Shengfeng Development (NASDAQ: SFWL) to vote on share consolidation, governance changes
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Shengfeng Development Limited is calling an extraordinary general meeting on August 25, 2026 to seek shareholder approval for several governance changes. The key item is a Share Consolidation, allowing the board, within one year, to consolidate the Company’s Class A and Class B ordinary shares at a ratio between 1-for-2 and 1-for-30, with fractional shares rounded up to the next whole share and corresponding changes to authorised share capital.
The board states this flexibility is intended to help the Company comply with Nasdaq’s $1.00 minimum bid price requirement after the Class A shares traded below $1.00 for 23 consecutive business days as of July 27, 2026. Shareholders are also asked to adopt an amended and restated memorandum of association tied to the consolidation and a new set of articles of association. The revised articles would allow Ordinary Resolutions to be passed by written consent of holders of a simple majority of votes, without a meeting. An adjournment proposal would permit the meeting to be postponed to solicit additional proxies if support is initially insufficient. Record date is July 28, 2026, with one vote per Class A share and ten votes per Class B share, and the board recommends voting FOR all four proposals.
Positive
- Authorization for share consolidation to support Nasdaq bid-price compliance gives the board tools to address the $1.00 minimum bid rule and potentially reduce delisting risk and associated liquidity and reputation effects.
Negative
- Ordinary resolutions may be passed by written consent of a simple majority under the new articles, reducing the previous requirement for unanimous written approval and making it easier to act without convening a shareholder meeting.
Filing Explained
The proposed consolidation is not yet effective; if implemented, holders would have fewer shares while retaining their ownership proportions apart from fractional adjustments.
As a Form 6-K, the July 28 filing furnishes the company’s extraordinary-meeting notice, proxy materials and proposed amended articles. The share consolidation is not effective: shareholders must approve it, after which the Board may choose a ratio from 1-for-2 through 1-for-30 within one year.
If implemented, each holder would receive fewer Class A or Class B shares, but the filing states that percentage ownership would remain unchanged apart from fractional-share adjustments; this is not an issuance of additional shares.
If Proposal Three passes, an ordinary resolution could be approved in writing by holders of shares carrying a simple majority of the votes that may be cast, rather than requiring all entitled members to sign. The filing states that final meeting results will be reported on a later Form 6-K.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Bid Price Rule regulatory
broker non-vote regulatory
Ordinary Resolution regulatory
Special Resolution regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
How will voting work for Shengfeng Development (SFWL) at the extraordinary general meeting?
What governance change is proposed in Shengfeng Development’s (SFWL) new articles of association?
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
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REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of July 2026
Commission File Number: 001-41674
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Shengfeng Development Limited
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Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road
Jin’an District, Fuzhou City
Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China, 350001
(Address of principal executive office)
_______________
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
In connection with the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of Shengfeng Development Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), the Company hereby furnishes the following documents, each of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference: (i) the Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting and Proxy Statement; (ii) the Form of Proxy Card; and (iii) the Amended and Restated Articles of Association.
Exhibits
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Exhibit No. |
Description |
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99.1 |
Notice of Extraordinary Shareholder Meeting and Proxy Statement |
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99.2 |
Form of Proxy Card |
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99.3 |
Amended and Restated Articles of Association |
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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.
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Shengfeng Development Limited |
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Date: July 28, 2026 |
By: |
/s/ Yongxu Liu |
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Name: |
Yongxu Liu |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer, President, Director, and Chairman |
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Exhibit 99.1
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road Jin’an District, Fuzhou City
Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China, 350001
(incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON August 24, 2026
July 28, 2026
Dear Shareholder:
Notice is hereby given that an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Meeting”) of SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), will be held on will be held on August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Beijing Time (August 24, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time), at Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road, Jin’an District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China for shareholders to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions:
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Proposal One |
Share Consolidation “It is resolved as an ordinary resolution that: (a) conditional upon the approval of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) in its sole discretion, with effect as of the date the Board may determine (the “Effective Date”) and subject to such Effective Date being within one year of the date of this ordinary resolution: (i) the authorised, issued, and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares of the Company (collectively, the “Shares”) be consolidated by consolidating each 30 Shares of the Company, or such lesser whole share amount as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, such amount not to be less than 2, into 1 Share of the Company, with such consolidated Shares having the same rights and being subject to the same restrictions (save as to par value) as the existing Shares of such class as set out in the Company’s memorandum and articles of association (the “Share Consolidation”); (ii) no fractional Shares be issued in connection with the Share Consolidation and, in the event that a shareholder would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional Share upon the Share Consolidation, the total number of Shares to be received by such shareholder be rounded up to the next whole Share; and (iii) any change to the Company’s authorized share capital in connection with, and as necessary to effect, the Share Consolidation be and is hereby approved, such amendment to be determined by the Board in its sole discretion; and (b) any one director or officer of the Company be and is hereby authorized, for and on behalf of the Company, to do all such other acts or things necessary or desirable to implement, carry out and give effect to the Share Consolidation, if and when deemed advisable by the Board in its sole discretion.” |
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Proposal Two |
Adoption of Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association “It is resolved as a special resolution that, subject to and immediately following the Share Consolidation being effected, the Company adopt an amended and restated memorandum of association (the “Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association”) in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the Company’s then existing memorandum of association, to reflect the Share Consolidation and update the reference to the Company’s registered office in the Cayman Islands.” |
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Proposal Three |
Adoption of Amended and Restated Articles of Association “It is resolved, as a special resolution, that with immediate effect, the Company adopt amended and restated articles of association (the “Amended and Restated Articles of Association”), in the form attached to the notice of meeting and proxy statement delivered to shareholders and dated [*], in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the Company’s existing articles of association.” |
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Proposal Four |
Adjournment “It is resolved, as an ordinary resolution, to adjourn the general meeting to a later date or dates or sine die, if necessary or desirable, in the opinion of the directors, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, at the time of the meeting, there are not sufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the foregoing proposals (the “Adjournment Proposal”).” |
Holders of record of our Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares at the close of business on July 28, 2026 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting. The Board urges shareholders to vote “FOR” Proposal One, Proposal Two, Proposal Three and Proposal Four.
Each shareholder that is entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that shareholder. That proxyholder need not be a shareholder of the Company.
A proxy statement describing the matters to be considered at the Meeting is attached to this Notice.
This notice, proxy statement, and form of proxy card are being distributed and made available on or about August 5, 2026.
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, I hope that you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote your shares by either completing, signing and returning the accompanying proxy card or casting your vote over the Internet.
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/s/ Yongxu Liu |
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Yongxu Liu |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors |
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Fujian Province, China |
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July 28, 2026 |
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PROXY STATEMENT
The board of directors (the “Board”) of SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED (the “Company”), a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company,” or “we”), is furnishing this Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card to you to solicit your proxy for an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Company (the “Meeting”). The Meeting will be held on August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Beijing Time (August 24, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time), at Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road, Jin’an District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China or any adjournment thereof.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MEETING
What is this proxy statement?
You have received this proxy statement because our Board is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares at the Meeting. This proxy statement includes information that we are required to provide to you under the rules of the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and that is designed to assist you in voting your shares.
What is the purpose of the Meeting?
At the Meeting, our shareholders will act upon the matters described in this proxy statement.
These matters include approval of 1) a Share Consolidation, 2) the adoption of an Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association to reflect the Share Consolidation, 3) the adoption of an Amended and Restated Articles of Association and 4) the Adjournment Proposal, if necessary.
What are the Board’s recommendations?
Our Board recommends that you vote:
• FOR the Share Consolidation;
• FOR the adoption of Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association;
• FOR the adoption of Amended and Restated Articles of Association;
• FOR the Adjournment Proposal, if necessary.
Who is entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting?
Only holders of Class A ordinary shares of par value US$0.0001 each (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and Class B ordinary shares of par value US$0.0001 each (the “Class B Ordinary Shares” and together with the Class A Ordinary Shares, the “Ordinary Shares”) of the Company of record at the close of business on July 28, 2026 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting or at any adjournment thereof. One or more shareholders present, in person or by proxy or (in the case of a shareholder being a corporate entity) by its duly authorized representative, holding Ordinary Shares representing not less than one-third of the outstanding Ordinary Shares carrying the right to vote at the Meeting shall form a quorum.
Any shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote on such shareholder’s behalf. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company.
Each holder of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to one vote in respect of each Class A Ordinary Share held by such holder on the Record Date; each holder of the Company’s Class B Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to 10 votes in respect of each Class B Ordinary Share held by such holder on the Record Date.
What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
Shareholder of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Vstock Transfer, LLC, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the “shareholder of record.” This proxy statement has been sent directly to you by us.
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Beneficial Owner. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in street name. This proxy statement has been forwarded to you by your broker, bank or nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or nominee how to vote your shares by using the voting instructions included with your proxy materials.
How do I vote my shares?
Shareholders will not be able to vote through the Live EGM Webcast on the Proposals to be tabled for approval at the EGM. Shareholders who wish to exercise their votes must appoint a proxy by submitting a Proxy Form to cast votes on their behalf. If you are a shareholder of record, you have the following voting options to appoint a proxy:
To vote by Internet
1) Visit www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR code on your voting card.
To submit a proxy by Mail
1) Check the appropriate boxes on the proxy instruction form
2) Sign, date, and return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope.
If you vote via the internet, your electronic vote authorizes the named proxies in the same manner as if you signed, dated, and returned your proxy card. If you vote via the internet, do not return your proxy card.
If you hold your shares through an account with a bank or broker, your ability to vote by the Internet depends on their voting procedures. Please follow the directions that your bank or broker provides.
Please note that the latest we will accept voting is on August 24, 2026, at 11:59 A.M., Beijing Time (August 23, 2026, at 11:59 P.M., Eastern Time).
If you vote by proxy, the individuals named on the proxy card (your “proxies”) will vote your shares in the manner you indicate. You may specify how your shares should be voted for each of the proposals. If you grant a proxy without indicating your voting instructions, your shares will be voted at your proxy’s discretion. If you elect the chairman of the Meeting as your proxy and do not indicate your voting instructions, your shares will be voted as follows:
• FOR the Share Consolidation;
• FOR the adoption of Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association;
• FOR the adoption of Amended and Restated Articles of Association;
• FOR the Adjournment Proposal, if necessary.
What constitutes a quorum?
According to the Company’s currently effective memorandum and articles of association, the presence in person or by proxy of one or more holders of in aggregate at not less than one-third of the outstanding shares carrying the right to vote at the Meeting.
What is a broker “non-vote” and what is its effect on voting?
If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and do not provide the organization that holds your shares with specific voting instructions, under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote on routine matters but cannot vote on non-routine matters. If the organization that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on a non-routine matter, the organization that holds your shares does not have the authority to vote on the matter with respect to those shares. This is generally referred to as a “broker non-vote.”
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What is required to approve each item?
All votes will be conducted by way of poll.
• Proposal One shall be passed by way of an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote of a simple majority of votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting.
• Proposal Two shall be passed by way of a special resolution, being the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of votes cast by shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting.
• Proposal Three shall be passed by way of a special resolution, being the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of votes cast by shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting.
• Proposal Four shall be passed by way of an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote of a simple majority of votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting.
For the purpose of determining whether the shareholders have approved Proposal One, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will not affect the outcome of this proposal, although they will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present.
For the purpose of determining whether the shareholders have approved Proposal Two, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will not affect the outcome of this proposal, although they will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present.
For the purpose of determining whether the shareholders have approved Proposal Three, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will not affect the outcome of this proposal, although they will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present.
For the purpose of determining whether the shareholders have approved Proposal Four, abstentions, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will not affect the outcome of this proposal, although they will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present.
How will Ordinary Shares represented by properly executed proxies be voted?
All Ordinary Shares represented by proper proxies will, unless such proxies have previously been revoked, be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated in such proxies. If you do not provide voting instructions, your shares will be voted at the proxy’s discretion. If you appoint the chairman of the Board as your proxy and do not provide voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the Board’s recommendations as set forth herein.
Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?
Any shareholder executing a proxy has the power to revoke such proxy at any time prior to its exercise. You may revoke your proxy prior to exercise by:
• filing with us a written notice of revocation of your proxy,
• submitting a properly signed proxy card by internet or mail bearing a later date, or
• voting in person at the Meeting.
What does it mean if I receive more than one set of proxy materials?
If your shares are registered under different names or are in more than one account, you may receive more than one set of proxy materials. To ensure that all your shares are voted, please vote through the Internet using each personal identification number you are provided, or complete, sign and date the multiple proxy cards relating to your multiple accounts. We encourage you whenever possible to have all accounts registered in the same name and address. You can accomplish this by contacting our transfer agent, VStock Transfer, LLC at 212-828-8436.
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Who paid for this proxy solicitation?
The cost of preparing, printing, assembling and mailing this proxy statement and other material furnished to shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies is borne by us.
How do I learn the results of the voting at the Meeting?
Preliminary results will be announced at the Meeting. Final results will be published in a Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC.
How are proxies solicited?
In addition to the mail solicitation of proxies, our officers, directors, employees and agents may solicit proxies by written communication, telephone or personal call. These persons will receive no special compensation for any solicitation activities. We will reimburse banks, brokers and other persons holding Ordinary Shares for their expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation materials to beneficial owners of our Ordinary Shares.
What is “householding?”
“Householding” means that we deliver a single set of proxy materials when requested to households with multiple shareholders, provided certain conditions are met. Householding reduces our printing and mailing costs.
If you or another shareholder of record sharing your address would like to receive an additional copy of the proxy materials, we will promptly deliver it to you upon your request by sending a written request by mail to:
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road Jin’an District, Fuzhou City
Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China, 350001
If you would like to opt out of householding in future mailings, or if you are currently receiving multiple mailings at one address and would like to request householder mailings, you may do so by contacting our Corporate Secretary as indicated above.
Can I receive future shareholder communications electronically through the Internet?
Yes. You may elect to receive future notices of meetings, proxy materials and annual reports electronically through the Internet. To consent to electronic delivery, vote your shares using the Internet. At the end of the Internet voting procedure, the on-screen Internet voting instructions will tell you how to request future shareholder communications be sent to you electronically.
Once you consent to electronic delivery, you must vote your shares using the Internet and your consent will remain in effect until withdrawn. You may withdraw this consent at any time during the voting process and resume receiving shareholder communications in print form.
Whom may I contact for further assistance?
If you have any questions about giving your proxy or require any assistance, please contact us by mail, to:
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road Jin’an District, Fuzhou City
Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China, 350001
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PROPOSAL ONE
TO APPROVE THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE COMPANY’S AUTHORIZED, ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING ORDINARY SHARES
General:
It is proposed that shareholders consider and, if thought fit, approve the following ordinary resolution:
“It is resolved as an ordinary resolution that:
(a) conditional upon the approval of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) in its sole discretion, with effect as of the date the Board may determine (the “Effective Date”) and subject to such Effective Date being within one year of the date of this ordinary resolution:
(i) the authorised, issued, and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares of the Company (collectively, the “Shares”) be consolidated by consolidating each 30 Shares of the Company, or such lesser whole share amount as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, such amount not to be less than 2, into 1 Share of the Company, with such consolidated Shares having the same rights and being subject to the same restrictions (save as to par value) as the existing Shares of such class as set out in the Company’s memorandum and articles of association (the “Share Consolidation”);
(ii) no fractional Shares be issued in connection with the Share Consolidation and, in the event that a shareholder would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional Share upon the Share Consolidation, the total number of Shares to be received by such shareholder be rounded up to the next whole Share; and
(iii) any change to the Company’s authorized share capital in connection with, and as necessary to effect, the Share Consolidation be and is hereby approved, such amendment to be determined by the Board in its sole discretion; and
(b) any one director or officer of the Company be and is hereby authorized, for and on behalf of the Company, to do all such other acts or things necessary or desirable to implement, carry out and give effect to the Share Consolidation, if and when deemed advisable by the Board in its sole discretion.”
Purpose of Share Consolidation
The Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the trading symbol of “SFWL.” For the Class A Ordinary Shares to continue to be listed on Nasdaq, the Company must satisfy various listing standards established by Nasdaq. Specifically, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) requires that listed shares maintain a minimum bid price of US$1.00 per share (the “Bid Price Rule”). Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) provides that a failure to meet the Bid Price Rule exists if the deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days. Upon such failure, the Company will receive a deficiency notice from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department and will be provided an initial compliance period of 180 calendar days to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule.
However, if a company has effected a share consolidation within one year of noncompliance, or has effected one or more share consolidationsover the prior two-year period with a cumulative ratio of 250 shares or more to one, then the company shall not be eligible for a 180-day compliance period and the Listing Qualifications Department shall issue a Staff Delisting Determination.
If the Company does not regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule during the initial 180-day compliance period, a second 180-day compliance period may be available. A company listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market may be eligible for an additional 180-day compliance period if it meets the market value of publicly held shares requirement for continued listing, all other initial inclusion requirements for the Nasdaq Capital Market (except for the bid price requirement), and provides written notice that it intends to regain compliance with the bid price requirement during the second 180-day compliance period, by effecting a share consolidation if necessary.
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A company that fails to regain compliance with the bid price requirement following the expiration of the second 180-day compliance period will be issued a delisting letter and will have its securities suspended from trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, effective on the seventh calendar day following receipt of the Staff Delisting Determination. The company may appeal the Staff Delisting Determination to a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel, which will stay the delisting, but the company’s securities will remain suspended from trading on Nasdaq through the duration of the hearings process.
As described above, under Nasdaq Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), if the Company has effected a share consolidation within one year of noncompliance, or has effected one or more share consolidations over the prior two-year period with a cumulative ratio of 250 shares or more to one, the Company shall not be eligible for a 180-day compliance period and the Listing Qualifications Department shall instead issue a Staff Delisting Determination. Accordingly, the timing and structure of any proposed share consolidation must be carefully considered in light of these restrictions.
As of July 27, 2026, the Company’s closing bid price has been below $1.00 for 23 consecutive business days. If it remains below $1.00 for seven additional business days (30 total), the Company would receive a deficiency notice from Nasdaq. Accordingly, the Company should consider preemptive measures to ensure sufficient time to implement a share consolidation if it receives a deficiency notice.
The Board believes that the delisting of the Class A Ordinary Shares from the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) would likely result in decreased liquidity. Such decreased liquidity would result in the increase in the volatility of the trading price of the Class A Ordinary Shares, a loss of current or future coverage by certain analysts and a diminution of institutional investor interest. In addition, the Board believes that such delisting could also cause a loss of confidence of corporate partners, customers and employees, which could harm the Company’s business and future prospects.
To enhance the Company’s ability to retain the compliance with the bid price requirement and remain listed on Nasdaq, the Board believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and the shareholders to authorize the Board to effectuate a share consolidation to increase the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares to meet the bid price requirement if needed. As a result, the Board is soliciting shareholders’ approval of the authorization to the Board to effect the Share Consolidation within the range to be determined by the Board in its sole discretion within one year after the shareholders’ approval (and if the Board did not determine a ratio within such one-year period, the Share Consolidation would not proceed and will be abandoned), and to provide authorization to the Board to settle as it considers expedient any difficulty which arises in relation to any consolidation of Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company to round up any fractions of Class A Ordinary Shares at the participant level as a result of the Share Consolidation.
In evaluating whether or not to conduct the Share Consolidation, the Board also took into account various negative factors associated with such corporate action. These factors include: the negative perception of share consolidation held by some investors, analysts and other stock market participants; the fact that the share prices of some companies and the Company that have effected of share consolidation have subsequently declined back to pre-consolidation levels; the adverse effect on liquidity that might be caused by a reduced number of shares outstanding; and the costs associated with implementing a share consolidation.
The Board considered these factors, and the potential harm of being delisted from Nasdaq. The Board determined that continued listing on Nasdaq is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders, and that the Share Consolidation is probably necessary to maintain the listing of the Class A Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq.
In addition, there can be no assurance that, after the Share Consolidation, the Company would be able to maintain the listing of the Class A Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq. Nasdaq maintains several other continued listing requirements currently applicable to the listing of the Class A Ordinary Shares. Shareholders should recognize that if the Share Consolidation is effected, they will own a smaller number of Class A Ordinary Shares than they currently own. While the Company expects that the Share Consolidation will result in an increase in the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares, it may not increase the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares in proportion to the reduction in the number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding or result in a permanent increase in the market price (which depends on many factors, including but not limited to our performance, prospects and other factors that may be unrelated to the number of shares outstanding).
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If the Share Consolidation is effected and the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares declines, the percentage decline as an absolute number and as a percentage of the Company’s overall market capitalization may be greater than would occur in the absence of the Share Consolidation. Furthermore, the liquidity of the Class A Ordinary Shares could be adversely affected by the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the Share Consolidation. Accordingly, the Share Consolidation may not achieve the desired results that have been outlined above.
Fractional Shares
No fractional Shares shall be issued in connection with the Share Consolidation, and any shareholder who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional Share shall instead receive the number of Shares rounded up to the next whole Share.
Effects of the Share Consolidation
Authorized Shares and Unissued Shares
At the time the Share Consolidation is effective, our authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares, will be consolidated at the ratio between one (1)-for-two (2) and one (1)-for-thirty (30), accompanied by a corresponding increase in the par value of the Ordinary Shares, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole number within this range, to be determined by the Board.
Issued and Outstanding Shares
The Share Consolidation will also reduce the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares at the ratio between one (1)-for-two (2) and one (1)-for-thirty (30), accompanied by a corresponding increase in the par value of the Ordinary Shares, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole number within this range, to be determined by the Board.
Each shareholder’s proportionate ownership of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares immediately following the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation would remain the same, with the exception of adjustments related to the treatment of fractional shares (see above).
Procedure for Implementing the Share Consolidation
As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Share Consolidation, the Company’s shareholders will be notified that the Share Consolidation has been effected through filing with SEC by the Company. The Company expects that its transfer agent, Vstock Transfer LLC, will act as exchange agent for purposes of implementing the share consolidation. If needed, holders of pre-consolidation shares will be asked to provide proof of ownership as required by the exchange agent, in accordance with the procedures to be set forth in a letter of transmittal that the Company will send to its registered shareholders.
Vote Required
This proposal requires the affirmative (“FOR”) vote of a simple majority of votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Abstentions or broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will not affect the outcome of this proposal, although they will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present.
Board of Directors’ Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL ONE.
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PROPOSAL TWO
ADOPTION OF AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
General
It is proposed that shareholders consider and, if thought fit, approve the following special resolution:
“It is resolved as a special resolution that, subject to and immediately following the Share Consolidation being effected, the Company adopt an amended and restated memorandum of association (the “Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association”) in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the Company’s then existing memorandum of association, to reflect the Share Consolidation and update the reference to the Company’s registered office in the Cayman Islands.”
Potential Effects
If shareholders approve this proposal, the adoption of the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association will become effective upon the effectiveness of the Share Consolidation.
Vote Required
This proposal requires the affirmative (“FOR”) vote of at least two-thirds of votes cast by shareholders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Abstentions or broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast, although abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present.
Recommendation of the Board
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL TWO.
10
PROPOSAL THREE
ADOPTION OF AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
General
It is proposed that shareholders consider and, if thought fit, approve the following special resolution:
“It is resolved, as a special resolution, that with immediate effect, the Company adopt amended and restated articles of association (the “Amended and Restated Articles of Association”), in the form attached to the notice of meeting and proxy statement delivered to shareholders and dated [*], in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the Company’s existing articles of association.”
The adoption of the Amended and Restated Articles of Association will have the effect of amending the definition of “Ordinary Resolution” and Article 11.18 in the manner shown in the table below. The purpose of these changes is to make it easier for shareholders to pass Ordinary Resolutions without holding a general meeting. A complete copy of the Amended and Restated Articles of Association is set forth in Annex A to this proxy statement.
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Current Articles of Association |
Proposed Articles of Association |
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Definition of Ordinary Resolution |
Ordinary Resolution means a resolution of a General Meeting passed by a simple majority of Members who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at that meeting. The expression includes a unanimous written resolution; |
Ordinary Resolution means both (a) a resolution of a General Meeting passed by a simple majority of votes cast by Members who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at that meeting; and (b) a written resolution signed by the holders of Shares entitled to cast a simple majority of the votes that may be cast by the outstanding Shares on the date the Ordinary Resolution is deemed to be passed; |
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Article 11.18 |
11.18 Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met: (a) all Members entitled to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members; (b) all Members entitled so to vote; (i) sign a document; or (ii) sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and (c) the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose. (d) Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held. |
11.18 Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met: (a) all Members entitled to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members; (b) in the case of an Ordinary Resolution, the holders of Shares entitled to cast a simple majority of the votes that may be cast by the outstanding Shares on the date the resolution is passed, or in the case of a Special Resolution, all Members entitled so to vote; (i) sign a document; or (ii) sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and (c) the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose. (d) Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held. |
11
Potential Effects
If shareholders approve this proposal, the adoption of the Amended and Restated Articles of Association will become effective upon the required approval from shareholders being obtained.
Vote Required
This proposal requires the affirmative (“FOR”) vote of at least two-thirds of votes cast by shareholders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Abstentions or broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast, although abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present.
Recommendation of the Board
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL THREE.
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PROPOSAL FOUR
ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING TO A LATER DATE OR DATES, IF NECESSARY, TO PERMIT FURTHER SOLICITATION AND VOTE OF PROXIES IN THE EVENT THAT THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT VOTES FOR, OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH, THE APPROVAL OF ALL THE RESOLUTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY PROPOSALS ONE, TWO AND THREE.
It is proposed that shareholders consider and, if thought fit, approve the following ordinary resolution:
“It is resolved, as an ordinary resolution, to adjourn the general meeting to a later date or dates or sine die, if necessary or desirable, in the opinion of the directors, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, at the time of the meeting, there are not sufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the foregoing proposals.”
Proposal Four, if adopted, will allow the chairman of the Meeting to adjourn the Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our shareholders in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the other proposals.
If Proposal Four is not approved by our shareholders, the chairman of the Meeting may not be able to adjourn the Meeting to a later date in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of all the resolutions contemplated by the Proposals.
Vote Required
This proposal requires the affirmative (“FOR”) vote of a simple majority of votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Abstentions, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will not affect the outcome of this proposal, although they will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present. If shareholders hold their shares through a broker, bank or other nominee and do not instruct them how to vote, the broker may have authority to vote the shares for Proposal Four, which is considered a routine matter.
Board of Directors’ Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL FOUR.
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OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board has no knowledge of any business which will be presented for consideration at the Meeting other than the approval of the Share Consolidation, the adoption of Amended and Restated Memorandum of Associations, the adoption of Amended and Restated Articles of Association and the Adjournment Proposal, if necessary. If any other matters properly come before the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote the shares they represent as the Board may recommend.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The Company files reports and other documents with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The Company’s SEC filings made electronically through the SEC’s EDGAR system are available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
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By order of the Board of Directors |
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July 28, 2026 |
/s/ Yongxu Liu |
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Yongxu Liu |
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Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors |
14
Appendix A
THE COMPANIES ACT (REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
An Exempted Company Limited By Shares
_____________________________________________________________________
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
(as adopted by a special resolution passed on (*))
_____________________________________________________________________
1 Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A
Definitions
1.1 In these Articles, the following definitions apply:
ADS means an American depository share representing an Ordinary Share;
Articles means, as appropriate:
(a) these articles of association as amended from time to time: or
(b) two or more particular articles of these Articles;
and Article refers to a particular article of these Articles;
Auditors means the auditor or auditors for the time being of the Company;
Board means the board of Directors from time to time;
Business Day means a day when banks in Grand Cayman, the Cayman Islands are open for the transaction of normal banking business and for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the Cayman Islands;
Cayman Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands;
Class A Ordinary Share means an Ordinary Share designated by the directors as a Class A Ordinary Share;
A-1
Class B Ordinary Share means an Ordinary Share designated by the directors as a Class B Ordinary Share;
Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:
(a) the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and
(b) the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect;
Commission means Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America or other federal agency for the time being administering the U.S. Securities Act;
Company means the above-named company;
Default Rate means ten per cent per annum;
Designated Stock Exchanges means the Nasdaq Stock Market in the United States of America 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;
Designated Stock Exchange Rules means the relevant code, rules and regulations, as amended, from time to time, applicable as a result of the original and continued listing of any Shares or ADSs on the Designated Stock Exchanges;
Directors means the directors for the time being of the Company and the expression Director shall be construed accordingly;
Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Electronic Record has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Fully Paid Up means:
(a) in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; and
(b) in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth;
General Meeting means a general meeting of the Company duly constituted in accordance with the Articles;
Independent Director means a Director who is an independent director as defined in the Designated Stock Exchange Rules as determined by the Board;
Law means the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, including any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force;
Member means any person or persons entered on the register of Members from time to time as the holder of a Share;
Memorandum means the memorandum of association of the Company as amended from time to time;
month means a calendar month;
Officer means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company including a Director, alternate Director or liquidator and excluding the Secretary;
A-2
Ordinary Resolution means both (a) a resolution of a General Meeting passed by a simple majority of votes cast by of Members who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at that meeting; and (b) a written resolution signed by the holders of Shares entitled to cast a simple majority of the votes that may be cast by the outstanding Shares on the date the Ordinary Resolution is deemed to be passed. The expression includes a unanimous written resolution;
Ordinary Share means an ordinary share in the capital of the Company having the rights set out in these Articles and issued as either a Class A Ordinary Share or as a Class B Ordinary Share. In these Articles the term Ordinary Share shall embrace all classes of Ordinary Share except where reference is made to a specific class;
Partly Paid Up means:
(a) in relation to a Share with par value, that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has not been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; and
(b) in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has not been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth;
Register of Members means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Law and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of the Members;
Secretary means a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary;
Share means a share in the capital of the Company and the expression:
(a) includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and
(b) where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a Share;
Special Resolution means a resolution of a General Meeting or a resolution of a meeting of the holders of any class of Shares in a class meeting duly constituted in accordance with the Articles in each case passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of Members who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at that meeting. The expression includes a unanimous written resolution;
Treasury Shares means Shares held in treasury pursuant to the Law and Article 2.13; and
U.S. Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
Interpretation
1.2 In the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) A reference in these Articles to a statute is a reference to a statute of the Cayman Islands as known by its short title, and includes:
(i) any statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and
(ii) any subordinate legislation or regulations issued under that statute.
Without limitation to the preceding sentence, a reference to a revised Law of the Cayman Islands is taken to be a reference to the revision of that Law in force from time to time as amended from time to time.
(b) Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity.
(c) If a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day.
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(d) A word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender also denotes the other genders.
(e) A reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency.
(f) Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning.
(g) All references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located.
(h) The words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied.
(i) The words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation.
1.3 The headings in these Articles are intended for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Articles.
Exclusion of Table A Articles
1.4 The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Law and any other regulations contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company.
2 Shares
Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights
2.1 Subject to the provisions of the Law and these Articles about the redemption and purchase of the Shares, the Directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
2.2 Without limitation to the preceding Article, the Directors may so deal with the unissued Shares:
(a) either at a premium or at par; or
(b) with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise.
2.3 Without limitation to the two preceding Articles, the Directors may refuse to accept any application for Shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason.
Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees
2.4 The Company may pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person:
(a) subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or
(b) procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional,
for any Shares. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid Up or Partly Paid Up Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.
2.5 The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage.
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Trusts not recognised
2.6 Except as required by Law:
(a) no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share on any trust; and
(b) no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share.
Security interests
2.7 Notwithstanding the preceding Article, the Company may (but shall not be obliged to) recognise a security interest of which it has actual notice over shares. The Company shall not be treated as having recognised any such security interest unless it has so agreed in writing with the secured party.
Power to vary class rights
2.8 If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies:
(a) the Members holding not less than two-thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or
(b) the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class.
2.9 For the purpose of Article 2.8(b), all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that:
(a) the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and
(b) any Member holding issued Shares of the class, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporate Member, by its duly authorised representative, may demand a poll.
2.10 For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such classes of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares.
Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights
2.11 Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class.
No bearer Shares or warrants
2.12 The Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers.
Treasury Shares
2.13 Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Law shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if:
(a) the Directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and
(b) the relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Law are otherwise complied with.
A-5
Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters
2.14 No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to Members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share.
2.15 The Company shall be entered in the register of Members as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However:
(a) the Company shall not be treated as a Member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; and
(b) a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Law.
2.16 Nothing in Article 2.15 prevents an allotment of Shares as Fully Paid Up bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as Fully Paid Up bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares.
2.17 Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Law and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the Directors determine.
Register of Members
2.18 The Directors shall keep or cause to be kept a register of Members as required by the Law and may cause the Company to maintain one or more branch registers as contemplated by the Law, provided that where the Company is maintaining one or more branch registers, the Directors shall ensure that a duplicate of each branch register is kept with the Company’s principal register of Members and updated within such number of days of any amendment having been made to such branch register as may be required by the Law.
Annual Return
2.19 The Directors in each calendar year shall prepare or cause to be prepared an annual return and declaration setting forth the particulars required by the Law and shall deliver a copy thereof to the registrar of companies for the Cayman Islands.
3 Share certificates
Issue of share certificates
3.1 A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. If the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued, upon being entered in the register of Members as the holder of a Share, the Directors may issue to any Member:
(a) without payment, one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and
(b) upon payment of such reasonable sum as the Directors may determine for every certificate after the first, several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares.
3.2 Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid Up or Partly Paid Up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the Directors determine.
3.3 Every certificate shall bear legends required under the applicable laws, including the U.S. Securities Act.
3.4 The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.
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Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates
3.5 If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to:
(a) evidence;
(b) indemnity;
(c) payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and
(d) payment of a reasonable fee, if any for issuing a replacement share certificate,
as the Directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.
4 Lien on Shares
Nature and scope of lien
4.1 The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid Up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all monies payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate:
(a) either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and
(b) whether or not those monies are presently payable.
4.2 At any time the Board may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article.
Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien
4.3 The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable;
(b) the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and
(c) that sum is not paid within fourteen Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles,
and Shares to which this Article 4.3 applies shall be referred to as Lien Default Shares.
4.4 The Lien Default Shares may be sold in such manner as the Board determines.
4.5 To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale.
Authority to execute instrument of transfer
4.6 To give effect to a sale, the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Lien Default Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser.
4.7 The title of the transferee of the Lien Default Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale.
A-7
Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien
4.8 On a sale pursuant to the preceding Articles:
(a) the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of Members as the holder of those Lien Default Shares; and
(b) that person shall deliver to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for those Lien Default Shares.
4.9 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 4.8, such person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which, at the date of sale, were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Lien Default Shares. That person shall also be liable to pay interest on those monies from the date of sale until payment at the rate at which interest was payable before that sale or, failing that, at the Default Rate. The Board may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Lien Default Shares at the time of sale or for any consideration received on their disposal.
Application of proceeds of sale
4.10 The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Lien Default Shares have been sold:
(a) if no certificate for the Lien Default Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or
(b) if a certificate for the Lien Default Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation
but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Lien Default Shares before the sale.
5 Calls on Shares and forfeiture
Power to make calls and effect of calls
5.1 Subject to the terms of allotment, the Board may make calls on the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on his Shares as required by the notice.
5.2 Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part.
5.3 A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. He shall not be liable for calls made after he is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares.
Time when call made
5.4 A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising the call was passed.
Liability of joint holders
5.5 Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share.
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Interest on unpaid calls
5.6 If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid:
(a) at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or
(b) if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate.
The Directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
Deemed calls
5.7 Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.
Power to accept early payment
5.8 The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by him although no part of that amount has been called up.
Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares
5.9 Subject to the terms of allotment, the Directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares.
Notice of default
5.10 If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of:
(a) the amount unpaid;
(b) any interest which may have accrued;
(c) any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default.
5.11 The notice shall state the following:
(a) the place where payment is to be made; and
(b) a warning that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited.
Forfeiture or surrender of Shares
5.12 If the notice given pursuant to Article 5.10 is not complied with, the Directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the Board may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture.
Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender
5.13 A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Board determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee.
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Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member
5.14 On forfeiture or surrender:
(a) the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of Members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and
(b) that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares.
5.15 Despite the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with:
(a) all expenses; and
(b) interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment:
(i) at the rate of which interest was payable on those monies before forfeiture; or
(ii) if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate.
The Directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.
Evidence of forfeiture or surrender
5.16 A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a Director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares:
(a) that the person making the declaration is a Director or Secretary of the Company, and
(b) that the particular Shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date.
Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the Shares.
Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares
5.17 Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares.
6 Transfer of Shares
Right to transfer
6.1 The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, approve and be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and if in respect of a nil or Partly Paid Up Share, or if so required by the Directors, shall also be executed on behalf of the transferee and shall be accompanied by the certificate (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer. The transferor shall be deemed to remain a Member until the name of the transferee is entered in the register of Members in respect of the relevant Shares.
6.2 The Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of Shares which is not Fully Paid Up or on which the Company has a lien.
6.3 The Directors may also, but are not required to, decline to register any transfer of any Share unless:
(a) the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate (if any) for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
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(b) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Shares;
(c) the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
(d) in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four;
(e) the Shares transferred are Fully Paid Up and free of any lien in favour of the Company; and
(f) any applicable fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchanges may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the Board may from time to time require, related to the transfer is paid to the Company.
Suspension of transfers
6.4 The registration of transfers may, on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the register of Members closed at such times and for such periods as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, from time to time determine, provided always that such registration of transfer shall not be suspended nor the register of Members closed for more than 30 days in any year.
Company may retain instrument of transfer
6.5 All instruments of transfer that are registered shall be retained by the Company.
Notice of refusal to register
6.6 If the Directors refuse to register a transfer of any Shares, they shall within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with the Company send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of the refusal.
7 Transmission of Shares
Persons entitled on death of a Member
7.1 If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following:
(a) where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and
(b) where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives.
7.2 Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder.
Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy
7.3 A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following:
(a) to become the holder of the Share; or
(b) to transfer the Share to another person.
7.4 That person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the Directors may properly require.
7.5 If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer.
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7.6 If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then:
(a) if the Share is Fully Paid Up, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and
(b) if the Share is nil or Partly Paid Up, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer.
7.7 All the Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer.
Indemnity
7.8 A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the Directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the Directors as a result of that registration.
Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy
7.9 A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the Share. But, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares.
8 Alteration of capital
Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital
8.1 To the fullest extent permitted by the Law, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose:
(a) increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution;
(b) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares;
(c) convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination;
(d) sub-divide its Shares or any of them into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and
(e) cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided.
Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares
8.2 Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the Directors may on behalf of those Members deal with the fractions as it thinks fit, including (without limitation):
(a) either round up or down the fraction to the nearest whole number, such rounding to be determined by the Directors acting in their sole discretion; or
(b) sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company); and
(c) distribute the net proceeds in due proportion among those Members.
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8.3 For the purposes of Article 8.2, the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall the transferee’s title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in respect of the sale.
Reducing share capital
8.4 Subject to the Law and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way.
9 Conversion, redemption and purchase of own Shares
Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares
9.1 Subject to the Law and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may by its Directors:
(a) issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its Directors determine before the issue of those Shares;
(b) with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the Directors determine at the time of such variation; and
(c) purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and in the manner which the Directors determine at the time of such purchase.
The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Law, including out of any combination of the following: capital, its profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.
Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie
9.2 When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the Directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 9.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares.
Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share
9.3 Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share:
(a) the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive:
(i) the price for the Share; and
(ii) any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase;
(b) the Member’s name shall be removed from the register of Members with respect to the Share; and
(c) the Share shall be cancelled or held as a Treasury Share, as the Directors may determine.
9.4 For the purpose of Article 9.3, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the Member’s name is removed from the register of Members with respect to the Shares the subject of the redemption or purchase.
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Conversion Rights
9.5 Each Class B Ordinary Share shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such Share, at the office of the Company or any transfer agent for such Shares, into one fully paid and non-assessable Class A Ordinary Share.
9.6 The Directors shall at all times reserve and keep available out of the Company’s authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares, such number of its Class A Ordinary Shares as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares; and if at any time the number of authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holders of such Class B Ordinary Shares, the Directors will take such action as may be necessary to increase its authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares to such number of Shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes.
Share Conversions
9.7 All conversions of Class B Ordinary Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares shall be effected by way of redemption or repurchase by the Company of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares and the simultaneous issue of Class A Ordinary Shares in consideration for such redemption or repurchase. The Members and the Company will procure that any and all necessary corporate actions are taken to effect such conversion.
10 Meetings of Members
Annual and extraordinary general meetings
10.1 The Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules) be obligated to, in each year hold a general meeting as an annual general meeting, which, if held, shall be convened by the Board, in accordance with these Articles.
10.2 All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.
Power to call meetings
10.3 The Directors may call a general meeting at any time.
10.4 If there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, the Directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional Directors.
10.5 The Directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles.
10.6 The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold at least ten per cent of the rights to vote at such general meeting.
10.7 The requisition must also:
(a) specify the purpose of the meeting.
(b) be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners; and
(c) be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions.
10.8 Should the Directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days’ from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period.
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10.9 Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least five per cent of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional Directors.
10.10 If the Members call a meeting under the above provisions, the Company shall reimburse their reasonable expenses.
Content of notice
10.11 Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following:
(a) the place, the date and the hour of the meeting;
(b) if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting;
(c) subject to paragraph (d) and the requirements of (to the extent applicable) the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, the general nature of the business to be transacted; and
(d) if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution.
10.12 In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements:
(a) that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and
(b) that a proxyholder need not be a Member.
Period of notice
10.13 At least twenty-one Clear Days’ notice of an annual general meeting must be given to Members. For any other general meeting, at least fourteen Clear Days’ notice must be given to Members.
10.14 Subject to the Law, a meeting may be convened on shorter notice, subject to the Law with the consent of the Member or Members who, individually or collectively, hold at least ninety per cent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at that meeting.
Persons entitled to receive notice
10.15 Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people:
(a) the Members
(b) persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member;
(c) the Directors; and
(d) the Auditors.
10.16 The Board may determine that the Members entitled to receive notice of a meeting are those persons entered on the register of Members at the close of business on a day determined by the Board.
Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice
10.17 Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following:
(a) an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or
(b) non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice.
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10.18 In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published:
(a) in a different place on the website; or
(b) for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.
11 Proceedings at meetings of Members
Quorum
11.1 Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. A quorum is as follows:
(a) if the Company has only one Member: that Member;
(b) if the Company has more than one Member: one or more Members holding Shares that represent not less than one-third of the outstanding Shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting.
Lack of quorum
11.2 If a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply:
(a) If the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled.
(b) In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the Directors. If a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the Members present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum.
Chairman
11.3 The chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the Board or such other Director as the Directors have nominated to chair Board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the Board. Absent any such person being present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting.
11.4 If no Director is present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no Director is willing to act as chairman, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting.
Right of a Director to attend and speak
11.5 Even if a Director is not a Member, he shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Members holding a particular class of Shares.
Accommodation of Members at meeting
11.6 lf it appears to the chairman of the meeting that the meeting place specified in the notice convening the meeting is inadequate to accommodate all Members entitled and wishing to attend, the meeting will be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chairman is satisfied that adequate facilities are available to ensure that a Member who is unable to be accommodated is able (whether at the meeting place or elsewhere):
(a) to participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened;
(b) to hear and see all persons present who speak (whether by the use of microphones, loud-speakers, audio-visual communications equipment or otherwise); and
(c) to be heard and seen by all other persons present in the same way.
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Security
11.7 In addition to any measures which the Board may be required to take due to the location or venue of the meeting, the Board may make any arrangement and impose any restriction it considers appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances to ensure the security of a meeting including, without limitation, the searching of any person attending the meeting and the imposing of restrictions on the items of personal property that may be taken into the meeting place. The Board may refuse entry to, or eject from, a meeting a person who refuses to comply with any such arrangements or restrictions.
Adjournment
11.8 The chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting with the consent of the Members constituting a quorum. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting.
11.9 Should a meeting be adjourned for more than 7 Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least seven Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment.
Method of voting
11.10 A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before, or on, the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll is duly demanded. Subject to the Law, a poll may be demanded:
(a) by the chairman of the meeting;
(b) by at least two Members having the right to vote on the resolutions;
(c) by any Member or Members present who, individually or collectively, hold at least ten per cent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote on the resolution.
Outcome of vote by show of hands
11.11 Unless a poll is duly demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
Withdrawal of demand for a poll
11.12 The demand for a poll may be withdrawn before the poll is taken, but only with the consent of the chairman. The chairman shall announce any such withdrawal to the meeting and, unless another person forthwith demands a poll, any earlier show of hands on that resolution shall be treated as the vote on that resolution; if there has been no earlier show of hands, then the resolution shall be put to the vote of the meeting.
Taking of a poll
11.13 A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately.
11.14 A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman directs, not being more than thirty Clear Days after the poll was demanded.
11.15 The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded.
11.16 A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur.
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Chairman’s casting vote
11.17 In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the Chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.
Written resolutions
11.18 Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met:
(a) all Members entitled to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members;
(b) in the case of an Ordinary Resolution, the holders of Shares entitled to cast a simple majority of the votes that may be cast by the outstanding Shares on the date the resolution is passed, or in the case of a Special Resolution, all Members entitled so to vote;
(i) sign a document; or
(ii) sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and
(c) the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose.
(d) Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held.
11.19 If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly.
11.20 The Directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll.
Sole-Member Company
11.21 If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it.
12 Voting rights of Members
Right to vote
12.1 Subject to the following, unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares.
Voting Rights
12.2 The holder of an Ordinary Share shall (in respect of such Ordinary Share) have the right to receive notice of, attend at and vote as a Member at any general meeting of the Company.
12.3 Each holder of Ordinary Shares shall, on a poll, be entitled to one vote for each Share he or she holds save that each holder of Class B Ordinary Shares shall, on a poll, be entitled to exercise ten (10) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share he or she holds on any and all matters.
12.4 Members may vote in person or by proxy.
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12.5 On a show of hands, every Member shall have one vote. For the avoidance of doubt, an individual who represents two or more Members, including a Member in that individual’s own right, that individual shall be entitled to a separate vote for each Member.
12.6 No Member is bound to vote on his Shares or any of them; nor is he bound to vote each of his Shares in the same way.
Rights of joint holders
12.7 If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the register of Members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder.
Representation of corporate Members
12.8 Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative.
12.9 A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing.
12.10 The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used.
12.11 The Directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice.
12.12 Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member.
12.13 A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the Directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.
Member with mental disorder
12.14 A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court.
12.15 For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the Directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable.
Objections to admissibility of votes
12.16 An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive.
Form of proxy
12.17 An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the Directors.
12.18 The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways:
(a) by the Member; or
(b) by the Member’s authorised attorney; or
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(c) if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised officer, secretary or attorney.
If the Directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying the Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.
12.19 The Directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy.
12.20 A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with Article 12.18.
12.21 No revocation by a Member of the appointment of a proxy made in accordance with Article 12.20 will affect the validity of any acts carried out by the relevant proxy before the Directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.
How and when proxy is to be delivered
12.22 Subject to the following Articles, the Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the Directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways:
(a) In the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post:
(i) to the registered office of the Company; or
(ii) to such other place within the Cayman Islands specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting.
(b) If, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified:
(i) in the notice convening the meeting; or
(ii) in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or
(iii) in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting.
(c) Notwithstanding Article 12.22(a) and Article 12.22(b), the chairman of the Company may, in any event at his discretion, direct that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited.
12.23 Where a poll is taken:
(a) if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered in accordance with Article 12.22 before the time appointed for the taking of the poll;
(b) if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered in accordance with Article 12.22 before the time appointed for the taking of the poll.
12.24 If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid.
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12.25 When two or more valid but differing appointments of proxy are delivered or received in respect of the same Share for use at the same meeting and in respect of the same matter, the one which is last validly delivered or received (regardless of its date or of the date of its execution) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the other or others as regards that Share. lf the Company is unable to determine which appointment was last validly delivered or received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that Share.
12.26 The Board may at the expense of the Company send forms of appointment of proxy to the Members by post (that is to say, pre-paying and posting a letter), or by Electronic communication or otherwise (with or without provision for their return by pre-paid post) for use at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of Shares, either blank or nominating as proxy in the alternative any one or more of the Directors or any other person. lf for the purpose of any meeting invitations to appoint as proxy a person or one of a number of persons specified in the invitations are issued at the Company’s expense, they shall be issued to all (and not to some only) of the Members entitled to be sent notice of the meeting and to vote at it. The accidental omission to send such a form of appointment or to give such an invitation to, or the non-receipt of such form of appointment by, any Member entitled to attend and vote at a meeting shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting
Voting by proxy
12.27 A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid.
12.28 The instrument appointing a proxy to vote at a meeting shall be deemed also to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll and, for the purposes of Article 11.11, a demand by a person as proxy for a Member shall be the same as a demand by a Member. Such appointment shall not confer any further right to speak at the meeting, except with the permission of the chairman of the meeting.
13 Number of Directors
13.1 There shall be a Board consisting of not less than one person provided however that the Company may by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the limits in the number of Directors. Unless fixed by Ordinary Resolution, the maximum number of Directors shall be unlimited.
14 Appointment, disqualification and removal of Directors
First Directors
14.1 The first Directors shall be appointed in writing by the subscriber or subscribers to the Memorandum, or a majority of them.
No age limit
14.2 There is no age limit for Directors save that they must be at least eighteen years of age.
Corporate Directors
14.3 Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a Director. If a body corporate is a Director, the Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Articles about Directors’ meetings.
No shareholding qualification
14.4 Unless a shareholding qualification for Directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no Director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of his appointment.
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Appointment of Directors
14.5 A Director may be appointed by Ordinary Resolution or by the Directors. Any appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director.
14.6 A remaining Director may appoint a Director even though there is not a quorum of Directors.
14.7 No appointment can cause the number of Directors to exceed the maximum (if one is set); and any such appointment shall be invalid.
14.8 For so long as Shares or ADSs are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, the Directors shall include at least such number of Independent Directors as applicable law, rules or regulations or the Designated Stock Exchange Rules require as determined by the Board.
Board’s power to appoint Directors
14.9 Without prejudice to the Company’s power to appoint a person to be a Director pursuant to these Articles, the Board shall have power at any time to appoint any person who is willing to act as a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board, subject to the total number of Directors not exceeding any maximum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles.
14.10 Any Director so appointed shall, if still a Director, retire at the next annual general meeting after his appointment and be eligible to stand for election as a Director at such meeting.
Eligibility
14.11 No person (other than a Director retiring in accordance with these Articles) shall be appointed or re-appointed a Director at any general meeting unless:
(a) he is recommended by the Board; or
(b) not less than seven nor more than forty-two Clear Days before the date appointed for the meeting, a Member (other than the person to be proposed) entitled to vote at the meeting has given to the Company notice of his intention to propose a resolution for the appointment of that person, stating the particulars which would, if he were so appointed, be required to be included in the Company’s register of Directors and a notice executed by that person of his willingness to be appointed.
Appointment at annual general meeting
14.12 Unless re-appointed pursuant to the provisions of Article 14.5 or removed from office pursuant to the provisions of Article 14.13, each Director shall be appointed for a term expiring at the next-following annual general meeting of the Company. At any such annual general meeting, Directors will be elected by Ordinary Resolution. At each annual general meeting of the Company, each Director elected at such meeting shall be elected to hold office for a one-year term and until the election of their respective successors in office or removal pursuant to Articles 14.5 and 14.13.
Removal of Directors
14.13 A Director may be removed by Ordinary Resolution.
Resignation of Directors
14.14 A Director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions.
14.15 Unless the notice specifies a different date, the Director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company.
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Termination of the office of Director
14.16 A Director may retire from office as a Director by giving notice in writing to that effect to the Company at the registered office, which notice shall be effective upon such date as may be specified in the notice, failing which upon delivery to the registered office.
14.17 Without prejudice to the provisions in these Articles for retirement (by rotation or otherwise), a Director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if:
(a) he is prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands from acting as a Director; or
(b) he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or
(c) he resigns his office by notice to the Company; or
(d) he only held office as a Director for a fixed term and such term expires; or
(e) in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a Director; or
(f) he is given notice by the majority of the other Directors (not being less than two in number) to vacate office (without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such Director); or
(g) he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or
(h) without the consent of the other Directors, he is absent from meetings of Directors for a continuous period of six months.
15 Alternate Directors
Appointment and removal
15.1 Any Director may appoint any other person, including another Director, to act in his place as an alternate Director. No appointment shall take effect until the Director has given notice of the appointment to the Board.
15.2 A Director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the Director has given notice of the revocation to the Board.
15.3 A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be effective only if given to the Company by one or more of the following methods:
(a) by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions contained in these Articles;
(b) if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 29.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine;
(c) if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 29.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or
(d) if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing.
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Notices
15.4 All notices of meetings of Directors shall continue to be given to the appointing Director and not to the alternate.
Rights of alternate Director
15.5 An alternate Director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any Board meeting or meeting of a committee of the Directors at which the appointing Director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing Director in his absence. An alternate Director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate Director.
Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a Director
15.6 An alternate Director shall cease to be an alternate Director if:
(a) the Director who appointed him ceases to be a Director; or
(b) the Director who appointed him revokes his appointment by notice delivered to the Board or to the registered office of the Company or in any other manner approved by the Board; or
(c) in any event happens in relation to him which, if he were a Director of the Company, would cause his office as Director to be vacated.
Status of alternate Director
15.7 An alternate Director shall carry out all functions of the Director who made the appointment.
15.8 Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate Director shall be treated as a Director under these Articles.
15.9 An alternate Director is not the agent of the Director appointing him.
15.10 An alternate Director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate Director.
Status of the Director making the appointment
15.11 A Director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company.
16 Powers of Directors
Powers of Directors
16.1 Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Memorandum and these Articles the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company.
16.2 No prior act of the Directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Law, Members may, by Special Resolution, validate any prior or future act of the Directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.
Directors below the minimum number
16.3 lf the number of Directors is less than the minimum prescribed in accordance with these Articles, the remaining Director or Directors shall act only for the purposes of appointing an additional Director or Directors to make up such minimum or of convening a general meeting of the Company for the purpose of making such appointment. lf there are no Director or Directors able or willing to act, any two Members may summon a general meeting for the purpose of appointing Directors. Any additional Director so appointed shall hold office (subject to these Articles) only until the dissolution of the annual general meeting next following such appointment unless he is re-elected during such meeting.
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Appointments to office
16.4 The Directors may appoint a Director:
(a) as chairman of the Board;
(b) as managing Director;
(c) to any other executive office,
for such period, and on such terms, including as to remuneration as they think fit.
16.5 The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office.
16.6 Where a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of Directors.
16.7 If there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chairman; or the Directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chairman should he ever not be available.
16.8 Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Directors may also appoint and remove any person, who need not be a Director:
(a) as Secretary; and
(b) to any office that may be required
for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit. In the case of an Officer, that Officer may be given any title the Directors decide.
16.9 The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office.
16.10 A Director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not the hold the office, or perform the services, of auditor.
Provisions for employees
16.11 The Board may make provision for the benefit of any persons employed or formerly employed by the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings (or any member of his family or any person who is dependent on him) in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings.
Exercise of voting rights
16.12 The Board may exercise the voting power conferred by the Shares in any body corporate held or owned by the Company in such manner in all respects as it thinks fit (including, without limitation, the exercise of that power in favour of any resolution appointing any Director as a Director of such body corporate, or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration to the Directors of such body corporate).
Remuneration
16.13 Every Director may be remunerated by the Company for the services he provides for the benefit of the Company, whether as Director, employee or otherwise, and shall be entitled to be paid for the expenses incurred in the Company’s business including attendance at Directors’ meetings.
16.14 Until otherwise determined by the Company by Ordinary Resolution, the Directors (other than alternate Directors) shall be entitled to such remuneration by way of fees for their services in the office of Director as the Directors may determine.
16.15 Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the Director or to any other person connected to or related to him.
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16.16 Unless his fellow Directors determine otherwise, a Director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings.
Disclosure of information
16.17 The Directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the register of Members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any Director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in his possession) if:
(a) the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or
(b) such disclosure is in compliance with the Designated Stock Exchange Rules; or
(c) such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or
(d) the Directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations.
17 Delegation of powers
Power to delegate any of the Directors’ powers to a committee
17.1 The Directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members. Persons on the committee may include non-Directors so long as the majority of those persons are Directors. Any such committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as required from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules or otherwise required by applicable law.
17.2 The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the Directors’ own powers.
17.3 The delegation may be on such terms as the Directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the Directors at will.
17.4 Unless otherwise permitted by the Directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by Directors.
17.5 The Board shall establish an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in these Articles. Each of the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee shall consist of at least three Directors (or such larger minimum number as may be required from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules). The majority of the committee members on each of the compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee shall be Independent Directors. The audit committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as required from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules or otherwise required by applicable law.
Local boards
17.6 The Board may establish any local or divisional board or agency for managing any of the affairs of the Company whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere and may appoint any persons to be members of a local or divisional Board, or to be managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration.
17.7 The Board may delegate to any local or divisional board, manager or agent any of its powers and authorities (with power to sub-delegate) and may authorise the members of any local or divisional board or any of them to fill any vacancies and to act notwithstanding vacancies.
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17.8 Any appointment or delegation under this Article 17.8 may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board thinks fit and the Board may remove any person so appointed, and may revoke or vary any delegation.
Power to appoint an agent of the Company
17.9 The Directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The Directors may make that appointment:
(a) by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or
(b) in any other manner they determine.
Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company
17.10 The Directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be:
(a) for any purpose;
(b) with the powers, authorities and discretions;
(c) for the period; and
(d) subject to such conditions
as they think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the Directors under these Articles. The Directors may do so by power of attorney or any other manner they think fit.
17.11 Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the Directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person.
17.12 The Board may remove any person appointed under Article 17.10 and may revoke or vary the delegation.
Borrowing Powers
17.13 The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets both present and future and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or its parent undertaking (if any) or any subsidiary undertaking of the Company or of any third party.
Corporate Governance
17.14 The Board may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives of the Company, which shall be intended to set forth the guiding principles and policies of the Company and the Board on various corporate governance related matters as the Board shall determine by resolution from time to time.
18 Meetings of Directors
Regulation of Directors’ meetings
18.1 Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit.
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Calling meetings
18.2 Any Director may call a meeting of Directors at any time. The Secretary must call a meeting of the Directors if requested to do so by a Director.
Notice of meetings
18.3 Notice of a Board meeting may be given to a Director personally or by word of mouth or given in writing or by Electronic communications at such address as he may from time to time specify for this purpose (or, if he does not specify an address, at his last known address). A Director may waive his right to receive notice of any meeting either prospectively or retrospectively.
Use of technology
18.4 A Director may participate in a meeting of Directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting.
18.5 A Director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
Quorum
18.6 The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of Directors shall be two unless the Directors fix some other number.
Chairman or deputy to preside
18.7 The Board may appoint a chairman and one or more deputy chairman or chairmen and may at any time revoke any such appointment.
18.8 The chairman, or failing him any deputy chairman (the longest in office taking precedence if more than one is present), shall preside at all Board meetings. If no chairman or deputy chairman has been appointed, or if he is not present within five minutes after the time fixed for holding the meeting, or is unwilling to act as chairman of the meeting, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to act as chairman of the meeting.
Voting
18.9 A question which arises at a Board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chairman may, if he wishes, exercise a casting vote.
Recording of dissent
18.10 A Director present at a meeting of Directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless:
(a) his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or
(b) he has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or
(c) he has forwarded to the Company as soon as practical following the conclusion of that meeting signed dissent.
A Director who votes in favour of an action is not entitled to record his dissent to it.
Written resolutions
18.11 The Directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all Directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Directors.
18.12 A written resolution signed by a validly appointed alternate Director need not also be signed by the appointing Director.
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18.13 A written resolution signed personally by the appointing Director need not also be signed by his alternate.
18.14 A resolution in writing passed pursuant to Article 18.11, Article 18.12 and/or Article 18.13 shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last Director signs (and for the avoidance of doubt, such day may or may not be a Business Day).
Validity of acts of Directors in spite of formal defect
18.15 All acts done by a meeting of the Board, or of a committee of the Board, or by any person acting as a Director or an alternate Director, shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director or alternate Director or member of the committee, or that any of them were disqualified or had vacated office or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and qualified and had continued to be a Director or alternate Director and had been entitled to vote.
19 Permissible Directors’ interests and disclosure
19.1 A Director shall not, as a Director, vote in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which (together with any interest of any person connected with him) is a material interest (otherwise then by virtue of his interests, direct or indirect, in Shares or debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, the Company) and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted, nor in relation thereto shall he be counted in the quorum present at the meeting, but (in the absence of some other material interest than is mentioned below) none of these prohibitions shall apply to:
(a) the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity in respect of:
(i) money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or
(ii) a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which the Director himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly with others under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
(b) where the Company or any of its subsidiaries is offering securities in which offer the Director is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which the Director is to or may participate;
(c) any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal affecting any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer, shareholder, creditor or otherwise howsoever, provided that he (together with persons connected with him) does not to his knowledge hold an interest representing one per cent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such body corporate (or of any third body corporate through which his interest is derived) or of the voting rights available to members of the relevant body corporate (any such interest being deemed for the purposes of this Article 19.1 to be a material interest in all circumstances);
(d) any act or thing done or to be done in respect of any arrangement for the benefit of the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under which he is not accorded as a Director any privilege or advantage not generally accorded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates; or
(e) any matter connected with the purchase or maintenance for any Director of insurance against any liability or (to the extent permitted by the Law) indemnities in favour of Directors, the funding of expenditure by one or more Directors in defending proceedings against him or them or the doing of any thing to enable such Director or Directors to avoid incurring such expenditure.
19.2 A Director may, as a Director, vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which is not a material interest or which falls within Article 19.1.
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20 Minutes
20.1 The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books of:
(a) all appointments of Officers and committees made by the Board and of any such Officer’s remuneration; and
(b) the names of Directors present at every meeting of the Directors, a committee of the Board, the Company or the holders of any class of shares or debentures, and all orders, resolutions and proceedings of such meetings.
20.2 Any such minutes, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the proceedings were held or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting or the Secretary, shall be prima facie evidence of the matters stated in them.
21 Accounts and audit
21.1 The Directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Law.
21.2 The books of account shall be kept at the registered office of the Company and shall always be open to inspection by the Directors. No Member (other than a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by the Law or as authorised by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution.
21.3 Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on [30 June] in each year and begin on [1 July] in each year.
Auditors
21.4 The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine.
21.5 At any general meeting convened and held at any time in accordance with these Articles, the Members may, by Ordinary Resolution, remove the Auditor before the expiration of his term of office. If they do so, the Members shall, by Ordinary Resolution, at that meeting appoint another Auditor in his stead for the remainder of his term.
21.6 The Auditors shall examine such books, accounts and vouchers; as may be necessary for the performance of their duties.
21.7 The Auditors shall, if so requested by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment, and at any time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Company.
22 Record dates
22.1 Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the resolution declaring a dividend on Shares of any class, whether it be an Ordinary Resolution of the Members or a Director’s resolution, may specify that the dividend is payable or distributable to the persons registered as the holders of those Shares at the close of business on a particular date, notwithstanding that the date may be a date prior to that on which the resolution is passed.
22.2 If the resolution does so specify, the dividend shall be payable or distributable to the persons registered as the holders of those Shares at the close of business on the specified date in accordance with their respective holdings so registered, but without prejudice to the rights inter se in respect of the dividend of transferors and transferees of any of those Shares.
22.3 The provisions of this Article apply, mutatis mutandis, to bonuses, capitalisation issues, distributions of realised capital profits or offers or grants made by the Company to the Members.
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23 Dividends
Source of dividends
23.1 Dividends may be declared and paid out of any funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution.
23.2 Subject to the requirements of the Law regarding the application of a company’s Share premium account and with the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution, dividends may also be declared and paid out of any share premium account.
Declaration of dividends by Members
23.3 Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors.
Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by Directors
23.4 The Directors may declare and pay interim dividends or recommend final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid.
23.5 Subject to the provisions of the Law, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies:
(a) Upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the Directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made.
(b) Upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the Directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution.
If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim.
23.6 In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies:
(a) If the share capital is divided into different classes, the Directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears.
(b) The Directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment.
(c) If the Directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights.
Apportionment of dividends
23.7 Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts Paid Up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount Paid Up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. But if a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly.
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Right of set off
23.8 The Directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share.
Power to pay other than in cash
23.9 If the Directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the Directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following:
(a) issue fractional Shares;
(b) fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and
(c) vest some assets in trustees.
How payments may be made
23.10 A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways:
(a) if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose — by wire transfer to that bank account; or
(b) by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share.
23.11 For the purposes of Article 23.10(a), the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purposes of Article 23.10(b), subject to any applicable law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company.
23.12 If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows:
(a) to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the register of Members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or
(b) to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record.
23.13 Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share.
Dividends or other monies not to bear interest in absence of special rights
23.14 Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest.
Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed
23.15 If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the Directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member.
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23.16 A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company.
24 Capitalisation of profits
Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve;
24.1 The Directors may resolve to capitalise:
(a) any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or
(b) any sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any.
24.2 The amount resolved to be capitalised must be appropriated to the Members who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions. The benefit to each Member so entitled must be given in either or both of the following ways::
(a) by paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares;
(b) by issuing Fully Paid Up Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The Directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of Partly Paid Up Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain Partly Paid Up.
Applying an amount for the benefit of Members
24.3 The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend.
24.4 Subject to the Law, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture or other security is allocated to a Member, the Directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction.
25 Share Premium Account
Directors to maintain share premium account
25.1 The Directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Law. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Law.
Debits to share premium account
25.2 The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account:
(a) on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and
(b) any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Law.
25.3 Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the Directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Law, out of capital.
26 Seal
Company seal
26.1 The Company may have a seal if the Directors so determine.
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Duplicate seal
26.2 Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company may also have a duplicate seal or seals for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands. Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the Directors so determine, a duplicate seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used.
When and how seal is to be used
26.3 A seal may only be used by the authority of the Directors. Unless the Directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways:
(a) by a Director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or
(b) by a single Director (or his alternate).
If no seal is adopted or used
26.4 If the Directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner:
(a) by a Director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or
(b) by a single Director (or his alternate); or
(c) in any other manner permitted by the Law.
Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal
26.5 The Directors may determine that either or both of the following applies:
(a) that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction;
(b) that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature.
Validity of execution
26.6 If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the Director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company.
27 Indemnity
27.1 To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against:
(a) all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Director’s (including alternate Director’s), Secretary’s or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and
(b) without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
No such existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.
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27.2 To the extent permitted by Law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in Article 27.1 on condition that the Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or that Officer for those legal costs.
Release
27.3 To the extent permitted by Law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own dishonesty.
Insurance
27.4 To the extent permitted by Law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the Directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty:
(a) an existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of:
(i) the Company;
(ii) a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company;
(iii) a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and
(b) a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested.
28 Notices
Form of notices
28.1 Save where these Articles provide otherwise, and subject to the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be:
(a) in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or
(b) subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or
(c) where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website.
Electronic communications
28.2 A notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if:
(a) the Directors so resolve;
(b) the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and
(c) the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those Directors who were absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed.
If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified.
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28.3 A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent.
28.4 Subject to the Law, the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and to any other rules which the Company is bound to follow, the Company may also send any notice or other document pursuant to these Articles to a Member by publishing that notice or other document on a website where:
(a) the Company and the Member have agreed to his having access to the notice or document on a website (instead of it being sent to him);
(b) the notice or document is one to which that agreement applies;
(c) the Member is notified (in accordance with any requirements laid down by the Law and, in a manner for the time being agreed between him and the Company for the purpose) of:
(i) the publication of the notice or document on a website;
(ii) the address of that website; and
(iii) the place on that website where the notice or document may be accessed, and how it may be accessed; and
(d) the notice or document is published on that website throughout the publication period, provided that, if the notice or document is published on that website for a part, but not all of, the publication period, the notice or document shall be treated as being published throughout that period if the failure to publish that notice of document throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the Company to prevent or avoid. For the purposes of this Article 28.4 “publication period” means a period of not less than twenty-one days, beginning on the day on which the notification referred to in Article 28.4(c) is deemed sent.
Persons entitled to notices
28.5 Any notice or other document to be given to a Member may be given by reference to the register of Members as it stands at any time within the period of twenty-one days before the day that the notice is given or (where and as applicable) within any other period permitted by, or in accordance with the requirements of, (to the extent applicable) the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and/or the Designated Stock Exchanges. No change in the register of Members after that time shall invalidate the giving of such notice or document or require the Company to give such item to any other person.
Persons authorised to give notices
28.6 A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a Director or company secretary of the Company or a Member.
Delivery of written notices
28.7 Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or Director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office.
Joint holders
28.8 Where Members are joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to the Member whose name first appears in the register of Members.
Signatures
28.9 A written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its execution or adoption by the giver.
28.10 An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature.
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Evidence of transmission
28.11 A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver.
28.12 A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient.
28.13 A Member present, either in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company or of the holders of any class of Shares shall be deemed to have received due notice of the meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which it was called.
Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member
28.14 A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled.
28.15 Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.
Date of giving notices
28.16 A notice is given on the date identified in the following table
|
Method for giving notices |
When taken to be given |
|
|
(A) Personally |
At the time and date of delivery |
|
|
(B) By leaving it at the Member’s registered address |
At the time and date it was left |
|
|
(C) By posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient |
48 hours after the date it was posted |
|
|
(D) By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address |
48 hours after the date it was sent |
|
|
(E) By publication on a website |
24 hours after the date on which the Member is deemed to have been notified of the publication of the notice or document on the website |
Saving provision
28.17 None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from the Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of Directors and written resolutions of Members.
29 Authentication of Electronic Records
Application of Articles
29.1 Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a Director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 29.2 or Article 29.4 applies.
Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means
29.2 An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and
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(b) the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and
(c) Article 29.7 does not apply.
29.3 For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 28.7 applies.
Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means
29.4 An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and
(b) the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and
(c) Article 29.7 does not apply.
This Article 29.4 applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in his own right or as a representative of the Company.
29.5 For example, where a sole Director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Director unless Article 29.7 applies.
Manner of signing
29.6 For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles.
Saving provision
29.7 A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably:
(a) believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or
(b) believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or
(c) otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document
and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.
30 Transfer by way of continuation
30.1 The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside:
(a) the Cayman Islands; or
(b) such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing.
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30.2 To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the Directors may cause the following:
(a) an application be made to the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and
(b) all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company.
31 Winding up
Distribution of assets in specie
31.1 If the Company is wound up the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Law, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:
(a) to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members; and/or
(b) to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up.
No obligation to accept liability
31.2 No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them.
31.3 The Directors are authorised to present a winding up petition
31.4 The Directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.
32 Amendment of Memorandum and Articles
Power to change name or amend Memorandum
32.1 Subject to the Law, the Company may, by Special Resolution:
(a) change its name; or
(b) change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum.
Power to amend these Articles
32.2 Subject to the Law and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part.
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Exhibit 99.2
* SPECIMEN * 1 MAIN STREET ANYWHERE PA 99999-9999 VOTE ON INTERNET Go to http://www.vstocktransfer.com/proxy Click on Proxy Voter Login and log-on using the below control number. Voting will be open until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 23, 2026. CONTROL # VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the envelope we have provided. VOTE IN PERSON If you would like to vote in person. Please attend the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Beijing Time (August 24, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time), at Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road, Jin’an District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China. Please Vote, Sign, Date and Return Promptly in the Enclosed Envelope. Extraordinary General Meeting Of Shareholders - Shengfeng Development Limited DETACH PROXY CARD HERE TO VOTE BY MAIL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ALL LISTED PROPOSALS. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN Proposal One - Share Consolidation It is resolved as an ordinary resolution that: (a) conditional upon the approval of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) in its sole discretion, with effect as of the date the Board may determine (the “Effective Date”) and subject to such Effective Date being within one year of the date of this ordinary resolution: (i) the authorised, issued, and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares of the Company (collectively, the “Shares”) be consolidated by consolidating each 30 Shares of the Company, or such lesser whole share amount as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, such amount not to be less than 2, into 1 Share of the Company, with such consolidated Shares having the same rights and being subject to the same restrictions (save as to par value) as the existing Shares of such class as set out in the Company’s memorandum and articles of association (the “Share Consolidation”); (ii) no fractional Shares be issued in connection with the Share Consolidation and, in the event that a shareholder would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional Share upon the Share Consolidation, the total number of Shares to be received by such shareholder be rounded up to the next whole Share; and (iii) any change to the Company’s authorized share capital in connection with, and as necessary to effect, the Share Consolidation be and is hereby approved, such amendment to be determined by the Board in its sole discretion; and (b) any one director or officer of the Company be and is hereby authorized, for and on behalf of the Company, to do all such other acts or things necessary or desirable to implement, carry out and give effect to the Share Consolidation, if and when deemed advisable by the Board in its sole discretion. Proposal Two - Adoption of Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association It is resolved as a special resolution that, subject to and immediately following the Share Consolidation being effected, the Company adopt an amended and restated memorandum of association (the “Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association”) in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the Company’s then existing memorandum of association, to reflect the Share Consolidation and update the reference to the Company’s registered office in the Cayman Islands. Proposal Three - Adoption of Amended and Restated Articles of Association It is resolved, as a special resolution, that with immediate effect, the Company adopt amended and restated articles of association (the “Amended and Restated Articles of Association”), in the form attached to the notice of meeting and proxy statement delivered to shareholders and dated [*], in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the Company’s existing articles of association. Proposal Four - Adjournment It is resolved, as an ordinary resolution, to adjourn the general meeting to a later date or dates or sine die, if necessary or desirable, in the opinion of the directors, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, at the time of the meeting, there are not sufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the foregoing proposals (the “Adjournment Proposal”). Date Signature Signature, if held jointly Note: This proxy must be signed exactly as the name appears hereon. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by a duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized person. To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address. * SPECIMEN * AC:ACCT9999
SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED Extraordinary General Meeting Of Shareholders August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Beijing Time (August 24, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time) DETACH PROXY CARD HERE TO VOTE BY MAIL THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned shareholder of SHENGFENG DEVELOPMENT LIMITED, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting (the “Meeting”) and the Proxy Statement, each dated [], and hereby appoints (insert name of proxyholder) of (insert address of proxyholder) and, if no person is specified, the chairman of the Meeting, as proxy, with full power of substitution, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the Meeting to be held on August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Beijing Time (August 24, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time), at Shengfeng Building, No. 478 Fuxin East Road, Jin’an District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China , or at any adjournment thereof, and to vote all ordinary shares which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there personally present, on the matters set forth below (i) as specified by the undersigned below and (ii) in the discretion of any proxy if no specification is made and/or upon such other business as may properly come before the Meeting, all as set forth in the Notice of the Meeting and in the Proxy Statement furnished This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted in the discretion of the appointed proxy. If the chairman of the Meeting is appointed, this proxy will be voted “FOR” Proposals No. 1–4 and in the discretion of the chairman with respect to such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Electronic
Exhibit 99.3
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited By Shares
|
AMENDED AND RESTATED |
(Adopted by special resolution passed on [•] 2026)
Contents
|
Page |
||||
|
1 |
Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A |
1 |
||
|
Definitions |
1 |
|||
|
Interpretation |
3 |
|||
|
Exclusion of Table A Articles |
4 |
|||
|
2 |
Shares |
4 |
||
|
Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights |
4 |
|||
|
Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees |
4 |
|||
|
Trusts not recognised |
4 |
|||
|
Security interests |
4 |
|||
|
Power to vary class rights |
4 |
|||
|
Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights |
5 |
|||
|
No bearer Shares or warrants |
5 |
|||
|
Treasury Shares |
5 |
|||
|
Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters |
5 |
|||
|
Register of Members |
5 |
|||
|
Annual Return |
6 |
|||
|
3 |
Share certificates |
6 |
||
|
Issue of share certificates |
6 |
|||
|
Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates |
6 |
|||
|
4 |
Lien on Shares |
6 |
||
|
Nature and scope of lien |
6 |
|||
|
Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien |
7 |
|||
|
Authority to execute instrument of transfer |
7 |
|||
|
Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien |
7 |
|||
|
Application of proceeds of sale |
7 |
|||
|
5 |
Calls on Shares and forfeiture |
8 |
||
|
Power to make calls and effect of calls |
8 |
|||
|
Time when call made |
8 |
|||
|
Liability of joint holders |
8 |
|||
|
Interest on unpaid calls |
8 |
|||
|
Deemed calls |
8 |
|||
|
Power to accept early payment |
8 |
|||
|
Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares |
8 |
|||
|
Notice of default |
9 |
|||
|
Forfeiture or surrender of Shares |
9 |
|||
|
Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender |
9 |
|||
|
Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member |
9 |
|||
|
Evidence of forfeiture or surrender |
10 |
|||
|
Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares |
10 |
|||
|
6 |
Transfer of Shares |
10 |
||
|
Right to transfer |
10 |
|||
|
Suspension of transfers |
10 |
|||
|
Company may retain instrument of transfer |
11 |
|||
|
Notice of refusal to register |
11 |
|||
i
|
Page |
||||
|
7 |
Transmission of Shares |
11 |
||
|
Persons entitled on death of a Member |
11 |
|||
|
Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy |
11 |
|||
|
Indemnity |
11 |
|||
|
Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy |
11 |
|||
|
8 |
Alteration of capital |
12 |
||
|
Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital |
12 |
|||
|
Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares |
12 |
|||
|
Reducing share capital |
12 |
|||
|
9 |
Conversion, redemption and purchase of own Shares |
12 |
||
|
Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares |
12 |
|||
|
Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie |
13 |
|||
|
Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share |
13 |
|||
|
Conversion Rights |
13 |
|||
|
Share Conversions |
13 |
|||
|
10 |
Meetings of Members |
14 |
||
|
Annual and extraordinary general meetings |
14 |
|||
|
Power to call meetings |
14 |
|||
|
Content of notice |
14 |
|||
|
Period of notice |
15 |
|||
|
Persons entitled to receive notice |
15 |
|||
|
Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice |
15 |
|||
|
11 |
Proceedings at meetings of Members |
15 |
||
|
Quorum |
15 |
|||
|
Lack of quorum |
16 |
|||
|
Chairman |
16 |
|||
|
Right of a Director to attend and speak |
16 |
|||
|
Accommodation of Members at meeting |
16 |
|||
|
Security |
16 |
|||
|
Adjournment |
16 |
|||
|
Method of voting |
17 |
|||
|
Outcome of vote by show of hands |
17 |
|||
|
Withdrawal of demand for a poll |
17 |
|||
|
Taking of a poll |
17 |
|||
|
Chairman’s casting vote |
17 |
|||
|
Written resolutions |
17 |
|||
|
Sole-Member Company |
18 |
|||
|
12 |
Voting rights of Members |
18 |
||
|
Right to vote |
18 |
|||
|
Voting Rights |
18 |
|||
|
Rights of joint holders |
18 |
|||
|
Representation of corporate Members |
19 |
|||
|
Member with mental disorder |
19 |
|||
|
Objections to admissibility of votes |
19 |
|||
|
Form of proxy |
19 |
|||
|
How and when proxy is to be delivered |
20 |
|||
|
Voting by proxy |
21 |
|||
ii
|
Page |
||||
|
13 |
Number of Directors |
21 |
||
|
14 |
Appointment, disqualification and removal of Directors |
21 |
||
|
First Directors |
21 |
|||
|
No age limit |
21 |
|||
|
Corporate Directors |
21 |
|||
|
No shareholding qualification |
21 |
|||
|
Appointment of Directors |
21 |
|||
|
Board’s power to appoint Directors |
22 |
|||
|
Eligibility |
22 |
|||
|
Appointment at annual general meeting |
22 |
|||
|
Removal of Directors |
22 |
|||
|
Resignation of Directors |
22 |
|||
|
Termination of the office of Director |
22 |
|||
|
15 |
Alternate Directors |
23 |
||
|
Appointment and removal |
23 |
|||
|
Notices |
23 |
|||
|
Rights of alternate Director |
23 |
|||
|
Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a Director |
23 |
|||
|
Status of alternate Director |
24 |
|||
|
Status of the Director making the appointment |
24 |
|||
|
16 |
Powers of Directors |
24 |
||
|
Powers of Directors |
24 |
|||
|
Directors below the minimum number |
24 |
|||
|
Appointments to office |
24 |
|||
|
Provisions for employees |
25 |
|||
|
Exercise of voting rights |
25 |
|||
|
Remuneration |
25 |
|||
|
Disclosure of information |
25 |
|||
|
17 |
Delegation of powers |
26 |
||
|
Power to delegate any of the Directors’ powers to a committee |
26 |
|||
|
Local boards |
26 |
|||
|
Power to appoint an agent of the Company |
26 |
|||
|
Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company |
26 |
|||
|
Borrowing Powers |
27 |
|||
|
Corporate Governance |
27 |
|||
|
18 |
Meetings of Directors |
27 |
||
|
Regulation of Directors’ meetings |
27 |
|||
|
Calling meetings |
27 |
|||
|
Notice of meetings |
27 |
|||
|
Use of technology |
27 |
|||
|
Quorum |
28 |
|||
|
Chairman or deputy to preside |
28 |
|||
|
Voting |
28 |
|||
|
Recording of dissent |
28 |
|||
|
Written resolutions |
28 |
|||
|
Validity of acts of Directors in spite of formal defect |
28 |
|||
iii
|
Page |
||||
|
19 |
Permissible Directors’ interests and disclosure |
29 |
||
|
20 |
Minutes |
29 |
||
|
21 |
Accounts and audit |
30 |
||
|
Auditors |
30 |
|||
|
22 |
Record dates |
30 |
||
|
23 |
Dividends |
30 |
||
|
Source of dividends |
30 |
|||
|
Declaration of dividends by Members |
30 |
|||
|
Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by Directors |
31 |
|||
|
Apportionment of dividends |
31 |
|||
|
Right of set off |
31 |
|||
|
Power to pay other than in cash |
31 |
|||
|
How payments may be made |
32 |
|||
|
Dividends or other monies not to bear interest in absence of special rights |
32 |
|||
|
Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed |
32 |
|||
|
24 |
Capitalisation of profits |
32 |
||
|
Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve; |
32 |
|||
|
Applying an amount for the benefit of Members |
33 |
|||
|
25 |
Share Premium Account |
33 |
||
|
Directors to maintain share premium account |
33 |
|||
|
Debits to share premium account |
33 |
|||
|
26 |
Seal |
33 |
||
|
Company seal |
33 |
|||
|
Duplicate seal |
33 |
|||
|
When and how seal is to be used |
33 |
|||
|
If no seal is adopted or used |
33 |
|||
|
Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal |
34 |
|||
|
Validity of execution |
34 |
|||
|
27 |
Indemnity |
34 |
||
|
Release |
34 |
|||
|
Insurance |
35 |
|||
|
28 |
Notices |
35 |
||
|
Form of notices |
35 |
|||
|
Electronic communications |
35 |
|||
|
Persons entitled to notices |
36 |
|||
|
Persons authorised to give notices |
36 |
|||
|
Delivery of written notices |
36 |
|||
|
Joint holders |
36 |
|||
|
Signatures |
36 |
|||
|
Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member |
37 |
|||
|
Date of giving notices |
37 |
|||
|
Saving provision |
37 |
|||
iv
|
Page |
||||
|
29 |
Authentication of Electronic Records |
37 |
||
|
Application of Articles |
37 |
|||
|
Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means |
37 |
|||
|
Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means |
38 |
|||
|
Manner of signing |
38 |
|||
|
Saving provision |
38 |
|||
|
30 |
Transfer by way of continuation |
38 |
||
|
31 |
Winding up |
39 |
||
|
Distribution of assets in specie |
39 |
|||
|
No obligation to accept liability |
39 |
|||
|
32 |
Amendment of Memorandum and Articles |
39 |
||
|
Power to change name or amend Memorandum |
39 |
|||
|
Power to amend these Articles |
39 |
|||
v
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Amended and Restated
Articles of Association
of
Shengfeng Development Limited
(Adopted by special resolution passed on [•] 2026)
1 Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A
Definitions
1.1 In these Articles, the following definitions apply:
ADS means an American depository share representing an Ordinary Share;
Articles means, as appropriate:
(a) these articles of association as amended from time to time: or
(b) two or more particular articles of these Articles;
and Article refers to a particular article of these Articles;
Auditors means the auditor or auditors for the time being of the Company;
Board means the board of Directors from time to time;
Business Day means a day when banks in Grand Cayman, the Cayman Islands are open for the transaction of normal banking business and for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the Cayman Islands;
Cayman Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands;
Class A Ordinary Share means an Ordinary Share designated by the directors as a Class A Ordinary Share;
Class B Ordinary Share means an Ordinary Share designated by the directors as a Class B Ordinary Share;
Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:
(a) the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and
(b) the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect;
Commission means Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America or other federal agency for the time being administering the U.S. Securities Act;
Company means the above-named company;
Default Rate means ten per cent per annum;
Designated Stock Exchanges means the Nasdaq Stock Market in the United States of America 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;
Designated Stock Exchange Rules means the relevant code, rules and regulations, as amended, from time to time, applicable as a result of the original and continued listing of any Shares or ADSs on the Designated Stock Exchanges;
1
Directors means the directors for the time being of the Company and the expression Director shall be construed accordingly;
Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Electronic Record has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Fully Paid Up means:
(a) in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; and
(b) in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth;
General Meeting means a general meeting of the Company duly constituted in accordance with the Articles;
Independent Director means a Director who is an independent director as defined in the Designated Stock Exchange Rules as determined by the Board;
Law means the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, including any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force;
Member means any person or persons entered on the register of Members from time to time as the holder of a Share;
Memorandum means the memorandum of association of the Company as amended from time to time;
month means a calendar month;
Officer means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company including a Director, alternate Director or liquidator and excluding the Secretary;
Ordinary Resolution means both (a) a resolution of a General Meeting passed by a simple majority of votes cast by Members who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at that meeting; and (b) a written resolution signed by the holders of Shares entitled to cast a simple majority of the votes that may be cast by the outstanding Shares on the date the Ordinary Resolution is deemed to be passed;
Ordinary Share means an ordinary share in the capital of the Company having the rights set out in these Articles and issued as either a Class A Ordinary Share or as a Class B Ordinary Share. In these Articles the term Ordinary Share shall embrace all classes of Ordinary Share except where reference is made to a specific class;
Partly Paid Up means:
(a) in relation to a Share with par value, that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has not been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; and
(b) in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has not been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth;
Register of Members means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Law and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of the Members;
2
Secretary means a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary;
Share means a share in the capital of the Company and the expression:
(a) includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and
(b) where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a Share;
Special Resolution means a resolution of a General Meeting or a resolution of a meeting of the holders of any class of Shares in a class meeting duly constituted in accordance with the Articles in each case passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of Members who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at that meeting. The expression includes a unanimous written resolution;
Treasury Shares means Shares held in treasury pursuant to the Law and Article 2.13; and
U.S. Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
Interpretation
1.2 In the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) A reference in these Articles to a statute is a reference to a statute of the Cayman Islands as known by its short title, and includes:
(i) any statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and
(ii) any subordinate legislation or regulations issued under that statute.
Without limitation to the preceding sentence, a reference to a revised Law of the Cayman Islands is taken to be a reference to the revision of that Law in force from time to time as amended from time to time.
(b) Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity.
(c) If a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day.
(d) A word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender also denotes the other genders.
(e) A reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency.
(f) Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning.
(g) All references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located.
(h) The words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied.
(i) The words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation.
1.3 The headings in these Articles are intended for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Articles.
3
Exclusion of Table A Articles
1.4 The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Law and any other regulations contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company.
2 Shares
Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights
2.1 Subject to the provisions of the Law and these Articles about the redemption and purchase of the Shares, the Directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
2.2 Without limitation to the preceding Article, the Directors may so deal with the unissued Shares:
(a) either at a premium or at par; or
(b) with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise.
2.3 Without limitation to the two preceding Articles, the Directors may refuse to accept any application for Shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason.
Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees
2.4 The Company may pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person:
(a) subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or
(b) procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional,
for any Shares. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid Up or Partly Paid Up Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.
2.5 The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage.
Trusts not recognised
2.6 Except as required by Law:
(a) no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share on any trust; and
(b) no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share.
Security interests
2.7 Notwithstanding the preceding Article, the Company may (but shall not be obliged to) recognise a security interest of which it has actual notice over shares. The Company shall not be treated as having recognised any such security interest unless it has so agreed in writing with the secured party.
Power to vary class rights
2.8 If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies:
(a) the Members holding not less than two-thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or
(b) the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class.
4
2.9 For the purpose of Article 2.8(b), all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that:
(a) the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and
(b) any Member holding issued Shares of the class, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporate Member, by its duly authorised representative, may demand a poll.
2.10 For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such classes of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares.
Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights
2.11 Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class.
No bearer Shares or warrants
2.12 The Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers.
Treasury Shares
2.13 Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Law shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if:
(a) the Directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and
(b) the relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Law are otherwise complied with.
Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters
2.14 No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to Members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share.
2.15 The Company shall be entered in the register of Members as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However:
(a) the Company shall not be treated as a Member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; and
(b) a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Law.
2.16 Nothing in Article 2.15 prevents an allotment of Shares as Fully Paid Up bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as Fully Paid Up bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares.
2.17 Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Law and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the Directors determine.
Register of Members
2.18 The Directors shall keep or cause to be kept a register of Members as required by the Law and may cause the Company to maintain one or more branch registers as contemplated by the Law, provided that where the Company is maintaining one or more branch registers, the Directors shall ensure that a duplicate of each branch register is kept with the Company’s principal register of Members and updated within such number of days of any amendment having been made to such branch register as may be required by the Law.
5
Annual Return
2.19 The Directors in each calendar year shall prepare or cause to be prepared an annual return and declaration setting forth the particulars required by the Law and shall deliver a copy thereof to the registrar of companies for the Cayman Islands.
3 Share certificates
Issue of share certificates
3.1 A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. If the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued, upon being entered in the register of Members as the holder of a Share, the Directors may issue to any Member:
(a) without payment, one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and
(b) upon payment of such reasonable sum as the Directors may determine for every certificate after the first, several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares.
3.2 Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid Up or Partly Paid Up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the Directors determine.
3.3 Every certificate shall bear legends required under the applicable laws, including the U.S. Securities Act.
3.4 The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.
Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates
3.5 If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to:
(a) evidence;
(b) indemnity;
(c) payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and
(d) payment of a reasonable fee, if any for issuing a replacement share certificate,
as the Directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.
4 Lien on Shares
Nature and scope of lien
4.1 The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid Up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all monies payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate:
(a) either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and
(b) whether or not those monies are presently payable.
4.2 At any time the Board may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article.
6
Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien
4.3 The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable;
(b) the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and
(c) that sum is not paid within fourteen Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles,
and Shares to which this Article 4.3 applies shall be referred to as Lien Default Shares.
4.4 The Lien Default Shares may be sold in such manner as the Board determines.
4.5 To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale.
Authority to execute instrument of transfer
4.6 To give effect to a sale, the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Lien Default Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser.
4.7 The title of the transferee of the Lien Default Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale.
Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien
4.8 On a sale pursuant to the preceding Articles:
(a) the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of Members as the holder of those Lien Default Shares; and
(b) that person shall deliver to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for those Lien Default Shares.
4.9 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 4.8, such person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which, at the date of sale, were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Lien Default Shares. That person shall also be liable to pay interest on those monies from the date of sale until payment at the rate at which interest was payable before that sale or, failing that, at the Default Rate. The Board may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Lien Default Shares at the time of sale or for any consideration received on their disposal.
Application of proceeds of sale
4.10 The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Lien Default Shares have been sold:
(a) if no certificate for the Lien Default Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or
(b) if a certificate for the Lien Default Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation
but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Lien Default Shares before the sale.
7
5 Calls on Shares and forfeiture
Power to make calls and effect of calls
5.1 Subject to the terms of allotment, the Board may make calls on the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on his Shares as required by the notice.
5.2 Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part.
5.3 A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. He shall not be liable for calls made after he is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares.
Time when call made
5.4 A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising the call was passed.
Liability of joint holders
5.5 Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share.
Interest on unpaid calls
5.6 If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid:
(a) at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or
(b) if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate.
The Directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
Deemed calls
5.7 Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.
Power to accept early payment
5.8 The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by him although no part of that amount has been called up.
Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares
5.9 Subject to the terms of allotment, the Directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares.
8
Notice of default
5.10 If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of:
(a) the amount unpaid;
(b) any interest which may have accrued;
(c) any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default.
5.11 The notice shall state the following:
(a) the place where payment is to be made; and
(b) a warning that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited.
Forfeiture or surrender of Shares
5.12 If the notice given pursuant to Article 5.10 is not complied with, the Directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the Board may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture.
Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender
5.13 A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Board determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee.
Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member
5.14 On forfeiture or surrender:
(a) the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of Members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and
(b) that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares.
5.15 Despite the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with:
(a) all expenses; and
(b) interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment:
(i) at the rate of which interest was payable on those monies before forfeiture; or
(ii) if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate.
The Directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.
9
Evidence of forfeiture or surrender
5.16 A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a Director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares:
(a) that the person making the declaration is a Director or Secretary of the Company, and
(b) that the particular Shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date.
Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the Shares.
Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares
5.17 Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares.
6 Transfer of Shares
Right to transfer
6.1 The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, approve and be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and if in respect of a nil or Partly Paid Up Share, or if so required by the Directors, shall also be executed on behalf of the transferee and shall be accompanied by the certificate (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer. The transferor shall be deemed to remain a Member until the name of the transferee is entered in the register of Members in respect of the relevant Shares.
6.2 The Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of Shares which is not Fully Paid Up or on which the Company has a lien.
6.3 The Directors may also, but are not required to, decline to register any transfer of any Share unless:
(a) the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate (if any) for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
(b) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Shares;
(c) the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
(d) in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four;
(e) the Shares transferred are Fully Paid Up and free of any lien in favour of the Company; and
(f) any applicable fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchanges may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the Board may from time to time require, related to the transfer is paid to the Company.
Suspension of transfers
6.4 The registration of transfers may, on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the register of Members closed at such times and for such periods as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, from time to time determine, provided always that such registration of transfer shall not be suspended nor the register of Members closed for more than 30 days in any year.
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Company may retain instrument of transfer
6.5 All instruments of transfer that are registered shall be retained by the Company.
Notice of refusal to register
6.6 If the Directors refuse to register a transfer of any Shares, they shall within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with the Company send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of the refusal.
7 Transmission of Shares
Persons entitled on death of a Member
7.1 If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following:
(a) where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and
(b) where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives.
7.2 Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder.
Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy
7.3 A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following:
(a) to become the holder of the Share; or
(b) to transfer the Share to another person.
7.4 That person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the Directors may properly require.
7.5 If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer.
7.6 If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then:
(a) if the Share is Fully Paid Up, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and
(b) if the Share is nil or Partly Paid Up, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer.
7.7 All the Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer.
Indemnity
7.8 A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the Directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the Directors as a result of that registration.
Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy
7.9 A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the Share. But, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares.
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8 Alteration of capital
Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital
8.1 To the fullest extent permitted by the Law, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose:
(a) increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution;
(b) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares;
(c) convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination;
(d) sub-divide its Shares or any of them into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and
(e) cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided.
Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares
8.2 Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the Directors may on behalf of those Members deal with the fractions as it thinks fit, including (without limitation):
(a) either round up or down the fraction to the nearest whole number, such rounding to be determined by the Directors acting in their sole discretion; or
(b) sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company); and
(c) distribute the net proceeds in due proportion among those Members.
8.3 For the purposes of Article 8.2, the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall the transferee’s title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in respect of the sale.
Reducing share capital
8.4 Subject to the Law and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way.
9 Conversion, redemption and purchase of own Shares
Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares
9.1 Subject to the Law and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may by its Directors:
(a) issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its Directors determine before the issue of those Shares;
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(b) with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the Directors determine at the time of such variation; and
(c) purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and in the manner which the Directors determine at the time of such purchase.
The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Law, including out of any combination of the following: capital, its profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.
Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie
9.2 When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the Directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 9.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares.
Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share
9.3 Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share:
(a) the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive:
(i) the price for the Share; and
(ii) any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase;
(b) the Member’s name shall be removed from the register of Members with respect to the Share; and
(c) the Share shall be cancelled or held as a Treasury Share, as the Directors may determine.
9.4 For the purpose of Article 9.3, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the Member’s name is removed from the register of Members with respect to the Shares the subject of the redemption or purchase.
Conversion Rights
9.5 Each Class B Ordinary Share shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such Share, at the office of the Company or any transfer agent for such Shares, into one fully paid and non-assessable Class A Ordinary Share.
9.6 The Directors shall at all times reserve and keep available out of the Company’s authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares, such number of its Class A Ordinary Shares as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares; and if at any time the number of authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holders of such Class B Ordinary Shares, the Directors will take such action as may be necessary to increase its authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares to such number of Shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes.
Share Conversions
9.7 All conversions of Class B Ordinary Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares shall be effected by way of redemption or repurchase by the Company of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares and the simultaneous issue of Class A Ordinary Shares in consideration for such redemption or repurchase. The Members and the Company will procure that any and all necessary corporate actions are taken to effect such conversion.
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10 Meetings of Members
Annual and extraordinary general meetings
10.1 The Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules) be obligated to, in each year hold a general meeting as an annual general meeting, which, if held, shall be convened by the Board, in accordance with these Articles.
10.2 All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.
Power to call meetings
10.3 The Directors may call a general meeting at any time.
10.4 If there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, the Directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional Directors.
10.5 The Directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles.
10.6 The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold at least ten per cent of the rights to vote at such general meeting.
10.7 The requisition must also:
(a) specify the purpose of the meeting.
(b) be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners; and
(c) be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions.
10.8 Should the Directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days’ from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period.
10.9 Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least five per cent of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional Directors.
10.10 If the Members call a meeting under the above provisions, the Company shall reimburse their reasonable expenses.
Content of notice
10.11 Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following:
(a) the place, the date and the hour of the meeting;
(b) if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting;
(c) subject to paragraph (d) and the requirements of (to the extent applicable) the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, the general nature of the business to be transacted; and
(d) if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution.
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10.12 In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements:
(a) that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and
(b) that a proxyholder need not be a Member.
Period of notice
10.13 At least twenty-one Clear Days’ notice of an annual general meeting must be given to Members. For any other general meeting, at least fourteen Clear Days’ notice must be given to Members.
10.14 Subject to the Law, a meeting may be convened on shorter notice, subject to the Law with the consent of the Member or Members who, individually or collectively, hold at least ninety per cent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at that meeting.
Persons entitled to receive notice
10.15 Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people:
(a) the Members
(b) persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member;
(c) the Directors; and
(d) the Auditors.
10.16 The Board may determine that the Members entitled to receive notice of a meeting are those persons entered on the register of Members at the close of business on a day determined by the Board.
Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice
10.17 Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following:
(a) an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or
(b) non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice.
10.18 In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published:
(a) in a different place on the website; or
(b) for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.
11 Proceedings at meetings of Members
Quorum
11.1 Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. A quorum is as follows:
(a) if the Company has only one Member: that Member;
(b) if the Company has more than one Member: one or more Members holding Shares that represent not less than one-third of the outstanding Shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting.
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Lack of quorum
11.2 If a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply:
(a) If the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled.
(b) In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the Directors. If a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the Members present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum.
Chairman
11.3 The chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the Board or such other Director as the Directors have nominated to chair Board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the Board. Absent any such person being present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting.
11.4 If no Director is present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no Director is willing to act as chairman, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting.
Right of a Director to attend and speak
11.5 Even if a Director is not a Member, he shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Members holding a particular class of Shares.
Accommodation of Members at meeting
11.6 lf it appears to the chairman of the meeting that the meeting place specified in the notice convening the meeting is inadequate to accommodate all Members entitled and wishing to attend, the meeting will be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chairman is satisfied that adequate facilities are available to ensure that a Member who is unable to be accommodated is able (whether at the meeting place or elsewhere):
(a) to participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened;
(b) to hear and see all persons present who speak (whether by the use of microphones, loud-speakers, audio-visual communications equipment or otherwise); and
(c) to be heard and seen by all other persons present in the same way.
Security
11.7 In addition to any measures which the Board may be required to take due to the location or venue of the meeting, the Board may make any arrangement and impose any restriction it considers appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances to ensure the security of a meeting including, without limitation, the searching of any person attending the meeting and the imposing of restrictions on the items of personal property that may be taken into the meeting place. The Board may refuse entry to, or eject from, a meeting a person who refuses to comply with any such arrangements or restrictions.
Adjournment
11.8 The chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting with the consent of the Members constituting a quorum. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting.
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11.9 Should a meeting be adjourned for more than 7 Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least seven Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment.
Method of voting
11.10 A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before, or on, the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll is duly demanded. Subject to the Law, a poll may be demanded:
(a) by the chairman of the meeting;
(b) by at least two Members having the right to vote on the resolutions;
(c) by any Member or Members present who, individually or collectively, hold at least ten per cent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote on the resolution.
Outcome of vote by show of hands
11.11 Unless a poll is duly demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
Withdrawal of demand for a poll
11.12 The demand for a poll may be withdrawn before the poll is taken, but only with the consent of the chairman. The chairman shall announce any such withdrawal to the meeting and, unless another person forthwith demands a poll, any earlier show of hands on that resolution shall be treated as the vote on that resolution; if there has been no earlier show of hands, then the resolution shall be put to the vote of the meeting.
Taking of a poll
11.13 A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately.
11.14 A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman directs, not being more than thirty Clear Days after the poll was demanded.
11.15 The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded.
11.16 A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur.
Chairman’s casting vote
11.17 In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the Chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.
Written resolutions
11.18 Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met:
(a) all Members entitled to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members;
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(b) in the case of an Ordinary Resolution, the holders of Shares entitled to cast a simple majority of the votes that may be cast by the outstanding Shares on the date the resolution is passed, or in the case of a Special Resolution, all Members entitled so to vote;
(i) sign a document; or
(ii) sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and
(c) the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose.
(d) Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held.
11.19 If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly.
11.20 The Directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll.
Sole-Member Company
11.21 If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it.
12 Voting rights of Members
Right to vote
12.1 Subject to the following, unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares.
Voting Rights
12.2 The holder of an Ordinary Share shall (in respect of such Ordinary Share) have the right to receive notice of, attend at and vote as a Member at any general meeting of the Company.
12.3 Each holder of Ordinary Shares shall, on a poll, be entitled to one vote for each Share he or she holds save that each holder of Class B Ordinary Shares shall, on a poll, be entitled to exercise ten (10) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share he or she holds on any and all matters.
12.4 Members may vote in person or by proxy.
12.5 On a show of hands, every Member shall have one vote. For the avoidance of doubt, an individual who represents two or more Members, including a Member in that individual’s own right, that individual shall be entitled to a separate vote for each Member.
12.6 No Member is bound to vote on his Shares or any of them; nor is he bound to vote each of his Shares in the same way.
Rights of joint holders
12.7 If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the register of Members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder.
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Representation of corporate Members
12.8 Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative.
12.9 A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing.
12.10 The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used.
12.11 The Directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice.
12.12 Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member.
12.13 A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the Directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.
Member with mental disorder
12.14 A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court.
12.15 For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the Directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable.
Objections to admissibility of votes
12.16 An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive.
Form of proxy
12.17 An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the Directors.
12.18 The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways:
(a) by the Member; or
(b) by the Member’s authorised attorney; or
(c) if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised officer, secretary or attorney.
If the Directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying the Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.
12.19 The Directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy.
12.20 A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with Article 12.18.
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12.21 No revocation by a Member of the appointment of a proxy made in accordance with Article 12.20 will affect the validity of any acts carried out by the relevant proxy before the Directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.
How and when proxy is to be delivered
12.22 Subject to the following Articles, the Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the Directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways:
(a) In the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post:
(i) to the registered office of the Company; or
(ii) to such other place within the Cayman Islands specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting.
(b) If, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified:
(i) in the notice convening the meeting; or
(ii) in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or
(iii) in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting.
(c) Notwithstanding Article 12.22(a) and Article 12.22(b), the chairman of the Company may, in any event at his discretion, direct that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited.
12.23 Where a poll is taken:
(a) if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered in accordance with Article 12.22 before the time appointed for the taking of the poll;
(b) if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered in accordance with Article 12.22 before the time appointed for the taking of the poll.
12.24 If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid.
12.25 When two or more valid but differing appointments of proxy are delivered or received in respect of the same Share for use at the same meeting and in respect of the same matter, the one which is last validly delivered or received (regardless of its date or of the date of its execution) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the other or others as regards that Share. lf the Company is unable to determine which appointment was last validly delivered or received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that Share.
12.26 The Board may at the expense of the Company send forms of appointment of proxy to the Members by post (that is to say, pre-paying and posting a letter), or by Electronic communication or otherwise (with or without provision for their return by pre-paid post) for use at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of Shares, either blank or nominating as proxy in the alternative any one or more of the Directors or any other person. lf for the purpose of any meeting invitations to appoint as proxy a person or one of a number of persons specified in the invitations are issued at the Company’s expense, they shall be issued
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to all (and not to some only) of the Members entitled to be sent notice of the meeting and to vote at it. The accidental omission to send such a form of appointment or to give such an invitation to, or the non-receipt of such form of appointment by, any Member entitled to attend and vote at a meeting shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting
Voting by proxy
12.27 A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid.
12.28 The instrument appointing a proxy to vote at a meeting shall be deemed also to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll and, for the purposes of Article 11.11, a demand by a person as proxy for a Member shall be the same as a demand by a Member. Such appointment shall not confer any further right to speak at the meeting, except with the permission of the chairman of the meeting.
13 Number of Directors
13.1 There shall be a Board consisting of not less than one person provided however that the Company may by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the limits in the number of Directors. Unless fixed by Ordinary Resolution, the maximum number of Directors shall be unlimited.
14 Appointment, disqualification and removal of Directors
First Directors
14.1 The first Directors shall be appointed in writing by the subscriber or subscribers to the Memorandum, or a majority of them.
No age limit
14.2 There is no age limit for Directors save that they must be at least eighteen years of age.
Corporate Directors
14.3 Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a Director. If a body corporate is a Director, the Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Articles about Directors’ meetings.
No shareholding qualification
14.4 Unless a shareholding qualification for Directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no Director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of his appointment.
Appointment of Directors
14.5 A Director may be appointed by Ordinary Resolution or by the Directors. Any appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director.
14.6 A remaining Director may appoint a Director even though there is not a quorum of Directors.
14.7 No appointment can cause the number of Directors to exceed the maximum (if one is set); and any such appointment shall be invalid.
14.8 For so long as Shares or ADSs are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, the Directors shall include at least such number of Independent Directors as applicable law, rules or regulations or the Designated Stock Exchange Rules require as determined by the Board.
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Board’s power to appoint Directors
14.9 Without prejudice to the Company’s power to appoint a person to be a Director pursuant to these Articles, the Board shall have power at any time to appoint any person who is willing to act as a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board, subject to the total number of Directors not exceeding any maximum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles.
14.10 Any Director so appointed shall, if still a Director, retire at the next annual general meeting after his appointment and be eligible to stand for election as a Director at such meeting.
Eligibility
14.11 No person (other than a Director retiring in accordance with these Articles) shall be appointed or re-appointed a Director at any general meeting unless:
(a) he is recommended by the Board; or
(b) not less than seven nor more than forty-two Clear Days before the date appointed for the meeting, a Member (other than the person to be proposed) entitled to vote at the meeting has given to the Company notice of his intention to propose a resolution for the appointment of that person, stating the particulars which would, if he were so appointed, be required to be included in the Company’s register of Directors and a notice executed by that person of his willingness to be appointed.
Appointment at annual general meeting
14.12 Unless re-appointed pursuant to the provisions of Article 14.5 or removed from office pursuant to the provisions of Article 14.13, each Director shall be appointed for a term expiring at the next-following annual general meeting of the Company. At any such annual general meeting, Directors will be elected by Ordinary Resolution. At each annual general meeting of the Company, each Director elected at such meeting shall be elected to hold office for a one-year term and until the election of their respective successors in office or removal pursuant to Articles 14.5 and 14.13.
Removal of Directors
14.13 A Director may be removed by Ordinary Resolution.
Resignation of Directors
14.14 A Director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions.
14.15 Unless the notice specifies a different date, the Director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company.
Termination of the office of Director
14.16 A Director may retire from office as a Director by giving notice in writing to that effect to the Company at the registered office, which notice shall be effective upon such date as may be specified in the notice, failing which upon delivery to the registered office.
14.17 Without prejudice to the provisions in these Articles for retirement (by rotation or otherwise), a Director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if:
(a) he is prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands from acting as a Director; or
(b) he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or
(c) he resigns his office by notice to the Company; or
(d) he only held office as a Director for a fixed term and such term expires; or
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(e) in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a Director; or
(f) he is given notice by the majority of the other Directors (not being less than two in number) to vacate office (without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such Director); or
(g) he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or
(h) without the consent of the other Directors, he is absent from meetings of Directors for a continuous period of six months.
15 Alternate Directors
Appointment and removal
15.1 Any Director may appoint any other person, including another Director, to act in his place as an alternate Director. No appointment shall take effect until the Director has given notice of the appointment to the Board.
15.2 A Director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the Director has given notice of the revocation to the Board.
15.3 A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be effective only if given to the Company by one or more of the following methods:
(a) by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions contained in these Articles;
(b) if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 29.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine;
(c) if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 29.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or
(d) if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing.
Notices
15.4 All notices of meetings of Directors shall continue to be given to the appointing Director and not to the alternate.
Rights of alternate Director
15.5 An alternate Director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any Board meeting or meeting of a committee of the Directors at which the appointing Director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing Director in his absence. An alternate Director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate Director.
Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a Director
15.6 An alternate Director shall cease to be an alternate Director if:
(a) the Director who appointed him ceases to be a Director; or
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(b) the Director who appointed him revokes his appointment by notice delivered to the Board or to the registered office of the Company or in any other manner approved by the Board; or
(c) in any event happens in relation to him which, if he were a Director of the Company, would cause his office as Director to be vacated.
Status of alternate Director
15.7 An alternate Director shall carry out all functions of the Director who made the appointment.
15.8 Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate Director shall be treated as a Director under these Articles.
15.9 An alternate Director is not the agent of the Director appointing him.
15.10 An alternate Director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate Director.
Status of the Director making the appointment
15.11 A Director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company.
16 Powers of Directors
Powers of Directors
16.1 Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Memorandum and these Articles the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company.
16.2 No prior act of the Directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Law, Members may, by Special Resolution, validate any prior or future act of the Directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.
Directors below the minimum number
16.3 lf the number of Directors is less than the minimum prescribed in accordance with these Articles, the remaining Director or Directors shall act only for the purposes of appointing an additional Director or Directors to make up such minimum or of convening a general meeting of the Company for the purpose of making such appointment. lf there are no Director or Directors able or willing to act, any two Members may summon a general meeting for the purpose of appointing Directors. Any additional Director so appointed shall hold office (subject to these Articles) only until the dissolution of the annual general meeting next following such appointment unless he is re-elected during such meeting.
Appointments to office
16.4 The Directors may appoint a Director:
(a) as chairman of the Board;
(b) as managing Director;
(c) to any other executive office,
for such period, and on such terms, including as to remuneration as they think fit.
16.5 The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office.
16.6 Where a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of Directors.
16.7 If there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chairman; or the Directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chairman should he ever not be available.
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16.8 Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Directors may also appoint and remove any person, who need not be a Director:
(a) as Secretary; and
(b) to any office that may be required
for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit. In the case of an Officer, that Officer may be given any title the Directors decide.
16.9 The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office.
16.10 A Director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not the hold the office, or perform the services, of auditor.
Provisions for employees
16.11 The Board may make provision for the benefit of any persons employed or formerly employed by the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings (or any member of his family or any person who is dependent on him) in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings.
Exercise of voting rights
16.12 The Board may exercise the voting power conferred by the Shares in any body corporate held or owned by the Company in such manner in all respects as it thinks fit (including, without limitation, the exercise of that power in favour of any resolution appointing any Director as a Director of such body corporate, or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration to the Directors of such body corporate).
Remuneration
16.13 Every Director may be remunerated by the Company for the services he provides for the benefit of the Company, whether as Director, employee or otherwise, and shall be entitled to be paid for the expenses incurred in the Company’s business including attendance at Directors’ meetings.
16.14 Until otherwise determined by the Company by Ordinary Resolution, the Directors (other than alternate Directors) shall be entitled to such remuneration by way of fees for their services in the office of Director as the Directors may determine.
16.15 Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the Director or to any other person connected to or related to him.
16.16 Unless his fellow Directors determine otherwise, a Director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings.
Disclosure of information
16.17 The Directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the register of Members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any Director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in his possession) if:
(a) the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or
(b) such disclosure is in compliance with the Designated Stock Exchange Rules; or
(c) such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or
(d) the Directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations.
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17 Delegation of powers
Power to delegate any of the Directors’ powers to a committee
17.1 The Directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members. Persons on the committee may include non-Directors so long as the majority of those persons are Directors. Any such committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as required from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules or otherwise required by applicable law.
17.2 The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the Directors’ own powers.
17.3 The delegation may be on such terms as the Directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the Directors at will.
17.4 Unless otherwise permitted by the Directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by Directors.
17.5 The Board shall establish an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in these Articles. Each of the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee shall consist of at least three Directors (or such larger minimum number as may be required from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules). The majority of the committee members on each of the compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee shall be Independent Directors. The audit committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as required from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules or otherwise required by applicable law.
Local boards
17.6 The Board may establish any local or divisional board or agency for managing any of the affairs of the Company whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere and may appoint any persons to be members of a local or divisional Board, or to be managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration.
17.7 The Board may delegate to any local or divisional board, manager or agent any of its powers and authorities (with power to sub-delegate) and may authorise the members of any local or divisional board or any of them to fill any vacancies and to act notwithstanding vacancies.
17.8 Any appointment or delegation under this Article 17.8 may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board thinks fit and the Board may remove any person so appointed, and may revoke or vary any delegation.
Power to appoint an agent of the Company
17.9 The Directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The Directors may make that appointment:
(a) by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or
(b) in any other manner they determine.
Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company
17.10 The Directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be:
(a) for any purpose;
(b) with the powers, authorities and discretions;
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(c) for the period; and
(d) subject to such conditions
as they think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the Directors under these Articles. The Directors may do so by power of attorney or any other manner they think fit.
17.11 Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the Directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person.
17.12 The Board may remove any person appointed under Article 17.10 and may revoke or vary the delegation.
Borrowing Powers
17.13 The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets both present and future and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or its parent undertaking (if any) or any subsidiary undertaking of the Company or of any third party.
Corporate Governance
17.14 The Board may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives of the Company, which shall be intended to set forth the guiding principles and policies of the Company and the Board on various corporate governance related matters as the Board shall determine by resolution from time to time.
18 Meetings of Directors
Regulation of Directors’ meetings
18.1 Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit.
Calling meetings
18.2 Any Director may call a meeting of Directors at any time. The Secretary must call a meeting of the Directors if requested to do so by a Director.
Notice of meetings
18.3 Notice of a Board meeting may be given to a Director personally or by word of mouth or given in writing or by Electronic communications at such address as he may from time to time specify for this purpose (or, if he does not specify an address, at his last known address). A Director may waive his right to receive notice of any meeting either prospectively or retrospectively.
Use of technology
18.4 A Director may participate in a meeting of Directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting.
18.5 A Director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
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Quorum
18.6 The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of Directors shall be two unless the Directors fix some other number.
Chairman or deputy to preside
18.7 The Board may appoint a chairman and one or more deputy chairman or chairmen and may at any time revoke any such appointment.
18.8 The chairman, or failing him any deputy chairman (the longest in office taking precedence if more than one is present), shall preside at all Board meetings. If no chairman or deputy chairman has been appointed, or if he is not present within five minutes after the time fixed for holding the meeting, or is unwilling to act as chairman of the meeting, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to act as chairman of the meeting.
Voting
18.9 A question which arises at a Board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chairman may, if he wishes, exercise a casting vote.
Recording of dissent
18.10 A Director present at a meeting of Directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless:
(a) his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or
(b) he has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or
(c) he has forwarded to the Company as soon as practical following the conclusion of that meeting signed dissent.
A Director who votes in favour of an action is not entitled to record his dissent to it.
Written resolutions
18.11 The Directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all Directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Directors.
18.12 A written resolution signed by a validly appointed alternate Director need not also be signed by the appointing Director.
18.13 A written resolution signed personally by the appointing Director need not also be signed by his alternate.
18.14 A resolution in writing passed pursuant to Article 18.11, Article 18.12 and/or Article 18.13 shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last Director signs (and for the avoidance of doubt, such day may or may not be a Business Day).
Validity of acts of Directors in spite of formal defect
18.15 All acts done by a meeting of the Board, or of a committee of the Board, or by any person acting as a Director or an alternate Director, shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director or alternate Director or member of the committee, or that any of them were disqualified or had vacated office or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and qualified and had continued to be a Director or alternate Director and had been entitled to vote.
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19 Permissible Directors’ interests and disclosure
19.1 A Director shall not, as a Director, vote in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which (together with any interest of any person connected with him) is a material interest (otherwise then by virtue of his interests, direct or indirect, in Shares or debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, the Company) and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted, nor in relation thereto shall he be counted in the quorum present at the meeting, but (in the absence of some other material interest than is mentioned below) none of these prohibitions shall apply to:
(a) the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity in respect of:
(i) money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or
(ii) a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which the Director himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly with others under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
(b) where the Company or any of its subsidiaries is offering securities in which offer the Director is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which the Director is to or may participate;
(c) any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal affecting any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer, shareholder, creditor or otherwise howsoever, provided that he (together with persons connected with him) does not to his knowledge hold an interest representing one per cent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such body corporate (or of any third body corporate through which his interest is derived) or of the voting rights available to members of the relevant body corporate (any such interest being deemed for the purposes of this Article 19.1 to be a material interest in all circumstances);
(d) any act or thing done or to be done in respect of any arrangement for the benefit of the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under which he is not accorded as a Director any privilege or advantage not generally accorded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates; or
(e) any matter connected with the purchase or maintenance for any Director of insurance against any liability or (to the extent permitted by the Law) indemnities in favour of Directors, the funding of expenditure by one or more Directors in defending proceedings against him or them or the doing of any thing to enable such Director or Directors to avoid incurring such expenditure.
19.2 A Director may, as a Director, vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which is not a material interest or which falls within Article 19.1.
20 Minutes
20.1 The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books of:
(a) all appointments of Officers and committees made by the Board and of any such Officer’s remuneration; and
(b) the names of Directors present at every meeting of the Directors, a committee of the Board, the Company or the holders of any class of shares or debentures, and all orders, resolutions and proceedings of such meetings.
20.2 Any such minutes, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the proceedings were held or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting or the Secretary, shall be prima facie evidence of the matters stated in them.
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21 Accounts and audit
21.1 The Directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Law.
21.2 The books of account shall be kept at the registered office of the Company and shall always be open to inspection by the Directors. No Member (other than a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by the Law or as authorised by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution.
21.3 Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on [30 June] in each year and begin on [1 July] in each year.
Auditors
21.4 The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine.
21.5 At any general meeting convened and held at any time in accordance with these Articles, the Members may, by Ordinary Resolution, remove the Auditor before the expiration of his term of office. If they do so, the Members shall, by Ordinary Resolution, at that meeting appoint another Auditor in his stead for the remainder of his term.
21.6 The Auditors shall examine such books, accounts and vouchers; as may be necessary for the performance of their duties.
21.7 The Auditors shall, if so requested by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment, and at any time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Company.
22 Record dates
22.1 Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the resolution declaring a dividend on Shares of any class, whether it be an Ordinary Resolution of the Members or a Director’s resolution, may specify that the dividend is payable or distributable to the persons registered as the holders of those Shares at the close of business on a particular date, notwithstanding that the date may be a date prior to that on which the resolution is passed.
22.2 If the resolution does so specify, the dividend shall be payable or distributable to the persons registered as the holders of those Shares at the close of business on the specified date in accordance with their respective holdings so registered, but without prejudice to the rights inter se in respect of the dividend of transferors and transferees of any of those Shares.
22.3 The provisions of this Article apply, mutatis mutandis, to bonuses, capitalisation issues, distributions of realised capital profits or offers or grants made by the Company to the Members.
23 Dividends
Source of dividends
23.1 Dividends may be declared and paid out of any funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution.
23.2 Subject to the requirements of the Law regarding the application of a company’s Share premium account and with the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution, dividends may also be declared and paid out of any share premium account.
Declaration of dividends by Members
23.3 Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors.
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Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by Directors
23.4 The Directors may declare and pay interim dividends or recommend final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid.
23.5 Subject to the provisions of the Law, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies:
(a) Upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the Directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made.
(b) Upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the Directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution.
If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim.
23.6 In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies:
(a) If the share capital is divided into different classes, the Directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears.
(b) The Directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment.
(c) If the Directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights.
Apportionment of dividends
23.7 Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts Paid Up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount Paid Up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. But if a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly.
Right of set off
23.8 The Directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share.
Power to pay other than in cash
23.9 If the Directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the Directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following:
(a) issue fractional Shares;
(b) fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and
(c) vest some assets in trustees.
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How payments may be made
23.10 A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways:
(a) if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose — by wire transfer to that bank account; or
(b) by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share.
23.11 For the purposes of Article 23.10(a), the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purposes of Article 23.10(b), subject to any applicable law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company.
23.12 If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows:
(a) to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the register of Members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or
(b) to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record.
23.13 Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share.
Dividends or other monies not to bear interest in absence of special rights
23.14 Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest.
Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed
23.15 If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the Directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member.
23.16 A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company.
24 Capitalisation of profits
Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve;
24.1 The Directors may resolve to capitalise:
(a) any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or
(b) any sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any.
24.2 The amount resolved to be capitalised must be appropriated to the Members who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions. The benefit to each Member so entitled must be given in either or both of the following ways::
(a) by paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares;
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(b) by issuing Fully Paid Up Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The Directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of Partly Paid Up Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain Partly Paid Up.
Applying an amount for the benefit of Members
24.3 The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend.
24.4 Subject to the Law, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture or other security is allocated to a Member, the Directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction.
25 Share Premium Account
Directors to maintain share premium account
25.1 The Directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Law. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Law.
Debits to share premium account
25.2 The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account:
(a) on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and
(b) any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Law.
25.3 Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the Directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Law, out of capital.
26 Seal
Company seal
26.1 The Company may have a seal if the Directors so determine.
Duplicate seal
26.2 Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company may also have a duplicate seal or seals for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands. Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the Directors so determine, a duplicate seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used.
When and how seal is to be used
26.3 A seal may only be used by the authority of the Directors. Unless the Directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways:
(a) by a Director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or
(b) by a single Director (or his alternate).
If no seal is adopted or used
26.4 If the Directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner:
(a) by a Director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or
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(b) by a single Director (or his alternate); or
(c) in any other manner permitted by the Law.
Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal
26.5 The Directors may determine that either or both of the following applies:
(a) that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction;
(b) that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature.
Validity of execution
26.6 If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the Director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company.
27 Indemnity
27.1 To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against:
(a) all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Director’s (including alternate Director’s), Secretary’s or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and
(b) without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
No such existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.
27.2 To the extent permitted by Law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in Article 27.1 on condition that the Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or that Officer for those legal costs.
Release
27.3 To the extent permitted by Law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own dishonesty.
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Insurance
27.4 To the extent permitted by Law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the Directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty:
(a) an existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of:
(i) the Company;
(ii) a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company;
(iii) a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and
(b) a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested.
28 Notices
Form of notices
28.1 Save where these Articles provide otherwise, and subject to the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be:
(a) in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or
(b) subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or
(c) where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website.
Electronic communications
28.2 A notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if:
(a) the Directors so resolve;
(b) the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and
(c) the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those Directors who were absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed.
If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified.
28.3 A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent.
28.4 Subject to the Law, the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and to any other rules which the Company is bound to follow, the Company may also send any notice or other document pursuant to these Articles to a Member by publishing that notice or other document on a website where:
(a) the Company and the Member have agreed to his having access to the notice or document on a website (instead of it being sent to him);
(b) the notice or document is one to which that agreement applies;
(c) the Member is notified (in accordance with any requirements laid down by the Law and, in a manner for the time being agreed between him and the Company for the purpose) of:
(i) the publication of the notice or document on a website;
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(ii) the address of that website; and
(iii) the place on that website where the notice or document may be accessed, and how it may be accessed; and
(d) the notice or document is published on that website throughout the publication period, provided that, if the notice or document is published on that website for a part, but not all of, the publication period, the notice or document shall be treated as being published throughout that period if the failure to publish that notice of document throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the Company to prevent or avoid. For the purposes of this Article 28.4 “publication period” means a period of not less than twenty-one days, beginning on the day on which the notification referred to in Article 28.4(c) is deemed sent.
Persons entitled to notices
28.5 Any notice or other document to be given to a Member may be given by reference to the register of Members as it stands at any time within the period of twenty-one days before the day that the notice is given or (where and as applicable) within any other period permitted by, or in accordance with the requirements of, (to the extent applicable) the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and/or the Designated Stock Exchanges. No change in the register of Members after that time shall invalidate the giving of such notice or document or require the Company to give such item to any other person.
Persons authorised to give notices
28.6 A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a Director or company secretary of the Company or a Member.
Delivery of written notices
28.7 Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or Director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office.
Joint holders
28.8 Where Members are joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to the Member whose name first appears in the register of Members.
Signatures
28.9 A written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its execution or adoption by the giver.
28.10 An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature.
Evidence of transmission
28.11 A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver.
28.12 A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient.
28.13 A Member present, either in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company or of the holders of any class of Shares shall be deemed to have received due notice of the meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which it was called.
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Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member
28.14 A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled.
28.15 Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.
Date of giving notices
28.16 A notice is given on the date identified in the following table
|
Method for giving notices |
When taken to be given |
|
|
(A) Personally |
At the time and date of delivery |
|
|
(B) By leaving it at the Member’s registered address |
At the time and date it was left |
|
|
(C) By posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient |
48 hours after the date it was posted |
|
|
(D) By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address |
48 hours after the date it was sent |
|
|
(E) By publication on a website |
24 hours after the date on which the Member is deemed to have been notified of the publication of the notice or document on the website |
Saving provision
28.17 None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from the Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of Directors and written resolutions of Members.
29 Authentication of Electronic Records
Application of Articles
29.1 Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a Director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 29.2 or Article 29.4 applies.
Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means
29.2 An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and
(b) the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and
(c) Article 29.7 does not apply.
29.3 For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 28.7 applies.
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Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means
29.4 An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and
(b) the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and
(c) Article 29.7 does not apply.
This Article 29.4 applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in his own right or as a representative of the Company.
29.5 For example, where a sole Director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Director unless Article 29.7 applies.
Manner of signing
29.6 For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles.
Saving provision
29.7 A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably:
(a) believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or
(b) believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or
(c) otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document
and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.
30 Transfer by way of continuation
30.1 The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside:
(a) the Cayman Islands; or
(b) such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing.
30.2 To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the Directors may cause the following:
(a) an application be made to the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and
(b) all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company.
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31 Winding up
Distribution of assets in specie
31.1 If the Company is wound up the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Law, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:
(a) to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members; and/or
(b) to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up.
No obligation to accept liability
31.2 No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them.
31.3 The Directors are authorised to present a winding up petition
31.4 The Directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.
32 Amendment of Memorandum and Articles
Power to change name or amend Memorandum
32.1 Subject to the Law, the Company may, by Special Resolution:
(a) change its name; or
(b) change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum.
Power to amend these Articles
32.2 Subject to the Law and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part.
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