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REGULATIONS AND INTERPRETATION
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5 |
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1.
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Interpretation
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5
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2.
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Model Articles not to apply
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8
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SHARE CAPITAL
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8
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3.
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Share Capital
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8
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COMPANY BUSINESS
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8
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VARIATION OF CLASS RIGHTS
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8
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5.
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Sanction to variation
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8
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6.
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Deemed variation
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9
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SHARES
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9
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7.
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Allotment of shares
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9
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8.
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Purchase of own shares
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10
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9.
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Commission and brokerage
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10
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10.
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Trusts not to be recognised
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10
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SHARE CERTIFICATES
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10
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11.
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Share certificates
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10
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12.
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Replacement of share certificate
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11
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ISSUE OF SHARES
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11
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13.
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Uncertificated shares
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11
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14.
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Relevant Class
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12 |
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CALLS ON SHARES
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12
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15.
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Calls
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12
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16.
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Payment
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13
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17.
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Interest on calls
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13
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18.
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Sums treated as calls
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13
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19.
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Power to differentiate
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13
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20.
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Payment in advance of calls
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13
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FORFEITURE, SURRENDER, LIEN AND UNTRACED MEMBERS
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14
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21.
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Notice if call not paid
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14
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22.
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Forfeiture for non-compliance
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14
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23.
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Disposal of forfeited shares
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14
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24.
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Effect of forfeiture
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14
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25.
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Lien
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14
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26.
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Enforcement of lien by sale
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15
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27.
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Application of proceeds of sale
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15
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28.
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Untraced members
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15
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29.
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Evidence of forfeiture
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16
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TRANSFER OF SHARES
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17
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30.
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Transfer of title and interest
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17
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31.
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Transfer of shares
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17
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32.
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Right to refuse registration
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17
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33.
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Notice of refusal
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17
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34.
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Closing of register
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17
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35.
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Fees on registration
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18
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36.
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Retention
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18
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37.
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Transfer by renunciation
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18
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TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
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18
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38.
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On death
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18
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39.
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Election of person entitled by transmission
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18
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40.
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Transfer notice
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18
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41.
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Rights on transmission
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19
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INCREASE OF CAPITAL
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19
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42.
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Increase of Capital
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19
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43.
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New Shares
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19
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ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
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19
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44.
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Alteration
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19
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GENERAL MEETINGS
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20
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45.
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Annual general meetings
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20
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46.
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General meetings
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20
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47.
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Notice of general meetings
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20
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48.
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Statement
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21
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49.
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Omission of notice
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21
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PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
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21
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50.
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Business of meetings
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21
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51.
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Notice of resolution
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21
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52.
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Quorum
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21
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53.
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Quorum not present
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21
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54.
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Chairman
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22
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55.
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Power to adjourn
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22
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56.
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Directors may attend and speak
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22
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57.
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Amendment
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22
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VOTES OF MEMBERS
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23
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58.
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Votes
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23
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59.
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Joint holders
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23
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60.
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Vote by proxy
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23
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61.
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Restriction on voting rights
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23
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62.
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Objection to error in voting
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23
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63.
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Votes on a poll
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23
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POLLS
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24
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64.
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Method of voting
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24
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65.
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Proxy
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24
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66.
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Error
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24
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67.
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Procedure on a poll
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24
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68.
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Poll to be taken forthwith
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25
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69.
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Casting vote
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25
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70.
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Demand for poll
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25
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71.
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Withdrawal
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25
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PROXY
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25
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72.
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Form of Proxy
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25
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73.
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Appointment of proxy
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25
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74.
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Deposit of proxy
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26
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75.
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Validity
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26
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76.
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Supply of proxy cards
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27
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77.
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Corporate representative
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27
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DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS
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27
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78.
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Section 793
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27
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79.
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Default
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27
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80.
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Restrictions
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28
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81.
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Arms length transfer
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28
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82.
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Relevant period
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29
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83.
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Interest in shares
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29
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APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS
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29
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83.
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Power of Company to appoint Directors
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29
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INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS
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31
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GENERAL POWERS OF DIRECTORS
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35
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DIRECTORS HOLDING EXECUTIVE OFFICE
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36
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RETIREMENT OF DIRECTORS
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37
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ROTATION OF DIRECTORS
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38
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PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
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39
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BORROWING POWERS
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41
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OTHER DIRECTORS
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41
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MINUTES AND BOOKS
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42
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SECRETARY
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42
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THE SEAL
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43
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AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS
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44
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DIVIDENDS
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44
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ACCOUNTS
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49
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AUDITORS
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50
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SERVICE OF NOTICE ON MEMBERS
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51
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DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
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53
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WINDING UP
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54
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INDEMNITY
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54
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| 1. |
Interpretation
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| 1.1. |
In these Articles, if not inconsistent with the subject or context:
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| 1.1.1. |
words importing the singular number include the plural, and vice versa;
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| 1.1.2. |
words importing one gender include any gender;
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| 1.1.3. |
a reference to a person includes a body corporate and an unincorporated body of persons;
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| 1.1.4. |
a reference to any statute or provision of a statute shall include any orders, regulations or other subordinate legislation made under it and shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include any statutory modification or
re-enactment of it for the time being in force;
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| 1.1.5. |
the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:
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| (a) |
as a result of anything he does, or does not do, in carrying out or trying to carry out his duties, or using or trying to use his powers in relation to the Company, or in relation to any of the other bodies corporate which are
referred to in the definition of “Relevant Person” or, in the case of any current or past trustee of any pension fund, in relation to that pension fund; or
|
| (b) |
in any other way in connection with his duties, powers or posts in relation to the Company or in relation to any of the other bodies corporate which are referred to in the definition of “Relevant Person” or, in the case of any
current or past trustee of any pension fund, in relation to that pension fund including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) any liability incurred in connection with defending any proceedings (whether civil or
criminal) which relate to any of the matters referred to in this definition of “Relevant Liability”;
|
| (a) |
the Company, or any body corporate which is or was at any time a holding company of the Company;
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| (b) |
any body corporate in which the Company, or any body corporate which is or was at any time a holding company of the Company, has any kind of direct or indirect interest;
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| (c) |
any body corporate in which any of the predecessors of the Company, or of any body corporate which is or was at any time a holding company of the Company, has any kind of direct or indirect interest;
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| (d) |
any body corporate with which the Company is or was at any time allied, or associated; or
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| (e) |
any body corporate which is or was at any time a subsidiary undertaking of any body corporate referred to in this definition;
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| 1.1.6. |
“in writing” written, or produced by any other mode of reproducing or representing words in a permanent visible form, or partly one and partly another;
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| 1.1.7. |
save as aforesaid, and unless the context otherwise requires, words or expressions contained in these Articles shall bear the same meaning as in the Act and words and expressions used in the Regulations have the same meanings when
used in these Articles;
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| 1.1.8. |
the headings are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of these Articles;
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| 1.1.9. |
the words and phrases “other”, “including” and “in particular” do not limit the generality of any preceding words and any words which follow them shall not be construed as being limited in scope to the same class as the preceding
words where a wider construction is possible;
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| 1.1.10. |
subject to the provisions of Article 51, where for any purpose an ordinary resolution of the Company is required a special resolution shall also be effective;
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| 1.1.11. |
references to Articles are references to these Articles and references to paragraphs and sub-paragraphs are, unless otherwise stated, references to paragraphs of the Article or references to sub-paragraphs of the paragraph in which
the reference appears.
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| 2. |
Model Articles not to apply
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| 2.1. |
No regulations set out in any statute or in any statutory instrument or other subordinate legislation concerning companies shall apply to the Company, but this document constitutes the Articles of Association of the Company.
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| 3. |
Share Capital
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| 3.1. |
The share capital of the Company is divided into ordinary shares of £0.06 each (“Ordinary Shares”).
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| 3.2. |
The Ordinary Shares shall confer the following rights and restrictions on their holders:
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| 3.2.1. |
the right to receive notice of, attend and vote at general meetings;
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| 3.2.2. |
the right to participate in the profits of the Company; and
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| 3.2.3. |
the right on a winding up or return of capital or otherwise to firstly to repayment of the amounts paid up or credited as paid up on them and, secondly, a maximum
sum of £10,000,000 (ten million pounds) in respect of each Ordinary Share with the Ordinary Shares conferring a right to participate in any surplus assets of the Company in proportion to the number of shares held.
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| 3.3. |
The Deferred Shares shall confer the following rights and restrictions on their holders
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| 3.3.1. |
no right to receive notice of nor any right to attend general meetings or to vote at general meetings,
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| 3.3.2. |
no right to participate in the profits of the Company,
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| 3.3.3. |
the right to repayment of the amounts paid up or credited as paid up on them on a winding up or return of capital or otherwise in proportion to the
number of such shares held after payment of the amount to the holders of the Ordinary Shares under article 3.2.3 with the Deferred Shares conferring a right to participate in any surplus assets of the Company in
proportion to the number of such shares held after payment of the amount of the holders of Ordinary Shares under article 3.2.3,
|
| 3.3.4. |
not capable of transfer at any time without the prior written consent of the Directors of the Company unless transferred to a Privileged Relation under the will or rules of intestacy applicable following the death of a holder of Deferred Shares, |
| 3.3.5. |
the Directors are irrevocably authorised to appoint by resolution of the board at any time any person to execute on behalf of the holders of
the Deferred Shares a transfer thereof for no consideration to such person as the Directors may determine as custodian for such Deferred Shares with full beneficial entitlement thereto and/or to agree on behalf
of the holder or holders of the Deferred Shares, including such custodian, to the purchase by the Company, m accordance with the Act and all other legislation for £0.01 (1 pence) for all the Deferred
Shares, without obtaining the sanction of the holder or holders of the relevant Deferred Shares and to do all things necessary or desirable to give effect to such purchase,
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| 3.3.6. |
no right to any share certificates in respect of the Deferred Shares
|
| 3.4. |
Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any shares or class of shares already issued (which special rights shall not be modified or abrogated except with such consent or sanction as is provided
in Articles 5 or 6), a share (whether forming part of the original capital or not) may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, return of capital, voting or
otherwise, as the Company by ordinary resolution determines.
|
| 4. |
Business
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| 5. |
Sanction to variation
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| 5.1. |
Subject to the provisions of the Act if at any time the capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares or groups, the rights attached to any class or group may be varied or abrogated, whether or not the Company is
being wound up, either:
|
| 5.1.1. |
in such manner (if any) as may be provided by such rights; or
|
| 5.1.2. |
in the absence of any such provisions with the consent in writing of the holders of three-quarters in nominal value of the issued shares of that class or group, or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate
general meeting of the holders of the shares of the class or group, but not otherwise.
|
| 5.2. |
To every such separate general meeting of the holders of a class or group of shares all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company or to the proceedings at such general meetings shall, so far as
applicable and with the necessary modifications, apply, except that:
|
| 5.2.1. |
the necessary quorum at any such meeting other than an adjourned meeting shall be two persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class or group in question and at an
adjourned meeting one person holding shares of the class or group in question or his proxy;
|
| 5.2.2. |
any holder of shares of the class or group in question present in person or by proxy may demand a poll; and
|
| 5.2.3. |
the holders of shares of the class or group in question shall, on a poll, have one vote in respect of every share of the class or group held by them respectively.
|
| 6. |
Deemed variation
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| 7. |
Allotment of shares
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| 7.1. |
Subject to Article 7.2 and to any direction to the contrary given by the Company in general meeting, the shares and any right to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares in the Company for the time being (other than
shares shown in the memorandum of association of the Company to have been taken by the subscribers or shares allotted in pursuance of an employee’s share scheme) may be allotted to such persons, at such times, in such proportions, upon
such terms (other than at a discount) and with such rights or restrictions, including but without limit as to differentiation between members of calls, as the Directors, subject to the Articles and to the provisions of the Act shall
think fit.
|
| 7.2. |
The Company may in accordance with and subject to sections 684-689 of the Act and all other relevant provisions (if any) in force for the time being:
|
| 7.2.1. |
issue shares which are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the holder thereof;
|
| 7.2.2. |
make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of any of its own paid-up shares out of the distributable profits of the Company or the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares and as to redemption on such date or dates (to be
fixed prior to the issue of such shares) and terms and in such manner as may be determined at any time or times by the Directors, provided nevertheless that the amount to be paid on redemption shall be fixed on, and by the terms of, the
issue of the shares;
|
| 8. |
Purchase of own shares
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| 9. |
Commission and brokerage
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| 10. |
Trusts not to be recognised
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| 11. |
Share certificates
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| 11.1. |
Every person whose name is entered as a member in the register of members (except a recognised clearing house or a nominee thereof or other person in respect of whom the Company is not by law required to complete and have ready for
delivery a certificate) shall be entitled without payment to one certificate for all his shares of each class. Every certificate shall be issued within two months after allotment or the lodgement with the Company of the transfer of the
shares, not being a transfer which the Company is for any reason entitled to refuse to register and does not register (unless the conditions of issue of such shares otherwise provide), and shall specify the number and class and
distinguishing numbers (if any) of the shares to which it relates and the amount paid up thereon. The Company shall not be bound to register more than four persons as the joint holders of any share or shares and, in the case of a share
held jointly by several persons, the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate therefor, and delivery of a certificate for shares to the first named joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. Where a member
transfers part of the shares comprised in his holding he shall be entitled to a certificate for the balance of his holding without charge.
|
| 11.2. |
Any share certificate and any certificate for debentures of the Company which has been approved for sealing by the Directors or a committee of the Directors need not (save to the extent that the terms and conditions for the time
being relating to any debentures of the Company otherwise require) be signed or countersigned by any person. Subject as aforesaid, any such certificate may, if the Directors so determine, bear signatures affixed by some mechanical
system or process or printed on them or the names of the Company’s issuing agents and need not be signed by any person.
|
| 12. |
Replacement of share certificate
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| 13. |
Uncertificated shares
|
| 13.1. |
In these Articles references to a share (or to holding of shares) being in uncertificated form or in certificated form are references, respectively, to that share being an uncertificated unit of a security or a certificated unit of a
security
|
| 13.2. |
The Directors shall have power to implement such arrangements as they may, in their absolute discretion, think fit in order for any class of shares to be a participating security (subject always to the Regulations and the facilities
and requirements of the relevant system concerned). Where they do so the following Article shall commence to have effect immediately prior to the time at which the Operator concerned permits the class of shares concerned to be a
participating security.
|
| 13.3. |
In relation to any class of shares which is, for the time being, a participating security, and for so long as such class remains a participating security, no provision of these Articles shall apply or have effect to the extent that
it is in any respect inconsistent with:
|
| 13.3.1. |
the holding of shares of that class in uncertificated form;
|
| 13.3.2. |
the transfer of title to shares of that class by means of a relevant system; or
|
| 13.3.3. |
the Regulations.
|
| 14. |
Relevant Class
|
| 14.1. |
Without prejudice to the generality of the preceding Article and notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles, where any class of shares is, for the time being, a participating security (such class being referred to
hereinafter as the “Relevant Class”):
|
| 14.1.1. |
the register relating to the Relevant Class shall be maintained at all times in the United Kingdom;
|
| 14.1.2. |
shares of the Relevant Class may be issued in uncertificated form in accordance with and subject as provided in the Regulations;
|
| 14.1.3. |
unless the Directors otherwise determine, shares of the Relevant Class held by the same holder or joint holder in certificated form and uncertificated form shall be treated as separate holdings;
|
| 14.1.4. |
shares of the Relevant Class may be changed from uncertificated to certificated form, and from certificated to uncertificated form, in accordance with and subject as provided in the Regulations;
|
| 14.1.5. |
title to shares of the Relevant Class which are recorded on the register as being held in uncertificated form may be transferred by means of the relevant system concerned and accordingly none of the provisions of these Articles shall
apply in respect of such shares to the extent that any provision requires or contemplates the effecting of a transfer by an instrument in writing and the production of a certificate for the share to be transferred;
|
| 14.1.6. |
the Company shall comply with the provisions of Regulations 27 and 28 in relation to the Relevant Class and all provisions in these Articles shall be read as subject to Regulation 28;
|
| 14.1.7. |
the provisions of these Articles with respect to meetings of or including holders of the Relevant Class, including notices of such meetings, shall have effect subject to the provisions of Regulation 41; and
|
| 14.1.8. |
no provision of these Articles shall apply so as to require the Company to issue a certificate to any person holding shares of the Relevant Class in uncertificated form.
|
| 15. |
Calls
|
| 16. |
Payment
|
| 17. |
Interest on calls
|
| 18. |
Sums treated as calls
|
| 19. |
Power to differentiate
|
| 20. |
Payment in advance of calls
|
| 21. |
Notice if call not paid
|
| 22. |
Forfeiture for non-compliance
|
| 23. |
Disposal of forfeited shares
|
| 24. |
Effect of forfeiture
|
| 25. |
Lien
|
| 26. |
Enforcement of lien by sale
|
| 27. |
Application of proceeds of sale
|
| 28. |
Untraced members
|
| 28.1. |
The Company shall be entitled to sell at the best price reasonably obtainable in such manner and for such price as the Directors think fit any share of a member, or any share to which a person is entitled by transmission on death or
bankruptcy, if and provided that:
|
| 28.1.1. |
during the period of 12 years prior to the date of the publication of the advertisements referred to in sub-paragraph 28.1.2 (or, if published on different dates, the earlier or earliest date) no cheque, order or warrant in respect
of such share sent by the Company through the post in a pre-paid envelope addressed to the member or to the person entitled by transmission to the share, at his address on the register or other last known address given by the member or
person to which cheques, orders or warrants in respect of such share are to be sent has been cashed and the Company has received no communications in respect of such share from such member or person, provided that during such period of
12 years the Company has paid at least three cash dividends (whether interim or final) and no such dividend has been claimed by the person entitled to it;
|
| 28.1.2. |
on or after expiry of the said period of 12 years the Company has given notice of its intention to sell such share by advertisements in two newspapers of which one shall be a national newspaper published in the United Kingdom and the
other shall be a newspaper circulating in the area of the address on the register or other last known address of the member or the person entitled by transmission to the share or the address for the service of notices notified under
Article 162;
|
| 28.1.3. |
the said advertisements, if not published on the same day, shall have been published within thirty days of each other; and
|
| 28.1.4. |
during the further period of three months following the date of publication of the said advertisements (or, if published on different dates, the later or latest date) and prior to the exercise of the power of sale the Company has not
received any communication in respect of such share from the member or person entitled by transmission.
|
| 28.2. |
To give effect to any sale of shares pursuant to this Article, the Directors may authorise some person to transfer the shares in question and may enter the name of the transferee in respect of the transferred shares in the register
notwithstanding the absence of any share certificate being lodged in respect thereof and may issue a new certificate to the transferee. An instrument of transfer executed by (or a dematerialised instruction given by) that person shall
be as effective as if it had been executed or effected by the holder of, or the person entitled by transmission to, the shares. The purchaser shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase monies, nor shall his title to
the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale.
|
| 28.3. |
If during the period of 12 years referred to in Article 28.1, or during any period ending on the date when all the requirements of sub-paragraphs 28.1.1 to 28.1.4 have been satisfied, any additional shares have been issued in respect
of those held at the beginning of, or previously so issued during, any such period and all the requirements of sub-paragraphs 28.1.2 to 28.1.4 have been satisfied in regard to such additional shares, the Company shall also be entitled
to sell the additional shares.
|
| 28.4. |
The Company shall account to the member or other person entitled to such share for the net proceeds of such sale by carrying all monies in respect of such sale to a separate account. The Company shall be deemed to be a debtor to, and
not a trustee for, such member or other person in respect of such monies. Monies carried to such separate account may either be employed in the business of the Company or invested in such investments as the Directors may from time to
time think fit. No interest shall be payable to such member or other person in respect of such monies and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned on them.
|
| 29. |
Evidence of forfeiture
|
| 30. |
Transfer of title and interest
|
| 31. |
Transfer of shares
|
| 32. |
Right to refuse registration
|
| 32.1. |
The Directors may decline to recognise any instrument of transfer, unless:
|
| 32.1.1. |
the instrument of transfer duly stamped is deposited at the Office or such other place as the Directors may appoint, accompanied by the certificate for 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, provided that, in the case of a transfer by a nominee of a recognised clearing house or of a recognised investment exchange, the lodgement of a share
certificate will only be necessary if a certificate has been issued in respect of the share in question;
|
| 32.1.2. |
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share;
|
| 32.1.3. |
the instrument of transfer is in favour of not more than four transferees; and
|
| 32.1.4. |
the instrument of transfer is in respect of a share in respect of which all sums presently payable to the Company have been paid;
|
| 33. |
Notice of refusal
|
| 34. |
Closing of register
|
| 35. |
Fees on registration
|
| 36. |
Retention
|
| 37. |
Transfer by renunciation
|
| 38. |
On death
|
| 39. |
Election of person entitled by transmission
|
| 40. |
Transfer notice
|
| 41. |
Rights on transmission
|
| 42. |
Increase of Capital
|
| 43. |
New Shares
|
| 44. |
Alteration
|
| 44.1. |
The Company may by ordinary resolution:
|
| 44.1.1. |
consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares; whenever as a result of any consolidation of shares any member would become entitled to a fraction of a share, the
Directors may for the purpose of eliminating such fractions sell the shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company and distribute
the proceeds of sale in due proportion among the members who would have been entitled to the fractions of shares, or retain such proceeds for the benefit of the Company and for the purpose of any such sale the Directors may authorise
some person to transfer the shares representing the fractions to the purchaser thereof whose name shall then be entered in the register of members as the holder of the shares, and who shall not be bound to see to the application of the
purchase money nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale;
|
| 44.1.2. |
cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken, or agreed to be taken, by any person, and diminish the amount of share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled;
|
| 44.1.3. |
sub-divide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum of Association (subject nevertheless to the provisions of the Act) and so that the resolution by which any share is subdivided may
determine that, as regards each share so subdivided, one or more of the shares resulting from such subdivision may have any such preferred or other special rights over, or may have such deferred rights, or be subject to any such
restrictions as compared with the others, as the Company has power to attach to unissued or new shares.
|
| 44.2. |
The Company may by special resolution reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve and any share premium account in any manner subject to the provisions of the Act.
|
| 45. |
Annual general meetings
|
| 46. |
General meetings
|
| 47. |
Notice of general meetings
|
| 47.1. |
Subject to the provisions of the Act, an annual general meeting shall be called by 21 days’ notice at the least, and all other general meetings shall be called by 14 days’ notice at the least (exclusive in each case of the day on
which the notice is served or deemed to be served and of the day for which the notice is given).
|
| 47.2. |
Every notice shall be in writing and shall specify the place, the day and the time of meeting, the general nature of such business, and in the case of an annual general meeting shall specify the meeting as such. Notice in writing
includes notices given by electronic communication to an address notified for that purpose to the Company and/or making such notices available on the Company’s website subject to notifying the address of such website to members who have
agreed that notices of meetings may be accessed by them on a website and then in accordance with the manner agreed by such members and the Company as to such notification.
|
| 47.3. |
Notices shall be given in accordance with these Articles to all the members, other than those who under the provisions of these Articles or the conditions of issue of the shares held by them are not entitled to receive the notice, to
the Directors (including the alternate directors) and to the auditors for the time being and (where required by the Act) former auditors of the Company.
|
| 48. |
Statement
|
| 49. |
Omission of notice
|
| 50. |
Business of meetings
|
| 51. |
Notice of resolution
|
| 52. |
Quorum
|
| 53. |
Quorum not present
|
| 54. |
Chairman
|
| 55. |
Power to adjourn
|
| 56. |
Directors may attend and speak
|
| 57. |
Amendment
|
| 58. |
Votes
|
| 59. |
Joint holders
|
| 60. |
Vote by proxy
|
| 61. |
Restriction on voting rights
|
| 62. |
Objection to error in voting
|
| 63. |
Votes on a poll
|
| 64. |
Method of voting
|
| 64.1. |
At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless before or upon the declaration of the result of the show of hands a poll is demanded:
|
| 64.1.1. |
by the chairman of the meeting;
|
| 64.1.2. |
by not less than 5 members having the right to vote at the meeting;
|
| 64.1.3. |
by a member or members representing not less than one tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting; or
|
| 64.1.4. |
by a member or members holding shares in the Company conferring a right to vote at the meeting, being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares
conferring that right.
|
| 64.2. |
Unless a poll be so demanded a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, or not carried by a particular majority, and an entry to that
effect in the book containing the minutes of the proceedings of general meetings of the Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such
resolution.
|
| 65. |
Proxy
|
| 66. |
Error
|
| 67. |
Procedure on a poll
|
| 68. |
Poll to be taken forthwith
|
| 69. |
Casting vote
|
| 70. |
Demand for poll
|
| 71. |
Withdrawal
|
| 72. |
Form of Proxy
|
| 73. |
Appointment of proxy
|
| 74. |
Deposit of proxy
|
| 74.1. |
The appointment of a proxy together with (unless the Directors waive such requirement) the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed, or a notarially certified or office copy of such power or authority,
shall:
|
| 74.1.1. |
in the case of an instrument in writing be deposited at the Office, or at such other place in the United Kingdom as is specified for that purpose in the notice calling the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the
Company in relation to the meeting, not less than 48 hours (excluding weekends, Christmas Day, Good Friday and any bank holiday) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the
instrument proposes to vote; or
|
| 74.1.2. |
in the case of an appointment contained in an electronic communication, where an address has been specified for the purpose of receiving electronic communications, in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy
sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting, or in any invitation contained in an electronic communication to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting, to be received at such address not less than 48 hours
(excluding weekends, Christmas Day, Good Friday and any bank holiday) before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote
|
| 74.2. |
No appointment of a proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 12 months from the date named in it as the date of its execution, except on a poll demanded at a meeting or an adjourned meeting in cases where the meeting was
originally held within 12 months from such date. In this Article and the next, “address” in relation to electronic communications, includes any number or address used for the purposes of such communications.
|
| 75. |
Validity
|
| 76. |
Supply of proxy cards
|
| 77. |
Corporate representative
|
| 78. |
Section 793
|
| 79. |
Default
|
| 79.1. |
If a member or any person appearing to be interested in any shares held by a member has been duly served with a Section 793 notice and is in default for the relevant period (as defined in Article 82) from such service in supplying to
the Company the information thereby required, the following provisions shall apply:
|
| 79.1.1. |
if a member has a holding of less than 0.25% of any class of shares, then, subject to Article 80 and unless the Directors otherwise determine, a member shall not be entitled in respect of those shares held by him (whether or not
referred to in the Section 793 Notice) to vote at a general meeting either personally or by proxy, or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company; or
|
| 79.1.2. |
if a member has a holding of at least 0.25% of any class of shares, then, subject to Article 80 and unless the Directors otherwise determine, the member shall not be entitled in respect of the shares held by him (whether or not
referred to in the Section 793 notice):
|
| 79.1.2.1. |
to vote at a general meeting either personally or by proxy, or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company;or
|
| 79.1.2.2. |
to receive any dividend payable in respect of such shares; or
|
| 79.1.2.3. |
to transfer or agree to transfer any of such shares, or any rights therein.
|
| 79.2. |
The restrictions imposed by Article 79.1 in relation to any shares shall continue until a relevant event occurs in relation to those shares and shall lapse when it does so. For this purpose, a “relevant event” is either of the
following:
|
| 79.2.3. |
the default is remedied; and
|
| 79.2.4. |
the shares are registered in the name of the purchaser or offeror (or that of his nominee) pursuant to an arm’s length transfer (as defined in Article 81).
|
| 79.3. |
Any dividends withheld pursuant to Article 79 shall be paid to the member as soon as practicable after the restrictions contained in Article 79.1.2 lapse.
|
| 80. |
Restrictions
|
| 81. |
Arms length transfer
|
| 81.1. |
For the purposes of Articles 78 to 83, an “arm’s length” transfer in relation to any shares is a transfer pursuant to:
|
| 81.1.1. |
a sale of those shares on a recognised investment exchange (as defined in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) or on any stock exchange outside the United Kingdom on which the shares are normally traded; or
|
| 81.1.2. |
a sale to an offeror following acceptance of an offer made to all the holders (or all the holders other than the person making the offer and his nominees) of shares of the same class as those shares to acquire all the shares of that
class or a specified proportion of them.
|
| 82. |
Relevant period
|
| 83. |
Interest in shares
|
| 83.1. |
For the purposes of Articles 78 to 83, the Company shall be entitled to treat any person as appearing to be interested in any shares if:
|
| 83.1.1. |
the member holding such shares or any person who is or may be interested in such shares either fails to respond to a section 793 notice or has given to the Company a notification pursuant to a Section 793 notice which in the opinion
of the Directors fails to establish the identities of those interested in the shares and if (after taking into account the said notification and any other relevant notification pursuant to a Section 793 notice) the Company knows or has
reasonable cause to believe that the person in question is or may be interested in the shares; or
|
| 83.1.2. |
that person (not being the member) is interested in those shares for the purposes of Section 793.
|
| 83. |
Power of Company to appoint Directors
|
| 84. |
Power of Board to appoint Directors
|
| 84.1.1. |
Without prejudice to the power of the Company to appoint any person to be a Director pursuant to these Articles, the Directors 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 Directors but so that the total number of Directors shall not exceed at any time the maximum number (if any) fixed by or in accordance with these Articles.
|
| 84.1.2. |
Any Director so appointed shall retire at the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company next following such appointment and shall be eligible for reappointment at that meeting. If not reappointed at such annual general
meeting, such Director shall vacate office at the conclusion of such annual general meeting.
|
| 85. |
Number of Directors
|
| 86. |
Additional remuneration
|
| 86.1. |
Any Director who serves on any committee or who devotes special attention to the business of the Company, or who otherwise performs services which in the opinion of the Directors are outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a
Director, may be paid such remuneration by way of salary, lump sum, percentage of profits or otherwise as the Directors may determine.
|
| 86.2. |
The Directors shall also be entitled to be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in connection with the business of the Company, or in attending and returning from meetings of the Directors or of
committees of the Directors or general meetings or separate meetings of the holders of any class of shares or of debentures of the Company or otherwise in connection with the discharge of their duties.
|
| 87. |
Appointment
|
| 88. |
Remuneration
|
| 89. |
Other office of Director
|
| 90. |
Disqualification
|
| 91. |
Declaration of interest
|
| 92. |
Material interest
|
| 93. |
Voting
|
| 93.1. |
A Director (including an alternate director) shall (in the absence of some material interest other than as indicated below) be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any resolution concerning any of the
following matters, namely:
|
| 93.2. |
the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity to him in respect of money lent or obligations incurred by him at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
|
| 93.3. |
the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity to a third party in respect of a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which he himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part by the giving of
security or under a guarantee of indemnity;
|
| 93.4. |
any proposal concerning an offer for subscription or purchase of shares or debentures or other securities or rights of or by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or of any company which the Company may promote or in which it may be
interested in which offer he is or is to be interested directly or as a participant in the underwriting or associated sub-underwriting;
|
| 93.5. |
any proposal concerning any other company in which he is interested directly or indirectly and whether in any one or more of the capacities of officer, creditor, employee or holder of shares, debentures, securities or rights of that
other company, but where he is not the holder (otherwise than as a nominee for the Company or any of its subsidiaries) of or beneficially interested in one per cent or more of the issued shares of any class of such company or of any
third company through which his interest is derived or of the voting rights available to members of the relevant company (any such interest being deemed for the purpose of this Article to be a material interest in all circumstances);
|
| 93.6. |
any proposal concerning the adoption, modification or operation of a superannuation fund, retirement benefits scheme, share option scheme or share incentive scheme under which he may benefit; or
|
| 93.7. |
any proposal concerning the purchase and/or maintenance of any insurance policy under which he may benefit.
|
| 94. |
Two Directors
|
| 95. |
Directors interests
|
| 96. |
Interest of connected person
|
| 97. |
Suspension of provisions
|
| 98. |
Directors’ conflict of interest
|
| 98.1. |
The Board may, in accordance with the requirements set out in this Article, authorise any matter or situation proposed to them by any Director which would, if not authorised, involve a Director (an
Interested Director) breaching his duty under the Act to avoid conflicts of interest (Conflict).
|
| 98.2. |
A Director seeking authorisation in respect of a Conflict shall declare to the Board the nature and extent of his interest in a Conflict as soon as is reasonably practicable. The Director shall provide the Board with such details of
the matter as are reasonably necessary for the Board to decide how to address the Conflict together with such additional information as may be reasonably requested by the Board and provided that such additional information is requested
no less than five business days before the consideration of the relevant matter at a meeting of the Board.
|
| 98.3. |
Any authorisation under this Article will be effective only if:
|
| 98.3.1. |
any requirement as to the quorum for consideration of the relevant matter is met without counting the Interested Director and any other interested Director;and
|
| 98.3.2. |
the matter is agreed to without the Interested Director voting or would be agreed to if the Interested Director’s and any other Interested Director’s vote
is not counted.
|
| 98.4. |
Any authorisation of Conflict under this Article will be effective if given at the same meeting of the Board as that at which the relevant matter is considered or any other meeting of the Board.
|
| 98.5. |
Any authorisation of a Conflict under this Article must be recorded in writing (but the authority shall be effective whether or not the terms are so recorded) and may (whether at the time of giving the authorisation or subsequently):
|
| 98.5.1. |
extend to any actual or potential Conflict of interest which may reasonably be expected to arise out of the matter or situation so authorised;
|
| 98.5.2. |
provide that the Interested Director be excluded from the receipt of documents and information and the participation in discussions (whether at meetings of the Directors or otherwise) related to the Conflict;
|
| 98.5.3. |
impose upon the Interested Director such other reasonable terms for the purposes of dealing with the Conflict as the Directors think fit;
|
| 98.5.4. |
permit the Interested Director to absent himself from the discussion of matters relating to the Conflict at any meeting of the Directors and be excused from reviewing papers prepared by, or for, the Directors to the extent they
relate to such matters.
|
| 98.6. |
Where a Director obtains, or has obtained whether through his involvement in a Conflict, through his position as a Director or howsoever otherwise, information that is confidential to a third party, he may, at his sole discretion,
decide whether or not to disclose that information to the Company, or to use it in relation to the Company’s affairs and shall not be under any obligation to disclose such information to the Company.
|
| 98.7. |
Where the Directors authorise a Conflict, the Interested Director will be obliged to conduct himself in accordance with any reasonable terms and conditions imposed by the Directors in relation to the Conflict.
|
| 98.8. |
Subject to Article 98.3.2, where the Directors authorise a Conflict, the Interested Director shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Board at which the relevant matter related to the Conflict is considered and/or approved.
|
| 98.9. |
The Directors may revoke or vary such authorisation by written notice to the Interested Director, but this will not affect anything done by the Interested Director, prior to such revocation or variation, in accordance with the terms
of such authorisation.
|
| 98.10. |
A Director is not required, by reason of being a Director (or because of the fiduciary relationship established by reason of being a director), to account to the Company for any remuneration, profit or other benefit which he derives
from or in connection with a relationship involving a Conflict which has been authorised by the directors or by the Company in general meeting (subject in each case to any terms, limits or conditions attaching to that authorisation) and
no contract shall be liable to be avoided on such grounds.
|
| 99. |
Benefits
|
| 100. |
Exercise of power
|
| 101. |
Management
|
| 102. |
Delegation of Authority
|
| 103. |
Power of Attorney
|
| 104. |
Overseas registers
|
| 105. |
Uncalled capital
|
| 106. |
Office
|
| 107. |
Remuneration
|
| 108. |
Powers
|
| 108.1. |
The Directors may from time to time;
|
| 108.2. |
delegate or entrust to and confer on any Director holding executive office (including a chief executive or managing director) such of the powers, authorities and discretions of the Directors (with power to sub-delegate) for such
time, on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors think fit; and
|
| 108.3. |
revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of such powers.
|
| 109. |
Retirement
|
| 110. |
Vacation of office
|
| 110.1. |
The office of a Director shall be vacated in any of the following events, namely:
|
| 110.2. |
if (but in the case of a Director holding any executive office subject to the terms of any contract between him and the Company) he resigns his office by instrument in writing signed by the resigning Director and authenticated in
such manner as the other Directors or Director may accept (provided that the resigning Director shall deposit the original signed instrument at the office as soon as reasonably practicable but failure or delay in his doing so shall not
prejudice the validity of the resignation);
|
| 110.2.1. |
if he becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against him or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally;
|
| 110.2.2. |
if, in the opinion of the majority of Directors other than the Director vacating office and in the written opinion of a suitably qualified medical expert, he becomes of unsound mind;
|
| 110.2.3. |
if he is absent from meetings of the Directors for six successive months without leave, and his alternate director (if any) shall not during such period have attended in his stead, and the Directors resolve that his office be
vacated;
|
| 110.2.4. |
if he ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Statutes or becomes prohibited by law from being a director;
|
| 110.2.5. |
he is removed from office by notice in writing signed by all of the other Directors (without prejudice to any claim for damages which he may have for breach of any contract between him and the Company) and, for this purpose, a set of
like notices each signed by, one or more of the Directors shall be as effective as a single notice signed by the requisite number of Directors;
|
| 110.2.6. |
he ceases to hold the number of shares required to qualify him for office (if any) or does not acquire the same within two months after election or appointment; or
|
| 110.2.7. |
he is removed as a Director by ordinary resolution of the members provided that such removal shall be without prejudice to any claim he may have for breach of contract between him and the Company.
|
| 111. |
Resolution as to a vacancy conclusive
|
| 112. |
Retirement by rotation
|
| 113. |
Retirement in every year
|
| 114. |
Vacated office
|
| 115. |
Appointment
|
| 116. |
Motion
|
| 117. |
Meetings
|
| 117.1. |
Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the Directors may meet together for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a
majority of votes. In case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. A Director who is also an alternate director shall be entitled in the absence of his appointor to a separate vote on
behalf of the Director he is representing in addition to his own vote. A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors. Notices in respect of such meetings may be
sent by facsimile or by electronic communication sent to an address notified to the Company for that purpose or by word of mouth including to any Director for the time being absent from the United Kingdom to such address (whether inside
or outside the United Kingdom) notified by him to the Directors for this purpose. A Director may waive the requirement that notices of meetings of the Directors must be given to him either prospectively or retrospectively.
|
| 117.2. |
A meeting of the Directors may be validly held notwithstanding that all of the Directors are not present at the same place provided that:
|
| 117.3. |
the Directors at the time of the meeting are in direct communication with each other whether by way of telephone, audio link or other form of telecommunications (and such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest
group of those participating is assembled or, if there is no such group, where the chairman of the meeting then is); and
|
| 117.4. |
all of the Directors entitled to notice of a meeting of the Directors agree to the holding of the meeting in the manner described in this Article.
|
| 118. |
Authorisation to vote
|
| 119. |
Quorum
|
| 120. |
Minimum number of directors
|
| 121. |
Chairman
|
| 122. |
Resolutions
|
| 123. |
Committees
|
| 124. |
Validity
|
| 125. |
Powers
|
| 126. |
Appointment
|
| 127. |
Minutes
|
| 127.1. |
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made:
|
| 127.1.1. |
of all appointments of officers made by the Directors;
|
| 127.1.2. |
of the names of the Directors present at each meeting of Directors and of any committee of Directors;
|
| 127.1.3. |
of all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company and of any class of members of the Company and of the Directors and of committees of Directors.
|
| 127.2. |
Any such minutes if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the proceedings took place, or by the chairman of the next following meeting, shall be evidence of the proceedings.
|
| 128. |
Records
|
| 129. |
Appointment
|
| 130. |
Office
|
| 131. |
Safe custody
|
| 132. |
Application
|
| 133. |
Seal for use abroad
|
| 134. |
Issue
|
| 134.1. |
Every certificate or share warrant shall be issued either:
|
| 136.1.1. |
by affixing the Securities Seal to it, by mechanical, electronic or other means;
|
| 136.1.2. |
by printing a representation of the Securities Seal on it, by mechanical, electronic or other means, including laser printing; or
|
| 136.1.3. |
in such other manner as the Board, having regard to the Statutes and any regulations which may apply to the Company from time to time.
|
| 135. |
Seal
|
| 136. |
Authentication
|
| 137. |
Declaration of dividends
|
| 138. |
Dividends payable
|
| 139. |
Payment of dividends
|
| 140. |
Interim dividends
|
| 141. |
Profits and losses
|
| 142. |
Calls or debts deducted from dividends
|
| 143. |
Retention of dividends
|
| 144. |
Unclaimed dividends
|
| 145. |
Payment of dividends
|
| 145.1. |
Any dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a share may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post to the registered address of the member or person entitled to it and in the case of joint holders to the first
named of such joint holders, or to such person and such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent or to such other
person as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company. Every such cheque or warrant shall be sent at the risk of the person entitled to the money
represented by such cheque or warrant.
|
| 145.2. |
The Company may cease to send any cheque or warrant through the post for any dividend payable on any shares in the Company which is normally paid in that manner on those shares if in respect of at least two consecutive dividends
payable on those shares the cheques or warrants have been returned undelivered or remain uncashed but, subject to the provisions of these Articles, shall recommence sending cheques or warrants in respect of dividends payable on those
shares if the holder or person entitled by transmission claims the arrears of dividend and does not instruct the Company to pay future dividends in some other way.
|
| 146. |
Receipts for dividends
|
| 147. |
Scrip dividends
|
| 147.1. |
The Directors may subject as provided in these Articles declare that each Ordinary Shareholder may elect to forego his right to participate in such dividend (or such part of it as the Directors may determine) and to receive instead
an allotment of Ordinary Shares to the extent and within the limits and on the terms and conditions set out below. The Directors shall announce any such decision in conjunction with any announcement of the relevant dividend and shall
send to the relevant Ordinary Shareholders notices of election as soon as practicable.
|
| 147.2. |
If the Directors make a declaration pursuant to Article 155.1 each holder of Ordinary Shares may (by notice in writing to the Company given in such form and within such period as the Directors may from time to time determine) elect
to forego the dividend which otherwise would have been paid on all or so many of his Ordinary Shares as he shall specify in notice of election and to receive in lieu such number of Ordinary Shares to be allotted to him credited as fully
paid as is equal to the number resulting from resolving the following fraction (but ignoring any fraction of an additional Ordinary Share):
|
| 147.3. |
Following the receipt of a notice or notices of election the Directors shall appropriate out of the undistributed profits or reserves of the Company an amount equal to the aggregate nominal value of the number of Ordinary Shares
required to be allotted to the holders of Ordinary Shares who have given notice of election and shall apply such amount in paying up in full such number of Ordinary Shares.
|
| 147.4. |
The Ordinary Shares so allotted credited as fully paid shall not be entitled to participate in the dividend then being declared or paid but shall in all other respects rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares of the Company.
|
| 147.5. |
The Directors shall not make any such decision under this Article unless the Company has sufficient unissued Ordinary Shares and undistributed profits or reserves to give effect to any elections which could be made as a consequence
of such decision.
|
| 147.6. |
The Directors shall not make any such decision under this Article unless the Company shall by ordinary resolution approve the exercise by the Directors of their powers so to do in respect of the dividend in question or in respect of
any dividends declare or paid in respect of each specified financial year or period of the Company which dividends include the dividend in question.
|
| 147.7. |
The Directors may do all acts and things considered necessary or expedient to give effect to any such capitalisation, with full power to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit for the case of shares becoming
distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby, in whole or in part, fractional entitlements are disregarded or rounded up or the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the members concerned).
The Directors may authorise any person to enter, on behalf of all the members interested, into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority
shall be effective and binding on all concerned.
|
| 147.8. |
This Article shall have effect without prejudice to the provisions of Article 153 and any other provisions of these Articles and such provisions shall also have effect without prejudice to the provisions of this Article.
|
| 148. |
General meeting to declare dividend
|
| 149. |
Reserves
|
| 150. |
Capitalisation
|
| 150.1. |
The Company in general meeting may upon the recommendation of the Directors resolve that it is desirable to capitalise any undivided profits of the Company standing to the credit of the profit and loss account or otherwise and
available for distribution (not being required for the payment of fixed dividends on any shares entitled to fixed preferential dividends with or without further participation in profits) and accordingly that the Directors be authorised
and directed to appropriate the profits resolved to be capitalised to the members who would have been entitled to such profits if distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions on condition that the same be not paid in cash
but be applied either in or towards paying up any amounts for the time being unpaid on any shares held by such members respectively or paying up in full unissued shares or debentures of the Company to be allotted and distributed
credited as fully paid up to and amongst such members in the same proportions, or partly in the one way and partly in the other, and the Directors shall give effect to such resolution.
|
| 150.2. |
The Company in general meeting may, subject to the provisions of the Act upon the recommendation of the Directors, resolve that it is desirable to capitalise any part of the amount for the time being standing to the credit of any
reserve account of the Company (including its share premium account and capital redemption reserve) of its profit and loss account and whether or not available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up in full unissued shares
to be allotted as fully paid to those members of the Company who would have been entitled to that sum if it were distributed by way of dividend (and in the same proportions), and the Directors shall give effect to such resolution.
|
| 151. |
Authority
|
| 152. |
Record Dates
|
| 153. |
Accounting records
|
| 154. |
Preparation of accounts
|
| 155. |
Accounts to members
|
| 155.1. |
A copy of every balance sheet and profit and loss account (including every document required by law to be annexed to them) which is to be laid before the Company in general meeting and of the directors’ and auditors’ reports shall
not less than 21 days before the date of the meeting be sent to every member and to every holder of debentures of the Company; provided that:
|
| 155.2. |
this Article shall not require copies of such documents to be sent to any person to whom, by virtue of section 423(2) of the Act, the Company is not required to send the same, nor to any person of whose address the Company is not
aware nor to more than one of the joint holders of any shares or debentures; and
|
| 155.3. |
instead of these documents there may be sent a copy of such summary financial statement as may be permitted, in such form as may be specified and subject to such conditions as may be required, by law to be sent to the members of, and
holders of debentures of, the Company.
|
| 156. |
Electronic means
|
| 157. |
Appointment
|
| 158. |
Correctness
|
| 159. |
Auditors to attend meetings
|
| 160. |
Change of auditors
|
| 161. |
Notices to be in writing
|
| 162. |
Service of notice on members
|
| 162.1. |
The Company may give any notice or document (including a share certificate) to a member either:
|
| 162.1.1. |
personally; or
|
| 162.1.2. |
by sending it by post or other delivery service in a prepaid envelope addressed to the member at his registered address; or
|
| 162.1.3. |
by leaving it at that address; or
|
| 162.1.4. |
by any other means authorised in writing by the member concerned (including, to the extent permitted by the Statutes, and except in relation to a share certificate, by electronic mail and/or by making it available on a website).
|
| 162.2. |
In the case of a member registered on an overseas branch register any such notice or document which is posted may be posted either in the United Kingdom or in the territory in which such branch register is maintained.
|
| 162.3. |
In the case of joint holders of a share, all notices or documents shall be given to the joint holder whose name stands first in the register in respect of the joint holding. Notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint
holders.
|
| 162.4. |
Where a member (or, in the case of joint holders, the person first named in the register) has a registered address outside the United Kingdom but has notified the Company of an address within the United Kingdom at which notices or
other documents may be given to him, he shall be entitled to have notices given to him at that address; but otherwise, no such member shall be entitled to receive any notice or document from the Company.
|
| 162.5. |
If on three consecutive occasions, notices or other documents have been sent through the post to any member at his registered address or his address for the service of notices but have been returned undelivered, such member shall not
thereafter be entitled to receive notices or other documents from the Company until he shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing a new registered address or address within the United Kingdom for the service of
notices.
|
| 162.6. |
Nothing in this Article shall affect any provision of any of the Statutes requiring notices or documents to be delivered in a particular way.
|
| 163. |
Notice in case of death, bankruptcy or mental disorder
|
| 164. |
Evidence of service
|
| 164.1. |
Any member present, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company or of the holders of any class of shares of the Company shall be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting, and, where requisite, of the purposes for
which such meeting was called.
|
| 164.2. |
Any notice, certificate or other document addressed to a member at his registered address or address for service in the United Kingdom shall, if sent by post, be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day after the day when
it was put in the post (or, where second-class mail is employed, on the second day after the day when it was put in the post). Proof that an envelope containing the notice or document was properly addressed and put into the post as a
prepaid letter shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given. Any notice, certificate or other document not sent by post, but delivered or left at a registered address or address for service in the United Kingdom shall be
deemed to have been served or delivered on the day on which it was so delivered or left. Any notice, certificate or other document sent by electronic communication shall, subject to the Statutes and these Articles, be deemed to have
been served or delivered at the expiration of 24 hours from the time at which it was sent. Any notice or other document sent by a website shall, subject to the Statutes and these Articles, be deemed to have been served or delivered
when first made available on the website or, if later, when the recipient received (or is deemed to have received) notice of the fact that such notice or document was available on the website.
|
| 165. |
Notice binding on transferees
|
| 166. |
Notice by advertisement
|
| 167. |
Suspension of the postal services
|
| 168. |
Service of notices on the Company
|
| 169. |
Destruction
|
| 169.1. |
The Company may destroy:
|
| 169.1.1. |
any instrument of transfer, after six years from the date on which it is registered;
|
| 169.1.2. |
any dividend mandate or any variation or cancellation of it or any notification of change of name or address, after two years from the date on which it is recorded;
|
| 169.1.3. |
any share certificate, after one year from the date on which it is cancelled;
|
| 169.1.4. |
any proxy form which has been used for a poll, after one year from the date of use;
|
| 169.1.5. |
any proxy form which has not been used for a poll, after one month from the general meeting to which it relates and at which the poll was demanded; and
|
| 169.1.6. |
any other document on the basis of which any entry in the register is made, after six years from the date on which an entry was first made in the register in respect of it,
|
| 170. |
Correct entries
|
| 170.1. |
It shall be conclusively presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the register purporting to have been made on the basis of a document so destroyed was duly and properly made, that every instrument of transfer so
destroyed was duly registered, that every share certificate so destroyed was duly cancelled, that every other document so destroyed had been properly dealt with in accordance with its terms and was valid and effective in accordance with
the particulars in the records of the Company, provided that:
|
| 170.1.1. |
this Article shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without notice of any claim (regardless of the parties to it) to which the document might be relevant;
|
| 170.1.2. |
nothing in this Article shall be construed as imposing on the Company any liability in respect of the destruction of any such document otherwise than as provided for in this Article which would not attach to the Company in the
absence of this Article; and
|
| 170.1.3. |
references in this Article to the destruction of any document include references to the disposal of it in any manner.
|
| 171. |
Authority to divide assets
|
| 172. |
Right to indemnity
|
| 173. |
Power to Insure
|
| 3.1. |
The share capital of the Company is divided into ordinary shares of 1.0p each (“Ordinary Shares”) and deferred shares of 29.4p each (“Deferred Shares”);
|
| 3.2 |
The Ordinary Shares shall confer the following rights and restrictions on their holders:-
|
| 3.2.1 |
the right to receive notice of, attend and vote at general meetings;
|
| 3.2.2 |
the right to participate in the profits of the Company; and
|
| 3.2.3 |
the right on a winding up or return of capital or otherwise to firstly repayment of the amounts paid up or credited as paid up on them and, secondly, a maximum sum of £10,000,000 (ten million pounds) in respect of each such
Ordinary Share with the Ordinary Shares conferring a right to participate in any surplus assets of the Company in proportion to the number of such shares held.
|
| 3.3 |
The Deferred Shares shall confer the following rights and restrictions on their holders:
|
| 3.3.1 |
no right to receive notice of nor any right to attend general meetings or to vote at general meetings;
|
| 3.3.2 |
no right to participate in the profits of the Company;
|
| 3.3 3 |
the right to repayment of the amounts paid up or credited as paid up on them on a winding up or return of capital or otherwise in proportion to the number of such shares held after payment of the amount to the holders of the
Ordinary Shares under article 3.2.3 with the Deferred Shares conferring a right to participate in any surplus assets of the Company in proportion to the number of such shares held after payment of the amounts to the holders of
Ordinary Shares under article 3.2.3;
|
| 3.3.4 |
not capable of transfer at any time without the prior written consent of the Directors of the Company unless transferred to a Privileged Relation under the will or rules of intestacy applicable following the death of a holder
of Deferred Shares;
|
| 3.3.5 |
the Directors are irrevocably authorised to appoint by resolution of the board at any time any person to execute on behalf of the holders of the Deferred Shares a transfer thereof for no consideration to such person as the
Directors may determine as custodian for such Deferred Shares with full beneficial entitlement thereto and/or to agree on behalf of the holder or holders of the Deferred Shares, including such custodian, to the purchase by the
Company, in accordance with the Act and all other legislation for £0.01 (1 pence) for all the Deferred Shares, without obtaining the sanction of the holder or holders of the relevant Deferred Shares and to do all things necessary
or desirable to give effect to such purchase;
|
| 3.3.6 |
no right to any share certificates in respect of the Deferred Shares.
|
| 3.4 |
Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any shares or class of shares already issued (which special rights shall not be modified or abrogated except with such consent or sanction as is
provided in Articles 5 or 6), a share (whether forming part of the original capital or not) may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, return of
capital, voting or otherwise, as the Company by ordinary resolution determines.
|
| 3.5 |
by the deletion of the heading “SHARE CONTROL LIMITS (TAKEOVERS) and articles 84 to 88 (inclusive).
|
| 3.6 |
by the deletion of article 92 sub headed “Directors fees”; and
|
| 3.7 |
by the renumbering of the articles accordingly.
|
| Cathal Friel |
|
|
Chairman/Secretary
|
| (a) |
up to an aggregate nominal amount of £916,057.61; and
|
| (b) |
provided that this authority shall expire on the earlier of the date falling 15 months from the date of the passing of this resolution and the conclusion of the Company’s next annual general meeting following the passing of
this resolution, unless such authority is renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting save that the Company may at any time before such expiry make an offer or agreement which might require shares to be allotted
or Rights to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares or grant Rights in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the authority hereby conferred had not expired.
|
| (a) |
by replacing the existing article 3 under the heading “Share Capital” with the following:
|
| 3.1 |
The share capital of the Company is divided into ordinary shares of £0.06 each (“Ordinary Shares”).
|
| 3.2 |
The Ordinary Shares shall confer the following rights and restrictions on their holders:
|
| 3.2.1 |
the right to receive notice of, attend and vote at general meetings,
|
| 3.2.2 |
the right to participate in the profits of the Company, and
|
| 3.2.3 |
the right on a winding up or return of capital or otherwise to repayment of the amounts paid up or credited as paid up on them in respect of each Ordinary Share with the Ordinary Shares conferring a right to participate in any
surplus assets of the Company in proportion to the number of shares held.
|
| 3.3 |
Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any shares or class of shares already issued (which special rights shall not be modified or abrogated except with such consent or sanction as is
provided in Articles 5 or 6), a share (whether forming part of the original capital or not) may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, return of
capital, voting or otherwise, as the Company by ordinary resolution determines.
|
|
By Order of the Board
|
|
|
| Harry Stratford |
|
|
|
CHAIRMAN
|
||