating, without limitation, any
committee charter adopted by the Board for purposes or in respect of any such committee. |
| 119. | A
resolution in writing signed by all the Directors (other than in the circumstances set out
in Article 85) except such as are temporarily unable to act due to ill-health or disability
shall (provided that (i) the circulation of such resolutions has the prior approval
of, and is initiated by, the Chairman of the Board, (ii) such number of signatories includes
the Chairman of the Board and is sufficient to constitute a quorum, and (iii) further provided
that a copy of such resolution has been given or the contents thereof communicated to
all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notices of Board meetings in the
same manner as notices of meetings are required to be given by these Articles) be as valid
and effectual as if a resolution had been passed at a meeting of the Board duly convened
and held. Such resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in like
form each signed by one or more of the Directors and for this purpose a facsimile signature
of a Director shall be treated as valid. |
| 120. | All
acts bona fide done by the Board or by any committee or by any person acting as a Director
or members of a committee, shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there
was some defect in the appointment of any member of the Board or such committee or person
acting as aforesaid or that they or any of them were disqualified or had vacated office,
be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified and had continued
to be a Director or member of such committee. |
COMMITTEES
| 121. | Without
prejudice to the freedom of the Directors to establish any other committees, and subject
to the provisions of Article 111(iii), for so long as the shares of the Company (or depositary
receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Board shall
establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the Board. |
| 122. | The
composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules of the
Designated Stock Exchange and the rules and regulations of the SEC. |
| 123. | For
so long as the shares of the Company (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted
on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all
related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilize the Audit Committee for
the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest pursuant to the applicable laws
and rules of the Designated Stock Exchange. |
OFFICERS
| 124. | (1)
The officers of the Company shall consist of the Chairman of the Board, the Directors and
such additional officers (who may or may not be Directors) as the Board may from time to
time determine, all of whom shall be deemed to be officers for the purposes of the Law and
these Articles. In addition to the officers of the Company, the Board may also from time
to time determine and appoint managers and delegate to the same such powers and duties as
are prescribed by the Board. |
(2)
The Directors shall elect the Chairman of the Board from amongst the Directors then in office. Such election shall be by way of a resolution
passed by not less than two-thirds of votes cast by such Directors as, being entitled so to do, vote at a meeting of the Board.
(3)
The officers shall receive such remuneration as the Directors may from time to time determine.
| 125. | (1)
The Secretary and additional officers, if any, shall be appointed by the Board and shall
hold office on such terms and for such period as the Board may determine. If thought fit,
two or more persons may be appointed as joint Secretaries. The Board may also appoint from
time to time on such terms as it thinks fit one or more assistant or deputy Secretaries. |
(2)
The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Members and shall keep correct minutes of such meetings and enter the same in the proper
books provided for the purpose. He shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the Law or these Articles or as may be prescribed
by the Board.
| 126. | The
officers of the Company shall have such powers and perform such duties in the management,
business and affairs of the Company as may be delegated to them by the Directors from time
to time. |
| 127. | A
provision of the Law or of these Articles requiring or authorising a thing to be done by
or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the
same person acting both as Director and as or in place of the Secretary. |
REGISTER
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
| 128. | The
Company shall cause to be kept in one or more books at its Office a Register of Directors
and Officers in which there shall be entered the full names and addresses of the Directors
and Officers and such other particulars as required by the Law or as the Directors may determine.
The Company shall send to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands a copy of such
register, and shall from time to time notify to the said Registrar of any change that takes
place in relation to such Directors and Officers as required by the Law. |
MINUTES
129. |
(1) The Board shall cause minutes to be duly entered in books provided for the
purpose: |
| (a) | of
all elections and appointments of officers; |
| (b) | of
the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee
of the Directors; |
| (c) | of
all resolutions and proceedings of each general meeting of the Members, meetings of the Board
and meetings of committees of the Board and where there are managers, of all proceedings
of meetings of the managers. |
(2) Minutes shall be kept by the Secretary at the Office for a period of not less than ten (10) years from the date of the relevant meeting, or for any longer period as may be required by the Statutes.
(3) Minutes shall be signed by the chairman of the relevant meeting.
SEAL
| 130. | (1)
The Company shall have one or more Seals, as the Board may determine. For the purpose of
sealing documents creating or evidencing securities issued by the Company, the Company may
have a securities seal which is a facsimile of the Seal of the Company with the addition
of the word “Securities” on its face or in such other form as the Board may approve.
The Board shall provide for the custody of each Seal and no Seal shall be used without the
authority of the Board or of a committee of the Board authorised by the Board in that behalf.
Subject as otherwise provided in these Articles, any instrument to which a Seal is affixed
shall be signed autographically by one Director and the Secretary or by two Directors or
by such other person (including a Director) or persons as the Board may appoint, either generally
or in any particular case, save that as regards any certificates for shares or debentures
or other securities of the Company the Board may by resolution determine that such signatures
or either of them shall be dispensed with or affixed by some method or system of mechanical
signature. Every instrument executed in manner provided by this Article 130 shall be deemed
to be sealed and executed with the authority of the Board previously given. |
(2)
Where the Company has a Seal for use abroad, the Board may by writing under the Seal appoint any agent or committee abroad to be the
duly authorised agent of the Company for the purpose of affixing and using such Seal and the Board may impose restrictions on the use
thereof as may be thought fit. Wherever in these Articles reference is made to the Seal, the reference shall, when and so far as may
be applicable, be deemed to include any such other Seal as aforesaid.
AUTHENTICATION
OF DOCUMENTS
| 131. | Any
Director or the Secretary or any person appointed by the Board for the purpose may authenticate
any documents affecting the constitution of the Company and any resolution passed by the
Company or the Board or any committee, and any books, records, documents and accounts relating
to the business of the Company, and to certify copies thereof or extracts therefrom as true
copies or extracts, and if any books, records, documents or accounts are elsewhere than at
the Office or the head office the local manager or other officer of the Company having the
custody thereof shall be deemed to be a person so appointed by the Board. A document purporting
to be a copy of a resolution, or an extract from the minutes of a meeting, of the Company
or of the Board or any committee thereof which is so certified shall be conclusive evidence
in favour of all persons dealing with the Company upon the faith thereof that such resolution
has been duly passed or, as the case may be, that such minutes or extract is a true and accurate
record of proceedings at a duly constituted meeting. |
DESTRUCTION
OF DOCUMENTS
| 132. | (1)
The Company shall be entitled to destroy the following documents at the following times: |
| (a) | any
share certificate which has been cancelled at any time after the expiry of one (1) year from
the date of such cancellation; |
| (b) | any
dividend mandate or any variation or cancellation thereof or any notification of change of
name or address at any time after the expiry of two (2) years from the date such mandate
variation cancellation or notification was recorded by the Company; |
| (c) | any
instrument of transfer of shares which has been registered at any time after the expiry of
seven (7) years from the date of registration; |
| (d) | any
allotment letters after the expiry of seven (7) years from the date of issue thereof; and |
| (e) | copies
of powers of attorney, grants of probate and letters of administration at any time after
the expiry of seven (7) years after the account to which the relevant power of attorney,
grant of probate or letters of administration related has been closed; |
and
it shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the Register purporting to be made on the basis of any
such documents so destroyed was duly and properly made and every share certificate so destroyed was a valid certificate duly and properly
cancelled and that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered and that
every other document destroyed hereunder was a valid and effective document in accordance with the recorded particulars thereof in the
books or records of the Company. Provided always that: (1) the foregoing provisions of this Article 132 shall apply only to the
destruction of a document in good faith and without express notice to the Company that the preservation of such document was relevant
to a claim; (2) nothing contained in this Article 132 shall be construed as imposing upon the Company any liability in respect of the
destruction of any such document earlier than as aforesaid or in any case where the conditions of proviso (1) above are not fulfilled;
and (3) references in this Article to the destruction of any document include references to its disposal in any manner.
(2)
Notwithstanding any provision contained in these Articles, the Directors may, if permitted by applicable law, authorise the destruction
of documents set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of paragraph (1) of this Article 132 and any other documents in relation to share registration
which have been microfilmed or electronically stored by the Company or by the share registrar on its behalf provided always that
this Article shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without express notice to the Company and its share
registrar that the preservation of such document was relevant to a claim.
DIVIDENDS
AND OTHER PAYMENTS
| 133. | Subject
to the Law and any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any class or classes
of shares and these Articles, the Board may from time to time declare dividends in any currency
to be paid to the Members and other distributions on shares in issue and authorise payment
of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. At any and every
time the Board declares dividends, Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares shall
have identical rights in the dividends so declared. |
| 134. | Dividends
may be declared and paid out of the profits of the Company, realised or unrealised, or from
any reserve set aside from profits which the Directors determine is no longer needed. The
Board may also declare and pay dividends out of share premium account or any other fund or
account which can be authorised for this purpose in accordance with the Law. |
| 135. | Except
in so far as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide, |
| (a) | all
dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares in respect
of which the dividend is paid, but no amount paid up on a share in advance of calls shall
be treated for the purposes of this Article as paid up on the share; and |
| (b) | all
dividends shall be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid up on the
shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid. |
| 136. | The
Board may from time to time pay to the Members such interim dividends as appear to the Board
to be justified by the profits of the Company and in particular (but without prejudice to
the generality of the foregoing) if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided
into different classes, the Board may pay such interim dividends in respect of those shares
in the capital of the Company which confer on the holders thereof deferred or non-preferential
rights as well as in respect of those shares which confer on the holders thereof preferential
rights with regard to dividend and may also pay any fixed dividend which is payable on any
shares of the Company half-yearly or on any other dates, whenever such profits, in the
opinion of the Board, justifies such payment. The Board shall not incur any responsibility
to the holders of shares conferring any preference for any damage that they may suffer by
reason of the payment of an interim dividend on any shares having deferred or non-preferential
rights |
| 137. | The
Board may deduct from any dividend or other moneys payable to a Member by the Company on
or in respect of any shares all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company
on account of calls or otherwise. |
| 138. | No
dividend or other moneys payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear
interest against the Company. |
| 139. | Any
dividend, interest or other sum payable in cash to the holder of shares may be paid by cheque
or warrant sent through the post addressed to the holder at his registered address or, in
the case of joint holders, addressed to the holder whose name stands first in the Register
in respect of the shares at his address as appearing in the Register or addressed to such
person and at such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such
cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable
to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose
name stands first on the Register in respect of such shares, and shall be sent at his or
their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute
a good discharge to the Company notwithstanding that it may subsequently appear that the
same has been stolen or that any endorsement thereon has been forged. Any one of two or more
joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends or other moneys payable or property
distributable in respect of the shares held by such joint holders. |
| 140. | All
dividends or bonuses unclaimed for one (1) year after having been declared may be invested
or otherwise made use of by the Board for the benefit of the Company until claimed. Any dividend
or bonuses unclaimed after a period of six (6) years from the date of declaration shall be
forfeited and shall revert to the Company. The payment by the Board of any unclaimed dividend
or other sums payable on or in respect of a share into a separate account shall not constitute
the Company a trustee in respect thereof. |
| 141. | Whenever
the Board has resolved that a dividend be paid or declared, the Board may further resolve
that such dividend be satisfied wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets
of any kind and in particular of paid up shares, debentures or warrants to subscribe securities
of the Company or any other company, or in any one or more of such ways, and where any difficulty
arises in regard to the distribution the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient,
and in particular may issue certificates in respect of fractions of shares, disregard fractional
entitlements or round the same up or down, and may fix the value for distribution of such
specific assets, or any part thereof, and may determine that cash payments shall be made
to any Members upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all
parties, and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board
and may appoint any person to sign any requisite instruments of transfer and other documents
on behalf of the persons entitled to the dividend, and such appointment shall be effective
and binding on the Members. The Board may resolve that no such assets shall be made available
to Members with registered addresses in any particular territory or territories where, in
the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities, such distribution of
assets would or might, in the opinion of the Board, be unlawful or impracticable and in such
event the only entitlement of the Members aforesaid shall be to receive cash payments as
aforesaid. Members affected as a result of the foregoing sentence shall not be or be deemed
to be a separate class of Members for any purpose whatsoever. |
| 142. | (1)
Whenever the Board has resolved that a dividend be paid or declared on any class of the share
capital of the Company, the Board may further resolve either: |
| (a) | that
such dividend be satisfied wholly or in part in the form of an allotment of shares credited
as fully paid up, provided that the Members entitled thereto will be entitled to elect
to receive such dividend (or part thereof if the Board so determines) in cash in lieu of
such allotment. In such case, the following provisions shall apply: |
| (i) | the
basis of any such allotment shall be determined by the Board; |
| (ii) | the
Board, after determining the basis of allotment, shall give not less than ten (10) days’
Notice to the holders of the relevant shares of the right of election accorded to them and
shall send with such notice forms of election and specify the procedure to be followed and
the place at which and the latest date and time by which duly completed forms of election
must be lodged in order to be effective; |
| (iii) | the
right of election may be exercised in respect of the whole or part of that portion of the
dividend in respect of which the right of election has been accorded; and |
| (iv) | the
dividend (or that part of the dividend to be satisfied by the allotment of shares as aforesaid)
shall not be payable in cash on shares in respect whereof the cash election has not been
duly exercised (“the non-elected shares”) and in satisfaction thereof shares
of the relevant class shall be allotted credited as fully paid up to the holders of the non-elected
shares on the basis of allotment determined as aforesaid and for such purpose the Board shall
capitalise and apply out of any part of the undivided profits of the Company (including profits
carried and standing to the credit of any reserves or other special account, share premium
account, capital redemption reserve other than the Subscription Rights Reserve) as the Board
may determine, such sum as may be required to pay up in full the appropriate number of shares
of the relevant class for allotment and distribution to and amongst the holders of the non-elected
shares on such basis; or |
| (b) | that
the Members entitled to such dividend shall be entitled to elect to receive an allotment
of shares credited as fully paid up in lieu of the whole or such part of the dividend as
the Board may think fit. In such case, the following provisions shall apply: |
| (i) | the
basis of any such allotment shall be determined by the Board; |
| (ii) | the
Board, after determining the basis of allotment, shall give not less than ten (10) days’
Notice to the holders of the relevant shares of the right of election accorded to them and
shall send with such notice forms of election and specify the procedure to be followed and
the place at which and the latest date and time by which duly completed forms of election
must be lodged in order to be effective; |
| (iii) | the
right of election may be exercised in respect of the whole or part of that portion of the
dividend in respect of which the right of election has been accorded; and |
| (iv) | the
dividend (or that part of the dividend in respect of which a right of election has been accorded)
shall not be payable in cash on shares in respect whereof the share election has been duly
exercised (“the elected shares”) and in satisifaction thereof shares of the relevant
class shall be allotted credited as fully paid up to the holders of the elected shares on
the basis of allotment determined as aforesaid and for such purpose the Board shall capitalise
and apply out of any part of the undivided profits of the Company (including profits carried
and standing to the credit of any reserves or other special account, share premium account,
capital redemption reserve other than the Subscription Rights Reserve) as the Board may determine,
such sum as may be required to pay up in full the appropriate number of shares of the relevant
class for allotment and distribution to and amongst the holders of the elected shares on
such basis. |
| (2) | (a) |
The shares allotted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph
(1) of this Article 142 shall rank pari passu in all respects with shares of the same class (if any) then in issue save only as
regards participation in the relevant dividend or in any other distributions, bonuses or rights paid, made, declared or announced prior
to or contemporaneously with the payment or declaration of the relevant dividend unless, contemporaneously with the announcement by the
Board of their proposal to apply the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (2) of this Article 142 in relation to the
relevant dividend or contemporaneously with their announcement of the distribution, bonus or rights in question, the Board shall specify
that the shares to be allotted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article shall rank for participation in such distribution,
bonus or rights. |
| (b) | The
Board may do all acts and things considered necessary or expedient to give effect to any
capitalisation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article 142 , with full
power to the Board to make such provisions as it thinks fit in the case of shares becoming
distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby, in whole or in part, fractional
entitlements are aggregated and sold and the net proceeds distributed to those entitled,
or are disregarded or rounded up or down or whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements
accrues to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Board may authorise any
person to enter into on behalf of all Members interested, an agreement with the Company providing
for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made pursuant to
such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned. |
(3)
The Board may resolve in respect of any one particular dividend of the Company that notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of
this Article 142 a dividend may be satisfied wholly in the form of an allotment of shares credited as fully paid up without offering
any right to shareholders to elect to receive such dividend in cash in lieu of such allotment.
(4)
The Board may on any occasion determine that rights of election and the allotment of shares under paragraph (1) of this Article 142 shall
not be made available or made to any shareholders with registered addresses in any territory where, in the absence of a registration
statement or other special formalities, the circulation of an offer of such rights of election or the allotment of shares would or might,
in the opinion of the Board, be unlawful or impracticable, and in such event the provisions aforesaid shall be read and construed subject
to such determination. Members affected as a result of the foregoing sentence shall not be or be deemed to be a separate class of Members
for any purpose whatsoever.
(5)
Any resolution declaring a dividend on shares of any class may specify that the same shall be payable or distributable to the persons
registered as the holders of such shares at the close of business on a particular date, notwithstanding that it may be a date prior to
that on which the resolution is passed, and thereupon the dividend shall be payable or distributable to them in accordance with their
respective holdings so registered, but without prejudice to the rights inter se in respect of such dividend of transferors and transferees
of any such shares. The provisions of this Article shall mutatis mutandis apply to bonuses, capitalisation issues, distributions
of realised capital profits or offers or grants made by the Company to the Members.
RESERVES
| 143. | (1)
The Board shall establish an account to be called the share premium account and shall carry
to the credit of such account from time to time a sum equal to the amount or value of the
premium paid on the issue of any share in the Company. Unless otherwise provided by the provisions
of these Articles, the Board may apply the share premium account in any manner permitted
by the Law. The Company shall at all times comply with the provisions of the Law in relation
to the share premium account. |
(2)
Before recommending any dividend, the Board may set aside out of the profits of the Company such sums as it determines as reserves which
shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the Company may be properly applied and
pending such application may, also at such discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments
as the Board may from time to time think fit and so that it shall not be necessary to keep any investments constituting the reserve or
reserves separate or distinct from any other investments of the Company. The Board may also without placing the same to reserve carry
forward any profits which it may think prudent not to distribute.
CAPITALISATION
| 144. | (1)
The Company may, upon the recommendation of the Board, at any time and from time to time
pass an ordinary resolution to the effect that it is desirable to capitalise all or any part
of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including
a share premium account and capital redemption reserve and the profit and loss account) whether
or not the same is available for distribution and accordingly that such amount be set free
for distribution among the Members or any class of Members who would be entitled thereto
if it were distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions, on the basis that
the same is not paid in cash but is applied either in or towards paying up the amounts for
the time being unpaid on any shares in the Company held by such Members respectively or in
paying up in full unissued shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company, to be
allotted and distributed credited as fully paid up among such Members, or partly in one way
and partly in the other, and the Board shall give effect to such resolution provided
that, for the purposes of this Article 144, a share premium account and any capital redemption
reserve or fund representing unrealised profits, may be applied only in paying up in full
unissued shares of the Company to be allotted to such Members credited as fully paid. |
(2)
Notwithstanding any provisions in these Articles, the Board may resolve to capitalise all or any part of any amount for the time being
standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including a share premium account and the profit and loss account) whether or not the
same is available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up unissued shares to be allotted to (i) employees (including directors)
of the Company and/or its affiliates (meaning any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
association or other entity (other than the Company) that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled
by or is under common control with, the Company) upon exercise or vesting of any options or awards granted under any share incentive
scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Members
at a general meeting, or (ii) any trustee of any trust to whom shares are to be allotted and issued by the Company in connection with
the operation of any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been
adopted or approved by the Members at a general meeting.
| 145. | The
Board may settle, as it considers appropriate, any difficulty arising in regard to any distribution
under Article 144 and in particular may issue certificates in respect of fractions of shares
or authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may resolve that the distribution
should be as nearly as may be practicable in the correct proportion but not exactly so or
may ignore fractions altogether, and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any
Members in order to adjust the rights of all parties, as may seem expedient to the Board.
The Board may appoint any person to sign on behalf of the persons entitled to participate
in the distribution any contract necessary or desirable for giving effect thereto and such
appointment shall be effective and binding upon the Members. |
SUBSCRIPTION
RIGHTS RESERVE
| 146. | The
following provisions shall have effect to the extent that they are not prohibited by and
are in compliance with the Law: |
(1) If, so long as any of the rights attached to any warrants issued by the Company to subscribe for shares of the Company shall remain exercisable, the Company does any act or engages in any transaction which, as a result of any adjustments to the subscription price in accordance with the provisions of the conditions of the warrants, would reduce the subscription price to below the par value of a share, then the following provisions shall apply:
| (a) | as
from the date of such act or transaction the Company shall establish and thereafter (subject
as provided in this Article 146) maintain in accordance with the provisions of this Article
146 a reserve (the “Subscription Rights Reserve”) the amount of which shall at
no time be less than the sum which for the time being would be required to be capitalised
and applied in paying up in full the nominal amount of the additional shares required to
be issued and allotted credited as fully paid pursuant to sub-paragraph (c) below on
the exercise in full of all the subscription rights outstanding and shall apply the Subscription
Rights Reserve in paying up such additional shares in full as and when the same are allotted; |
| (b) | the
Subscription Rights Reserve shall not be used for any purpose other than that specified above
unless all other reserves of the Company (other than share premium account) have been extinguished
and will then only be used to make good losses of the Company if and so far as is required
by the Law; |
| (c) | upon
the exercise of all or any of the subscription rights represented by any warrant, the relevant
subscription rights shall be exercisable in respect of a nominal amount of shares equal to
the amount in cash which the holder of such warrant is required to pay on exercise of the
subscription rights represented thereby (or, as the case may be the relevant portion thereof
in the event of a partial exercise of the subscription rights) and, in addition, there shall
be allotted in respect of such subscription rights to the exercising warrantholder, credited
as fully paid, such additional nominal amount of shares as is equal to the difference between: |
| (i) | the
said amount in cash which the holder of such warrant is required to pay on exercise of the
subscription rights represented thereby (or, as the case may be, the relevant portion thereof
in the event of a partial exercise of the subscription rights); and |
| (ii) | the
nominal amount of shares in respect of which such subscription rights would have been exercisable
having regard to the provisions of the conditions of the warrants, had it been possible for
such subscription rights to represent the right to subscribe for shares at less than par
and immediately upon such exercise so much of the sum standing to the credit of the Subscription
Rights Reserve as is required to pay up in full such additional nominal amount of shares
shall be capitalised and applied in paying up in full such additional nominal amount of shares
which shall forthwith be allotted credited as fully paid to the exercising warrantholders;
and |
| (d) | if,
upon the exercise of the subscription rights represented by any warrant, the amount standing
to the credit of the Subscription Rights Reserve is not sufficient to pay up in full such
additional nominal amount of shares equal to such difference as aforesaid to which the exercising
warrantholder is entitled, the Board shall apply any profits or reserves then or thereafter
becoming available (including, to the extent permitted by the Law, share premium account)
for such purpose until such additional nominal amount of shares is paid up and allotted as
aforesaid and until then no dividend or other distribution shall be paid or made on the fully
paid shares of the Company then in issue. Pending such payment and allotment, the exercising
warrantholder shall be issued by the Company with a certificate evidencing his right to the
allotment of such additional nominal amount of shares. The rights represented by any such
certificate shall be in registered form and shall be transferable in whole or in part in
units of one share in the like manner as the shares for the time being are transferable,
and the Company shall make such arrangements in relation to the maintenance of a register
therefor and other matters in relation thereto as the Board may think fit and adequate particulars
thereof shall be made known to each relevant exercising warrantholder upon the issue of such
certificate. |
(2)
Shares allotted pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall rank pari passu in all respects with the other shares allotted
on the relevant exercise of the subscription rights represented by the warrant concerned. Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph
(1) of this Article, no fraction of any share shall be allotted on exercise of the subscription rights.
(3)
The provision of this Article as to the establishment and maintenance of the Subscription Rights Reserve shall not be altered or added
to in any way which would vary or abrogate, or which would have the effect of varying or abrogating the provisions for the benefit of
any warrantholder or class of warrantholders under this Article without the sanction of a special resolution of such warrantholders or
class of warrantholders.
(4)
A certificate or report by the auditors for the time being of the Company as to whether or not the Subscription Rights Reserve is required
to be established and maintained and if so the amount thereof so required to be established and maintained, as to the purposes for which
the Subscription Rights Reserve has been used, as to the extent to which it has been used to make good losses of the Company, as to the
additional nominal amount of shares required to be allotted to exercising warrantholders credited as fully paid, and as to any other
matter concerning the Subscription Rights Reserve shall (in the absence of manifest error) be conclusive and binding upon the Company
and all warrantholders and shareholders.
ACCOUNTING
RECORDS
| 147. | The
Board shall cause true accounts to be kept of the sums of money received and expended by
the Company, and the matters in respect of which such receipt and expenditure take place,
and of the property, assets, credits and liabilities of the Company and of all other matters
required by the Law or necessary to give a true and fair view of the Company’s affairs
and to explain its transactions. |
| 148. | The
accounting records shall be kept at the Office or, at such other place or places as the Board
decides and shall always be open to inspection by the Directors. No Member (other than a
Director) shall have any right of inspecting any accounting record or book or document of
the Company except as conferred by the Law or authorised by the Board or the Members in general
meeting. |
| 149. | Subject
to Article 150, a printed copy of the Directors’ report, accompanied by the balance
sheet and profit and loss account, including every document required by the Law to be annexed
thereto, made up to the end of the applicable financial year and containing a summary of
the assets and liabilities of the Company under convenient heads and a statement of income
and expenditure, together with a copy of the Auditors’ report, shall be sent to each
person entitled thereto at least ten (10) days before the date of the general meeting and
laid before the Company at the annual general meeting held in accordance with Article 56
provided that this Article 150 shall not require a copy of those documents to be sent
to any person whose address the Company is not aware or to more than one of the joint holders
of any shares or debentures. |
| 150. | Subject
to due compliance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations, including, without
limitation, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, and to obtaining all necessary consents,
if any, required thereunder, the requirements of Article 149 shall be deemed satisfied in
relation to any person by sending to the person in any manner not prohibited by the Statutes,
a summary financial statement derived from the Company’s annual accounts and the directors’
report which shall be in the form and containing the information required by applicable laws
and regulations, provided that any person who is otherwise entitled to the annual
financial statements of the Company and the directors’ report thereon may, if he so
requires by Notice served on the Company, demand that the Company sends to him, in addition
to a summary financial statement, a complete printed copy of the Company’s annual financial
statement and the directors’ report thereon. |
| 151. | The
requirement to send to a person referred to in Article 149 the documents referred to in that
article or a summary financial report in accordance with Article 150 shall be deemed satisfied
where, in accordance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations, including, without
limitation, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company publishes copies of the
documents referred to in Article 149 and, if applicable, a summary financial report complying
with Article 150, on the Company’s computer network or in any other permitted manner
(including by sending any form of electronic communication), and that person has agreed or
is deemed to have agreed to treat the publication or receipt of such documents in such manner
as discharging the Company’s obligation to send to him a copy of such documents. |
AUDIT
| 152. | Subject
to applicable law and rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Board may appoint an Auditor,
who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Board, to audit the
accounts of the Company. Such auditor may be a Member but no Director or officer or employee
of the Company shall, during his continuance in office, be eligible to act as an auditor
of the Company. |
| 153. | Subject
to the Law the accounts of the Company shall be audited at least once in every year. |
| 154. | The
remuneration of the Auditor shall be determined by the Audit Committee or, in the absence
of such an Audit Committee, by the Board. |
| 155. | If
the office of auditor becomes vacant by the resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his
becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his
services are required, the Directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration
of such Auditor. |
| 156. | The
Auditor shall at all reasonable times have access to all books kept by the Company and to
all accounts and vouchers relating thereto; and he may call on the Directors or officers
of the Company for any information in their possession relating to the books or affairs of
the Company. |
| 157. | The
statement of income and expenditure and the balance sheet provided for by these Articles
shall be examined by the Auditor and compared by him with the books, accounts and vouchers
relating thereto; and he shall make a written report thereon stating whether such statement
and balance sheet are drawn up so as to present fairly the financial position of the Company
and the results of its operations for the period under review and, in case information shall
have been called for from Directors or officers of the Company, whether the same has been
furnished and has been satisfactory. The financial statements of the Company shall be audited
by the Auditor in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The Auditor shall
make a written report thereon in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and
the report of the Auditor shall be submitted to the Audit Committee. The generally accepted
auditing standards referred to herein may be those of a country or jurisdiction other than
the Cayman Islands. If so, the financial statements and the report of the Auditor should
disclose this fact and name such country or jurisdiction. |
NOTICES
| 158. | Any
Notice or document, whether or not, to be given or issued under these Articles from the Company
to a Member shall be in writing or by cable, telex or facsimile transmission message or other
form of electronic transmission or communication and any such notice and document may be
served or delivered by the Company on or to any Member either personally or by sending it
through the post in a prepaid envelope addressed to such Member at his registered address
as appearing in the Register or at any other address supplied by him to the Company for the
purpose or, as the case may be, by transmitting it to any such address or transmitting it
to any telex or facsimile transmission number or electronic number or address or website
supplied by him to the Company for the giving of notice to him or which the person transmitting
the notice reasonably and bona fide believes at the relevant time will result in the Notice
being duly received by the Member or may also be served by advertisement in appropriate newspapers
in accordance with the requirements of the Designated Stock Exchange or, to the extent permitted
by the applicable laws and the requirements of the Designated Stock Exchange, by placing
it on the Company’s website. In the case of joint holders of a share all notices shall
be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register and notice
so given shall be deemed a sufficient service on or delivery to all the joint holders. |
| 159. | Any
Notice or other document: |
| (a) | if
served or delivered by post, shall where appropriate be sent by airmail and shall be deemed
to have been served or delivered on the day following that on which the envelope containing
the same, properly prepaid and addressed, is put into the post; in proving such service or
delivery it shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope or wrapper containing the notice
or document was properly addressed and put into the post and a certificate in writing signed
by the Secretary or other officer of the Company or other person appointed by the Board that
the envelope or wrapper containing the notice or other document was so addressed and put
into the post shall be conclusive evidence thereof; |
| (b) | if
sent by electronic communication, shall be deemed to be given on the day on which it is transmitted
from the server of the Company or its agent. A notice placed on the Company’s website
is deemed given by the Company to a Member on the day following that on which a notice of
availability is deemed served on the Member; |
| (c) | if
served or delivered in any other manner contemplated by these Articles, shall be deemed to
have been served or delivered at the time of personal service or delivery or, as the case
may be, at the time of the relevant despatch or transmission; and in proving such service
or delivery a certificate in writing signed by the Secretary or other officer of the Company
or other person appointed by the Board as to the act and time of such service, delivery,
despatch or transmission shall be conclusive evidence thereof; and |
| (d) | may
be given to a Member in the English language or such other language as may be approved by
the Directors, subject to due compliance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations. |
| 160. | (1)
Any Notice or other document delivered or sent by post to or left at the registered address
of any Member in pursuance of these Articles shall, notwithstanding that such Member is then
dead or bankrupt or that any other event has occurred, and whether or not the Company has
notice of the death or bankruptcy or other event, be deemed to have been duly served or delivered
in respect of any share registered in the name of such Member as sole or joint holder unless
his name shall, at the time of the service or delivery of the notice or document, have been
removed from the Register as the holder of the share, and such service or delivery shall
for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service or delivery of such Notice or document on
all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the
share. |
(2)
A notice may be given by the Company to the person entitled to a share in consequence of the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy of
a Member by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter, envelope or wrapper addressed to him by name, or by the title of representative
of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for the purpose by the person
claiming to be so entitled, or (until such an address has been so supplied) by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might
have been given if the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy had not occurred.
(3)
Any person who by operation of law, transfer or other means whatsoever shall become entitled to any share shall be bound by every notice
in respect of such share which prior to his name and address being entered on the Register shall have been duly given to the person from
whom he derives his title to such share.
SIGNATURES
| 161. | For
the purposes of these Articles, a cable or telex or facsimile or electronic transmission
message purporting to come from a holder of shares or, as the case may be, a Director, or,
in the case of a corporation which is a holder of shares from a director or the secretary
thereof or a duly appointed attorney or duly authorised representative thereof for it and
on its behalf, shall in the absence of express evidence to the contrary available to the
person relying thereon at the relevant time be deemed to be a document or instrument in writing
signed by such holder or Director in the terms in which it is received. |
WINDING
UP
| 162. | (1)
The Board shall have power in the name and on behalf of the Company to present a petition
to the court for the Company to be wound up. |
(2)
A resolution that the Company be wound up by the court or be wound up voluntarily shall be a special resolution.
| 163. | (1)
Subject to any special rights, privileges or restrictions as to the distribution of available
surplus assets on liquidation for the time being attached to any class or classes of shares
(i) if the Company shall be wound up and the assets available for distribution amongst the
Members of the Company shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the capital paid
up at the commencement of the winding up, the excess shall be distributed pari passu
amongst such members in proportion to the amount paid up on the shares held by them respectively
and (ii) if the Company shall be wound up and the assets available for distribution amongst
the Members as such shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the paid-up capital such
assets shall be distributed so that, a nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the
Members in proportion to the capital paid up, or which ought to have been paid up, at the
commencement of the winding up on the shares held by them respectively. |
(2)
If the Company shall be wound up (whether the liquidation is voluntary or by the court) the liquidator may, with the authority of a special
resolution and any other sanction required by the Law, divide among the Members in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets
of the Company and whether or not the assets shall consist of properties of one kind or shall consist of properties to be divided as
aforesaid of different kinds, and may for such purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any one or more class or classes of property
and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may,
with the like authority, vest any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator with
the like authority shall think fit, and the liquidation of the Company may be closed and the Company dissolved, but so that no contributory
shall be compelled to accept any shares or other property in respect of which there is a liability.
INDEMNITY
| 164. | (1)
The Directors, Secretary and other officers and every Auditor of the Company at any time,
whether at present or in the past, and the liquidator or trustees (if any) acting or who
have acted in relation to any of the affairs of the Company and every one of them, and every
one of their heirs, executors and administrators, shall be indemnified and secured harmless
out of the assets and profits of the Company from and against all actions, costs, charges,
losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them, their or any of their heirs, executors
or administrators, shall or may incur or sustain by or by reason of any act done, concurred
in or omitted in or about the execution of their duty, or supposed duty, in their respective
offices or trusts; and none of them shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects
or defaults of the other or others of them or for joining in any receipts for the sake of
conformity, or for any bankers or other persons with whom any moneys or effects belonging
to the Company shall or may be lodged or deposited for safe custody, or for insufficiency
or deficiency of any security upon which any moneys of or belonging to the Company shall
be placed out on or invested, or for any other loss, misfortune or damage which may happen
in the execution of their respective offices or trusts, or in relation thereto, provided
that this indemnity shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty
which may attach to any of said persons. |
(2)
Each Member agrees to waive any claim or right of action he might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against
any Director on account of any action taken by such Director, or the failure of such Director to take any action in the performance of
his duties with or for the Company, provided that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty
which may attach to such Director.
FINANCIAL
YEAR
| 165. | Unless
otherwise determined by the Directors, the financial year of the Company shall end on the
30th day of September in each year. |
AMENDMENT
TO MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
AND
NAME OF COMPANY
| 166. | No
Article shall be rescinded, altered or amended and no new Article shall be made until the
same has been approved by a special resolution of the Members. A special resolution shall
be required to alter the provisions of the Memorandum of Association or to change the name
of the Company. |
INFORMATION
| 167. | No
Member shall be entitled to require discovery of or any information respecting any detail
of the Company’s trading or any matter which is or may be in the nature of a trade
secret or secret process which may relate to the conduct of the business of the Company and
which in the opinion of the Directors it will be inexpedient in the interests of the members
of the Company to communicate to the public. |
- 48 -
Exhibit 99.2
xchange
tec.inc
FORM
OF PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON January 24, 2025
(OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF)
Introduction
This Form of Proxy is furnished in connection
with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of XChange TEC.INC, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited
liability (the “Company”), of proxies from the holders of the issued class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0000001 per share
and class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0000001 per share of the Company (collectively the “Ordinary Shares”) to be exercised
at the annual general meeting of the Company (the “AGM”) to be held on January 24,
2025 at 7:00 a.m. (Beijing time) at No.801, Building 1, 1136 Xinzha Road, JingAn
District, Shanghai, China, and at any adjourned meeting thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual General
Meeting (the “AGM Notice”).
Only the holders of record of the Ordinary Shares
at the close of business on December 26, 2024 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the AGM. In respect
of the matters requiring shareholders’ vote at the AGM, each holder of class A Ordinary Shares is entitled on a poll to one vote
for every such fully paid share held by him and each holder of class B Ordinary Shares is entitled on a poll to ten votes for every such
fully paid share held by him. The quorum for the AGM is one or more shareholders entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy or
(in the case of a shareholder being a corporation) by its duly authorized representative representing not less than one-third of all voting
power of the Company’s share capital in issue throughout the meeting.
Holders of the Company’s American Depositary
Shares (the “ADSs”) who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying Class A ordinary shares must act directly
through the depositary of the Company’s ADS program The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Depositary”), if the ADSs are
held by holders on the books and records of the Depositary or indirectly through a bank, brokerage or other securities intermediary if
the ADSs are held by any of them on behalf of holders. The resolutions put to the vote at the AGM will be decided by poll.
The Ordinary Shares represented by all properly
executed proxies and returned to the Company will be voted at the AGM as indicated or, if no instruction is given, the holder of the proxy
will vote or abstain the shares in his discretion, unless a reference to the holder of the proxy having such discretion has been deleted
and initialled on this Form of Proxy. Where the chairman of the AGM acts as proxy and is entitled to exercise his discretion, he is likely
to vote the shares FOR the resolutions. As to any other business that may properly come before the AGM, all properly executed proxies
will be voted or abstained by the persons named therein in accordance with their discretion. Any person giving a proxy has the right to
revoke it at any time before it is exercised (i) by filing with the Company a duly signed revocation at its offices at Company’s
Shanghai office at No.801, Building 1, 1136 Xinzha Road JingAn District, Shanghai, China, Attention: Yong Zhang, as soon as possible and
in any event no later than 7:00 am on January 11, 2025(Beijing time) or (ii) by attending
and voting in person at the AGM.
To be valid, this Form of Proxy must be completed,
signed and returned to the Company’s Shanghai office at No.801, Building 1, 1136 Xinzha Road JingAn District, Shanghai, China, Attention:
Yong Zhang, as soon as possible and in any event no later than 7:00a.m. on January 22,
2025 (Beijing time).
XCHANGE TEC.INC
FORM OF PROXY FOR
THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
to Be Held on January
24, 2025
(or any adjourned meeting thereof)
We, ____________________ of ____________________,
being the registered holder of __________ Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0000001 per share / ______________________________ Class
B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0000001 per share ( the “Shares”)1 of XChange TEC.INC (the “Company”)
hereby appoint _________________, or failing him/her, the Chairman of the annual general meeting of the Company (the “AGM”)2,
as our proxy to attend and act on our behalf at the AGM to be held on January 24, 2025 at
7:00 (Beijing time), and at any adjournment(s) thereof. Our proxy is instructed to vote on a poll on the ordinary or special resolutions
in respect of the matters specified in the Notice of the AGM as indicated below, and on any resolution or motion which is proposed thereat,
or if no such indication is given below, as my/our proxy thinks fit3:
No. |
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RESOLUTIONS |
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS |
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1. |
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THAT:
(a) every one hundred thousand (100,000) issued and unissued shares of the Company of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each
(the “Existing Shares”) be consolidated into one (1) share of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each (each a “Consolidated
Share”), such Consolidated Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects with each other (the “Share Consolidation”)
so that following the Share Consolidation the authorized share capital of the Company will be changed from (a) US$48,000,000 divided
into 480,000,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, of which 419,500,000,000,000 are Class A Ordinary Shares
of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, 60,000,000,000,000 are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each and 500,000,000,000 are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each; to (b) US$48,000,000 divided into 4,800,000,000
shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, of which 4,195,000,000 are Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01
each, 600,000,000 are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each and 5,000,000 are Preferred Shares of a nominal
or par value of US$0.01 each;
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1 |
Please insert the number of Shares registered in your name(s) to which
this proxy relates. If no number is inserted, this form of proxy will be deemed to relate to all the shares in the Company registered
in your name(s). |
2 |
If any proxy other than the Chairman of the AGM is preferred, strike out the words
“, or failing him/her, the Chairman of the annual general meeting of the Company” and insert the name and address of the
proxy desired in the space provided. A shareholder who is the holder of two or more shares may appoint one or more proxies to attend
and vote in his stead. Any alteration made to this form of proxy must be initialed by the person(s) who sign(s) it. |
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3 |
IMPORTANT: If you wish to vote for a particular resolution, tick the appropriate
box marked “for”. If you wish to vote against a particular resolution, tick the appropriate box marked “against”.
If you wish to abstain from voting on a particular resolution, tick the appropriate box marked “abstain”. |
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(b) the Directors be authorized to settle as they consider expedient any difficulty which arises in relation to the Share Consolidation,
including but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing capitalizing all or any part of any amount for the time being standing
to the credit of any reserve or fund of the Company (including its share premium account and profit and loss account) whether or not
the same is available for distribution and applying such sum in paying up unissued Consolidated Shares to be issued to shareholders of
the Company to round up any fractions of Consolidated Shares issued to or registered in the name of such shareholders of the Company
following or as a result of the Share Consolidation (the “Fractional Share Arrangement”); and |
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(c) upon
the Share Consolidation becoming effective, the authorised share capital of the Company be increased from (a) US$48,000,000 divided into
4,800,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each of which 4,195,000,000 shall be designated as Class A Ordinary Shares
of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, 600,000,000 shall be designated as Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01
each, and 5,000,000 shall be designated as Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, to (b) US$50,000,000,000,000 divided
into 5,000,000,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, of which 4,374,500,000,000,000 are Class A Ordinary Shares
of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, 625,000,000,000,000 are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each
and 500,000,000,000 are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each, by the creation of an additional 4,374,495,805,000,000
unissued Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each to rank pari passu in all respects with the existing
Class A Ordinary Shares, 624,999,400,000,000 unissued Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.01 each to rank pari
passu in all respects with the existing Class B Ordinary Shares, and 499,995,000,000 unissued Preferred Shares of a nominal or par
value of US$0.01 each to rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Preferred Shares (the “Authorised Share Capital
Increase”). |
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SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS |
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2. |
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THAT upon the Share Consolidation and the Authorised Share Capital Increase becoming effective, the third amended and restated memorandum and fifth amended and restated articles of association of the Company (together the “New M&A-1”), which contains the proposed Share Consolidation and the Authorised Share Capital Increase and a copy of which has been attached as Annex A to the notice of the AGM, be and are hereby approved and adopted in substitution for and to the exclusion of the existing memorandum and articles of association of the Company with immediate effect, and any Director, registered office provider or company secretary of the Company be and is hereby authorised to do all such acts, deeds and things and execute all such documents and make all such arrangements that he/she shall, in his/her absolute discretion, deem necessary or expedient to give effect and implement, or otherwise required in connection with, the adoption of the New M&A-1, including without limitation, attending to the necessary filings with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands and with any other relevant authorities. |
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3. |
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THAT subject to and conditional upon, amongst
other things, (i) the Share Consolidation and Authorised Share Capital Increase becoming effective; (ii) an order being made by the Grand
Court of the Cayman Islands (the “Court”) confirming the Capital Reduction (as defined below); (iii) registration by
the Registrar of Companies of Cayman Islands of a copy of the order of the Court confirming the Capital Reduction and the minute approved
by the Court containing the particulars required under the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”)
in respect of the Capital Reduction and compliance with any conditions the Court may impose (if applicable); and (iv) obtaining of all
necessary approvals from the regulatory authorities or otherwise as may be required in respect of the Capital Reduction (if applicable),
with effect from the date on which these conditions are fulfilled:
(a) the
par value of each issued Consolidated Share of par value of US$0.01 each in the share capital of the Company be reduced to US$0.0000001
par value each (the “Capital Reduction”) by cancelling the paid-up capital to the extent of US$0.0099999 on each of
the then issued Consolidated Shares;
(b) the credit arising from the Capital Reduction be authorised to be applied towards offsetting the accumulated losses of the Company
(if any) as at the effective date of the Capital Reduction (the “Accumulated Losses”) and the balance of any such
credit (if any) remaining after offsetting the Accumulated Losses be transferred to a distributable reserve account of the Company which
may be utilised by the Company as the Directors may deem fit and in any manner as permitted by all applicable laws and the memorandum
and articles of association of the Company, including, without limitation, eliminating or setting off the accumulated losses of the Company
which may arise from time to time and/or paying dividends and/or making any other distribution out of such account from time to time;
(c) each of the authorised but unissued
Consolidated Shares of a par value of US$0.01 each be sub-divided into 100,000 unissued shares of the Company of a nominal or par value
of US$0.0000001 each (the “Share Subdivision”) such that the authorized share capital of the Company shall be US$50,000,000,000,000
divided into 500,000,000,000,000,000,000 shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, of which 437,450,000,000,000,000,000 are
Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, 62,500,000,000,000,000,000 are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal
or par value of US$0.0000001 each and 50,000,000,000,000,000 are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each;
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(d) upon
the effectiveness of the Capital Reduction and the Share Subdivision, the Company cancels US$49,999,500,000,000 of its authorised and
unissued share capital, by the cancellation of 437,445,625,500,000,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001
each, 62,499,375,000,000,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each and 49,999,500,000,000,000 Preferred
Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, each not having been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, such that following
such cancellation, the authorized share capital of the Company will be diminished from (i) US$50,000,000,000,000 divided into 500,000,000,000,000,000,000
shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, of which 437,450,000,000,000,000,000 are Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal
or par value of US$0.0000001 each, 62,500,000,000,000,000,000 are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each
and 50,000,000,000,000,000 are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each to (ii) US$500,000,000 divided into 5,000,000,000,000,000
shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each, of which 4,374,500,000,000,000 are Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par
value of US$0.0000001 each, 625,000,000,000,000 are Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each and 500,000,000,000
are Preferred Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0000001 each (the “Diminution of Authorised Share Capital”);
and
(e) immediately following the Capital
Reduction, the Share Subdivision and the Diminution of Authorised Share Capital becoming effective, the fourth amended and restated memorandum
and sixth amended and restated articles of association of the Company (together the “New M&A-2”), which contains
the proposed Capital Reduction, Share Subdivision and the Diminution of Authorised Share Capital and a copy of which has been attached
as Annex B to the notice of the AGM, be and are hereby approved and adopted in substitution for and to the exclusion of the then existing
memorandum and articles of association of the Company with immediate effect, and any Director, registered office provider or company secretary
of the Company be and is hereby authorised to do all such acts, deeds and things and execute all such documents and make all such arrangements
that he/she shall, in his/her absolute discretion, deem necessary or expedient to give effect and implement, or otherwise required in
connection with, the adoption of the New M&A-2, including without limitation, attending to the necessary filings with the Registrar
of Companies in the Cayman Islands and with any other relevant authorities.
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Dated__________,
2025 |
Signature(s)4 |
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This form of proxy must be signed by you or your attorney duly authorized in writing or, in the case of a corporation, must be either under seal or executed under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorized to sign the same. The description of each resolution herein is by way of summary only. The full text appears in the notice of the AGM. |
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