UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 29, 2008
ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Bermuda
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001-31909
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Not Applicable
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(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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Maxwell Roberts Building
1 Church Street
Hamilton HM 11
Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (
441) 295-8201
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Section 5 — Corporate Governance and Management
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Executive Compensation
At its meeting held on April 29, 2008, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the ‘‘Board’’) of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (the ‘‘Company’’) approved increases in the salaries of Richard Houghton and Julian Cusack, following the appointment of Mr. Cusack as Chief Operating Officer from April 17, 2008 and Mr. Houghton’s increased responsibilities for operational oversight of Aspen’s Human Resources, Information Technology and Insurance/Reinsurance Claims departments. Mr. Houghton’s salary is increased from GBP 330,000 to GBP 350,000 effective May 1, 2008. Mr. Cusack’s salary is increased from $440,000 to GBP 350,000 effective May 1, 2008. Any changes to the service agreements of Messrs. Cusack and Houghton to reflect the above would be contained in revised agreements which, if so changed, are expected to be attached as exhibits to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2008.
In its meeting held on April 29, 2008, the Compensation Committee of the Board approved equity compensation awards for certain executive officers under the Amended 2003 Share Incentive Plan, as amended (the ‘‘Plan’’), with a grant date of May 2, 2008 (being the day on which our close period ends following the release of our earnings).
The Compensation Committee approved the following compensation with respect to the Company’s Named Executive Officers:
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2008 Performance Shares under the Plan
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Christopher O’Kane, Chief Executive Officer
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57,416
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Julian Cusack, Chief Operating Officer and
Chairman of Aspen Insurance Limited
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26,794
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Richard Houghton, Chief Financial Officer
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26,794
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Brian Boornazian, Head of Reinsurance
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28,708
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James Few, Head of Property Reinsurance
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22,967
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2008 Performance Shares.
The performance shares will be subject to a three-year vesting period with a separate annual Return on Equity (‘‘ROE’’) target for each year. One-third of the grant will be eligible for vesting each year based on the following formula, and will only be issuable at the end of the three-year period. If the ROE achieved in any given year is less than 10%, then the portion of the performance shares subject to the vesting conditions in such year will be forfeited (i.e. 33.33% of the initial grant). If the ROE achieved in any given year is between 10% and 15%, then the percentage of the performance shares eligible for vesting in such year will be between 10% and 100% on a straight-line basis. If the ROE achieved in any given year is between 15% and 25%, then the percentage of the performance shares eligible for vesting in such year will be between 100% and 200% on a straight-line basis. Notwithstanding the vesting criteria for each given year, if in any given year, the shares eligible for vesting are greater than 100% for the portion of such year’s grant (i.e. the ROE was greater than 15% in such year) and the average ROE over such year and the preceding year is less than 10%, then only 100% (and no more) of the shares that are eligible for vesting in such year shall vest. If the average ROE over the two years is greater than 10%, then there will be no diminution in vesting and the shares eligible for vesting in such year will vest in accordance with the vesting schedule without regard to the average ROE over the two-year period.
The summary above of the material terms of the 2008 Performance Shares is qualified by the actual terms of the 2008 Performance Share Award Agreement, which is expected to be attached as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2008.
At the same meeting, the Compensation Committee also took action in relation to a portion of the unvested options granted to Mr. Stuart Sinclair in a letter from the Company dated August 3, 2006.
2
Following Mr. Sinclair’s notice of termination, all unvested 2006 performance shares, 2006 options, 2007 performance shares and 2007 options would be forfeited. Of the total amount granted, the Compensation Committee decided that a total of 43,200 options granted in 2006 (whether or not unvested) will not be forfeited and will be eligible for vesting. These were granted as a replacement of equity to compensate Mr. Sinclair’s loss of options from his previous employer. Mr. Sinclair will be required to exercise any such options within three months of his formal termination date in March 2009.
Employee Plans
At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company held on April 30, 2008, the Shareholders approved the Company’s Employee Share Purchase Plan, including the International Employee Share Purchase Plan (the ‘‘Employee Share Purchase Plan’’) and the 2008 Sharesave Scheme (the ‘‘2008 Sharesave Scheme’’, and collectively with the Employee Share Purchase Plan, the ‘‘Employee Plans’’), attached to this filing as Exhibit 10.1 and 10.2, respectively. The number of shares reserved for issuance and purchase by the participants under the Employee Plans, subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company, will be 870,000 shares.
Employee Share Purchase Plan.
The purpose of the Employee Share Purchase Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its designated subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase shares of the Company as an opportunity to share in the ownership of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. The Employee Share Purchase Plan will be implemented by a series of consecutive offering periods as determined by the Board. The Board will have the power to change the duration and/or frequency of offering periods with respect to future offering periods. Offering periods will be for a two (2) year or other period as determined by the Board but may not be longer than twenty-seven (27) months.
On an offering date, participants will be granted an option for as many shares as the participant will be able to purchase with the payroll deductions credited to the participant’s account during the offering period. An eligible employee may authorize payroll deductions at the rate of any whole percentage or in a specified amount of the eligible employee’s compensation not to exceed five hundred U.S. dollars (US$500) per month. The purchase price will be eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of a share on the offering date which may be adjusted upon changes in capitalization of the Company. Fair market value will be equal to the closing sales price for the shares (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or any other established stock exchange or national market system.
The Employee Share Purchase Plan will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the effective date unless terminated earlier by the Board.
The purpose of the 2008 Sharesave Scheme is to provide eligible employees of the Company’s UK subsidiaries with an opportunity to share in the ownership of the Company by offering successive options to purchase ordinary shares on terms mutually advantageous to the Company and employees of its UK subsidiaries.
2008 Sharesave Scheme.
Under the 2008 Sharesave Scheme, the Board may grant a series of options to acquire ordinary shares which vest in three, five or seven years. An employee saves for the purchase price of his or her options by entering into a savings contract with a savings provider under which he or she agrees to save a regular monthly amount, not less than £5 per month or more than £250 per month. At the end of each savings period, participating employees receive their savings back, plus a UK tax free bonus, which may be used, at the participating employees’ discretion, to exercise their options. Options not exercised within six months from the end of the contract will lapse.
Unless a higher price is designated by the Board, the purchase price per share will be 85% of the fair market value of the Company’s ordinary shares on the date of grant of the option. Fair market value is determined by the average of the highest and lowest prices as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on or immediately proceeding the date of grant. The purchase price is converted into Pounds Sterling at the noon buying rate in New York, New York, as certified for customs purposes by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, either as of that day or averaged over the three preceding days, as determined by the Board.
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The 2008 Sharesave Scheme is scheduled to expire on the tenth anniversary of its commencement. With the approval of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom, appropriate adjustments may be made by the Board in the event of any variation in the Company’s ordinary share capital. This may, depending on the circumstances, include a share dividend, share split, recapitalization, reorganization, amalgamation, merger, consolidation exchange, liquidation or spinoff.
The Board may amend the 2008 Sharesave Scheme provided that (i) no amendment may be made without the prior approval of shareholders in general meeting if it would (a) make the terms on which options may be granted materially more generous; or (b) increase the overall limits on grants; or (c) expand the Company’s potential option holders and (ii) no alteration to a key feature shall have effect without the prior approval of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs. The Board may make minor amendments to benefit the administration of the Scheme, to take account of any change in legislation or to obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for option holders or for the Company. In addition, the Board may establish further schemes to apply an overseas territories governed by rules similar to the rules of the 2008 Sharesave Scheme but modified to take account of local tax, exchange control and securities law, regulations or practice.
The 2008 Sharesave Scheme is subject to the approval of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs of the United Kingdom. The Board may make such modifications as they consider necessary or desirable to obtain or maintain such approval.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company held on April 30, 2008, the Shareholders approved all of the proposed amendments to the Company’s Bye-Laws described in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders furnished on March 25, 2008 on Form 8-K. The Company’s Amended and Restated Bye-Laws, as revised, are attached to this filing as Exhibit 3.1.
Section 9. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01- Financial Statements and Exhibits
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(d)
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The following exhibits are filed under Items 5.02 and 5.03 as part of this report:
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3.1
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Amended and Restated Bye-Laws of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
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10.1
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Employee Share Purchase Plan, including the International Employee Share Purchase Plan of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
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10.2
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Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited 2008 Sharesave Scheme
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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 hereunto duly authorized.
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ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED
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(Registrant)
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Dated: May 5, 2008
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By:
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/s/ Richard Houghton
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Name: Richard Houghton
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Title: Chief Financial Officer
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5
Table of Contents
Exhibit 3.1
A M E N D E D A N D R E S T A T E D
B Y E - L A W S
OF
ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED
I N D E X
Table of Contents
A M E N D E D A N D R E S T A T E D B Y E - L A W S
OF
ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED
Interpretation
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1.
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1.1
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In these Bye-Laws, unless the context otherwise requires:
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1.1.1
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‘‘
Affiliate
’’ means, in relation to any undertaking, any other undertaking that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such first undertaking. For the purpose of this definition, the term ‘‘control’’ means the power to direct the management and policies of an undertaking, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and, except when used in the term ‘‘Controlled Shares’’ as defined in
Bye-Law 66
below, the terms ‘‘controlled’’ and ‘‘controlling’’ have meanings correlative to the foregoing;
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1.1.2
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‘‘
Bermuda
’’ means the Islands of Bermuda;
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1.1.3
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‘‘
Board
’’ means the Board of Directors of the Company or the Directors present at a meeting of Directors at which there is a quorum;
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1.1.4
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‘‘
Business Day
’’ means a day (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) on which banks generally are open in New York, London and Bermuda for the transaction of normal banking business;
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1.1.5
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Cause
’’ means willful misconduct, fraud, gross negligence, embezzlement or any criminal conduct;
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1.1.6
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Code
’’ means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, of the United States of America;
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1.1.7
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‘‘
Companies Act
’’ means the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda as amended from time to time and any legislation enacted to supersede the same and every Bermuda statute from time to time in force concerning companies insofar as the same applies to the Company;
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1.1.8
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‘‘
Company
’’ means the company incorporated in Bermuda under the name of Exali Reinsurance Holdings Limited on 22 May 2002 which subsequently changed its name to Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited on 22 November 2002, and as such name may be changed from time to time in accordance with Bermuda law;
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1.1.9
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‘‘
Director
’’ means such person or persons as shall be elected to the Board from time to time pursuant to
Bye-Laws 86 and 87
or appointed to the Board from time to time pursuant to
Bye-Law 91
;
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1.1.10
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‘‘
Indemnified Person
’’ means any Director, Officer, Resident Representative, member of a committee duly constituted under
Bye-Law 107
and any liquidator, manager or trustee for the time being acting in relation to the affairs of the Company, and his heirs, executors and administrators;
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1.1.11
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‘‘
Investment Date
’’ means June 21, 2002;
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1.1.12
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‘‘
Listing
’’ means (i) the first admission of Ordinary Shares or any shares for which the Ordinary Shares have been exchanged or into which the Ordinary Shares have been converted or any shares in a company of which the Company is a subsidiary on the London Stock Exchange, (ii) the sale and issuance of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the first registered public offering under the
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1
Table of Contents
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United States securities laws or (iii) any amalgamation, scheme of arrangement, consolidation or other business combination transaction as a result of which the Shareholders receive as consideration equity securities of a class or series that is listed on the London Stock Exchange or publicly traded on a securities exchange in the United States;
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1.1.13
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Lloyd’s
’’ means The Society and Corporation of Lloyd’s incorporated by the Lloyd’s Acts 1871-1982 or, as the context may require, the Council of Lloyd’s and any person or delegate acting under its authority;
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1.1.14
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‘‘
Montpelier Re
’’ means Montpelier Reinsurance Ltd;
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1.1.15
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‘‘
Names
’’ means the underwriting members of Lloyd’s participating in Syndicate 2020 for the 2002 year of account (or in respect of those individual who have died, part of the 2002 year of account), other than the Wellington Corporate Members;
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1.1.16
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‘‘
Names Trust
’’ means the trust established under Declaration of Trust, as may be amended from time to time, between the Names’ Trustee and WUSL for the benefit of the Names;
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1.1.17
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‘‘
Names’ Trustee
’’ means The Names’ Trustees Limited solely as trustee of the Names Trust, including any successor to The Names’ Trustees Limited as Trustee of the Names Trust;
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1.1.18
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‘‘
Non-Voting Ordinary Shares
’’ means the Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company having, inter alia, the rights and restrictions as set out in
Bye-Law 3.3
;
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1.1.19
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‘‘
Officer
’’ means a person appointed by the Board pursuant to
Bye-Law 119
and shall not include an auditor of the Company;
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1.1.20
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‘‘
Ordinary Shares
’’ means ordinary shares in the capital of the Company having the rights and restrictions contained in these Bye-Laws;
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1.1.21
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‘‘
paid up
’’ means paid up or credited as paid up;
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1.1.22
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‘‘
Phoenix
’’ means Phoenix Equity Partners IV ‘‘A’’ L.P., Phoenix Equity Partners IV ‘‘B’’ L.P., Phoenix Equity Partners IV ‘‘C’’ L.P., Phoenix Equity Partners IV Co-Investment Plan and Phoenix Equity Partners III and IV Executive Investment Plan L.P., acting by their manager (and in respect of the Co-Investment Plan, its administrator), Phoenix Equity Partners Limited and Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.
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1.1.23
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‘‘
Preference Shares
’’ means preference shares in the capital of the Company, which shall have the rights, terms, restrictions and preferences set out in or determined in accordance with these Bye-Laws;
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1.1.24
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Register
’’ means the Register of Shareholders of the Company;
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1.1.25
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‘‘
Registered Office
’’ means the registered office for the time being of the Company;
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1.1.26
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‘‘
Resident Representative
’’ means (if any) the individual (or, if permitted in accordance with the Companies Act, a company) appointed to perform the duties of resident representative set out in the Companies Act and includes any assistant or deputy Resident Representative appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties of the Resident Representative;
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1.1.27
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‘‘
Resolution
’’ means a resolution of the Shareholders passed in general meeting or, where required, of a separate class or separate classes of shareholders passed in a separate general meeting or in either case adopted by resolution in writing, in accordance with the provisions of these Bye-Laws;
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Table of Contents
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1.1.28
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‘‘
Sale
’’ means the transfer (whether through a single transaction or a series of transactions) of 50% or more of the Ordinary Shares in issue taken together to a person and its Affiliates or to a group of persons acting together;
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1.1.29
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‘‘
Seal
’’ means the common seal of the Company and includes any authorised duplicate thereof;
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1.1.30
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‘‘
Secretary
’’ includes a temporary or assistant or deputy Secretary and any person appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties of the Secretary;
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1.1.31
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‘‘
Share
’’ means share in the capital of the Company and includes a fraction of a share;
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1.1.32
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‘‘
Shareholder
’’ means a shareholder or member of the Company;
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1.1.33
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‘‘
Syndicate 2020
’’ means Syndicate 2020 at Lloyd’s as managed by Wellington Underwriting Agencies Limited on 21 June 2002;
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1.1.34
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‘‘
the Bye-Laws
’’ means these Bye-Laws in their present form or as from time to time amended;
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1.1.35
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‘‘
3i
’’ means 3i Group plc;
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1.1.36
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‘‘
transfer
’’ means, in relation to any share, (i) when used as a verb, to sell, assign, dispose of, exchange, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise transfer such share or any beneficial interest therein, whether directly or indirectly, or agree or commit to do any of the foregoing and (ii) when used as a noun, a direct or indirect sale, assignment, disposition, exchange, pledge, hypothecation or other transfer of such share or any beneficial interest therein or any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing;
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1.1.37
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‘‘
undertaking
’’ means a company or partnership or an unincorporated association situated in any jurisdiction and, in relation to an undertaking which is not a company, expressions in these Bye-Laws appropriate to companies shall be construed as references to the corresponding persons, officers, documents or organs (as the case may be) appropriate to undertakings of that description;
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1.1.38
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‘‘
Wellington Corporate Members
’’ means Premium Alpha Limited, Premium Beta Limited, Premium Gamma Limited, Premium Delta Limited, Premium Epsilon Limited, Premium Eta Limited, Premium Zeta Limited, Wellington One Limited, Wellington Two Limited, Wellington Three Limited, Wellington Four Limited and Wellington Five Limited;
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1.1.39
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‘‘
Wellington Entity
’’ means Wellington Underwriting plc, its subsidiaries or the Names’ Trustee solely as trustee of the Names Trust;
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1.1.40
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‘‘
Wellington Option
’’ means the collective reference to the Option Instrument dated 21 June 2002, as may be amended from time to time, issued by the Company creating options to subscribe for Non-Voting Ordinary Shares and the Option Certificates issued thereunder of even date in favor of WU plc (in respect of 3,781,120 Non-Voting Ordinary Shares of the Company) and in favor of the Names’ Trustee (in respect of 3,006,760 Non-Voting Ordinary Shares of the Company);
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1.1.41
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‘‘
WUSL
’’ means Wellington Underwriting Services Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales (registered no. 01949097) whose registered office is 88 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 3BA.
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1.2
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For the purposes of these Bye-Laws:
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1.2.1
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a corporation shall be deemed to be present in person if its representative duly authorised pursuant to the Companies Act is present;
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3
Table of Contents
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1.2.2
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words importing only the singular number include the plural number and vice versa;
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1.2.3
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words importing only the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter genders respectively;
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1.2.4
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words importing persons include companies or associations or bodies of persons, whether corporate or un-incorporate;
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1.2.5
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a reference to writing shall include typewriting, printing, lithography, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form;
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1.2.6
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any words or expressions defined in the Companies Act in force at the date when these Bye-Laws or any part thereof are adopted shall bear the same meaning in these Bye-Laws or such part (as the case may be);
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1.2.7
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a company is a ‘‘
subsidiary
’’ of another company, its ‘‘
holding company
’’, if such other company owns either directly or indirectly through its subsidiaries shares of stock or other ownership interests having a majority of the voting power in electing the board of directors thereof or other persons performing a similar function; and
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1.2.8
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a ‘‘
member of the same group
’’ as a body corporate means a subsidiary or holding company of the body corporate or a subsidiary of a holding company of the body corporate.
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1.3
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A reference to anything being done by electronic means includes it being done by any electronic or other communications equipment or facilities and reference to any communication being delivered or received, or being delivered or received at a particular place, includes the transmission of an electronic record, and to a recipient identified in such manner or by such means as the Board may from time to time approve or prescribe, either generally or for a particular purpose.
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1.4
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A reference to a signature or to anything being signed or executed includes such forms of electronic signature or other means of verifying the authenticity of an electronic record as the Board may from time to time approve or prescribe, either generally or for a particular purpose.
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1.5
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A reference to any statute or statutory provision (whether in Bermuda or elsewhere) includes a reference to any modification or re-enactment of it and to every rule, regulation or order made under it (or under any such modification or re-enactment) and any reference to any rule, regulation or order made under any such statute or statutory provision includes a reference to any modification or replacement of such rule, regulation or order.
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1.6.1
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powers of delegation shall not be restrictively construed but the widest lawful interpretation shall be given thereto;
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1.6.2
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the term ‘‘Board’’ in the context of the exercise of any power contained in these Bye-Laws includes any committee consisting of one or more Directors, any Director holding an executive office and any manager or agent of the Company to which or, as the case may be, to whom the power in question has been delegated;
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1.6.3
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no power of delegation shall be limited by the existence or, except where expressly provided by the terms of delegation, the exercise of any other power of delegation; and
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Table of Contents
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1.6.4
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except where expressly provided by the terms of delegation, the delegation of a power shall not exclude the concurrent exercise of that power by any other body or person who is for the time being authorised to exercise it under these Bye-Laws or under another delegation of the powers by the Board.
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Registered Office
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2.
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The Registered Office shall be at such place in Bermuda as the Board shall from time to time appoint.
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Share Capital
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3.
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3.1
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Division of Share Capital
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Subject to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any existing shares or class of shares, the share capital of the Company shall be divided into shares of three classes, being 969,629,030 Ordinary Shares, 6,787,880 Non-Voting Ordinary Shares and 100,000,000 Preference Shares, as adjusted in the event of any share split, stock dividend, subdivision, combination, reclassification or other similar transaction, and as such share capital may be changed from time to time in accordance with Bermuda law.
The Ordinary Shares shall, subject to the other provisions in the Bye-Laws, entitle the holders thereof to the following rights:
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3.2.1
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as regards dividend:
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(subject to the provisions of the Companies Act) after making all necessary provisions, where relevant, for payment of any preferred dividend in respect of any Preference Shares then in issue, the Company shall apply any profits or reserves which the Board resolves to distribute in paying such profits or reserves to the holders of the Ordinary Shares in respect of their holding of such shares pari passu and pro rata to the number of Ordinary Shares held by each of them;
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3.2.2
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as regards capital:
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on a return of assets on liquidation, reduction of capital or otherwise, the holders of the Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to be paid the surplus assets of the Company remaining after payment of its liabilities (subject to the rights of the holders of any Preference Shares then in issue having preferred rights on the return of capital) in respect of their holdings of Ordinary Shares pari passu and pro rata to the number of Ordinary Shares held by each of them;
|
|
|
|
3.2.3
|
as regards voting in general meetings:
|
the holders of Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, general meetings of the Company; every holder of Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy shall on a poll have one vote for each Ordinary Share held by him (subject to modification to take into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
).
|
|
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|
3.3
|
Non-Voting Ordinary Shares
|
|
|
|
|
3.3.1
|
Save as provided in this
Bye-Law 3.3
, the Non-Voting Ordinary Shares shall rank pari passu with the Ordinary Shares and shall have the same rights and restrictions as the Ordinary Shares (and for such purpose, references to Ordinary Shares in these Bye-Laws shall be deemed to include Non-Voting Ordinary Shares except to the extent that such inclusion would conflict with the provisions of this
Bye-Law 3.3
or except as otherwise expressly provided in these Bye-Laws).
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5
Table of Contents
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3.3.2
|
The Non-Voting Ordinary Shares shall not carry any voting rights.
|
|
|
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|
3.3.3
|
The Non-Voting Ordinary Shares shall, in all circumstances, be treated by the Company as having the same value as the Ordinary Shares carrying rights to vote.
|
|
|
|
|
3.3.4
|
No resolution which may affect the rights conferred on Non-Voting Ordinary Shares pursuant to this
Bye-Law 3.3
shall be passed without the prior written consent of all the holders of Non-Voting Ordinary Shares.
|
|
|
|
|
3.3.5
|
On the first to occur of a Sale or Listing, each Non-Voting Ordinary Share in issue shall automatically convert into one Ordinary Share carrying rights to vote and each Non-Voting Ordinary Share issued at any time following a Sale or Listing shall automatically convert, immediately on issue, into one Ordinary Share carrying rights to vote. Following the conversion, the holders of Non-Voting Ordinary Shares shall return their share certificates to the Company and, upon receipt of each such certificate, the Company shall issue a replacement certificate representing the same number of Ordinary Shares carrying rights to vote to each of the relevant Shareholders.
|
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|
|
3.4.1
|
The Board is authorized, subject to
Bye-Law 3.4.3
and any limitations prescribed by applicable law, to issue Preference Shares in one or more series, and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including but not limited to dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption prices and liquidation preferences, and the number of shares constituting and the designation of any such series, without further vote or action by the Shareholders.
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|
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|
3.4.2
|
The authority of the Board with respect to each series of Preference Shares shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
3.4.2.1
|
the distinctive designation of such series and the number of Preference Shares constituting such series, which number (except as otherwise provided by the Board in the resolution establishing such series) may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) from time to time by like action of the Board;
|
|
|
|
|
3.4.2.2
|
the rights in respect of dividends, if any, of such series of Preference Shares, the extent of the preference or relation, if any, of such dividends to the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series of the same or other class or classes of shares of the Company, and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative;
|
|
|
|
|
3.4.2.3
|
the voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series of Preference Shares generally or with respect to any particular matter, which may be less than, equal to or greater than one vote per share, and which may, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, include the right, voting as a series by itself or together with the holders of any other series of Preference Shares or all series of Preference Shares as a class, or together with the holders of any other class of the capital stock of the Company to elect one or more directors of the Company (which, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may include a specified number or portion of the then-existing number of authorized directorships of the Company or a specified number or portion of
|
6
Table of Contents
|
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|
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directorships in addition to the then-existing number of authorized directorships of the Company), generally or under such specific circumstances and on such conditions, as shall be provided in the resolution or resolutions of the Board adopted pursuant hereto;
|
|
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|
|
3.4.2.4
|
whether such series of Preference Shares may be redeemed and, if so, the terms and conditions on which they may be redeemed (including, without limitation, the dates upon or after which they may be redeemed, which price or prices may be different in different circumstances or at different redemption dates), and whether they may be redeemed at the option of the Company, at the option of the holder, or at the option of both the Company and the holder;
|
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|
3.4.2.5
|
the right, if any, of the holders of such series of Preference Shares to convert the same into, or exchange the same for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of shares of the Company and the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange, including, without limitation, whether or not the number of shares of such other class or series into which shares of such series may be converted or exchanged shall be adjusted in the event of any share split, stock dividend, subdivision, combination, reclassification or other transaction or series of transactions affecting the class or series into which such series of Preference Shares may be converted or exchanged;
|
|
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|
|
3.4.2.6
|
the amounts, if any, payable upon such series of Preference Shares in the event of voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company in preference of any other class or series of shares or in the event of any merger or consolidation of or sale of assets by the Company;
|
|
|
|
|
3.4.2.7
|
the terms of any sinking fund or redemption or purchase account, if any, to be provided for shares of such series of Preference Shares; and
|
|
|
|
|
3.4.2.8
|
any other relative rights, preferences, limitations and powers of such series of Preference Shares.
|
|
|
|
|
3.4.3
|
Notwithstanding the provisions of
Bye-Law 3.4.2.3
, the Board may issue Preference Shares having voting rights or powers together with the holders of any other class of the share capital of the Company to elect one or more directors of the Company (other than any mandatory voting rights or powers under the Companies Act) only if such issuance is approved by a Resolution of the holders of Ordinary Shares (but not any other class of shares) then outstanding (taking into consideration the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
).
|
Alteration of Capital
|
|
4.
|
The Company may from time to time increase its capital by such sum to be divided into shares of such par value as the Company by Resolution (taking into consideration the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) shall prescribe and in any manner permitted by the Companies Act.
|
|
|
5.
|
Subject to the Companies Act, the Memorandum of Association of the Company and any confirmation or consent required by applicable law or these Bye-Laws, the Company may from time to time by Resolution (taking into consideration the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) authorise the reduction of its issued share capital or any share premium account in any manner. In relation to any such reduction, the Company may by Resolution (taking into consideration the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) determine the terms upon which such reduction is to be effected, provided, that such reduction shall apply to the entire class or series of shares to be affected.
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7
Table of Contents
|
|
6.
|
The Company may from time to time by Resolution (taking into consideration the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) and in any manner permitted by the Companies Act:
|
|
|
|
|
6.1
|
divide its shares into several classes or series and attach thereto respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions;
|
|
|
|
|
6.2
|
consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger par value than its existing shares;
|
|
|
|
|
6.3
|
sub-divide its shares or any of them into shares of smaller par value than is fixed by its Memorandum of Association, 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 the case of the share from which the reduced share is derived;
|
|
|
|
|
6.4
|
make provision for the issue and allotment of shares which do not carry any voting rights;
|
|
|
|
|
6.5
|
cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of the Resolution in that behalf, 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; and
|
|
|
|
|
6.6
|
change the currency denomination of its share capital.
|
Where any difficulty arises in regard to any division, consolidation, or sub-division under this Bye-Law, the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient and, in particular, may arrange for the sale of the shares representing fractions and the distribution of the net proceeds of sale in due proportion amongst the Shareholders who would have been entitled to the fractions, and, in the case where a distribution to the Names’ Trust would result in individual Names having a fractional beneficial interest, to the Names’ Trust in order to adjust the rights of all parties, and for this purpose the Board may authorise some person to transfer the shares representing fractions to the purchaser thereof, 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.
|
|
|
7.
|
7.1
|
The Board may, without the sanction of a Resolution, authorise the purchase by the Company of its own shares, of any class or series, at any price (whether at par or above or below par), and any shares to be so purchased may be selected in any manner whatsoever, upon such terms as the Board may in its discretion determine, provided always that such purchase is effected in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act and any other applicable laws. The whole or any part of the amount payable on any such purchase may be paid or satisfied otherwise than in cash, to the extent permitted by the Companies Act.
|
|
|
|
|
7.2
|
The Board may, at its discretion and without the sanction of a Resolution, authorise the acquisition by the Company of its own shares, of any class, at any price (whether at par or above or below par), and any shares to be so purchased may be selected in any manner whatsoever, to be held as treasury shares, upon such terms as the Board may in its discretion determine, provided always that such acquisition is effected in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. The whole or any part of the amount payable on any such acquisition may be paid or satisfied otherwise than in cash, to the extent permitted by the Companies Act. The Company shall be entered in the Register as a Shareholder in respect of the shares held by the Company as treasury shares and shall be a Shareholder of the Company but subject always to the provisions of the Companies Act and for the avoidance of doubt the Company shall not exercise any rights and shall not enjoy or participate in any of the rights attaching to those shares save as expressly provided for in the Companies Act.
|
8
Table of Contents
Shares
|
|
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8.
|
8.1
|
Subject to the restrictions, if any, that are provided for in these Bye-Laws from time to time and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any existing shares or class or series of shares, the Board shall have power to issue any unissued shares of the Company on such terms and conditions as it may determine. Further, the Board may create and issue shares of any existing class or series of shares. The Board may also issue options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire shares or, subject to Section 43 of the Companies Act, securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares (including any employee benefit plan providing for the issue of shares or options or rights in respect thereof), at such times, for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as it may determine.
|
|
|
|
|
8.2
|
Subject to the provisions of these Bye-Laws, any shares of the Company held by the Company as treasury shares shall be at the disposal of the Board, which may hold all or any of the shares, dispose of or transfer all or any of the shares for cash or other consideration, or cancel all or any of the shares.
|
|
|
9.
|
The Board may in connection with the issue of any shares exercise all powers of paying commission and brokerage conferred or permitted by law.
|
|
|
10.
|
Except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or as required by applicable law, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon trust and the Company shall not be bound by or required in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or in any fractional part of a share or (except only as otherwise provided in these Bye-Laws or by law) any other right in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder.
|
|
|
11.
|
The Company shall not give, whether directly or indirectly, whether by means of loan, guarantee, provision of security or otherwise, any financial assistance for the purpose of a purchase or subscription made or to be made by any person of or for any shares in the Company, but nothing in this Bye-Law shall prohibit transactions mentioned in Sections 39A, 39B and 39C of the Companies Act.
|
|
|
12.
|
Notwithstanding
Bye-Law 8
, the Board may not grant options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares to directors, officers or employees of the Company at an exercise price less than the fair market value of any such shares on the date of grant, or an average over a several-day period around the date of grant.
|
Modification of Rights
|
|
13.
|
Subject to the Companies Act, all or any of the special rights for the time being attached to any class or series of shares for the time being issued may from time to time (whether or not the Company is being wound up) be altered or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the issued shares of that class or series (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) or with the sanction of a Resolution passed by the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares in issue at a separate general meeting (taking into account the provisions by
Bye-Laws 63-67
). In respect of any such separate general meeting, all the provisions of these Bye-Laws as to general meetings of the Company shall
mutatis mutandis
apply, but so that the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding or representing by proxy any of the shares of the relevant class or series, that every holder of shares of the relevant class or series shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for every such share held by him (subject to modification to take into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) and that any holder of shares of the relevant class or series present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.
|
9
Table of Contents
|
|
14.
|
For the purpose of this Bye-Law, unless otherwise expressly provided by the rights attaching to or the terms of issue of such shares or class or series of shares, such rights or terms, as the case may be, shall not be deemed altered by:
|
|
|
|
|
14.1
|
the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith;
|
|
|
|
|
14.2
|
the creation or issue for full value (as determined by the Board) of further shares ranking as regards participation in the profits or assets of the Company or otherwise in priority to them; or
|
|
|
|
|
14.3
|
the purchase or redemption by the Company of any of its own shares.
|
Certificates
|
|
15.
|
The preparation, issue and delivery of certificates shall be governed by the Companies Act. In the case of a share held jointly by several persons, delivery of a certificate to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all.
|
|
|
16.
|
If a share certificate is defaced, lost or destroyed, it may be replaced without fee but on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and to payment of the costs and out of pocket expenses of the Company in investigating such evidence and preparing such indemnity as the Board may think fit and, in case of defacement, on delivery of the old certificate to the Company.
|
|
|
17.
|
All certificates for share or loan capital or other securities of the Company (other than letters of allotment, scrip certificates and other like documents) shall, except to the extent that the terms and conditions for the time being relating thereto otherwise provide, be in such form as the Board may determine and issued under the Seal or signed by a Director, the Secretary or any person authorised by the Board for that purpose. The Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in any particular case, that any signatures on any such certificates need not be autographic but may be affixed to such certificates by some mechanical means or may be printed thereon or that such certificates need not be signed by any persons and may determine that a representation of the Seal may be printed on any such certificates. If any person holding an office in the Company who has signed, or whose facsimile signature has been used on any certificate, ceases for any reason to hold his office, such certificate may nevertheless be issued as though that person had not ceased to hold such office.
|
|
|
18.
|
Nothing in these Bye-Laws shall prevent title to any securities of the Company from being evidenced and/or transferred without a written instrument in accordance with regulations made from time to time in this regard under the Companies Act, and (i) the Board shall have power to implement any arrangements which it may think fit for such evidencing and/or transfer which accord with those regulations and (ii) any such transfer shall be subject to the applicable provisions of
Bye-Law 22
.
|
Register of Shareholders
|
|
19.
|
The Register shall be kept at the Registered Office or at such other place in Bermuda as the Board may from time to time direct, in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Company may keep one or more branch registers in any place, and the Board may make, amend and revoke any resolutions as it may think fit respecting the keeping of such registers.
|
|
|
20.
|
The Register or any branch register may be closed at such times and for such period as the Board may from time to time decide, subject to the Companies Act and any other applicable law. Except during such time as it is closed, the Register and each branch register shall be open to inspection in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon (or between such times as the Board from time to time determines) on every Business Day. Unless the Board so determines, no Shareholder or intending Shareholder shall be entitled to have entered in the Register or any branch register any indication of any trust or any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or fractional part of a share and if any such entry exists or is permitted by the Board it shall not be deemed to abrogate any of the provisions of
Bye-Law 10
.
|
10
Table of Contents
Register of Directors and Officers
|
|
21.
|
The Secretary shall establish and maintain a register of the Directors and Officers of the Company as required by the Companies Act. The register of Directors and Officers shall be open to inspection in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on every Business Day.
|
Transfer of Shares
|
|
22.
|
Subject to the Companies Act and to such of the restrictions contained in these Bye-Laws as may be applicable, any Shareholder may transfer all or any of its shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual common form or by any other method permissible under applicable law, in either case as may be approved by the Board. No such instrument shall be required on the redemption of a share or on the purchase by the Company of a share.
|
|
|
23.
|
The instrument of transfer of legal title in a share shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and where any share is not fully-paid, the transferee. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect thereof. All instruments of transfer when registered may be retained by the Company. The Board may, in its absolute discretion and without assigning any reason therefor, decline to register any transfer of any share which is not a fully-paid share. The Board may also decline to register any transfer unless:
|
|
|
|
|
23.1
|
the instrument of transfer is duly stamped and lodged with the Company, at such place as the Board shall appoint for the purpose, accompanied by the certificate 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;
|
|
|
|
|
23.2
|
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class or series of shares;
|
|
|
|
|
23.3
|
the instrument of transfer does not result in joint holders of the shares to be transferred; and
|
|
|
|
|
23.4
|
it is satisfied that all applicable consents, authorisations, permissions or approvals of any governmental body or agency in Bermuda or any other applicable jurisdiction required to be obtained under relevant law prior to such transfer have been obtained.
|
Subject to any directions of the Board from time to time in force, the Secretary may exercise the powers and discretions of the Board under this Bye-Law and
Bye-Laws 22 and 25
.
|
|
24.
|
The Board may decline to approve or register any transfer of shares to the extent that the Board determines, in its sole discretion, after taking into account, among other things, the limitation on voting rights contained in these Bye-Laws, that any non-
de minimis
adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any other Shareholder or its Affiliates would result from such transfer (including, without limitation, if such consequence arises as a result of any U.S. person becoming a 9.5% U.S. Shareholder (as defined in
Bye-Law 66
), provided, however, that (i) such determination shall only be made after giving effect to
Bye-Laws 63-67
, (ii) prior to declining to approve or register such transfer, the Board shall first have consulted with the relevant Shareholder and explored alternatives to avoid such consequences and (iii) the power of the Board to decline to approve or register such transfer shall be applied only to the extent, and for such number of shares, as is necessary to avoid such
non-de minimis
adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences. The Board shall have the authority to request from any Shareholder, and each such Shareholder shall provide such information as the Board may reasonably request for the purpose of determining whether any transfer should be permitted.
|
|
|
25.
|
If the Board declines to register a transfer it shall, within one (1) month after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to the transferee notice of such refusal.
|
11
Table of Contents
|
|
26.
|
No fee shall be charged by the Company for registering any transfer, probate, letters of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney, order of court or other instrument relating to or affecting the title to any share, or otherwise making an entry in the Register relating to any share (except that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed on it in connection with such transfer or entry).
|
Transmission of Shares
|
|
27.
|
In the case of the death of an individual Shareholder, the survivor or survivors, where the deceased was a joint holder, and the estate representative, where he was sole holder, shall be the only person recognised by the Company as having any title to his shares; but nothing herein contained shall release the estate of a deceased holder (whether the sole or joint) from any liability in respect of any share held by him solely or jointly with other persons. For the purpose of this Bye-Law, estate representative means the person to whom probate or letters of administration has or have been granted in Bermuda or, failing any such person, such other person as the Board may in its absolute discretion determine to be the person recognised by the Company for the purpose of this Bye-Law. For greater certainty, where two or more persons are registered as joint holders of a share or shares, then in the event of the death of any joint holder or holders, the remaining joint holder or holders shall be absolutely entitled to the said share or shares and the Company shall recognize no claim in respect of the estate of any joint holder except in the case of the last survivor of such joint holders.
|
|
|
28.
|
Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of a Shareholder or otherwise by operation of applicable law may, subject as hereafter provided and upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board as to his entitlement, either be registered himself as the holder of the share or elect to have some person nominated by him registered as the transferee thereof. If the person so becoming entitled elects to be registered himself, he shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him stating that he so elects. If he shall elect to have his nominee registered, he shall signify his election by signing an instrument of transfer of such share in favour of his nominee. All the limitations, restrictions and provisions of these Bye-Laws relating to the right to transfer and the registration of transfer of shares shall be applicable to any such notice or instrument of transfer as aforesaid as if the death of such Shareholder or other event giving rise to the transmission had not occurred and the notice or instrument of transfer was an instrument of transfer signed by such Shareholder.
|
|
|
29.
|
A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of an individual Shareholder or otherwise by operation of applicable law shall (upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board as to his entitlement) be entitled to receive and may give a discharge for any dividends or other monies payable in respect of the share, but he shall not be entitled in respect of the share to receive notices of or to attend or vote at general meetings of the Company or, save as aforesaid, to exercise in respect of the share any of the rights or privileges of a Shareholder until he shall have become registered as the holder thereof. The Board may at any time give notice requiring such person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the share and, if the notice is not complied with within sixty days, the Board may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends and other monies payable in respect of the shares until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.
|
|
|
30.
|
Subject to any directions of the Board from time to time in force, the Secretary may exercise the powers and discretions of the Board under
Bye-Laws 27-29
.
|
General Meetings and Resolutions in writing
|
|
31.
|
The Board shall convene and the Company shall hold general meetings as Annual General Meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act at such times and places as the Board shall appoint.
|
12
Table of Contents
|
|
32.
|
The Board may, whenever it thinks fit, and shall, when required by the provisions of Companies Act, convene general meetings other than Annual General Meetings which shall be called Special General Meetings.
|
|
|
|
33.
|
33.1
|
Except in the case of the removal of auditors or Directors, anything which may be done by resolution of the Shareholders in general meeting or by resolution of any class of Shareholders in a separate general meeting may be done by resolution in writing, signed by the Shareholders (or the holders of such class of shares) who at the date of the notice of the resolution in writing represent the majority of votes that would be required if the resolution had been voted on at a meeting of the Shareholders. Such resolution in writing may be signed by the Shareholder or its proxy, or in the case of a Shareholder that is a corporation (whether or not a company within the meaning of the Companies Act) by its representative on behalf of such Shareholder, in as many counterparts as may be necessary.
|
|
|
|
|
33.2
|
Notice of any resolution in writing to be made under this Bye-Law shall be given to all the Shareholders who would be entitled to attend a meeting and vote on the resolution. The requirement to give notice of any resolution in writing to be made under this Bye-Law to such Shareholders shall be satisfied by giving to those Shareholders a copy of that resolution in writing in the same manner as that required for a notice of a general meeting of the Company at which the resolution could have been considered, except that the length of the period of notice shall not apply. The date of the notice shall be set out in the copy of the resolution in writing.
|
|
|
|
|
33.3
|
The accidental omission to give notice, in accordance with this Bye-Law, of a resolution in writing to, or the non-receipt of such notice by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the passing of the resolution in writing.
|
|
|
|
|
33.4
|
For the purposes of this Bye-Law, the date of the Resolution in writing is the date when the Resolution in writing is signed by, or on behalf of, the Shareholder who establishes the majority of votes required for the passing of the resolution in writing and any reference in any enactment to the date of passing of a Resolution is, in relation to a Resolution in writing made in accordance with this Bye-Law, a reference to such date.
|
|
|
|
|
33.5
|
A Resolution in writing made in accordance with this Bye-Law is as valid as if it had been passed by the Company in general meeting or, if applicable, by a meeting of the relevant class or series of Shareholders, as the case may be. A Resolution in writing made in accordance with this Bye-Law shall constitute minutes for the purposes of the Companies Act and these Bye-Laws.
|
Notice of General Meetings
|
|
34.
|
An Annual General Meeting shall be called by not less than twenty-one (21) days notice in writing and a Special General Meeting shall be called by not less than twenty-one (21) days notice in writing. The notice period shall be exclusive of the day on which it is served or deemed to be served and of the day for which it is given, and the notice shall specify the place, day and time of the meeting, and, the nature of the business to be considered. Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner permitted by
Bye-Laws 142-143
to all Shareholders other than such as, under the provisions of these Bye-Laws or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notice from the Company and every Director and to any Resident Representative who or which has delivered a written notice upon the Registered Office requiring that such notice be sent to him or it.
|
|
|
35.
|
Notwithstanding that a meeting of the Company is called by shorter notice than that specified in this Bye-Law, it shall be deemed to have been duly called if it is so agreed:
|
|
|
|
|
35.1
|
in the case of a meeting called as an Annual General Meeting, by all the Shareholders entitled to attend and vote thereat;
|
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|
|
|
|
35.2
|
in the case of any other meeting, by a majority in number of the Shareholders having the right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety-five percent (95%) in nominal value of the shares giving that right.
|
|
|
36.
|
A Shareholder present, either in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company or of the holders of any class or series of shares present in person or by proxy shall be deemed to have received notice of the meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which it was called.
|
|
|
37.
|
Subject to the Companies Act, the Board may cancel or postpone a meeting of the Shareholders after it has been convened and notice of such cancellation or postponement shall be served in accordance with
Bye-Law 142
upon all Shareholders entitled to notice of the meeting so cancelled or postponed setting out, where the meeting is postponed to a specific date, notice of the new meeting in accordance with
Bye-Law 34
.
|
|
|
38.
|
The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting or (in cases where instruments of proxy are sent out with the notice) the accidental omission to send such instrument of proxy to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting or such instrument of proxy by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
|
Proceedings at General Meetings
|
|
39.
|
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business, but the absence of a quorum shall not preclude the appointment, choice or election of a chairman, which shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting. Save as otherwise provided by these Bye-Laws, one or more Shareholders holding at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Ordinary Shares (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) in issue present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum for all purposes.
|
|
|
40.
|
If within five minutes (or such longer time as the chairman of the meeting may determine to wait) after the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present in person or by proxy, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of Shareholders, shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to such other day and such other time and place as the chairman of the meeting may determine and at such adjourned meeting two Shareholders present in person or by proxy and holding at least ten percent (10%) in aggregate of the voting power of shares entitled to vote at such meeting (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) shall be a quorum. The Company shall give not less than twenty-one (21) days notice of any meeting adjourned through want of a quorum and such notice shall state that two Shareholders present in person or by proxy and holding at least ten percent (10%) of the voting power of shares entitled to vote at such meeting (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) shall be a quorum.
|
|
|
41.
|
In accordance with section 71(5) of the Companies Act, a general meeting may be held with only one (1) individual present provided that the requirement for a quorum is satisfied.
|
|
|
42.
|
A meeting of the Shareholders or any class or series thereof may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by telephone, or by video conferencing) as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
|
|
|
|
43.
|
43.1
|
Subject to the Companies Act, a Resolution may only be put to a vote at a general meeting of the Company or of any class or series of Shareholders if:
|
|
|
|
|
43.1.1
|
it is proposed by or at the direction of the Board; or
|
|
|
|
|
43.1.2
|
it is proposed at the direction of a court of competent jurisdiction; or
|
|
|
|
|
43.1.3
|
it is proposed on the requisition in writing of such number of Shareholders as is prescribed by, and is made in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the Companies Act; or
|
14
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|
|
|
|
43.1.4
|
the chairman of the meeting in his absolute discretion decides that the Resolution may properly be regarded as within the scope of the meeting; or
|
|
|
|
|
43.1.5
|
the Resolution concerns a matter described in
Bye-Law 84
.
|
|
|
|
|
43.2
|
No amendment may be made to a Resolution, at or before the time when it is put to a vote, unless the chairman of the meeting in his absolute discretion decides that the amendment or the amended Resolution may properly be put to a vote at that meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
43.3
|
If the chairman of the meeting rules a Resolution or an amendment to a Resolution admissible or out of order (as the case may be), the proceedings of the meeting or on the Resolution in question shall not be invalidated by any error in his ruling. Any ruling by the chairman of the meeting in relation to a Resolution or an amendment to a Resolution shall be final and conclusive.
|
|
|
44.
|
Each Director, and upon giving the notice referred to in
Bye-Law 34
above, the Resident Representative, if any, shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company.
|
|
|
45.
|
The Board may choose one of their number to preside as chairman at every general meeting. If there is no such chairman, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or if neither of them is willing to act as chairman, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to act or if only one Director is present he shall preside as chairman if willing to act. If no Director is present, or if each of the Directors present declines to take the chair, the persons present and entitled to vote on a poll shall elect one of their number to be chairman.
|
|
|
46.
|
The chairman of the meeting may, with the consent by Resolution of the persons present at any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. Subject to the Companies Act, in addition to any other power of adjournment conferred by law, the chairman of the meeting may at any time without consent of the persons present at the meeting adjourn the meeting (whether or not it has commenced or a quorum is present) to another time and/or place if, in his opinion, it would facilitate the conduct of the business of the meeting to do so or if he is so directed (prior to or at the meeting) by the Board. When a meeting is adjourned for three (3) months or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as expressly provided by these Bye-Laws, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.
|
U.S. Periodic Reporting
|
|
47.
|
For so long as the Company is required to maintain the registration of any of its shares under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘
Exchange Act
’’), the Company shall file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission all annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports with respect to specified events on Form 8-K (as would be required of a United States domestic private issuer subject to those particular informational requirements of the Exchange Act). The audited financial information contained in such annual reports and unaudited quarterly financial information contained in such quarterly reports will be prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
|
Voting
|
|
48.
|
Except as otherwise required by the Companies Act and these Bye-Laws, any question proposed for the consideration of the Shareholders at any general meeting shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of votes cast at such meeting (taking into
|
15
Table of Contents
|
|
|
account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) and in the case of an equality of voting power of votes cast, the Resolution shall fail. Any amendment to this
Bye-Law 48
shall be approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of Shareholders (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
).
|
|
|
49.
|
Notwithstanding the provisions of
Bye-Laws 48 and 50,
the following actions shall be approved by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of Shareholders (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
): any amendment to
Bye-Laws 13 (first sentence), 24, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 76, 84 or 85
; provided, however, that in the case of any amendments to
Bye-Laws 24, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 or 76
, such amendment shall only be subject to this
Bye-Law 49
if the Board determines, in its sole discretion, that such amendment could adversely affect any Shareholder in any
non-de minimis
respect. Any amendment to this
Bye-Law 49
shall be approved by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of Shareholders (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
).
|
|
|
50.
|
Notwithstanding the provisions of
Bye-Laws 48-49
(in addition to any approval requirements set out in the Companies Act), the following actions shall be approved by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six percent (66%) of the voting power of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of Shareholders (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
): (i) a merger or amalgamation with, or a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to, a third party, where any Shareholder does not have the same right to receive the same consideration as all other Shareholders in such transaction; or (ii) discontinuance of the Company out of Bermuda to another jurisdiction. Any amendment to this
Bye-law 50
shall be approved by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six percent (66%) of the voting power of shares entitled to vote at a meeting of Shareholders (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
).
|
|
|
51.
|
At any general meeting, a Resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands or by a count of votes received in the form of electronic records, unless (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands or count of votes received as electronic record or on the withdrawal of any other demand for a poll) a poll is demanded by:
|
|
|
|
|
51.1
|
the chairman of the meeting; or
|
|
|
|
|
51.2
|
at least three (3) Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy; or
|
|
|
|
|
51.3
|
any Shareholder or Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and holding between them not less than one tenth of the total voting power of shares entitled to vote at such meeting (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
); or
|
|
|
|
|
51.4
|
a Shareholder or Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy holding shares conferring the right to vote at such 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 such shares conferring such right.
|
|
|
52.
|
The demand for a poll may be withdrawn by the person or any of the persons making it at any time prior to the declaration of the result but only with the consent of the chairman and a demand so withdrawn shall not be taken to have invalidated the result of a show of hands or count of votes received as electronic records declared before a poll was made. Unless a poll is so demanded and the demand is not withdrawn, a declaration by the chairman that a Resolution has, on a show of hands or count of votes received as electronic records, been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority or not carried by a particular majority or lost shall be final and conclusive, and an entry to that effect in the minute book of the Company shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of votes recorded for or against such Resolution.
|
|
|
53.
|
If a poll is duly demanded, the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the Resolution of the meeting at which the poll is demanded.
|
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Table of Contents
|
|
54.
|
A poll demanded on the election of a chairman, or on a question of adjournment, shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken in such manner and either forthwith or at such time later in the meeting as the chairman shall direct and the chairman may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Shareholders) and fix a time and place for declaring the result of the poll. It shall not be necessary (unless the chairman otherwise directs) for notice to be given of a poll.
|
|
|
55.
|
The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll has been demanded and it may be withdrawn at any time before the close of the meeting or the taking of the poll, whichever is the earlier.
|
|
|
56.
|
On a poll, votes may be cast either personally or by proxy.
|
|
|
57.
|
A person entitled to more than one vote on a poll need not use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.
|
|
|
58.
|
In the case of an equality of votes at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of such meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote and the Resolution shall fail.
|
|
|
59.
|
In the case of joint holders of a share, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register in respect of the joint holding.
|
|
|
60.
|
A Shareholder who is a patient for any purpose of any statute or applicable law relating to mental health or in respect of whom an order has been made by any Court having jurisdiction for the protection or management of the affairs of persons incapable of managing their own affairs may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his receiver, committee
, curator bonis
or other person in the nature of a receiver, committee or
curator bonis
appointed by such Court and such receiver, committee,
curator bonis
or other person may vote on a poll by proxy, and may otherwise act and be treated as such Shareholder for the purpose of general meetings.
|
|
|
61.
|
No Shareholder shall, unless the Board otherwise determines, be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all calls or other sums presently payable by him in respect of shares in the Company have been paid.
|
|
|
62.
|
If:
|
|
|
|
|
62.1
|
any objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter; or,
|
|
|
|
|
62.2
|
any votes have been counted which ought not to have been counted or which might have been rejected; or,
|
|
|
|
|
62.3
|
any votes are not counted which ought to have been counted,
|
the objection or error shall not vitiate the decision of the meeting or adjourned meeting on any Resolution unless the same is raised or pointed out at the meeting or, as the case may be, the adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which the error occurs. Any objection or error shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and shall only vitiate the decision of the meeting on any Resolution if the chairman decides that the same may have affected the decision of the meeting. The decision of the chairman on such matters shall be final and conclusive.
Adjustment of Voting Power
|
|
63.
|
The voting power of all shares is hereby adjusted (and shall be automatically adjusted in the future) to the extent necessary so that there is no 9.5% U.S. Shareholder. The Board shall implement the foregoing in the manner provided herein.
|
|
|
64.
|
The Board shall from time to time, including prior to any time at which a vote of Shareholders is taken, take all reasonable steps necessary to ascertain, including those specified in
Bye-Law 68
, through communications with Shareholders or otherwise, whether there exists, or will exist at the time any vote of Shareholders is taken, a Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder.
|
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Table of Contents
|
|
65.
|
In the event that a Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder exists, the aggregate votes conferred by shares held by a Shareholder and treated as Controlled Shares of that Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder shall be reduced to the extent necessary such that the Controlled Shares of the Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder will constitute less than 9.5% of the voting power of all shares. In applying the previous sentence where shares held by more than one Shareholder are treated as Controlled Shares of such Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder, the reduction in votes shall apply to such Shareholders in descending order according to their respective Attribution Percentages, provided that, in the event of a tie, the reduction shall apply first to the Shareholder whose shares are Controlled Shares of the Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder by virtue of the Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder’s economic interest in (as opposed to voting control with respect to) such shares. The votes of Shareholders owning no shares treated as Controlled Shares of any Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder shall, in the aggregate, be increased by the same number of votes subject to reduction as described above. Such increase shall apply to all such Shareholders in proportion to their voting power at that time, provided that such increase shall be limited to the extent necessary to avoid causing any person to be a 9.5% U.S. Shareholder, and provided, further, that (x) no portion of such increase shall apply to the shares held by any Wellington Entity or the Names Trust, and (y) such increase shall be limited in the case of 3i, Phoenix and Montpelier Re so that no such increase would cause the voting power of 3i, Phoenix or Montpelier Re to increase to 10% or more except, in the case of either (x) or (y), where the failure to apply such increase to the shares of any such Shareholders would result in any person becoming a 9.5% U.S. Shareholder. The adjustments of voting power described in this Bye-Law shall apply repeatedly until there is no 9.5% U.S. Shareholder. The Board may deviate from any of the principles described in this Bye-Law and determine that shares held by a Shareholder shall carry different voting rights as it determines appropriate (1) to avoid the existence of any 9.5% U.S. Shareholder or (2) to avoid adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any other Shareholder or its Affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, in applying the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-75
, a share may carry a fraction of a vote.
|
|
|
66.
|
In these Bye-Laws:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
‘‘
Controlled Shares
’’ in reference to any person means all shares of the Company directly, indirectly or constructively owned by such person as determined pursuant to Sections 957 and 958 of the Code.
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
‘‘
9.5% U.S. Shareholder
’’ means a ‘‘United States person’’ as defined in the Code (a ‘‘
U.S. person
’’) whose Controlled Shares constitute nine and one-half percent (9.5%) or more of the voting power of all shares of the Company and who would be generally required to recognize income with respect to the Company under Section 951(a)(1) of the Code, if the Company were a controlled foreign corporation as defined in Section 957 of the Code and if the ownership threshold under Section 951(b) of the Code were 9.5%.
|
|
|
|
|
(iii)
|
‘‘
Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder
’’ means a U.S. person that, but for adjustments to the voting rights of shares pursuant to
Bye-Laws 63-67
, would be a 9.5% U.S. Shareholder.
|
|
|
|
|
(iv)
|
‘‘
Attribution Percentage
’’ shall mean, with respect to a Shareholder and a Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder, the percentage of the Shareholders’ shares that are treated as Controlled Shares of such Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder.
|
Other Adjustments of Voting Power
|
|
67.
|
In addition to the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-66
, any shares shall not carry any right to vote to the extent that the Board unanimously determines, in its sole discretion, that it is necessary that such shares should not carry the right to vote in order to avoid material adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other Shareholder or
|
18
Table of Contents
|
|
|
its Affiliates, provided that (i) no adjustment pursuant to this sentence shall be made if it would cause any person to become a 9.5% U.S. Shareholder or the Company to become a United Kingdom controlled foreign corporation and (ii) prior to making such determination, the Board shall first have consulted with the relevant Shareholder and explored alternatives to avoid such consequences.
|
Notification of Voting Power
|
|
68.
|
Prior to any date on which Shareholders shall vote on any matter, the Board shall (i) if it considers it necessary or appropriate (x) retain the services of an internationally recognised accounting firm or organisation with comparable professional capabilities in order to assist the Company in applying the principles of
Bye-Laws 63 through 75
and (y) obtain from such firm or organisation a statement setting forth the information obtained, procedures followed and determinations made with respect to
Bye-Laws 63 through 75
, and (ii) notify each Shareholder of the voting power conferred by its shares determined in accordance with
Bye-Laws 63 through 75
.
|
Requirement to Provide Information and Notice
|
|
69.
|
The Company shall have the authority to request from any holder of shares, and such holder of shares shall provide, such information as the Company may reasonably request for the purpose of determining whether any holder’s voting rights are to be adjusted pursuant to these Bye-Laws. If a Shareholder fails to respond to a request for information from the Company pursuant to this Bye-Law, or submits incomplete or inaccurate information in response to such a request, the Company may in its reasonable discretion (after considering the circumstances described in any response to the request by the Shareholder and providing such Shareholder with a cure period of such length, if any, as the Company in its reasonable discretion shall determine to be reasonable under the circumstances) determine that such Shareholder’s shares shall carry no or reduced, as the case may be, voting rights until otherwise determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion.
|
|
|
70.
|
Any holder of shares shall give notice to the Company within ten days following the date that such holder acquires actual knowledge that it is, or caused another person to become, a Tentative 9.5% U.S. Shareholder.
|
|
|
71.
|
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Shareholder shall be liable to any other Shareholder or the Company for any losses or damages resulting from such Shareholder’s failure to respond to, or submission of incomplete or inaccurate information in response to, a request under
Bye-Law 69
or from such Shareholder’s failure to give notice under
Bye-Law 70
.
|
|
|
72.
|
Any information provided by a Shareholder to the Company pursuant to this Bye-Law, or other information provided pursuant to this Bye-Law or for purposes of making the analysis required by, for purposes of implementing,
Bye-Laws 24 and 63 through 75
, shall be deemed confidential information (the ‘‘
Confidential Information
’’) and shall be used by the Company solely for the purposes contemplated by those Bye-Laws (except as may be required otherwise by applicable law or regulation). The Company shall hold such Confidential Information that it receives in strict confidence and shall not disclose any Confidential Information that it receives, except (i) to the United States Internal Revenue Service (the ‘‘
Service
’’) if and to the extent the Confidential Information is required by the Service, (ii) to any outside legal counsel or accounting firm engaged by the Company to make determinations regarding the relevant Bye-Laws, or (iii) as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation.
|
|
|
73.
|
The Company shall take all measures practicable to ensure the continued confidentiality of the Confidential Information and shall grant the persons referred to in
Bye-Law 72(ii
) above access to the Confidential Information only to the extent necessary to allow them to assist the Company in any analysis required by, or for purposes of implementing,
Bye-Laws 24 and 63 through 75
or to determine whether the Company would realise any income that would be
|
19
Table of Contents
|
|
|
included in the income of any Shareholder (or any interest holder, whether direct or indirect, of any Shareholder) by operation of Section 953(c) of the Code. Prior to granting access to the Confidential Information to such persons or to any officer or employee as set forth below, the Company shall inform them of its confidential nature and of the provisions of this Bye-Law and shall require them to abide by all the provisions hereof. The Company shall not disclose the Confidential Information to any Director, except following compliance with
Bye-Law 74
to the extent required under applicable law or regulation. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall be permitted to disclose to the Shareholders and others the relative voting percentages of the Shareholders after application by
Bye-Laws 63-67
. At the written request of a Shareholder, the Confidential Information of such Shareholder shall be destroyed or returned to such Shareholder after the later to occur of (i) such Shareholder no longer being a Shareholder or (ii) the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any Confidential Information for purposes of engaging in any tax related analysis.
|
|
|
74.
|
The Company (i) shall notify a Shareholder immediately of the existence, terms and circumstances surrounding any request made to the Company to disclose any Confidential Information provided by or with respect to such Shareholder and, prior to such disclosure, shall permit such Shareholder a reasonable period of time to seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with the provisions of
Bye-Law 73
, and (ii) may, in the absence of a protective order, make such disclosure without liability hereunder, provided that the Company shall furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information which is legally required, shall give such Shareholder notice of the information to be disclosed as far in advance of its disclosure as practicable and, upon the request of such Shareholder and at its expense, shall use best efforts to ensure that confidential treatment will be accorded all such disclosed information.
|
|
|
75.
|
The Company and the Board may rely exclusively on the analysis, deliberation, reports and other communications of the persons specified in (ii) of
Bye-Law 72
above with respect to the collection, disclosure or use of the Confidential Information, including, but not limited to implementing
Bye-Laws 24, 84 or 85
or determining whether the Company would realize any income that would be included in the income of any Shareholder (or any interest holder, whether direct or indirect, of any Shareholder) by operation of Section 953(c) of the Code.
|
Purchase of Shares
|
|
76.
|
If the Board unanimously determines that share ownership by any person may result in material adverse tax consequences to the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any other holder of shares or its Affiliates (including if such consequence arises as a result of any such U.S. person owning Controlled Shares of 9.5% or more of the value of the Company or the voting shares of the Company (provided that this Bye-Law shall only apply after the application of the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63 through 75
), the Company will have the option but not the obligation to purchase or assign to a third party the right to purchase the minimum number of shares held by such person solely to the extent, and for the number of shares, that it is necessary to eliminate such material adverse tax consequence at a price determined in the good faith discretion of the Board to represent such shares’ fair market value;
provided
that (i) if the shares are not traded on a securities exchange in or outside the United States, the fair market value per share shall be determined by the Board without a minority discount but with an appropriate liquidity discount, such value and liquidity discount, if any, as determined by the Board, or (ii) if the shares are traded on a securities exchange in or outside the United States, the fair market value per share shall be determined by the Board based on the average of the last sales price per share or if there is none, the average of the bid and asked price per share, without a minority discount or a liquidity discount, in each case for the eight business days prior to the repurchase date. If a Shareholder disagrees with the price so determined by the Board, the fair market value per share and the liquidity discount, if any, will be determined by
|
20
Table of Contents
|
|
|
an independent firm of internationally recognised chartered accountants acting as experts and not arbiters (‘‘
Expert
’’) and retained jointly by the Company and the Shareholder at the expense of the Company and if they cannot agree within 10 days of such disagreement such Expert shall be appointed by the president for the time being of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
|
Proxies and Corporate Representatives
|
|
77.
|
A Shareholder may appoint one or more persons as his proxy, with or without the power of substitution, to represent him and vote on his behalf in respect of all or some of his shares at any general meeting (including an adjourned meeting). A proxy need not be a Shareholder. The instrument appointing a proxy or corporate representative shall be in writing executed by the appointor or his attorney authorised by him in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under its seal or executed by an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign the same.
|
|
|
78.
|
A Shareholder which is a corporation may, by written authorisation, appoint any person (or two or more persons in the alternative) as its representative to represent it and vote on its behalf at any general meeting (including an adjourned meeting) and such a corporate representative may exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder and the Shareholder shall for the purposes of these Bye-Laws be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting if a person so authorised is present at it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the chairman of the meeting may accept such assurances as he thinks fit as to the right of any person to attend and vote at general meetings on behalf of a corporation that is a Shareholder.
|
|
|
79.
|
Any Shareholder may appoint a proxy or (if a corporation) representative for a specific general meeting, and adjournments thereof, or may appoint a standing proxy or (if a corporation) representative, by serving on the Company, in accordance with the manner provided for in
Bye-Law 142
at the Registered Office, or at such place or places as the Board may otherwise specify for the purpose, a proxy or (if a corporation) an authorisation. For purposes of service on the Company pursuant to this Bye-Law, the provisions of
Bye-Law 142
as to service on Shareholders shall
mutatis mutandis
apply to service on the Company. Any standing proxy or authorisation shall be valid for all general meetings and adjournments thereof or Resolutions in writing, as the case may be, until notice of revocation is received at the Registered Office or at such place or places as the Board may otherwise specify for the purpose. Where a standing proxy or authorisation exists, its operation shall be deemed to have been suspended at any general meeting of the Company or adjournment thereof at which the Shareholder is present or in respect to which the Shareholder has specially appointed a proxy or representative. The Board may from time to time require such evidence as it shall deem necessary as to the due execution and continuing validity of any standing proxy or authorisation and the operation of any such standing proxy or authorisation shall be deemed to be suspended until such time as the Board determines that it has received the requested evidence or other evidence satisfactory to it.
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80.
|
Subject to
Bye-Laws 78 and 79
, the instrument appointing a proxy or corporate representative together with such other evidence as to its due execution as the Board may from time to time require, shall be delivered at the Registered Office (or at such place as may be specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any notice of any adjournment or, in either case or the case of a written Resolution, in any document sent therewith) by such date and time specified in the notice prior to the holding of the relevant meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote or, in the case of a poll taken subsequently to the date of a meeting or adjourned meeting, before the time appointed for the taking of the poll, or, in the case of a written Resolution, prior to the effective date of the written Resolution and in default the instrument of proxy or authorisation shall not be treated as valid.
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Table of Contents
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81.
|
Instruments of proxy or authorisation shall be in any common form or in such other form as the Board may approve and the Board may, if it thinks fit, send out with the notice of any meeting or any written Resolution forms of instruments of proxy or authorisation for use at that meeting or in connection with that written Resolution. The instrument of proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll, to speak at the meeting and to vote on any amendment of a written Resolution or amendment of a Resolution put to the meeting for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit. The instrument of proxy or authorisation shall, unless the contrary is stated therein, be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates. If the terms of the appointment of a proxy include a power of substitution, any proxy appointed by substitution under such power shall be deemed to be the proxy of the Shareholder who conferred such power. All the provisions of these Bye-Laws relating to the execution and delivery of an instrument or other form of communication appointing or evidencing the appointment of a proxy shall apply, mutates mutandis, to the instrument or other form of communication effecting or evidencing such an appointment by substitution.
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82.
|
A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy or authorisation shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or unsoundness of mind of the principal, or revocation of the instrument of proxy or of the corporate authority, provided that no intimation in writing of such death, unsoundness of mind or revocation shall have been received by the Company at the Registered Office (or such other place as may be specified for the delivery of instruments of proxy or authorisation in the notice convening the meeting or other documents sent therewith) at least one hour before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting, or the taking of the poll, or the day before the effective date of any written Resolution at which the instrument of proxy or authorisation is used.
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83.
|
Subject to the Companies Act, the Board may at its discretion waive any of the provisions of these Bye-Laws related to proxies or authorisations and, in particular, may accept such verbal or other assurances as it thinks fit as to the right of any person to attend, speak and vote on behalf of any Shareholder at general meetings or to sign written Resolutions.
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Certain Subsidiaries
|
|
84.
|
Voting of Subsidiary Shares
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bye-Laws to the contrary, if the Company is required or entitled to vote at a general meeting of any subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States of America (each, a ‘‘Non-U.S. Subsidiary’’), the Directors shall refer the subject matter of the vote to the Shareholders of the Company on a poll (subject to
Bye-Laws 48-75
) and seek authority from the Shareholders in a general meeting of the Company for the Company’s corporate representative or proxy to vote in favor of the resolution proposed by the Non-U.S. Subsidiary. The Directors shall cause the Company’s corporate representative or proxy to vote the Company’s shares in the Non-U.S. Subsidiary pro rata to the votes received at the general meeting of the Company, with votes for or against the directing resolution being taken, respectively, as an instruction for the Company’s corporate representative or proxy to vote the appropriate proportion of its shares for and the appropriate proportion of its shares against the resolution proposed by the Non-U.S. Subsidiary.
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85.
|
Bye-Laws or Articles of Association of Certain Subsidiaries
|
The Board shall ensure (subject to the laws of the relevant jurisdiction) that the bye-laws, articles of association or other constitutive documents of each Non-U.S. Subsidiary (for the purpose of this Bye-Law 85, a ‘‘Relevant Subsidiary’’) contain provisions substantially similar to
Bye-Laws 84-85
herein (provided that the bye-laws, articles of association or other constitutive documents of such Relevant Subsidiary need not necessarily include provisions substantially similar to
Bye-Laws 48-75
herein) requiring all shares held by such Relevant Subsidiary in any other Non-U.S. Subsidiary to be voted in the appropriate proportions to the votes received from the shareholders of such Relevant Subsidiary at its general meeting for or against the resolution instructing such Relevant Subsidiary.
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Table of Contents
Election of Directors
|
|
86.
|
The Board shall consist of not less than six (6) and not more than fifteen (15) Directors (as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors) or such number as the Shareholders may from time to time determine. The Board of Directors shall initially consist of eleven (11) Directors.
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87.
|
The Directors shall be divided by the Board into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The terms of the initial Directors shall be as follows (i) Directors initially designated as Class I Directors shall serve for an initial term ending on the date of the third annual general meeting of Shareholders following the Investment Date, (ii) Directors initially designated as Class II Directors shall serve for an initial term ending on the fourth annual general meeting following the Investment Date, and (iii) Directors initially designated as Class III Directors shall serve for an initial term ending on the fifth annual general meeting following the Investment Date. After the expiration of the respective terms of the initial Directors as set forth above, Directors of each class shall be elected by the Shareholders and shall serve a term ending on the date of the third annual general meeting of Shareholders next following the annual general meeting at which such Director was elected. Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors who are 70 years or older shall be elected every year and shall not be subject to a three-year term. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, each Director shall hold office until such Director’s successor shall have been duly elected or until such Director is removed from office pursuant to
Bye-Law 89
or such office is otherwise vacated. In the event of any change in the number of Directors, the Board shall apportion any newly created directorships among, or reduce the number of directorships in, such class or classes as shall equalize, as nearly as possible, the number of Directors in each class. In no event will a decrease in the number of Directors shorten the term of any incumbent Director.
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Observers’ Rights
|
|
88.
|
The Board may grant, in its discretion and to Shareholders who so request, the right to designate persons to attend meetings of the Board or committees appointed by the Board, in each case as non-voting observers. Any such observers shall be reasonably acceptable to the Board. The Board may establish such procedures and requirements as it deems appropriate in connection the observers’ rights set forth in this
Bye-Law 88
and may require observers to comply with any such procedures or requirements as a condition to attending any meetings of the Board or committees appointed by the Board. The Board may authorize the Company to reimburse the reasonable travel or other expenses incurred by any such observer. Such grant of observers’ rights by the Board may be revoked by the Board, subject to any relevant contract in which the Company has agreed to grant observer rights. No breach of any observer’s rights shall invalidate any proceeding or resolution of the Board.
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Removal of Directors
|
|
89.
|
The Shareholders may, at any general meeting convened and held in accordance with these Bye-Laws, remove a Director only for Cause by the affirmative vote of Shareholders holding at least a majority of the total combined voting power of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
); provided that the notice of any such meeting convened for the purpose of removing a Director shall contain a statement of the intention so to do and be served upon such Director not less than 14 days before the meeting and at such meeting such Director shall be entitled to be heard on the motion for such Director’s removal.
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90.
|
A vacancy on the Board created by the removal of a Director under the provisions of
Bye-Law 89
may be filled by the Shareholders at the meeting at which such Director is removed or, in the absence of such election or appointment, the Board may fill the vacancy in accordance with the provisions of
Bye-Law 91
. A Director so elected or appointed by the
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23
Table of Contents
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Shareholders or, in absence thereof, the Board pursuant to this
Bye-Law 90
shall hold office until the next annual general meeting or until such Director’s office is otherwise vacated and shall serve within the same class of Directors as the predecessor. At such next annual general meeting, the Shareholders shall elect a Director to fill such vacancy to serve the remaining term, if any, of such predecessor.
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Vacancies on the Board
|
|
91.
|
The Board shall have the power from time to time and at any time, by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Directors then in office, to appoint any person as a Director to fill a vacancy on the Board. A Director so appointed shall hold office until the next annual general meeting or until such Director’s office is otherwise vacated and shall serve within the same class of Directors as the predecessor. At such next annual general meeting, following a vacancy filled by the Board, the Shareholders shall elect a Director to fill such vacancy to serve the remaining term, if any, of such predecessor.
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92.
|
The office of a Director shall be vacated upon the happening of any of the following events:
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|
|
92.1
|
if he resigns his office by notice in writing delivered to the Registered Office or tendered at a meeting of the Board;
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92.2
|
if he becomes of unsound mind or a patient for any purpose of any statute or applicable law relating to mental health and the Board resolves that his office is vacated;
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92.3
|
if he becomes bankrupt under the laws of any country or compounds with his creditors;
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92.4
|
if he is prohibited by law from being a Director;
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|
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92.5
|
if he ceases to be a Director by virtue of the Companies Act or is removed from office pursuant to these Bye-Laws.
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Alternate Directors
|
|
93.
|
A Director (other than an Alternate Director) may appoint and remove his own Alternate Director. Any appointment or removal of an Alternate Director by a Director shall be effected by depositing a notice of appointment or removal with the Secretary at the Registered Office, signed by such Director, and such appointment or removal shall become effective on the date of receipt by the Secretary. Any Alternate Director may be removed by resolution of the Board. Subject as aforesaid, the office of Alternate Director shall continue until the next annual election of Directors or, if earlier, the date on which the relevant Director ceases to be a Director. An Alternate Director may also be a Director in his own right and may act as alternate to more than one Director.
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94.
|
An Alternate Director shall cease to be an Alternate Director:
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94.1
|
if his appointor ceases to be a Director; but, if a Director retires by rotation or otherwise but is reappointed or deemed to have been reappointed at the meeting at which he retires, any appointment of an Alternate Director made by him which was in force immediately prior to his retirement shall continue after his reappointment;
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94.2
|
on the happening of any event which, if he were a Director, would cause him to vacate his office as Director;
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94.3
|
if he is removed from office pursuant to
Bye-Law 93
; or
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94.4
|
if he resigns his office by notice to the Company.
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95.
|
An Alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notices of all meetings of Directors, to attend, be counted in the quorum and vote at any such meeting at which any Director to whom he is alternate is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of any Director to whom he is alternate in his absence.
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24
Table of Contents
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96.
|
Every person acting as an Alternate Director shall (except as regards powers to appoint an alternate and remuneration) be subject in all respects to the provisions of these Bye-Laws relating to Directors and shall alone be responsible to the Company for his acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of or for any Director for whom he is alternate. An Alternate Director may be paid expenses and shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company to the same extent mutatis mutandis as if he were a Director.
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97.
|
Every person acting as an Alternate Director shall have one vote for each Director for whom he acts as alternate (in addition to his own vote if he is also a Director). The signature of an Alternate Director to any resolution in writing of the Board or a committee of the Board shall, unless the terms of his appointment provide to the contrary, be as effective as the signature of the Director or Directors to whom he is alternate.
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Remuneration of Directors
|
|
98.
|
The remuneration (if any) of the Directors shall be determined by the Board and shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. The Directors may also be paid all travel, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending and returning from meetings of the Board, any committee appointed by the Board, general meetings of the Company, or in connection with the business of the Company or their duties as Directors generally.
|
Directors’ Interests
|
|
99.
|
Contracts and Disclosure of Directors’ Interests
|
|
|
|
|
99.1
|
Any Director, or any Director’s firm, partner or any company with whom any Director is associated, may act in a professional capacity for the Company and such Director or such Director’s firm, partner or such company shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if such Director were not a Director, provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise a Director or Director’s firm, partner or such company to act as Auditor of the Company.
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99.2
|
A Director who is directly or indirectly interested in a contract or proposed contract or arrangement with the Company shall declare the nature of such interest as required by the Companies Act.
|
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99.3
|
Following a declaration being made pursuant to this Bye-Law, and unless disqualified by a majority of the disinterested Directors present at the relevant Board meeting, a Director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement in which such Director is interested and may be counted in the quorum at such meeting.
|
Powers and Duties of the Board
|
|
100.
|
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and these Bye-Laws the Board shall manage and control all of the business of the Company and may pay all expenses incurred in promoting and incorporating the Company and may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of these Bye-Laws and no direction given by the Company by Resolution, if any, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. The powers given by this Bye-Law shall not be limited by any special power given to the Board by these Bye-Laws and a meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Board.
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101.
|
The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company except those powers that are required by the Companies Act or these Bye-Laws to be exercised by the Shareholders.
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|
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102.
|
All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other instruments, whether negotiable or transferable or not, and all receipts for money paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the Board shall from time to time by resolution determine.
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25
Table of Contents
|
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103.
|
The Board on behalf of the Company may provide benefits, whether by the payment of gratuities or pensions or otherwise, for any person including any Director or former Director who has held any executive office or employment with the Company or with any body corporate which is or has been a subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company or a predecessor in the business of the Company or of any such subsidiary or Affiliate, and to any member of his family or any person who is or was dependent on him, and may contribute to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or other benefit, or for the insurance of any such person.
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|
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104.
|
The Board may from time to time appoint one or more of its body to be a managing director, joint managing director or an assistant managing director or to hold any other employment or executive office with the Company for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine and may revoke or terminate any such appointments. Any such revocation or termination as aforesaid shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages that such Director may have against the Company or the Company may have against such Director for any breach of any contract of service between him and the Company which may be involved in such revocation or termination. Any person so appointed shall receive such remuneration (if any) (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Board may determine, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration as a Director.
|
Delegation of the Board’s Powers
|
|
105.
|
The Board may by proxy or power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body of persons to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Bye-Laws) and for such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit, and any such proxy or power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such proxy/attorney and of such proxy/attorney as the Board may think fit, and may also authorise any such proxy/attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. Such attorney may, if so authorised by the power of attorney, execute any deed, instrument or other document on behalf of the Company.
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|
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106.
|
The Board may entrust to and confer upon any Director, Officer or, without prejudice to the provisions of
Bye-Law 105
, other individual any of the powers exercisable by it upon such terms and conditions with such restrictions as it thinks fit, and either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, its own powers, and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of such powers but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby.
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|
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107.
|
The Board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions to committees, consisting of such person or persons (whether a member or members of its body or not) as it thinks fit. Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and discretions so delegated, and in conducting its proceedings conform to any regulations which may be imposed upon it by the Board. If no regulations are imposed by the Board the proceedings of a committee with two or more members shall be, as far as is practicable, governed by the Bye-Laws regulating the proceedings of the Board.
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Proceedings of the Board
|
|
108.
|
The Board may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it thinks fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the motion shall be deemed to have been lost. A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Board.
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26
Table of Contents
|
|
109.
|
Notice of a meeting of the Board shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is given to him personally or by word of mouth or sent to him by post, cable, telex, facsimile, email or other mode of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form at his last known address or any other address given by him to the Company for this purpose and the provisions of
Bye-Law 142
shall apply to any notice so given as to the deemed date of service of such notice. A Director may retrospectively waive the requirement for notice of any meeting by consenting in writing to the business conducted at the meeting.
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|
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110.
|
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the Board and, unless so fixed at any other number, shall be a majority of Directors in office from time to time and in no event shall be less than two Directors. Any Director who ceases to be a Director at a meeting of the Board may continue to be present and to act as a Director and be counted in the quorum until the termination of the meeting if no other Director objects and if otherwise a quorum of Directors would not be present.
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|
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111.
|
The Resident Representative shall, upon delivering written notice of an address for the purposes of receipt of notice to the Registered Office, be entitled to receive notice of, attend and be heard at, and to receive minutes of all meetings of the Board.
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|
|
112.
|
So long as a quorum of Directors remains in office, the continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the Board but, if no such quorum remains, the continuing Directors or a sole continuing Director may act only for the purpose of calling a general meeting.
|
|
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113.
|
The Board may choose one of their number to preside as chairman at every meeting of the Board. If there is no such chairman, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or is not willing to act as chairman, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
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|
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114.
|
The meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed by the provisions contained in these Bye-Laws for regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Board so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by any regulations imposed by the Board.
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|
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115.
|
A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the Board (or by an Alternate Director, as provided for in
Bye-Law 93
) or by all the members of a committee for the time being shall be as valid and effectual as a resolution passed at a meeting of the Board or, as the case may be, of such committee duly called and constituted. Such resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of the Directors or members of the committee concerned.
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|
|
116.
|
A meeting of the Board or a committee appointed by the Board may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by telephone or by video conferencing) as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those Directors participating in the meeting is physically assembled, or, if there is no such group, where the chairman of the meeting then is.
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117.
|
All acts done by the Board or by any committee or by any person acting as a Director or member of a committee or any person duly authorised by the Board or any committee shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any member of the Board or such committee or person acting as aforesaid or that they or any of them were disqualified or had vacated their office, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified and had continued to be a Director, member of such committee or person so authorised.
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27
Table of Contents
|
|
118.
|
If a question arises at a meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board as to the entitlement of a Director (including the chairman) to vote or be counted in a quorum, the question may, before the conclusion of the meeting, be determined by a resolution of the Board (on which such Director shall not vote) and such resolution shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interests of the Director concerned have not been fairly disclosed.
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Officers
|
|
119.
|
The Officers of the Company who may or may not be Directors may be appointed by the Board at any time. Any person appointed pursuant to this Bye-Law shall hold office for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine and the Board may revoke or terminate any such election or appointment. Any such revocation or termination shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages that such Officer may have against the Company or the Company may have against such Officer for any breach of any contract of service between him and the Company which may be involved in such revocation or termination. Save as provided in the Companies Act or these Bye-Laws, the powers and duties of the Officers of the Company shall be such (if any) as are determined from time to time by the Board.
|
Minutes
|
|
120.
|
The Board shall cause minutes to be made and books kept for the purpose of recording:
|
|
|
|
|
120.1
|
all appointments of Officers made by the Board;
|
|
|
|
|
120.2
|
the names of the Directors and other persons (if any) present at each meeting of the Board;
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|
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|
120.3
|
all proceedings at meetings of the Company, of the holders of any class or series of shares in the Company and of the Board; and
|
|
|
|
|
120.4
|
all proceedings of its managers (if any).
|
Shareholders shall only be entitled to see the Register of Directors and Officers, the Register, the financial information provided for in
Bye-Law 140
and the minute books relating to meetings of the Shareholders of the Company. Such minute books shall be maintained in Bermuda.
Secretary and Resident Representative
|
|
121.
|
The Secretary (including one or more deputy or assistant secretaries) and, if required, the Resident Representative, shall be appointed by the Board at such remuneration (if any) and upon such terms as it may think fit and any Secretary and Resident Representative so appointed may be removed by the Board. The duties of the Secretary and the duties of the Resident Representative shall be those prescribed by the Companies Act together with such other duties as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board.
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|
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122.
|
A provision of the Companies Act or these Bye-Laws requiring or authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the same person acting both as Director and as, or in the place of, the Secretary.
|
The Seal
|
|
123.
|
The Board may authorise the production of a common Seal of the Company and one or more duplicate common Seals of the Company, which shall consist of a circular metal device with the name of the Company around the outer margin thereof and the country and year of registration in Bermuda across the centre thereof.
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28
Table of Contents
|
|
124.
|
Any document required to be under Seal or executed as a deed on behalf of the Company may be
|
|
|
|
|
124.1
|
executed under the Seal in accordance with these Bye-Laws; or
|
|
|
|
|
124.2
|
signed or executed by any person authorised by the Board for that purpose, without the use of the Seal.
|
|
|
125.
|
The Board shall provide for the custody of every Seal. A Seal shall only be used by authority of the Board or of a committee constituted by the Board. Subject to these Bye-Laws, any instrument to which a Seal is affixed shall be signed by either a Director, or by the Secretary or by any one person authorised by the Board for that purpose.
|
Dividends and Other Payments
|
|
126.
|
The Board may from time to time declare dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus to be paid to the Shareholders according to their rights and interests, including such interim dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the position of the Company. The Board, in its discretion, may determine that any dividend shall be paid in cash or shall be satisfied, subject to
Bye-Law 134
, in paying up in full shares in the Company to be issued to the Shareholders credited as fully paid or partly paid or partly in one way and partly the other. The Board may also pay any fixed cash dividend which is payable on any shares of the Company half yearly or on such other dates, whenever the position of the Company, in the opinion of the Board, justifies such payment.
|
|
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127.
|
Except insofar as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide:
|
|
|
|
|
127.1
|
all dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus may be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares in respect of which the dividend or distribution is paid, and an amount paid up on a share in advance of calls may be treated for the purpose of this Bye-Law as paid-up on the share;
|
|
|
|
|
127.2
|
dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus may be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid-up on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend or distribution is paid.
|
|
|
128.
|
The Board may deduct from any dividend, distribution or other monies payable to a Shareholder by the Company on or in respect of any shares all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in respect of shares of the Company.
|
|
|
129.
|
No dividend, distribution or other monies payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear interest against the Company.
|
|
|
130.
|
Any dividend, distribution or interest, or part thereof payable in cash, or any other sum payable in cash to the holder of shares may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post or by courier addressed to the holder at his address in the Register or, in the case of joint holders, addressed to the holder whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the shares at his registered address as appearing in the Register or addressed to such person at such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first in the Register in respect of such shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, distributions or other monies payable or property distributable in respect of the shares held by such joint holders.
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131.
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Any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus unclaimed for a period of six (6) years from the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company and the payment by the Board of any unclaimed dividend, distribution, interest or other sum payable on or in respect of the share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof.
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132.
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Subject to approval by a Resolution, the Board may also, in addition to its other powers, direct payment or satisfaction of any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets, and in particular of paid-up shares or debentures of any other company, and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution or dividend, the Board may settle it as it thinks expedient, and in particular, may authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may ignore fractions altogether, and may fix the value for distribution or dividend purposes of any such specific assets and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Shareholders upon the footing of the values so fixed in order to secure equality of distribution and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board, provided that such dividend or distribution may not be satisfied by the distribution of any partly paid shares or debentures of any company without the sanction of a Resolution.
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Reserves
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133.
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The Board may, before declaring any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus, set aside such sums as it thinks proper as reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, also at such discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Board may from time to time think fit. The Board may also without placing the same to reserve carry forward any sums which it may think it prudent not to distribute.
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Capitalisation of Profits
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134.
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The Board may from time to time resolve to capitalise all or any part of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund which is available for distribution or to the credit of any share premium account and accordingly that such amount be set free for distribution amongst the Shareholders or any class or series of Shareholders or holders of any options over shares who would be entitled thereto if distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions, on the footing that the same shall not be paid in cash but be applied either in or towards paying up amounts for the time being unpaid on any shares in the Company held by such Shareholders respectively or in payment up in full of unissued shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company, to be allotted and distributed credited as fully paid. amongst such Shareholders, or partly in one way and partly in the other, provided that for the purpose of this Bye-Law, a share premium account may be applied only in paying up of unissued shares to be issued to such Shareholders credited as fully paid.
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135.
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Where any difficulty arises in regard to any distribution under the last preceding Bye-Law, the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient and, in particular, may authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may resolve that the distribution should be as nearly as may be practicable in the correct proportion but not exactly so or may ignore fractions altogether, and may determine that cash payments should be made to any Shareholder and, in the case where a distribution to the Names’ Trust would result in individual Names having a fractional beneficial interest, to the Names’ Trust in order to adjust the rights of all parties, as may seem expedient to the Board. The Board may appoint any person to sign on behalf of the persons entitled to participate in the distribution any contract necessary or desirable for giving effect thereto and such appointment shall be effective and binding upon the Shareholders.
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Record Dates
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136.
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bye-Laws, the Company may (by resolution of the Board) fix any date as the record date for any dividend, distribution, allotment or issue and for the purpose of identifying the persons entitled to receive notices of general meetings. Any such record date may be on or at any time before or after any date on which such dividend, distribution, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made or such notice is dispatched.
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137.
|
In relation to any general meeting of the Company or of any class or series of Shareholder or to any adjourned meeting or any poll taken at a meeting or adjourned meeting of which notice is given, the Board may specify in the notice of meeting or adjourned meeting or in any document sent to Shareholders by or on behalf of the Board in relation to the meeting, a time and date (a ‘‘record date’’) prior to the date fixed for the meeting (the ‘‘meeting date’’) and, notwithstanding any provision in these Bye-Laws to the contrary, in such case:
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137.1
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each person entered in the Register at the record date as a Shareholder, or a Shareholder of the relevant class or series (a ‘‘record date holder’’) shall be entitled to attend and to vote at the relevant meeting and to exercise all of the rights or privileges of a Shareholder, or a Shareholder of the relevant class or series (in each case subject to
Bye-Laws 63-67
) in relation to that meeting in respect of the shares, or the shares of the relevant class or series, registered in his name at the record date;
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137.2
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as regards any shares, or shares of the relevant class or series, which are registered in the name of a record date holder at the record date but are not so registered at the meeting date (‘‘relevant shares’’), each holder of any relevant shares at the meeting date shall be deemed to have irrevocably appointed that record date holder as his proxy for the purpose of attending and voting in respect of those relevant shares at the relevant meeting (with power to appoint, or to authorise the appointment of, some other person as proxy), in such manner as the record date holder in his absolute discretion may determine; and
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137.3
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accordingly, except through his proxy pursuant to
Bye-Law 137.2
, a holder of relevant shares at the meeting date shall not be entitled to attend or to vote at the relevant meeting, or to exercise any of the rights or privileges of a Shareholder, or a Shareholder of the relevant class or series, in respect of the relevant shares at that meeting.
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The entry of the name of a person in the Register as a record date holder shall be sufficient evidence of his appointment as proxy in respect of any relevant shares for the purposes of this paragraph, but all the provisions of these Bye-Laws relating to the execution and deposit of an instrument appointing a proxy or any ancillary matter (including the Board’s powers and discretions relevant to such matter) shall apply to any instrument appointing any person other than the record date holder as proxy in respect of any relevant shares.
Accounting Records
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138.
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The Board shall cause to be kept accounting records sufficient to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to show and explain its transactions, in accordance with the Companies Act.
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139.
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The records of account shall be kept at the Registered Office or at such other place or places as the Board thinks fit, and shall at all times be open to inspection by the Directors, provided that if the records of account are kept at some place outside Bermuda, there shall be kept at an office of the Company in Bermuda such records as will enable the Directors to ascertain with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Company at the end of each three month period. No Shareholder (other than an Officer of the Company) shall have any right to inspect any accounting record or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the Board or by Resolution.
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140.
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A copy of every balance sheet and statement of income and expenditure, including every document required by law to be annexed thereto, which is to be laid before the Company in general meeting, together with a copy of the auditors’ report, shall be sent to each person entitled thereto in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act.
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Audit
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141.
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Save and to the extent that an audit is waived in the manner permitted by the Companies Act, auditors shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with the Companies Act, any other applicable law and such requirements not inconsistent with the Companies Act as the Board may from time to time determine.
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Service of Notices and Other Documents
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142.
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Any notice or other document (including but not limited to a share certificate, any notice of a general meeting of the Company, any instrument of proxy and any document to be sent in accordance with Bye-Law 140) may be sent to, served on or delivered to any Shareholder by the Company
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142.2
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by sending it through the post (by airmail where applicable) in a pre-paid letter addressed to such Shareholder at his address as appearing in the Register;
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142.3
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by sending it by courier to or leaving it at the Shareholder’s address appearing in the Register;
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142.4
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by, where applicable, by sending it by email or facsimile or other mode of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form or by sending an electronic record of it by electronic means, in each case to an address or number supplied by such Shareholder for the purposes of communication in such manner; or
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142.5
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by publication of an electronic record of it on a website and notification of such publication (which shall include the address of the website, the place on the website where the document may be found, and how the document may be accessed on the website) by any of the methods set out in paragraphs 142.1, 142.2, 142.3, 142.4 of this Bye-Law, in accordance with the Companies Act.
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143.
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In the case of joint holders of a share, service or delivery of any notice or other document on or to one of the joint holders shall for all purposes be deemed as sufficient service on or delivery to all the joint holders.
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Any notice or other document shall be deemed to have been served on or delivered to any Shareholder by the Company.
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143.1
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if sent by personal delivery, at the time of delivery;
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143.2
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if sent by post, forty-eight (48) hours after it was put in the post;
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143.3
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if sent by courier or facsimile, twenty-four (24) hours after sending;
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143.4
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if sent by email or other mode of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form or as an electronic record by electronic means, twelve (12) hours after sending; or
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143.5
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if published as an electronic record on a website, at the time that the notification of such publication shall be deemed to have been delivered to such Shareholder,
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and in proving such service or delivery, it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice or document was properly addressed and stamped and put in the post, published on a website in accordance with the Companies Act and the provisions of these Bye-Laws, or sent by courier, facsimile, email or as an electronic record by electronic means, as the case may be, in accordance with these Bye-Laws.
Each Shareholder and each person becoming a Shareholder subsequent to the adoption of these Bye-laws, by virtue of its holding or its acquisition and continued holding of a share, as applicable, shall be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that any notice or other document (excluding a share certificate) may be provided by the Company by way of accessing them on a website instead of being provided by other means.
Winding Up
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144.
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If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Resolution and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, divide amongst the Shareholders in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of
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property of the same kind or not) and may for such purposes set such values as he deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Shareholders or different classes or series of Shareholders. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trust for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Shareholder shall be compelled to accept any shares or other assets upon which there is any liability.
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Indemnity and Insurance
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145.
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Subject to the proviso below, every Indemnified Person shall be indemnified and held harmless out of the assets of the Company against all actions, costs, charges, liabilities, loss, damage or expense (including but not limited to liabilities under contract, tort and statute or any applicable foreign law or regulation and all reasonable legal and other costs and expenses properly payable) incurred or suffered by him by or by reason of any act done, conceived in or omitted in the conduct of the Company’s business or in the discharge of his duties and the indemnity contained in this Bye-Law shall extend to any Indemnified Person acting in any office or trust in the reasonable belief that he has been appointed or elected to such office or trust notwithstanding any defect in such appointment or election provided always that the indemnity contained in this Bye-Law shall not extend to any matter which would render it void pursuant to the Companies Act.
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146.
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No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for the acts, defaults or omissions of any other Indemnified Person.
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147.
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Without limiting the generality of
Bye-Law 145
, every Indemnified Person shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against all liabilities incurred by him by or by reason of any act done, conceived in or omitted in the conduct of the Company’s business or in the discharge of his duties in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgement is given in his favour, or in which he is acquitted, or in connection with any application under the Companies Act in which relief from liability is granted to him by the court.
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148.
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To the extent that any Indemnified Person is entitled to claim an indemnity pursuant to these Bye-Laws in respect of amounts paid or discharged by him, the relevant indemnity shall take effect as an obligation of the Company to reimburse the person making such payment or effecting such discharge.
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149.
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Each Shareholder and the Company agree to waive any claim or right of action he or it may at any time have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Indemnified Person on account of any action taken by such Indemnified Person or the failure of such Indemnified Person to take any action in the performance of his duties with or for the Company provided however that such waiver shall not apply to any claims or rights of action arising out of the fraud of such Indemnified Person or to recover any gain, personal profit or advantage to which such Indemnified Person is not legally entitled.
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150.
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Expenses incurred in defending any civil or criminal action or proceeding for which indemnification is required pursuant to
Bye-Laws 145 and 147
shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person to repay such amount if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved against the Indemnified Person Provided that, no monies shall be paid hereunder unless payment of the same shall be authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Director or Officer would be proper in the circumstances because he has met the standard of conduct which would entitle him to the indemnification thereby provided and such determination shall be made:
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150.1
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by the Board, by a majority vote at a meeting duly constituted by a quorum of Directors not party to the proceedings or matter with regard to which the indemnification is, or would be, claimed; or
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150.2
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in the case such a meeting cannot be constituted by lack of disinterested quorum, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or
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150.3
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by a Resolution of the Shareholders.
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151.
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Each Shareholder of the Company, by virtue of its acquisition and continued holding of a share, shall be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that the advances of funds may be made by the Company as aforesaid, and when made by the Company under this
Bye-Law 151
are made to meet expenditures incurred for the purpose of enabling such Indemnified Person to properly perform his or her duties to the Company.
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152.
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Without prejudice to the provisions of
Bye-Laws 145 and 147
, the Board shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any Indemnified Person or any persons who are or were at any time Directors, Officers, or employees of the Company, or of any other company which is its holding company or in which the Company or such holding company has any interest whether direct or indirect or which is in any way allied to or associated with the Company, or of any subsidiary undertaking of the Company or any such other company, or who are or were at any time trustees of any pension fund in which employees of the Company or any such other company or subsidiary undertaking are interested, including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) insurance against any liability incurred by such persons in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution or discharge of their duties or in the exercise or purported exercise of their powers or otherwise in relation to their duties, powers or offices in relation to the Company or any such other company, subsidiary undertaking or pension fund.
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153.
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These
Bye-Laws 145-154
shall provide the broadest indemnity allowable at law, and to the extent any indemnification hereunder is prohibited, unenforceable or not authorized under applicable law,
Bye-Laws 145-154
shall be interpreted as broadly as possible without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof. Specifically, to the extent prohibited by Bermuda law, these Bye-Laws shall not result in indemnification of any person, including an Indemnified Person, to the extent he is guilty of fraud or dishonesty.
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154.
|
No amendment or repeal of any provision of these
Bye-Laws 145-154
shall alter, to the detriment of any Indemnified Person, the rights of such Indemnified Person to the advancement of expenses or indemnification related to a claim based on an act or failure to act which took place prior to such amendment, repeal or termination.
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Alteration of Bye-Laws
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155.
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These Bye-Laws may be revoked or amended by the Board, which may from time to time revoke or amend them in any way by a resolution of the Board passed by a majority of the Directors then in office and eligible to vote on the resolution, but no revocation or amendment shall be operative unless and until it is approved at a subsequent general meeting of the Company by the Shareholders by Resolution passed by an affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of votes cast at such meeting (taking into account the provisions of
Bye-Laws 63-67
) or such greater majority as required by
Bye-Laws 13, 48, 49 or 50
(as applicable).
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Exhibit 10.1
ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED
2008 EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN
The following constitute the provisions of the 2008 Employee Share Purchase Plan of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited.
1.
Purpose
. The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Shares of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an ‘‘Employee Stock Purchase Plan’’ under Section 423 of the Code, and the Plan shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of such Section of the Code.
2.
Definitions
.
(a) ‘‘
Account
’’ shall mean the funds accumulated with respect to a Participant as a result of authorized payroll deductions for the purpose of purchasing Shares under this Plan. The funds allocated to a Participant’s Account shall remain the property of the Participant at all times, but may be commingled with the general funds of the Company.
(b) ‘‘
Administrator
’’ shall mean the Board or any committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 15.
(c) ‘‘
Board
’’ shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) ‘‘
Code
’’ shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e) ‘‘
Company
’’ shall mean Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited, a Bermuda holding company.
(f) ‘‘
Compensation
’’ shall mean the base pay received by an Eligible Employee during an Offering Period. Compensation shall not include any other type of pay, including, but not limited to, long term disability or workers compensation payments, expense reimbursement payments or payments under any other form of equity or fringe benefit program.
(g) ‘‘
Designated Subsidiary
’’ shall mean any Subsidiary selected by the Board, in its sole discretion, as eligible to participate in the Plan which may include corporations (as such term in described by Internal Revenue Regulation 1.421-1) which may become subsidiaries of the Company after the adoption of this Plan.
(h) ‘‘
Effective Date
’’ shall mean March 17, 2008.
(i) ‘‘
Eligible Employee
’’ shall mean any individual who is a common law employee of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary.
(j) ‘‘
Fair Market Value
’’ shall mean, as of any Trading Day, the closing sale price for such Shares (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or any other established stock exchange or national market system.
(k) ‘‘
International Plan
’’ shall mean the Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited 2008 International Employee Share Purchase Plan.
(l) ‘‘
Offering Date
’’ shall mean the first Trading Day of each Offering Period.
(m) ‘‘
Offering Period
’’ shall mean a two (2) year or other period as determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that in no event shall the Offering Period extend for a period of longer than twenty-seven (27) months. The first Offering Period shall commence on the Plan’s first Offering Date, which shall be as soon as administratively practicable after the Effective Date and end on the second anniversary of the Offering Date.
(n) ‘‘
Option
’’ shall mean a right granted under this Plan to an Eligible Employee to purchase Shares.
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(o) ‘‘
Participant
’’ shall mean an Eligible Employee who enrolls in the Plan pursuant to Section 4.
(p) ‘‘
Plan
’’ shall mean the Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited 2008 Employee Share Purchase Plan.
(q) ‘‘
Purchase Date
’’ shall mean the last Trading Day of each Offering Period or such other period as may be determined by the Board.
(r) ‘‘
Purchase Price
’’ shall mean eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share, or fractional portion thereof (as the case may be), on the Offering Date; provided, however, that the Purchase Price may be adjusted by the Administrator pursuant to Section 17.
(s) ‘‘
Share
’’ shall mean the ordinary shares of the common equity of the Company, par value $0.0015144558 per share.
(t) ‘‘
Subsidiary
’’ shall mean any subsidiary corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain or corporations beginning with the Company, as described in Code Section 424(f).
(u) ‘‘
Trading Day
’’ shall mean a day on which national stock exchanges and the New York Stock Exchange are open for trading.
(v) ‘‘
UK Sharesave Plan
’’ shall mean the Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited Sharesave Plan.
3.
Eligibility
. Any Eligible Employee of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary who is an employee on an Offering Date is eligible to participate in the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no otherwise Eligible Employee may become a Participant for an Offering Period to the extent that: (i) immediately following the grant of the Option, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose Shares would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own Shares and/or hold outstanding Options to purchase such Shares possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the shares of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase Shares under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries accrues at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand U.S. Dollars ($US25,000) worth of Shares (determined at the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time such Option is granted) for each calendar year in which such Option is outstanding at any time.
4.
Enrollment
. An Eligible Employee who meets the requirements of Section 3 may become a Participant by enrolling in the Plan by completing a payroll deduction authorization and Plan enrollment form at least ten (10) business days prior to the beginning of the applicable Offering Period or as otherwise prescribed by the Administrator prior to an applicable Offering Date.
5.
Offering Periods
. The Plan shall be implemented by a series of consecutive Offering Periods as determined by the Administrator and shall continue until terminated in accordance with Section 18 or Section 24 hereof. The Administrator shall have the power to change the duration and/or frequency of the Offering Periods with respect to future Offering Periods. A Participant shall be granted a separate Option for each Offering Period in which a Participant participates.
6.
Participation
.
(a) On the Offering Date, Participants shall be granted an Option for as many Shares as the Participant will be able to purchase with the payroll deductions credited to his or her Account during that Offering Period. Subject to Section 3 hereof and subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the Administrator, an Eligible Employee may authorize payroll deductions at the rate of any whole percentage or in a specified amount of the Eligible Employee’s Compensation; in either case, not to exceed Five Hundred U.S. Dollars ($US500) per month. All payroll deductions may be held by the Company and commingled with other corporate funds. No interest shall be paid or credited to the Participant with respect to such payroll deductions.
(b) To the extent necessary to comply with Code Section 423(b)(8) and Section 3 hereof, a Participant’s payroll deductions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any time during an Offering Period.
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(c) If, on the Purchase Date, the Purchase Price of a Share for the applicable Offering Period exceeds the Fair Market Value of a Share on such date, no Shares will be purchased, and any payroll deductions shall be promptly refunded to the Participant.
(d) Subject to the Administrator’s absolute right to prohibit such increases or decreases, a Participant may increase or decrease his or her payroll deduction by filing a new payroll deduction authorization at any time during an Offering Period.
7.
Exercise of Option
.
(a) Each Eligible Employee who is a Participant on the Purchase Date of an Offering Period shall be deemed to have exercised his or her Option on such date and shall be deemed to have purchased from the Company the maximum number of full Shares at the applicable Purchase Price which may be purchased with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her Account. The Administrator may determine from time to time whether fractional shares may be purchased. If the purchase of fractional shares is not permitted, any payroll deductions accumulated in a Participant’s Account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share shall be promptly refunded to the Participant.
(b) At the time the Option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Company’s Shares issued under the Plan are disposed of, the Participant must make adequate provision, in such manner as may be required by the Administrator, for the Company’s federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the Option or the disposition of the Shares. At any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s Compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Shares by the Participant.
8.
Withdrawal/Termination of Participation
.
(a) A Participant may withdraw from an Offering Period, in whole but not in part, at any time prior to the Purchase Date of the Offering Period by delivering to the Company a notice of withdrawal at least ten (10) days prior to the end of the Offering Period, in which event the Company will refund the entire balance of the Participant’s Account to the Participant as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. No further payroll deductions will be made for such a Participant during such Offering Period.
(b) A Participant’s withdrawal from an Offering Period shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.
9.
Termination of Employment
. Upon termination of employment or loss of eligibility to participate in the Plan for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to death or retirement, the balance in a Participant’s Account shall be paid to the Participant or to the Participant’s beneficiary, as designated under Section 21, or if no beneficiary is so designated, to the Participant’s estate.
10.
Shares Reserved for Plan
. Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 17 hereof, there shall be reserved for issuance and purchase under the Plan, the International Plan attached hereto as Appendix A and the UK Sharesave Plan, an aggregate of Eight Hundred and Seventy Thousand (870,000) Shares. Shares subject to the Plan shall be authorized but unissued shares, or previously issued shares, at the discretion of the Board. Shares needed to satisfy the needs of the Plan, the UK Sharesave Plan and the International Plan may be newly issued by the Company or acquired by purchases at the expense of the Company on the open market or in private transactions. Shares that are issued under the Plan, the International Plan or the UK Sharesave Plan or that are subject to outstanding Options under any of the foregoing will be applied to reduce the maximum number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan. Any Shares that are subject to an Option under the Plan or the International Plan that is terminated
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unexercised will automatically again become available for issuance under the Plan. If the total number of Shares which would otherwise be purchased pursuant to Options granted under the Plan or the International Plan on a Purchase Date or Shares under the UK Sharesave Plan exceeds the number of Shares then available under the Plan (after deduction of all Shares for which Options have been exercised or are then outstanding) or there is insufficient unissued share capital of the Company, the Administrator shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares remaining in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable and in compliance with the provisions of Section 423 of the Code. In such event, the Administrator shall give written notice to each Participant of such reduction of the number of Shares affected thereby and shall similarly reduce the rate of payroll deductions, if necessary.
11.
Rights as Shareholder
. No Participant shall have any right as a shareholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares have been purchased and the Participant becomes the holder of record of Shares pursuant to Section 13 hereof. Except as otherwise provided under the Plan, no adjustment will be made for dividends or distributions with respect to Options as to which there is a record date preceding the date the Participant becomes the beneficial owner of such Shares, except as the Board may determine in its sole discretion.
12.
Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares
.
(a) Shares shall not be issued with respect to an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b) As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the Participant exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.
13.
Evidence of Share Ownership
. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, promptly following the end of each Offering Period, each Participant shall become the beneficial owner of all Shares and any fractional interest in Shares purchased, if allowed by the Administrator, on his or her behalf.
14.
Transferability
.
(a) Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant’s Account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an Option or to receive Shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 7 hereof.
(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, Shares delivered to a Participant hereunder may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant during the one year period following such delivery to the Participant (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution) and the Shares shall bear a legend denoting such restrictions as may be determined by the Administrator to be appropriate.
15.
Administration
.
(a) The Administrator shall be vested with full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan, to supervise the administration of the Plan, and to take all action in connection therewith or in relation thereto as it deems necessary or advisable. Every
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finding, decision and determination made by the Administrator shall, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties. No Board or committee member shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Option granted thereunder. As permitted by applicable law, the Board or Administrator may delegate its authorities, duties and powers as identified hereunder to such persons or committees as the Board or the Administrator designates in its sole discretion.
(b) The Administrator may establish and administer the International Plan attached hereto as Appendix A.
(c) All costs and expenses incurred in administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company. Any brokerage fees for the purchase of Shares by a Participant under the Plan shall be paid by the Company, but brokerage fees for the resale of Shares by a Participant shall be borne by the Participant.
16.
Reports
. Statements of each Participant’s Account shall be given to Participants at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of Shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.
17.
Changes in Capitalization/Corporate Transaction
.
(a) In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, merger, consolidation, offerings of rights, or any other change in the structure of the common equity of the Company, the Board shall make such adjustment, if any, as it may deem appropriate in the number, kind, and the price of shares available for purchase under the Plan, and in the number of shares which a Participant is entitled to purchase.
(b) In the event of the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, or the entry by the Company into a scheme of arrangement, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, a Purchase Date shall be deemed to occur on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of such event, unless otherwise provided by the Board in its sole discretion, including the exercise of such discretion to provide for the assumption or substitution of each Option under the Plan by the successor or surviving corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof.
18.
Amendment or Termination
.
(a) The Administrator may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no such termination shall adversely affect Options previously granted, provided that an Offering Period may be terminated by the Administrator on any Purchase Date if the Administrator determines that the termination of the Offering Period or the Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Except as provided in Section 17 and this Section 18 hereof, no amendment may make any change in any Option theretofore granted which adversely affects the rights of any Participant. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule), the Company shall obtain shareholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as required under Section 423 of the Code of any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange or national or international quotation system rule.
(b) In the event the Plan is terminated, the Board may elect to terminate all outstanding Options either immediately or upon completion of the purchase of Shares on the next Exercise Date, or may elect to permit Options to expire in accordance with their terms (and participation to continue through such expiration dates). If the Options are terminated prior to expiration, all funds contributed to the Plan that have not been used to purchase Shares shall be returned to the Participants.
19.
Notices
. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form and manner specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
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20.
Designation of Beneficiary
. A Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive Shares and cash, if any, under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death prior to delivery of such shares or cash to such Participant. In the event of the death of a Participant who has not filed a designation of beneficiary with the Company, the Company will deliver such Shares or cash to the Participant’s estate.
21.
No Employment Rights
. The Plan does not, directly or indirectly, create any right for the benefit of any employee or class of employees to purchase any Shares under the Plan, or create in any employee or class of employees any right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and it shall not be deemed to interfere in any way with the Company or Subsidiary’s right to terminate, or otherwise modify, an employee’s employment at any time.
22.
Governing Law
. The Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of Bermuda without regard for conflict of law principles.
23.
Successors and Assigns
. The Plan will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Company.
24.
Term of Plan
. The Plan shall become effective on the date determined by the Board, subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders. It shall continue in effect until the earliest to occur of: (a) the date the Plan is terminated pursuant to Section 19, or (b) ten years from the effective date of the Plan.
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APPENDIX A
ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED
2008 INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN
The following constitute the provisions of the 2008 International Employee Share Purchase Plan of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited.
1.
Purpose
The purpose of the International Plan is to provide employees of the Company’s International Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Shares of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. All of the provisions of the International Plan is governed by the Plan unless otherwise provided herein.
2.
Definitions
. The definitions in Section 2 of the Plan shall govern the International Plan, except the following terms shall have the meaning indicated below:
(a) ‘‘
Effective Date
’’ shall mean March 17, 2008.
(b) ‘‘
Eligible Employee
’’ shall mean any individual who is a common law employee of any International Designated Subsidiary.
(c) ‘‘
International Designated Subsidiary
’’ shall mean any Subsidiary selected by the Board, in its sole discretion, as eligible to participate in the International Plan which may include corporations (as such term in described by Internal Revenue Regulation 1.421-1) which may become subsidiaries of the Company after the adoption of this International Plan.
(d) ‘‘
International Plan
’’ shall mean the Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited 2008 International Employee Share Purchase Plan.
(e) ‘‘
Plan
’’ shall mean the Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited 2008 Employee Share Purchase Plan.
3.
Eligibility
. Any Eligible Employee of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary who is an employee on an Offering Date is eligible to participate in the International Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no otherwise Eligible Employee may become a Participant for an Offering Period to the extent that: (i) immediately following the grant of the Option, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose Shares would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own Shares and/or hold outstanding Options to purchase such Shares possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the shares of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase Shares under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its subsidiaries accrues at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand U.S. Dollars ($US25,000) worth of Shares (determined at the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time such Option is granted) for each calendar year in which such Option is outstanding at any time.
4.
Enrollment
. An Eligible Employee who meets the requirements of Section 3 may become a Participant by enrolling in the Plan by completing a payroll deduction authorization and International Plan enrollment form at least ten (10) business days prior to the beginning of the applicable Offering Period or as otherwise prescribed by the Administrator prior to an applicable Offering Date.
5.
Offering Periods
. The International Plan shall be implemented by a series of consecutive Offering Periods as determined by the Administrator and shall continue until terminated in accordance with Section 18 or Section 24 hereof. The Administrator shall have the power to change the duration and/or frequency of the Offering Periods with respect to future Offering Periods. A Participant shall be granted a separate Option for each Offering Period in which a Participant participates.
6.
Participation
.
(a) On the Offering Date, Participants shall be granted an Option for as many Shares as the Participant will be able to purchase with the payroll deductions credited to his or her Account
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during that Offering Period. Subject to Section 3 hereof and subject to any such rules as may be prescribed by the Administrator, an Eligible Employee may authorize payroll deductions at the rate of any whole percentage or in a specified amount of the Eligible Employee’s Compensation; in either case, not to exceed Five Hundred U.S. Dollars ($US500) per month. All payroll deductions may be held by the Company and commingled with other corporate funds. No interest shall be paid or credited to the Participant with respect to such payroll deductions.
(b) To the extent necessary to comply with Code Section 423(b)(8) and Section 3 hereof, a Participant’s payroll deductions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any time during an Offering Period.
(c) If, on the Purchase Date, the Purchase Price of a Share for the applicable Offering Period exceeds the Fair Market Value of a Share on such date, no Shares will be purchased, and any payroll deductions shall be promptly refunded to the Participant.
(d) Subject to the Administrator’s absolute right to prohibit such increases or decreases, a Participant may increase or decrease his or her payroll deduction by filing a new payroll deduction authorization at any time during an Offering Period.
7.
Exercise of Option
.
(a) All purchases of Shares under the International Plan are to be made with U.S. Dollars into which the payroll deductions for the Offering Period or other approved contributions have been converted in accordance with Section 7(b) below. Each Eligible Employee who is a Participant on the Purchase Date of an Offering Period shall be deemed to have exercised his or her Option on such date and shall be deemed to have purchased from the Company the maximum number of full Shares at the applicable Purchase Price which may be purchased with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her Account. The Administrator may determine from time to time whether fractional shares may be purchased. If the purchase of fractional shares is not permitted, any payroll deductions accumulated in a Participant’s Account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share shall be promptly refunded to the Participant.
(b) For purposes of determining the number of Shares purchasable by a Participant, the payroll deductions credited to each Participant’s Account during each Offering Period shall be converted into U.S. Dollars on the Purchase Date for that Offering Period on the basis of the exchange rate in effect on such date. The Administrator shall have the absolute discretion to determine the applicable exchange rate to be in effect for each purchase date by any reasonable method (including, without limitation, the exchange rate actually used by the Company for its intra-Company financial transactions for the month of such transfer). Any changes or fluctuations in the exchange rate at which the payroll deductions or other approved contributions collected on the Participant’s behalf are converted into U.S. Dollars on each purchase date shall be borne solely by the Participant.
(c) At the time the Option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Company’s Shares issued under the International Plan are disposed of, the Participant must make adequate provision, in such manner as may be required by the Administrator, for the Company’s federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the Option or the disposition of the Shares. At any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s Compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Shares by the Participant.
8.
Withdrawal/Termination of Participation
. A Participant may withdraw from an Offering Period, in whole but not in part, at any time prior to the Purchase Date of the Offering Period by delivering to the Company a notice of withdrawal at least ten (10) days prior to the end of the Offering Period, in which event the Company will refund the entire balance of the Participant’s Account to the Participant as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. No further payroll deductions will be made for such a Participant during such Offering Period.
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9.
Termination of Employment
. Upon termination of employment or loss of eligibility to participate in the International Plan for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to death or retirement, the balance in a Participant’s Account shall be paid to the Participant or to the Participant’s beneficiary, as designated under Section 20, or if no beneficiary is so designated, to the Participant’s estate.
10.
Shares Reserved for International Plan
. The Shares purchasable by Participants under the International Plan shall be made available from Shares reserved under Section 10 of the Plan and any Shares issued under the International Plan will reduce, on a share-for-share basis, the number of Shares available for subsequent issuance under the Plan.
11.
Rights as Shareholder
. No Participant shall have any right as a shareholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares have been purchased and the Participant becomes the holder of record of Shares pursuant to Section 13 hereof. Except as otherwise provided under the International Plan, no adjustment will be made for dividends or distributions with respect to Options as to which there is a record date preceding the date the Participant becomes the beneficial owner of such Shares, except as the Board may determine in its sole discretion.
12.
Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares
.
(a) Shares shall not be issued with respect to an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b) As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the Participant exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.
13.
Evidence of Share Ownership
. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, promptly following the end of each Offering Period, each Participant shall become the beneficial owner of all Shares and any fractional interest in Shares purchased, if allowed by the Administrator, on his or her behalf.
14.
Transferability
.
(a) Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant’s Account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an Option or to receive Shares under the International Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 7 hereof.
(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, Shares delivered to a Participant hereunder may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant during the one year period following such delivery to the Participant (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution) and the Shares shall bear a legend denoting such restrictions as may be determined by the Administrator to be appropriate.
15.
Administration
.
(a) The International Plan shall be administered in accordance with Section 15 of the Plan.
(b) The International Plan shall be administered in accordance with the applicable laws in the jurisdiction in which an International Designated Subsidiary or the Participants are located. Additional or different provisions for individual International Designated Subsidiaries may be
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incorporated in one or more Addenda to the International Plan. Such Addenda shall have full force and effect with respect to the International Designated Subsidiaries to which they apply. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of such an Addendum and one or more other provisions of the International Plan, the provisions of the Addendum shall be controlling.
16.
Reports
. Statements of each Participant’s Account shall be given to Participants at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of Shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.
17.
Changes in Capitalization/Corporate Transaction
. The provisions of Section 17 of the Plan will control in the event of changes in capitalization as described in Section 17(a) of the Plan and a corporate transaction as described in Section 17(b) of the Plan.
18.
Amendment or Termination
.
(a) The Administrator may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend the International Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the International Plan, no such termination shall adversely affect Options previously granted, provided that an Offering Period may be terminated by the Administrator on any Purchase Date if the Administrator determines that the termination of the Offering Period or the International Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Except as provided in Section 17 and this Section 18 hereof, no amendment may make any change in any Option theretofore granted which adversely affects the rights of any Participant. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule), the Company shall obtain shareholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as required under Section 423 of the Code of any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange or national or international quotation system rule.
(b) In the event the International Plan is terminated, the Board may elect to terminate all outstanding Options either immediately or upon completion of the purchase of Shares on the next Exercise Date, or may elect to permit Options to expire in accordance with their terms (and participation to continue through such expiration dates). If the Options are terminated prior to expiration, all funds contributed to the International Plan that have not been used to purchase Shares shall be returned to the Participants.
19.
Notices
. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the International Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form and manner specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
20.
Designation of Beneficiary
. A Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive Shares and cash, if any, under the International Plan in the event of such Participant’s death prior to delivery of such shares or cash to such Participant. In the event of the death of a Participant who has not filed a designation of beneficiary with the Company, the Company will deliver such Shares or cash to the Participant’s estate.
21.
No Employment Rights
. The International Plan does not, directly or indirectly, create any right for the benefit of any employee or class of employees to purchase any Shares under the International Plan, or create in any employee or class of employees any right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and it shall not be deemed to interfere in any way with the Company or Subsidiary’s right to terminate, or otherwise modify, an employee’s employment at any time.
22.
Governing Law
. The International Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of Bermuda without regard for conflict of law principles.
23.
Successors and Assigns
. The International Plan will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Company.
24.
Term of International Plan
. The International Plan shall become effective on the date determined by the Board, subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders. It shall continue in effect until terminated under Section 18 or until the Plan is terminated.
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Exhibit 10.2
ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED
2008 SHARESAVE SCHEME
DATED 2008
RULES OF THE ASPEN
Insurance
Holdings Limited
2008 Sharesave Scheme
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Rules of the Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
2008 Sharesave Scheme
Established by resolution of the shareholders of the Company on [DATE].
Approved by HM Revenue & Customs on [DATE] under number [NUMBER].
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1.
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INTERPRETATION
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1.1.
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The following definitions and rules of interpretation apply to these Rules:
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Adoption Date:
the date of the adoption of the Scheme by the Company;
Approval Date:
the date of the approval of the Scheme by HMRC under Schedule 3;
Associate:
has the meaning given to ‘‘associate’’ in paragraph 14 of Schedule 3;
Associated Company:
has the meaning given in paragraph 47 of Schedule 3, which may be summarised, as at the Adoption Date, as providing that a company is an associated company of another at any time if:
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(a)
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at that time, one has control of the other, or both are under the control of the same person or persons; or
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(b)
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at any time in the previous year, one had control of the other, or both were under the control of the same person or persons.
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In this definition, ‘‘control’’ has the meaning given in section 416(2) to (6) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.
Auditors:
the auditors of the Company, or, if the Company does not have auditors, the Company’s accountants at the relevant time (acting as experts and not as arbitrators).
Board:
the board of directors of the Company or a committee of directors appointed by that board to carry out any of its functions under the Scheme.
Bonus Date:
whichever of the following applies:
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(a)
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where the relevant Savings Arrangement provides for the payment of a maximum bonus, the earliest date on which the maximum bonus is payable; or
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(b)
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in any other case, the earliest date on which a bonus is payable under the relevant Savings Arrangement.
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Company:
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited incorporated and registered in Bermuda;
Constituent Company:
any of the following:
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(b)
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any Eligible Company nominated by the Board to be a Constituent Company at the relevant time.
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Continuous Service:
the period of continuous service of an employee or director with:
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(a)
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any Constituent Company (including service with that company before it became a Constituent Company); and
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(b)
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any other company which is or was an Eligible Company (including service with that company before it became an Eligible Company).
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If an employee or director has been absent from service with a relevant company for any reason (while remaining an employee or director of that company), or by reason of maternity leave, and has since returned to service with a relevant company, that period of absence shall be deemed to form part of that person’s Continuous Service.
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Any period of service during which a person served as a director shall only count towards Continuous Service if the director was required during that period to devote at least 25 hours per week (excluding meal breaks) to his duties;
Control:
has the meaning given in section 719 of ITEPA 2003.
Controlled
shall be interpreted accordingly. Note that ‘‘control’’ and ‘‘controlled’’ have a different meaning in the definition of ‘‘Associated Company’’ and in rule 7.7;
Date of Grant:
the date on which an Option is, was, or is to be granted under the Scheme;
Dealing Day:
a day on which the investment exchange on which Shares are listed and/or traded is open for the transaction of business;
Eligible Company:
any company of which the Company has Control;
Eligible Employee:
any employee or director of a Constituent Company who:
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(a)
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does not have a Material Interest (either on his own or together with one or more of his Associates), and has not had such an interest at any time in the 12 months up to the Date of Grant on which any relevant Options may be granted;
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(b)
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has no Associate or Associates which has or (taken together) have a Material Interest, or had such an interest at any time in the 12 months up to the Date of Grant on which any relevant Options may be granted;
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(c)
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if a director of a Constituent Company, is required to devote at least 25 hours per week (excluding meal breaks) to his duties;
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(d)
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on the relevant Date of Grant, will have Continuous Service equal to or greater than 3 months or any other minimum period which may be specified by the Board under rule 2.4(e) on or before the relevant Invitation Date;
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(e)
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whose earnings from employment (and/or office, if any) with the relevant Constituent Company are (or would be if there were any) general earnings subject to section 15 or 21 of ITEPA 2003 (earnings for year when employee resident and ordinarily resident in the UK); and
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(f)
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has not given or received notice to terminate his employment (and/or office, if any) which will have the effect that he will no longer be an employee or full-time director of any Constituent Company on the relevant Date of Grant;
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Exercise Price:
the price (which shall be in pounds sterling) at which each Share subject to an Option may be acquired on the exercise of that Option, which (subject to rule 12):
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(a)
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if Shares are to be newly issued to satisfy the exercise of the Option, may not be less than the nominal value of a Share;
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(b)
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may not be less than the 80 per cent. of the Market Value of a Share on the relevant Invitation Date;
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Existing Option:
an option or any other right to acquire or receive Shares granted under any Share Incentive Scheme (including the Scheme), which remains capable of exercise, or in the case of options or rights that do not require exercise, remains capable of satisfaction;
Grantor:
the person granting an Option, which may be:
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(b)
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the trustees of an employee benefit trust authorised by the Board to grant Options at the relevant time, subject to rule 9.5; or
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(c)
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any other person so authorised, subject to rule 9.5;
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HMRC:
HM Revenue & Customs;
Invitation Date:
a date on which invitations to apply for Options are, were, or are to be issued under the Scheme;
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ITEPA 2003:
the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003;
Key Feature:
any provision of the Scheme which is necessary to meet the requirements of Schedule 3;
Market Value:
whichever of the following applies:
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(i)
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before any applicable regulations for the determination of market value are made under section 272(3) and 272(4) of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (as amended by Schedule 26 of the Finance Act 2007); and
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(ii)
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on any day while the relevant shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, at the discretion of the Board, either:
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(iii)
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the middle market quotation for a share on the New York Stock Exchange on the last Dealing Day before that day; or
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(iv)
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the average of the middle market quotations on the New York Stock Exchange for a share for the three immediately preceding Dealing Days;
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in either case converted into Pounds Sterling at the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers payable in Pounds Sterling as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank for that day; or
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(i)
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while the relevant shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or listed on any recognised stock exchange (as defined in section 1005 of the Income Taxes Act 2007, as amended by Schedule 26 to the Finance Act 2007); and
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(ii)
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when regulations for the determination of market value made under section 272(3) and 272(4) of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (as amended by Schedule 26 to the Finance Act 2007) (
Valuation Regulations
) apply in respect of the relevant shares,
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the value determined using a method approved by the Board which is compatible with the Valuation Regulations; or
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(c)
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on any day when neither paragraph (a) nor paragraph (b) of this definition applies, the market value of a share, determined under the applicable provisions of Part VIII of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, as agreed with HMRC Shares and Assets Valuation (before the relevant Date of Grant, and, if possible, before the relevant Invitation Date, where Market Value on an Invitation Date is being determined for the purpose of setting the Exercise Price);
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Material Interest:
has the meaning given in paragraph 12 of Schedule 3;
Model Code:
the model code set out in the Listing Rules issued by the Financial Services Authority acting as the United Kingdom Listing Authority (or any successor body carrying out the same functions), as it is in force at the relevant time;
Option:
a right to acquire Shares granted under the Scheme which has neither lapsed nor been fully exercised;
Option Certificate:
a certificate setting out the terms of an Option, issued under rule 4.6;
Option Holder:
an individual who holds an Option or, where applicable, his personal representatives;
Redundancy:
has the meaning given by the Employment Rights Act 1996 or the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996;
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Repaid Amount:
The amount actually received by way of repayments of contributions and payments of bonus or interest (if any) under the Savings Arrangement linked to the relevant Option. The Repaid Amount shall be taken to exclude the amount of:
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(a)
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any bonus or interest, if, for the relevant Option, the Repayment is
not
to be taken to include a bonus under rule 4.3;
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(b)
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any contribution paid directly to the savings provider by the Option Holder, other than any contribution made:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
under special arrangements relating to absence from the Option Holder’s office or employment; or
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
after cessation of the Option Holder’s relevant office or employment, in the same monthly amount and at the same interval as contributions made previously by deduction from the Option Holder’s pay under the Scheme; and
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
any contribution made in advance, if the due date of payment for that contribution under the Savings Arrangement falls or would have fallen more than one month after the date on which the Repaid Amount was paid to the Option Holder;
|
Repayment:
whichever of the following applies:
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
in relation to any Option for which repayment under the linked Savings Arrangement shall be taken as including a bonus, the aggregate of:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
the maximum amount of the contributions repayable under the Savings Arrangement; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the amount of any bonus and/or interest payable under the Savings Arrangement at the Bonus Date; and
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
in relation to any Option for which repayment under the linked Savings Arrangement shall be taken as not including a bonus, the maximum amount of the contributions repayable under the Savings Arrangement;
|
Retirement:
ceasing employment with the intention of retiring;
Rollover Period:
any period during which Options may be exchanged for options over shares in another company (under paragraph 38 of Schedule 3, rule 11.4 and rule 11.5);
Savings Arrangement:
a certified savings arrangement (as defined in section 703 of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005) which has been approved by an officer of HMRC for the purposes of Schedule 3;
Schedule 3:
Schedule 3 to ITEPA 2003, which provides for the approval of SAYE option schemes by HMRC;
Scheme:
the employee share option Scheme constituted and governed by these rules, as amended from time to time;
Scheme-related Employment:
the office or employment by virtue of which any person is or was eligible to become an Option Holder;
Share Incentive Scheme:
any arrangement to provide employees and/or directors with shares;
Shares:
ordinary shares in the Company (subject to rule 13) that meet the requirements of paragraphs 18 to 22 of Schedule 3;
Specified Age:
65, which shall be the specified age for the purposes of the Scheme, under paragraph 31 of Schedule 3;
6
Table of Contents
Taxable Event:
any of the following events which may give rise to liabilities for income tax and national insurance contributions (or their equivalents in any other jurisdiction):
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
the exercise of an Option; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
any other taxable event in relation to an Option; or
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
the sale of Shares acquired on exercise of an Option; or
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
any other taxable event in relation to Shares acquired on exercise of an Option;
|
Tax Liability:
the total of:
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
any PAYE income tax and primary class 1 (employee) national insurance contributions (or any similar liability to withhold amounts in respect of income tax or social security contribution in any jurisdiction) that the Company or any employer (or former employer) of an Option Holder is liable to account for as a result of any Taxable Event; and
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
if such amounts may be lawfully recovered from the relevant Option Holder, any secondary class 1 (employer) national insurance contributions (or any similar liability for social security contribution in any jurisdiction) that the Company or any employer (or former employer) of an Option Holder is liable to pay as a result of any Taxable Event.
|
|
|
1.2.
|
Headings shall not affect the interpretation of these rules.
|
|
|
1.3.
|
A reference to one gender in these rules shall include a reference to the other.
|
|
|
1.4.
|
Words in the singular in these rules shall include the plural and vice versa.
|
|
|
1.5.
|
A reference to a statute or a statutory provision in these rules is a reference to it as in force at the relevant time, taking account of any amendment, extension or re-enactment, and includes any subordinate legislation in force and made under it.
|
|
|
2.
|
INVITATIONS TO APPLY FOR OPTIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR OPTIONS
|
|
|
2.1
|
Subject to the limitations and conditions of this Scheme, the Board may issue invitations to apply for Options at any time.
|
|
|
2.2
|
On each occasion that the Board decides to issue invitations to apply for Options, the Board shall determine (in its absolute discretion):
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
whether or not Repayments will be taken to include a bonus for Options granted as a result of the invitations. If the Board determines that Repayments will be taken to include a bonus, that determination may be subject to alteration if applications are scaled down under rule 3. The Board should note that (as at the Adoption Date) a seven year Option will be over the same number of Shares as a five year Option with the same monthly savings, if Repayments are not taken as including a bonus;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
whether to invite applications for three year Options, five year Options or seven year Options (or Options of such other standard periods as may be available under the HM Treasury specifications for Savings Arrangement in force at the relevant time), or to offer those receiving invitations a choice between two or more of those Option periods;
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
the minimum monthly contribution to be made to a Savings Arrangement linked to any Option granted as a result of the invitations, being an amount which is neither:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
less than £5 (or such other minimum as may be specified in the HM Treasury specifications for Savings Arrangements in force at the relevant time); nor
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
more than £10 (or such other amount as may be specified in paragraph 25(3)(b) of Schedule 3 at the relevant time);
|
7
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|
|
|
|
(d)
|
whether to impose a limit on the number of Shares that may be made subject to Options granted as a result of the invitations and if so:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
what that limit will be; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
whether the threshold value for the purposes of scaling down under rule 3(d), will be £5 or some other value within the range of £40 to £200 specified by the Board under this rule 2.4(d).
|
In making their decisions under this rule 2.2(d), the Board shall consider the constraints imposed by rule 5 and any plans to make further invitations under the Scheme or to make future awards under any other Share Incentive Scheme that is subject to a limit similar to rule 5; and
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
whether to specify a minimum period of Continuous Service different from the default period of 6 months for the purposes of defining who will be an Eligible Employee. Any such period may not be longer than five years (or such other maximum period as may be specified in paragraph 6(2)(b) of Schedule 3 at the relevant time).
|
|
|
2.3
|
On each occasion that the Board decides to issue invitations to apply for Options, those invitations:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
shall be in a form approved by the Board;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
shall be sent to all Eligible Employees;
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
at the discretion of the Board, may also be sent to any other employee (including any employee who is also a director) of a Constituent Company who:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
does not have a Material Interest (either on his own or together with one or more of his Associates), and has not had such an interest at any time in the 12 months up to the Date of Grant on which Options may be granted as a result of those invitations; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
has no Associate or Associates which has or (taken together) have a Material Interest, or had such an interest at any time in the 12 months up to the Date of Grant on which Options may be granted as a result of those invitations;
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
shall comply with rule 2.4;
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
shall be accompanied by invitations to apply to enter into appropriate Savings Arrangements with a Savings Arrangement provider selected by the Board; and
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
shall include a statement that:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
each invitation is subject to these rules, the relevant Savings Arrangement prospectus, Schedule 3 and any other legislation applying to SAYE option schemes approved under Schedule 3; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
those provisions shall prevail over any conflicting statement.
|
|
|
2.4
|
Each invitation shall set out (without limitation):
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
the minimum monthly contribution determined by the Board under rule 2.2(c);
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
the Exercise Price for Options granted as a result of the invitations, or the method by which that Exercise Price will be notified to those receiving invitations;
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
whether Repayments will be taken to include a bonus (subject to rule 3);
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
any limit on the number of Shares that may be placed under Option as a result of the invitations specified under rule, and, if there is such a limit:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
that applications will be scaled down in accordance with rule 3 if applications are received in excess of that limit; and
|
8
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the amount of the threshold value for the purposes of scaling down under rule 3(d), if a value other than £5 is specified by the Board under rule 2.2(d);
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
whether applications may be made for three year Options, five year Options or seven year Options (or Options of such other standard periods as may be available under the HM Treasury Savings Arrangement specifications in force at the relevant time) or any specified combination of Option periods (subject torule 3);
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
that, to be considered for the grant of Options, completed applications should be received by the Board, or any person nominated to receive applications on behalf of the Board, by 5 pm on the day falling 14 days after the Invitation Date; and
|
|
|
|
|
(g)
|
any minimum period of Continuous Service which applies for the purpose of determining who is an Eligible Employee on the Invitation Date.
|
|
|
2.5
|
Any accidental failure or omission to deliver an invitation to any Eligible Employee shall not invalidate the grant of Options.
|
|
|
2.6
|
Each application for an Option:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
shall be in a form approved by the Board;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
shall state the period of the Option applied for (subject to possible amendment to a shorter Option period under rule 3);
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
shall incorporate or be accompanied by a duly completed application form to enter into a Savings Arrangement with a Savings Arrangement provider selected by the Board, in which the applicant agrees to make a monthly contribution of a specified amount (subject to possible amendment to a lesser amount under rule 3) which shall be:
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
not less than the minimum determined under rule 2.2(c) and
|
|
|
|
|
(iii)
|
when aggregated with contributions made by the applicant under any other Savings Arrangements linked to SAYE option schemes approved under Schedule 3, not more than £250 (or such other amount as may be specified by paragraph 25(3)(a) of Schedule 3 at the relevant time),
|
over the necessary savings period given the period of the Option applied for (subject to possible amendment to a shorter Option period under rule 3);
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
if a limit has been specified under rule 2.2(d), shall include a statement that, if applications are scaled down under rule 3, the applicant agrees that his application shall be amended or withdrawn in accordance with the operation of rule 3;
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
shall authorise and instruct the Board or any person authorised by the Board to:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
deduct from the applicant’s pay the appropriate monthly contributions; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
pay those deductions to the relevant Savings Arrangement provider to meet the applicant’s obligations,
|
under any Savings Arrangement entered into by the applicant as a result of the application;
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
shall include the applicant’s agreement to be bound by the terms of this Scheme, and in particular (without limitation), rule 9 in respect of any Option granted to him, or any shares acquired by him under the Scheme; and
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
the application is subject to these rules, the relevant Savings Arrangement prospectus, Schedule 3 and any other legislation applying to SAYE option schemes approved under Schedule 3; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
those provisions shall prevail over any conflicting statement.
|
9
Table of Contents
|
|
2.7
|
The Repayment under a Savings Arrangement shall, as nearly as possible, equal the amount required to be paid to exercise the linked Option in full. Therefore, each application shall be treated as being for an Option over the largest whole number of Shares which can be acquired at the relevant Exercise Price with the Repayment under the linked Savings Arrangement (following adjustment of the application under rule 3, if relevant).
|
|
|
3.
|
SCALING DOWN
|
If:
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
the Board has specified a limit under rule 2.2(d) for a particular set of invitations; and
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
in response to those invitations the Board receives applications for Options over a total number of Shares which exceeds that limit,
|
the methods of scaling down set out below shall be considered in turn. Each method shall be applied independently, rather than cumulatively with the preceding methods in the list. Scaling down shall be undertaken by the first of the following methods which will ensure that the limit will not be exceeded:
if:
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
Repayments will be taken to include a bonus; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the relevant invitations offered a choice of Option periods including (but not restricted to) any period relating to Savings Arrangements under which a maximum bonus is payable,
|
any application for a Savings Arrangement under which a maximum bonus is payable shall be taken instead to be an application for the most similar type of Savings Arrangement under which the bonus is that payable on the first date on which a bonus may be paid. As at the Adoption Date, this would affect only applications for seven year Options, which would be scaled down to applications for five year Options as a result;
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
the amount by which the monthly savings contribution specified in each application exceeds either:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
if no other threshold value has been specified by the Board under rule 2.2(d), £100; or
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
if one has been specified, the threshold value specified by the Board under rule 2.2(d)
|
shall be reduced pro rata, in accordance with the method set out in Schedule 1;
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
Repayments will be taken to include a bonus; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the relevant invitations offered a choice of Option periods including (but not restricted to) any period relating to Savings Arrangements under which a maximum bonus is payable,
|
a combination of the methods in rule 3(c) and rule 3(d);
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
if Repayments would otherwise have been taken to include a bonus for Options granted as a result of the relevant invitations, the method in rule 3(d) but with Repayments
not
taken to include a bonus;
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
the amount by which the monthly savings contribution specified in each application exceeds the minimum specified under rule 2.2(c) for the relevant invitations shall be reduced pro rata, in accordance with the method set out in Schedule 2;
|
10
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
Repayments will be taken to include a bonus; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the relevant invitations offered a choice of Option periods including (but not restricted to) any period relating to Savings Arrangements under which a maximum bonus is payable,
|
a combination of the methods in rule 3(c) and rule 3(g);
|
|
|
|
(h)
|
if Repayments would otherwise have been taken to include a bonus for Options granted as a result of the relevant invitations, the method in rule 3(g) but with Repayments
not
taken to include a bonus; and
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
if scaling down cannot be effected either by the method in rule 3(i), or, if Repayments are not to be taken to include a bonus, by the method in rule 3(g):
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
some applicants would not be granted Options following scaling down using the method in this rule 3.1(j);
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the Board, in its absolute discretion, may determine not to continue with the scaling down operation and that no Options shall be granted as a result of the relevant invitations; and
|
|
|
|
|
(iii)
|
if the Board decides to continue the scaling down operation, applicants shall be selected by lot, and each selected applicant shall be taken to apply for an Option of the shortest period offered in the relevant invitations, based on a monthly savings contribution of the minimum specified under rule 2.3(c) for the relevant invitations.
|
|
|
4.
|
GRANT OF OPTIONS
|
|
|
4.1
|
Subject to the other provisions of this Scheme, Options may be granted as a result of each set of invitations made under the Scheme. If Options are granted, an Option shall be granted to each person who made a valid application (or each person who is treated as making a valid application under rule 3) and who:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
is an employee or director of a Constituent Company on the Date of Grant;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
does not have a Material Interest (either on his own or together with one or more of his Associates), and has not had such an interest at any time in the 12 months up to the Date of Grant; and
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
has no Associate or Associates which has or (taken together) have a Material Interest, or had such an interest at any time in the 12 months up to the Date of Grant.
|
|
|
4.2
|
Each Option shall be granted over the number of Shares determined for the relevant application under rule 2.7.
|
|
|
4.3
|
Whether or not Repayments will be taken to include any bonus will be determined at the time of grant of each Option in accordance with:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
the determination of the Board under rule 2.2(a); and
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
the effects of rule 3, if the relevant applications were scaled down.
|
|
|
4.4
|
Options shall be granted:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
unless applications were scaled down under rule 3,
not later
than 30 days after the earliest date by reference to which Market Value was determined for the purpose of setting the Exercise Price; and
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
if applications were scaled down under rule 3,
not later
than 42 days after the earliest date by reference to which Market Value was determined for the purpose of setting the Exercise Price; and
|
11
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
while the Company is bound by any undertaking or agreement that this should be the case,
not later
than 42 days after the Approval Date or any relevant Announcement Date (as applicable).
|
|
|
4.5
|
Options may not be granted:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
at any time when that grant would be prohibited by, or in breach of, any:
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
regulation with the force of law; or
|
|
|
|
|
(iii)
|
rule of an investment exchange on which Shares are listed or traded, or any other non-statutory rule with a purpose similar to any part of the Model Code that binds the Company or with which the Board wishes to comply; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
before the Approval Date; or
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
after the tenth anniversary of the Adoption Date.
|
|
|
4.6
|
Options shall be granted by the Grantor executing a deed in a form approved by the Board. A single deed of grant may be executed in favour of any number of Option Holders. Each Option Holder shall be issued with an Option Certificate (in a form approved by the Board) as soon as possible after the Date of Grant as evidence of the grant of the relevant Option. Each Option Certificate shall set out (without limitation):
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
the Date of Grant of the Option;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
the number and class of the Shares over which the Option is granted;
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
the date after which the Option may be exercised, unless an earlier event occurs to cause the Option to lapse or to become exercisable. This date shall be the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to the Option;
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
the date when the Option will lapse, assuming that the Option is not exercised earlier, no event occurs to cause the Option to lapse earlier and rule 7.9 does not then apply to the Option. This date shall be the date falling six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to the Option;
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
the Option is subject to these rules, Schedule 3 and any other legislation applying to SAYE option schemes approved under Schedule 3; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
those provisions shall prevail over any conflicting statement relating to the Option’s terms; and
|
|
|
|
|
(g)
|
a summary of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
rule 6.1 and rule 6.2(j);
|
|
|
4.7
|
No amount shall be paid for the grant of an Option.
|
12
Table of Contents
|
|
5.
|
OVERALL LIMITS ON GRANTS
|
|
|
5.1
|
The definition in this rule 5.1 applies in this rule 5:
|
Dilutive Shares:
On any date, all shares of the Company which:
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
have been issued, or transferred out of treasury, on the exercise of options granted, and in satisfaction of any other awards made, under any Share Incentive Scheme (including the Scheme) in the shorter of:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
the ten years ending on (and including) that date; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the period since such shares were first admitted to trading on New York Stock Exchange;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
remain capable of issue, or transfer out of treasury, under any Existing Options.
|
|
|
5.2
|
While the Company is bound by any undertaking or agreement that this should be the case, no Option shall be granted under rule 4 if that grant would result in the total number of Dilutive Shares exceeding 10% of the issued share capital of the Company.
|
|
|
6.
|
LAPSE OF OPTIONS
|
|
|
6.1
|
Options may not be transferred or assigned or have any charge or other security interest created over them. An Option shall lapse if the relevant Option Holder (or his personal representatives) attempts to do any of those things. But, a transfer to an Option Holder’s personal representatives on the death of the Option Holder will not cause an Option to lapse.
|
|
|
6.2
|
An Option shall lapse on the earliest of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
any attempted action by the Option Holder (or his personal representatives) falling within rule 6.1;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
the date on which the Option shall lapse, as specified in the Option Certificate, if the Option Holder is alive at that time;
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
when the Option Holder’s Scheme-related Employment ceases, if:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
the Option may not be exercised after that cessation under any part of rule 7; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the Option Holder is alive immediately after that time.
|
This rule 6.2(c) is subject to rule 7.7;
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
the seventh occasion on which the Option Holder omits to make a payment under the Savings Arrangement linked to the Option; or
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the giving of notice by the Option Holder to terminate the Savings Arrangement,
|
if that takes place before the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement, unless that non-payment or notice arises:
|
|
|
|
(iii)
|
when the Option may be exercised under rule 7.3 or rule 7.4, or rule 7.5 or rule 7.6; or
|
|
|
|
|
(iv)
|
on or after the Option Holder’s death; or
|
|
|
|
|
(v)
|
when the Option may be exercised or exchanged under any part of rule 11; or
|
|
|
|
|
(vi)
|
when the Option may be exercised under rule 7.8;
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
at the end of the period during which the Option may be exercised under rule 7.8, if the Option has not been exercised and during that period an event occurred which falls within rule 6.2(c)(i) or rule 6.2(c)(ii), unless that period ended on the Option Holder’s death;
|
13
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
at the end of any period during which the Option may be exercised under any part of rule 7 other than rule 7.8 and rule 7.9, unless that period ended on the Option Holder’s death;
|
|
|
|
|
(g)
|
if the Option Holder has died:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
if the Option Holder died before the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to the relevant Option, the date falling 12 months after the date of death;
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
if the Option Holder died on or within six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to the relevant Option, the date falling 12 months after that Bonus Date;
|
|
|
|
|
(h)
|
if any part of rule 11 applies, the time specified for the lapse of the Option under that part of rule 11;
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
if rule 7.1(h) applies, the time specified in rule 7.1(h); and
|
|
|
|
|
(j)
|
the bankruptcy of the Option Holder.
|
|
|
7.
|
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
|
|
|
7.1
|
No Option may be exercised:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
when the Option Holder has a Material Interest (either on his own or together with one or more of his Associates), or has had such an interest at any time in the preceding 12 months; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
when any Associate or Associates of the Option Holder has or (taken together) have a Material Interest, or had such an interest at any time in the preceding 12 months; or
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
when the Option Holder is not an employee or director of a Constituent Company, except as permitted by any provision of this Scheme other than any part of rule 11. If the Option Holder is not an employee or director of a Constituent Company, an Option may be exercised under any part of rule 11 only if exercise is also permitted at that time under any provision of this Scheme other than rule 11; or
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
earlier than the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option, except as permitted by any provision of this Scheme; or
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
later than six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option, except as permitted under rule 7.9; or
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
when prohibited by or in breach of any law or regulation with the force of law; or
|
|
|
|
|
(g)
|
when prohibited by or in breach of any rule of an investment exchange on which Shares are listed or traded, or any provision of a personal dealing code adopted by the Company, or any other non-statutory rule with a similar purpose to any part of the Model Code that binds the Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(h)
|
more than once. If an Option is exercised in part only, the unexercised part of the Option shall lapse immediately after the exercise.
|
|
|
7.2
|
An Option Holder who is a director or employee of:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
a Constituent Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
any Associated Company of the Company which is not a Constituent Company;
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
may exercise an Option at any time during the period starting with the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option and ending on the earlier to occur of:
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
the date falling six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option; and
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
the Option Holder’s death.
|
14
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|
|
7.3
|
This rule 7.3 is subject to rule 7.7 and applies to any Options held by an Option Holder who has ceased to hold his Scheme-related Employment:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
because of injury; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
because of disability; or
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
because of Redundancy; or
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
because of Retirement on reaching the Specified Age; or
|
An Option to which this rule 7.3 applies may be exercised at any time in the period starting immediately after the date on which the Scheme-related Employment ceased and ending on the earliest to occur of:
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
the date falling six months after the date on which the Scheme-related Employment ceased;
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
the date falling six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option; and
|
|
|
|
|
(g)
|
the Option Holder’s death.
|
|
|
7.4
|
This rule 7.4 is subject to rule 7.7 and applies to Options held by any Option Holder who has ceased to hold his Scheme-related Employment because of Retirement on reaching any age (other than the Specified Age) at which he is bound to retire in accordance with the terms of his contract of employment.
|
In this rule 7.4, ‘‘any age (other than the Specified Age) at which he is bound to retire in accordance with the terms of his contract of employment’’ means any age (other than the Specified Age) at which, if the relevant Option Holder were to be dismissed by his employer, it would be possible for retirement to be the reason (or a reason) for that dismissal under section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
An Option to which this rule 7.4 applies may be exercised at any time in the period starting immediately after the date of Retirement and ending on the earliest to occur of:
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
the date falling six months after the date of Retirement;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
the date falling six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option; and
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
the Option Holder’s death.
|
|
|
7.5
|
This rule 7.5 is subject to rule 7.7 and applies to Options:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
held by any Option Holder who has ceased to hold his Scheme-related Employment because of any reason other than:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
any reason listed in rule 7.3; or
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the reason set out in rule 7.4; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
which were granted more than three years before the date on which the Option Holder’s Scheme-related Employment ceased.
|
The Board shall interpret the meaning of ‘‘misconduct’’ in rule 7.5(a)(iii) in a manner which is fair and reasonable.
An Option to which this rule 7.5 applies may be exercised at any time in the period starting immediately after the date on which the Scheme-related Employment ceased and ending on the earliest to occur of:
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
the date falling six months after the date on which the Scheme-related Employment ceased;
|
15
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
the date falling six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option; and
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
the Option Holder’s death.
|
|
|
7.6
|
This rule 7.6 is subject to rule 7.7 and applies to any Options held by an Option Holder who has ceased to hold his Scheme-related Employment:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
only because it was in a company which has ceased to be an Eligible Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
only because it related to a business or part of a business which was transferred to a person other than an Associated Company of the Company,
|
if the Option Holder has ceased to hold the office or employment which was (before the date of cessation of the Scheme-related employment) the Scheme-related employment (the post-transfer employment) for a reason falling within any of rule 7.3(a), rule 7.3(b), rule 7.3(c), rule 7.3(d) or rule 7.4.
An Option to which this rule 7.6 applies may be exercised at any time in the period starting immediately after the date on which the post-transfer employment ceased and ending on the earliest to occur of:
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
the date falling six months after the date on which the post-transfer employment ceased;
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
the date falling six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option; and
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
the Option Holder’s death.
|
|
|
7.7
|
No Option Holder shall be treated as ceasing to hold Scheme-related Employment under any of rule 6.2(c), rule 7.3 or rule 7.4, or rule 7.5 or rule 7.6 until that Option Holder ceases to hold any office or employment with:
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
any Eligible Company or other company which is controlled by the Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
controls the Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
is controlled by a person or persons who also control the Company.
|
In this rule 7.7, ‘‘control’’ has the meaning given in section 416(2) to (6) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.
|
|
7.8
|
This rule 7.8 applies to Options held by any Option Holder who:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
has reached the Specified Age; and
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
continued to hold his Scheme-related Employment after the date on which he reached the Specified Age.
|
An Option to which this rule 7.8 applies may be exercised at any time in the period starting immediately after the date on which the Option Holder reached the Specified Age and ending on the earliest to occur of:
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
the date falling six months after the date on which the Option Holder reached the Specified Age;
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
the date falling six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option; and
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
the Option Holder’s death.
|
16
Table of Contents
|
|
7.9
|
This rule 7.9 applies to Options which were held by any Option Holder at the time of his death if, at that time:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
the Option Holder did not have a Material Interest (either on his own or together with one or more of his Associates), and had not had such an interest at any time in the preceding 12 months; and
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
no Associate or Associates of the Option Holder had (individually or taken together) a Material Interest, or had such an interest at any time in the preceding 12 months; and
|
whether or not those Options were capable of exercise under any other provision of the Scheme at the time of death.
An Option to which this rule 7.9 applies may be exercised by the Option Holder’s personal representatives at any time in the period starting immediately after the date of death and ending:
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
if the Option Holder died before the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option, the date falling 12 months after the date of death; or
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
if the Option Holder died on or within six months after the Bonus Date of the Savings Arrangement linked to that Option, the date falling 12 months after that Bonus Date.
|
|
|
7.10
|
If a Repaid Amount is insufficient to exercise the Option linked to the relevant Savings Arrangement in full:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
the aggregate Exercise Price paid to exercise the Option may not exceed the Repaid Amount; and
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
the number of Shares acquired on exercise of the Option may not exceed the number obtained by dividing the Repaid Amount by the Exercise Price for the Option and, if the result of that division is not a whole number, rounding it down to the nearest whole number.
|
|
|
7.11
|
An Option may only be exercised if the Option Holder has made any arrangements, or entered into any agreements, that may be required under rule 9.
|
|
|
8.
|
MANNER OF EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
|
|
|
8.1
|
An Option shall be exercised by the Option Holder giving a written exercise notice to the Grantor, which shall:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
set out the number of Shares over which the Option Holder wishes to exercise the Option. If that number exceeds the number over which the Option may be validly exercised at the time (in particular, without limitation, under rule 7.10):
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
the Option shall be treated as exercised only in respect of that lesser number; and
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
any excess amount paid to exercise the Option or meet any Tax Liability shall be refunded;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
be made using a form approved by the Board;
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
include a power of attorney appointing the Company as the Option Holder’s agent and attorney for the purposes of rule 9.4 and rule 9.7; and
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
be accompanied by the relevant Option Certificate. If an Option Certificate has been lost, the relevant Option may still be exercised, but the Grantor may make it a condition of exercise that the Option Holder shall enter into a formal acknowledgement that the Option Certificate is lost and a binding undertaking to return it for cancellation if recovered at a later date.
|
|
|
8.2
|
Any exercise notice shall be accompanied by:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
payment of an amount equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Shares specified in the notice; and
|
17
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
any payment required under rule 9; and/or
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
any documentation relating to arrangements or agreements required under rule 9.
|
If the Savings Arrangement provider permits, payment under rule 8.2(a) may take the form of a valid direction to the Savings Arrangement provider to repay to the Grantor the whole amount due to the Option Holder under the Savings Arrangement linked to the relevant Option. If payment is made in this way, the Grantor shall pay to the Option Holder any amount by which the payment received by the Grantor from the Savings Arrangement provider exceeds the aggregate Exercise Price payable on the exercise of the Option.
|
|
8.3
|
Any exercise notice shall be invalid:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
to the extent that it is inconsistent with the Option Holder’s rights under these rules and the relevant Option; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
if any of the requirements of rule 8. or rule 8.2 are not met; or
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
if any payment referred to in rule 8.2 is made by a cheque that is not honoured on first presentation or in any other manner which fails to transfer the expected value to the Grantor.
|
The Grantor may permit the Option Holder to correct any defect referred to in rule 8.3(b) or rule 8.3(c) (but shall not be obliged to do so). The date of any corrected exercise notice shall be the date of the correction rather than the original notice date for all other purposes of the Scheme.
|
|
8.4
|
Shares shall be allotted and issued (or transferred, as appropriate) within 30 days after a valid Option exercise, subject to the other rules of this Scheme.
|
|
|
8.5
|
Except for any rights determined by reference to a date before the date of allotment, Shares allotted and issued in satisfaction of the exercise of an Option shall rank equally in all respects with the other shares of the same class in issue at the date of allotment.
|
|
|
8.6
|
Shares transferred in satisfaction of the exercise of an Option shall be transferred free of any lien, charge or other security interest, and with all rights attaching to them, other than any rights determined by reference to a date before the date of transfer.
|
|
|
8.7
|
If the Shares are listed or traded on any stock exchange, the Company shall apply to the appropriate body for any newly issued Shares allotted on exercise of an Option to be listed or admitted to trading on that exchange.
|
|
|
9.
|
TAX LIABILITIES
|
|
|
9.1
|
The definitions in this rule 9.1 apply in this rule 9.
|
Employer NICs:
Secondary class 1 (employer) national insurance contributions (or any similar liability for social security contribution in any jurisdiction) which are included in any Tax Liability (or which would be included in any Tax Liability if an election of the type referred to in rule 9.2(c) had not been made) and which may be lawfully recovered from the Option Holder.
Sufficient Shares:
the smallest number of Shares which, when sold, will produce an amount at least equal to the relevant Tax Liability (after deduction of brokerage and any other charges or taxes on the sale).
|
|
9.2
|
It shall be a term of each Option that the Option Holder shall:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
pay to the Company, his employer or former employer (as appropriate) the amount of any Tax Liability;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
enter into arrangements to the satisfaction of the Company, his employer or former employer (as appropriate) for payment of any Tax Liability; and
|
18
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
if required to do so by the Company, his employer or former employer, join in making an election (using a form approved by HMRC) that the whole or any part of the liability for any Employer NICs shall be transferred to the Option Holder.
|
|
|
9.3
|
An Option Holder’s employer or former employer may decide to release the Option Holder from, or not to enforce, any part of the Option Holder’s obligations in respect of Employer NICs under rule 9.2(a) and rule 9.2(b).
|
|
|
9.4
|
If an Option Holder does not fulfil his obligations under either rule 9.2(a) or rule 9.2(b) in respect of any Tax Liability arising from the exercise of an Option within seven days after the date of exercise and Shares are readily saleable at that time, the Grantor shall withhold Sufficient Shares from the Shares which would otherwise be delivered to the Option Holder. From the net proceeds of sale of those withheld Shares, the Grantor shall pay to the Company, employer or former employer an amount equal to the Tax Liability and shall pay any balance to the Option Holder.
|
|
|
9.5
|
Any person other than the Company will only be authorised to grant Options after it has entered into an irrevocable undertaking to the Company (for the benefit of the Company and any employer or former employer of any relevant Option Holder) that such person will fulfil its obligations as a Grantor under the rules of the Scheme, in particular (without limitation) rule 9.4.
|
|
|
9.6
|
Option Holders shall have no rights to compensation or damages on account of any loss in respect of Options or the Scheme where such loss arises (or is claimed to arise), in whole or in part, from any loss of approval under Schedule 3 that affects the Scheme or any Option, however that loss of approval may be caused.
|
|
|
9.7
|
It shall be a term of each Option that the Option Holder shall join in making an election under section 431(1) or section 431(2) of ITEPA 2003, if required to do so by the Company, his employer or former employer, on or before the date of exercise of the Option.
|
|
|
10.
|
RELATIONSHIP WITH EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
|
|
|
10.1
|
The rights and obligations of any Option Holder under the terms of his office or employment with any company shall not be affected by being an Option Holder.
|
|
|
10.2
|
The value of any benefit realised under the Scheme by Option Holders shall not be taken into account in determining any pension or similar entitlements.
|
|
|
10.3
|
Option Holders and the directors and employees of Constituent Companies and Associated Companies of the Company (past and present) shall have no rights to compensation or damages on account of any loss in respect of Options or the Scheme where such loss arises (or is claimed to arise), in whole or in part, from termination of office or employment with any company. This exclusion of liability shall apply however termination of office or employment, or the giving of notice, is caused and however compensation or damages may be claimed.
|
|
|
10.4
|
Option Holders and the directors and employees of Constituent Companies and Associated Companies of the Company (past and present) shall have no rights to compensation or damages on account of any loss in respect of Options or the Scheme where such loss arises (or is claimed to arise), in whole or in part, from:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
any company ceasing to be a Constituent Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
any company ceasing to be an Associated Company of the Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
the transfer of any business from a Constituent Company to any person which is neither a Constituent Company nor an Associated Company of the Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
the transfer of any business from a Constituent Company to an Associated Company of the Company which is not a Constituent Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
any change to invitations made under the Scheme, including any variation of their terms or timing, or their complete suspension or termination; or
|
19
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
the lapse of any Option; or
|
|
|
|
|
(g)
|
any failure by the Board to nominate an Eligible Company to be a Constituent Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(h)
|
any failure by the Board to make an invitation to apply for an Option to any person who is not at the relevant time an Eligible Employee, where it is in the Board’s discretion to do so.
|
This exclusion of liability shall apply however the relevant circumstances are caused, and however compensation or damages may be claimed.
|
|
10.5
|
Each Eligible Employee and each employee of a Constituent Company shall have no right to receive Options, whether or not he has previously been granted any.
|
|
|
11.
|
TAKEOVERS AND LIQUIDATIONS
|
|
|
11.1
|
If any person (in this rule 11.1, the
Controller
) obtains Control of the Company as a result of:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
making a general offer to acquire the whole of the issued share capital of the Company which is made on a condition such that, if it is satisfied, the person making the offer will have Control of the Company; or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
making a general offer to acquire all the shares in the Company which are of the same class as the Shares,
|
then any Option may (subject to rule 7.1, rule 11.4 and rule 11.11) be exercised within six months after the time when the Controller has obtained Control of the Company and (if relevant) any condition subject to which the offer is made has been satisfied. Any Option to which this rule 11.1 applies shall lapse at the end of that period, unless before then it is exercised or released under rule 11.4.
|
|
11.2
|
Unless the relevant compromise or arrangement makes provision for the replacement of Options or the compensation of Option Holders which the Auditors have certified in writing to be fair and reasonable, any Option may be exercised within six months after any person (in this rule 11.2, the
Controller
) obtains Control of the Company as a result of the court sanctioning a compromise or arrangement for the reconstruction or amalgamation of the Company, under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985, Part 26 and (where applicable) Part 27 of the Companies Act 2006 (or in both cases, the local equivalent to such provisions), subject to rule 7.1
,
rule 11.4 and rule 11.11. Any Option to which this rule 11.2 applies shall lapse at the end of that period, unless before then it is exercised or released under rule 11.4.
|
|
|
11.3
|
Any Option may be exercised during the period commencing when any person becomes bound or entitled to acquire Shares under sections 979 to 982 of the Companies Act 2006 (or the local equivalent to such provisions) and continuing for as long as that person remains so bound or entitled, subject to rule 7.1
,
rule 11.4 and rule 11.11.
|
|
|
11.4
|
If, as a result of:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
an event specified in rule 11.1(a
);
or
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
an event specified in rule 11.1(b); or
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
the court sanctioning a compromise or arrangement under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985, Part 26 and (where applicable) Part 27 of the Companies Act 2006 (including an event specified in rule 11.2), a company has obtained Control of the Company, or if a company has become bound or entitled as specified in rule 11.3, each Option Holder may, by agreement with that company (
Acquiring Company
) within the Rollover Period, release each Option (
Old Option
) for a replacement option (
New Option
). A New Option shall:
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
be over shares which satisfy the requirements of paragraphs 18 to 22 of Schedule 3 in the Acquiring Company (or some other company falling within paragraph 39(2)(b) of Schedule 3);
|
20
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
be a right to acquire such number of those shares as have, immediately after grant of the New Option, a total Market Value equal to the total Market Value of the shares subject to the Old Option immediately before its release;
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
have an exercise price per share such that the total price payable on complete exercise of the New Option equals the total price which would have been payable on complete exercise of the Old Option; and
|
|
|
|
|
(g)
|
subject to rule 11.11, be on terms otherwise identical to the Old Option immediately before the Old Option’s release.
|
|
|
11.5
|
Any
Rollover Period
shall have the same duration as the applicable period defined in paragraph 38(3) of Schedule 3, which may be summarised (as at the Adoption Date) as:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
for the purposes of rule 11.1, six months beginning with the time the Acquiring Company obtains Control and any condition of the relevant offer is met;
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
for the purposes of rule 11.2 and rule 11.4(c), six months beginning with the time when the court sanctions the relevant compromise or arrangement;
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
for the purposes of rule 11.3, while the Acquiring Company is bound or entitled as specified in that rule; and
|
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
for the purposes of rule 11.4, as determined by reference to whichever of rule 11.1, rule 11.4(c) or rule 11.3 applies.
|
|
|
11.6
|
Any New Option granted under rule 11.4 shall be treated as having been acquired at the same time as the relevant Old Option for all other purposes of the Scheme.
|
|
|
11.7
|
The Scheme shall be interpreted in relation to any New Options as if references to:
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
the
Company
(except for those in the definitions of Constituent Company and Eligible Company) were references to the Acquiring Company (or to any other company whose shares are subject to the New Options, as the context may require); and
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
the
Shares
were references to the shares subject to the New Options.
|
|
|
11.8
|
The Company will remain the scheme organiser of the Scheme (as defined in paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 3) following the release of Options and the grant of New Options under rule 11.4.
|
|
|
11.9
|
The Acquiring Company shall issue (or procure the issue of) an Option Certificate for each New Option.
|
|
|
11.10
|
In this rule 11 (other than rule 11.4), a person shall be deemed to have obtained Control of a company if he, and others acting with him, have obtained Control of it together.
|
|
|
11.11
|
An event causing the grant of New Options shall not trigger the exercise of those New Options under rule 11.1, rule 11.2 or rule 11.3.
|
|
|
11.12
|
If the Company passes a resolution for voluntary winding up, any Option may be exercised within six weeks after the resolution is passed, failing which it shall lapse at the end of that period.
|
|
|
11.13
|
The Board shall notify Option Holders (and Grantors other than the Company) of any event that is relevant to Options under this rule 11 within a reasonable period after the Board becomes aware of it.
|
|
|
12.
|
VARIATION OF SHARE CAPITAL
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If there is any variation of the share capital of the Company (whether that variation is a capitalisation issue (other than a scrip dividend), rights issue, consolidation, subdivision or reduction of capital or otherwise), the number and description of Shares subject to each Option and/or the Exercise Price of each Option shall be adjusted in a manner the Board deems appropriate provided that, while the Scheme is approved under Schedule 3, no such adjustment shall be made without HMRC’s prior approval.
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13.
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NOTICES
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13.1
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Any notice or other communication required or made in connection with any Option or otherwise under this Scheme shall be in writing and shall be:
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(a)
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delivered personally; or
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(b)
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sent by pre-paid first-class post; or
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(c)
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sent by recorded delivery post; or
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(d)
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sent by commercial courier; or
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(e)
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sent by fax (but fax communications shall only be treated as validly sent if an appropriate report of successful transmission has been recorded by the sender’s fax system); or
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(f)
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sent by e-mail (but e-mail communications shall only be treated as validly sent if an appropriate report of receipt has been returned to the sender by the e-mail system).
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13.2
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Communications made in accordance with rule 13.1 shall be addressed to the parties interested in the Scheme as specified below:
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(a)
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in the case of communications to any Eligible Employee or Option Holder, to:
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(ii)
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his home address, meaning that most recently notified to the sender; or
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(iii)
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his work fax number; or
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(iv)
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if one has been notified to the sender, his private fax number; or
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(v)
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his work e-mail address; or
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(vi)
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if one has been notified to the sender, his private e-mail address; and
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(b)
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in the case of communications to an Option Holder who has died (where the sender has notice of the death), to:
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(i)
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the Option Holder’s home address, meaning that most recently notified to the sender; or
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(ii)
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any address or fax number (marked for the attention of any specified person) or any e-mail address that the Option Holder’s personal representatives have notified to the Company (and any relevant Grantor other than the Company) for such communications; and
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(c)
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in the case of communications to the Company, to:
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(i)
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its registered office, marked for the attention of any specified person, and notified by the Company to the sender; or
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(ii)
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any other address (marked for the attention of any specified person) that may have been notified by the Company to the sender; or
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(iii)
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any fax number (marked for the attention of any specified person) that may have been notified by the Company to the sender; or
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(iv)
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any e-mail address that may have been notified by the Company to the sender; and
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(d)
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in the case of communications to any Grantor other than the Company, to:
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(i)
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any address (marked for the attention of any specified person) that may have been notified by the Grantor to the sender; or
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(ii)
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any fax number (marked for the attention of any specified person) that may have been notified by the Grantor to the sender; or
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(iii)
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any e-mail address that may have been notified by the Grantor to the sender.
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13.3
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Communications made to any Eligible Employee, Option Holder or Option Holder’s personal representatives shall be deemed to have been duly received:
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(a)
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if delivered personally, when left at the relevant address; or
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(b)
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if sent by pre-paid first-class post or recorded delivery post, at 12 noon on the second business day after posting; or
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(c)
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if sent by commercial courier, at the time specified on the signed delivery receipt;
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(d)
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if sent by fax, at the time of transmission; or
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(e)
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if sent by e-mail, at the time specified in the relevant report of receipt returned to the sender.
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13.4
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Communications sent to the Company or any other Grantor shall:
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(a)
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be duly made only if actually received in accordance with this rule 13; and
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(b)
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shall be treated as made at the time they are received for all purposes of the Scheme.
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13.5
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This rule 13 shall not apply to the service of any proceedings or other documents in any legal action.
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14.
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ADMINISTRATION AND AMENDMENT
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14.1
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The Scheme shall be administered under the direction of the Board.
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14.2
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The Board may amend the Scheme from time to time, but:
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(a)
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while the Company is subject to any requirement, or bound by any agreement, that this should be the case, no amendment may be made without the prior approval of the Company in general meeting if it would:
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(i)
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make the terms on which Options may be granted materially more generous; or
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(ii)
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increase the limit specified in rule 5; or
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(iii)
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expand the class of potential Option Holders; or
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(iv)
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change rule 13 to the benefit of Option Holders,
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unless it is a minor amendment to benefit the administration of the scheme, to take account of a change in legislation or to obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for Option Holders or for the Company or any Eligible Company; and
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(b)
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while the Scheme is approved under Schedule 3, no amendment to a Key Feature shall have effect until approved by HMRC.
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14.3
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The Board may establish further savings-related share option plans to operate in overseas territories (overseas plans), provided that:
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(a)
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all overseas plans shall be subject to the limitation on awards set out in rule 5;
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(b)
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only employees of Eligible Companies who are resident in the relevant territory shall be entitled to benefit under any overseas plan; and
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(c)
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no employee shall have an entitlement to awards under any overseas plan greater than the maximum entitlement of an Eligible Employee under the Scheme.
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Any such plan shall be governed by rules similar to the rules of the Scheme, but modified to take account of applicable tax, social security, employment, company, exchange control, trust or securities (or any other relevant) law, regulation or practice.
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14.4
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The cost of establishing and operating the Scheme shall be borne by the Constituent Companies in proportions determined by the Board.
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14.5
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The Company shall ensure that at all times:
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(a)
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the Company has sufficient authorised and unissued or treasury Shares available, taking into account any other obligations of the Company to issue Shares and to transfer Shares from treasury; and/or
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(b)
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arrangements are in place for any third party to transfer issued Shares,
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(c)
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to satisfy the exercise of all Options of which the Company is the Grantor.
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14.6
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Each Grantor other than the Company shall at all times:
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(a)
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keep sufficient issued Shares available; and/or
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(b)
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hold sufficient enforceable rights to subscribe for Shares, or to acquire issued Shares,
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(c)
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to satisfy the exercise of all Options granted by that Grantor.
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14.7
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The Board shall determine any question of interpretation and settle any dispute arising under the Scheme (other than any requiring determination by the Auditors). In doing so, the Board shall exercise its discretion in a manner which is fair and reasonable. In such matters the Board’s decision shall be final.
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14.8
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The Company and any other Grantor shall not be obliged to notify any Option Holder if an Option is due to lapse.
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14.9
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The Company and any other Grantor shall not be obliged to provide Option Holders with copies of any materials sent to the holders of Shares.
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14.10
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The rules of the Scheme shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of England. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over:
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(a)
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the rules of the Scheme; and
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Table of Contents
SCHEDULE 1
SCALING DOWN APPLICATIONS
USING THE METHOD IN RULE 3.1(D)
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1.
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INTERPRETATION OF SCHEDULE 1
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The definitions in this paragraph apply in this Schedule 1:
A:
the maximum number of Shares that can be placed under Option. This is the limit determined under rule 2.2(d).
EP:
the Exercise Price for Options granted as a result of the applications which are to be scaled down.
B:
the maximum payable in total under Options granted as a result of the applications, which equals the total Repayments following scaling down, and is given by:
A x EP.
C:
the total of the Repayments under all Savings Arrangements applied for, without scaling down.
D:
the total of the Repayments under all Savings Arrangements applied for if those applications specifying monthly contributions greater than I were adjusted to specify monthly contributions of I.
E:
the total of the Repayments under all Savings Arrangements applied for, where the applications specify monthly contributions of I or less.
F:
the total of scaled down Repayments arising from monthly contributions in excess of I which is available to be shared pro rata among the applicants to be scaled down, and is given by:
B − D
G:
the multiple of monthly contributions making up the Repayment for a particular applicant, which is given by:
in the case of a three year Option application, 36 plus the applicable three year bonus multiple (if Repayments are taken to include bonuses);
in the case of a five year Option application, 60 plus the applicable five year bonus multiple (if Repayments are taken to include bonuses);
in the case of a seven year Option application, 60 plus the applicable seven year bonus multiple (if Repayments are taken to include bonuses); and
in the case of an Option with any other standard period that might be available under a future HM Treasury specification for Savings Arrangements, the number of monthly contributions due under the relevant Savings Arrangement plus the applicable bonus multiple (if Repayments are taken to include bonuses).
H:
the Repayment for a particular applicant if his application were not subject to scaling down.
I:
£100 or The threshold value applicable under rule 3(d).
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2.
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WILL THE METHOD IN RULE 3.1(D) ACHIEVE SCALING DOWN?
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First calculate B, C and D.
Note that, by definition, C must be greater than B if scaling down is required.
If D is greater than B, the method in rule 3(d) will not suffice to achieve scaling down.
If D is less than or equal to B, the method in rule 3(d) will suffice to achieve scaling down.
In the unlikely event that D is equal to B, there will be no need to calculate individual amended contributions for those who applied to contribute more than I per month. Their monthly contributions can simply be set at I.
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Table of Contents
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3.
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HOW TO SCALE DOWN EACH RELEVANT APPLICATION
|
|
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3.1
|
For each application which is to be scaled down, after scaling down, the Repayment will be given by:
|
(I x G) + X
where X = F x (H − (I x G))/(C − D).
X should be calculated for each application which is to be scaled down.
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3.2
|
Each relevant applicant’s scaled down monthly contribution will then be given by:
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I + (X/G).
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Table of Contents
SCHEDULE 2
SCALING DOWN APPLICATIONS
USING THE METHOD IN RULE 3.1(G)
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1.
|
INTERPRETATION OF SCHEDULE 2
|
The definitions in this paragraph apply in this Schedule 2:
A:
the maximum number of Shares that can be placed under Option. This is the limit determined under rule 2.4(d).
EP:
the Exercise Price for Options granted as a result of the applications which are to be scaled down.
B:
the maximum payable in total under Options granted as a result of the applications, which equals the total Repayments following scaling down, and is given by:
A x EP.
C:
the total of the Repayments under all Savings Arrangements applied for, without scaling down.
D:
The minimum specified under rule 2.4(c).
E:
the total of the Repayments under all Savings Arrangements applied for if those applications specifying monthly contributions greater than D were adjusted to specify monthly contributions of D.
F:
the total of the Repayments under all Savings Arrangements applied for, where the applications specify monthly contributions of D.
G:
the total of scaled down Repayments arising from monthly contributions in excess of D which is available to be shared pro rata among the applicants to be scaled down, and is given by:
B − E
H:
the multiple of monthly contributions making up the Repayment for a particular applicant, which is given by:
in the case of a three year Option application, 36 plus the applicable three year bonus multiple (if Repayments are taken to include bonuses);
in the case of a five year Option application, 60 plus the applicable five year bonus multiple (if Repayments are taken to include bonuses);
in the case of a seven year Option application, 60 plus the applicable seven year bonus multiple (if Repayments are taken to include bonuses); and
in the case of an Option with any other period that might be available under a future HM Treasury specification for Savings Arrangements, the number of monthly contributions due under the relevant Savings Arrangement plus the applicable bonus multiple (if Repayments are taken to include bonuses).
I:
the Repayment for a particular applicant if his application were not subject to scaling down.
|
|
2.
|
WILL THE METHOD IN RULE 3.1(G) ACHIEVE SCALING DOWN?
|
First calculate B, C and E.
Note that, by definition, C must be greater than B if scaling down is required.
If E is greater than B, the method in rule 3(g) will not suffice to achieve scaling down.
If E is less than or equal to B, the method in rule 3(g) will suffice to achieve scaling down.
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Table of Contents
In the unlikely event that E is equal to B, there will be no need to calculate individual amended contributions for those who applied to contribute more than D per month. Their contributions can simply be set at D.
|
|
3.
|
HOW TO SCALE DOWN EACH RELEVANT APPLICATION
|
|
|
3.1
|
For each application which is to be scaled down, after scaling down, the Repayment will be given by:
|
(D x H) + X
where X = G x (I − (D x H))/(C − E).
X should be calculated for each application which is to be scaled down.
|
|
3.2
|
Each relevant applicant’s scaled down monthly contribution will then be given by:
|
D + (X/H).
28