cred14,6
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
OR
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from __________________ to ____________________
OR
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SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Date of event requiring this shell company report _________
Commission file number: 001-40634
Gambling.com Group Limited
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Jersey
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Gambling.com Group Limited
22 Grenville Street, St. Helier, Channel Island of Jersey JE4 8PX
(Address of principal executive offices)
Charles Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer
+44 1534 676 000
Gambling.com Group Limited
22 Grenville Street, St. Helier, Channel Island of Jersey JE4 8PX
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act
Title of each class |
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Trading Symbol(s) |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
Ordinary shares, no par value |
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GAMB |
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Nasdaq Global Market |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital stock or common stock as of the close of business covered by the annual report:
33,806,422 ordinary shares at December 31, 2021
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☐ No ☒
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☒ Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP ☐ |
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International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ☒ |
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Other ☐ |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
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PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS |
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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSEPCTIONS |
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PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
Financial Statements
We report under International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or the IASB, and as adopted by the European Union, or the EU. None of our financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.
We maintain our books and records in Euros, the functional currency of the Company and its primary subsidiary. The reporting currency for our financial statements is United States dollars (U.S. dollars). Unless otherwise noted, the financial information presented herein as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is stated in U.S. dollars, our reporting currency. All dollar amounts in this annual report are in thousands of U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. All references herein to “our financial statements,” “our audited consolidated financial information,” and “our audited consolidated financial statements,” are to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
This financial information should be read in conjunction with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results” and our consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this annual report.
Our fiscal year ends on December 31. References in this annual report to a fiscal year, such as “fiscal year 2021,” relate to our fiscal year ended on December 31 of that calendar year.
Financial Information in U.S. Dollars
The Company and its primary subsidiaries functional currency is Euro. The USD has been selected as the reporting currency to ensure comparability with the financial reports of similar entities. You should not construe these translations as representations by us that the amounts actually represent these U.S. dollar amounts or could be converted into U.S. dollars at the rates indicated. See “Note 2—Foreign Currency Translation” to our consolidated financial statements for rates utilized to translate Euro amounts into the reporting currency of U.S. dollars.
Special Note Regarding Non-IFRS Financial Measures
Management uses several financial measures, both IFRS and non-IFRS financial measures in analyzing and assessing the overall performance of the business and for making operational decisions. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results – Non-IFRS Financial Measures.”
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure defined as earnings excluding finance costs, tax, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted to exclude the effect of non-recurring items, significant non-cash items, share-based payment expense and other items that our board of directors believe do not reflect the underlying performance of the business. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is a non-IFRS measure defined as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.
We believe EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are useful to our management as a measure of comparative operating performance from period to period as it removes the effect of items not directly resulting from our core operations including effects that are generated by differences in capital structure, depreciation, tax effects and non-recurring events. While we use EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as tools to enhance our understanding of certain aspects of our financial performance, we do not believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are substitutes for, or superior to, the information provided by IFRS results. As such, the presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure prepared in accordance with IFRS. The primary limitations associated with the use of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as compared to IFRS results are that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as we define them may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in our industry and that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin may exclude financial information that some investors may consider important in evaluating our performance.
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Free Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow is a non-IFRS financial measure defined as cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures, or CAPEX.
We believe Free Cash Flow is useful to our management as a measure of financial performance as it measures our ability to generate additional cash from our operations. While we use Free Cash Flow as a tool to enhance our understanding of certain aspects of our financial performance, we do not believe that Free Cash Flow is a substitute for, or superior to, the information provided by IFRS metrics. As such, the presentation of Free Cash Flow is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Constant Currency
Some of our financial and operational data that we disclose in this annual report is presented on a "constant currency" basis to isolate the effect of currency changes during the period. Where we refer to a measure being calculated in ‘constant currency,’ we are calculating the dollar change and the percentage change as if the exchange rate that is being used in the current period was in effect for all prior periods presented. We believe that this calculation provides a more meaningful indication of actual period over period performance and eliminates any fluctuations from currency exchange rates.
Rounding
We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this annual report. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that preceded them.
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SELECTED DEFINITIONS
Throughout this annual report, we use a number of industry-specific terms and key performance indicators used by management. These industry-specific terms and key performance indicators are described throughout this annual report and are discussed in more detail in the section entitled “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results.” We define these terms as follows:
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, plans and objectives. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” “predict,” “potential,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “ongoing,” “future” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, such matters as:
The preceding list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. These statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, you should consider the risks provided under “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors” in this annual report.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this annual report, to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.
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PART I
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this annual report, including the sections titled “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, before making a decision to invest in our ordinary shares. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects could also be harmed by risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently do not believe are material. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be adversely affected. In that event, the market price of our ordinary shares could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.
Summary Risk Factors
The following is a summary of some of the principal risks we face:
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Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
We rely on traffic to our websites to grow revenue. Our business could be negatively affected by changes in search engine algorithms and dynamics.
We rely heavily on Internet search engines, such as Google, through their unpaid search results, to generate a significant portion of the traffic to our website. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the vast majority of the traffic to our websites came through unpaid channels, including SEO.
SEO is the process of optimizing websites to make them more appealing to search engines so that they rank favorably in the search engines’ results pages for certain queries. Although we believe that Google and other search engines are increasingly adept at identifying the truly high-quality content that deserves prominence, the factors affecting the appearance and rankings of search results are determined by search engines and are therefore not
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under our direct control. For example, search engines change their algorithms periodically, which could cause our websites to appear lower or not at all in the search engines’ results pages. In the future, search engines may change the search results pages to promote search engines’ own products or services. In addition, search engines may favor paid searches over natural searches. As a result, our competitors’ pay-per-click advertising could receive higher prominence than our own websites. Our websites have experienced fluctuations in search rankings in the past. While the amount of natural search traffic from Google across our entire portfolio consistently varies based on a variety of factors related to both search rankings and consumer demand, the amount of natural search traffic can shift up or down more significantly when Google implements a core update to their search algorithm. Such updates can lead to larger than normal changes in Google search engine rankings which in turn effect traffic, although some updates have no impact on certain sites. We have consistently seen increases in our natural search traffic between core algorithm updates. When updates are negative, we tend to continue to grow after the update is fully rolled out. When updates are positive, we tend to plateau for a short period after the update. In November 2021, Google launched a core algorithm update whereby gambling.com saw traffic reduction of 5% compared to the immediately prior month. Much of the change was due to impact on a small number of high traffic volume pages and by December, the impacted page cohort improved its search rankings, recovering most of this lost traffic. December 2021 saw an additional Google algorithm update which was positive for Gamling.com, with December 2021 search 10% higher than October 2021 based on search rankings.
If our websites are listed less prominently or fail to appear in search results for any reason, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
Our industry continues to evolve, which makes it difficult to evaluate our current business and future prospects.
We launched operations in 2006 and have since frequently expanded our business. Our evolving business makes it difficult to forecast our future results of operations. Our historical revenue growth should not be considered indicative of our future performance. These risks and challenges include our ability to:
If we fail to address the risks and difficulties that we face, including those associated with the challenges listed above as well as those described elsewhere in section “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors,” our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. Further, because we operate in a rapidly evolving market, any predictions about our future revenue and expenses may not be as accurate as they would be if we had operated in a more predictable market. We have encountered in the past, and will encounter in the future, risks and uncertainties frequently experienced by growing companies in rapidly changing industries. If our assumptions regarding these risks and uncertainties, which we use to plan and operate our business, are incorrect or change, or if we do not address these risks successfully, our results of operations could differ materially from our expectations and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We derive a significant portion of our revenue from our top ten customers. The loss of any of these customers could materially negatively impact our results.
Historically, we have derived a significant portion of our revenue from a limited number of customers. For the year ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, our top ten customers accounted for 52%, 55%, and 56% of our revenue, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021, our two largest customers accounted for 13% and 10% of our revenue. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, our largest customer accounted for 20% and 21% of our revenue, respectively. These top customers contributed more revenue than the other customers because they were able to convert online gamblers into NDCs at a higher rate.
We cannot guarantee that these top customers will always choose to use our service. In the event we lose a top customer, although we are able to direct online gamblers (i.e., traffic) to our other existing customers, those
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customers might not be able to convert online gamblers into NDCs as frequently as a top customer. If we are unable to maintain and renew our relationship with our largest customers, then our business would be materially adversely affected.
We do not have long-term commitments from our customers, and we may not be able to retain customers or attract new customers that provide us with revenue that is comparable to the revenue generated by any customers we may lose.
Most of our customers do business with us by placing orders for particular digital marketing services or entering into revenue share arrangements. If we perform well with respect to particular services, then the customer may place new orders with us for additional services or enter into new revenue share arrangements. We rarely have any commitment from a customer beyond the services contemplated in the order or revenue share arrangement and, even then, customers can typically terminate at any time. As a result, our success is dependent upon our ability to outperform our competitors and win repeat business from existing customers, while continually expanding the number of customers for whom we provide services. In addition, it is relatively easy for customers to seek alternative online gambling affiliates for their digital marketing services because there are no significant switching costs. Because we generally do not have long-term contracts, it may be difficult for us to accurately predict future revenue streams. We cannot provide assurance that our current customers will continue to use our services or that we will be able to replace departing customers with new customers that provide us with comparable revenue.
A large portion of our revenue depends on our customers’ calculated revenue and cost base. Our customers’ calculations could vary or be subject to miscalculations or deliberate misrepresentation.
Many of our customer agreements are based on a revenue share model whereby we receive a portion of the online gambling operator’s NGR, generated by the referred players, typically for the entire consumer lifetime of the referred player. For the financial year ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, revenue share agreements accounted for 8%,12% and 20% of our revenue, respectively, and hybrid agreements (including a combination of revenue share and CPA model) accounted for 37%, 53% and 57% of our revenue, respectively.
Under revenue share agreements, net revenues are calculated as the gross gaming revenue, or the GGR, for a user, adjusted for direct costs—such as transaction fees, bonuses, and taxation. Online gambling operators’ directs cost may increase due to various factors, including increased taxation caused by new tax regulations. Some online gambling operators introduce arbitrary administration or other fees into the calculation to further reduce NGR.
Revenue share commissions are typically calculated on the basis of all of the referred players across a given online gambling affiliate account. Depending on our customer, we may maintain anywhere from one to ten or more online gambling affiliate accounts with each customer depending on the number of markets and websites where we work together. Referred players in an online gambling affiliate account are typically pooled when calculating commissions. As a result, a large winning referred player can zero-out the commission that would be payable on the other referred players within an online gambling affiliate account in any given month.
In addition, after we have directed an online gambler to an online gambling operator, we cannot directly track the online gambler’s activities in the online gambling operator’s system. We, therefore, rely on the net revenue calculations by the online gambling operator to determine our entitled payment. Consequently, there is a risk of miscalculation and misrepresentation, whether due to error, negligence or fraud. If such miscalculations occur undetected, subsequently remedied or retroactively adjusted, we could receive a lower fee than we are entitled to under our agreements, which in turn could result in lost revenue and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The estimates of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth included in this annual report may prove to be inaccurate. Even if the market in which we compete achieves the forecasted growth, our business could fail to grow at similar rates, if at all.
Market opportunity estimates and growth forecasts included in this annual report are subject to significant uncertainty and are based on assumptions and estimates that may not prove to be accurate. Not every online gambling operator covered by our market opportunity estimates will necessarily purchase our solutions at all, and some or many of those online gambling operators may choose to use the solutions offered by our competitors. It is impossible to build every product feature that every customer wants, and our competitors may develop and offer features that our platform does not provide. The variables that go into the calculation of our market opportunity are subject to change over time, and there is no guarantee that any particular number or percentage of the online gambling operators covered by our market opportunity estimates will purchase our solutions at all or generate any particular level of revenue for us. Even if the market in which we compete meets the size estimates and growth forecasts in this annual report, our business could fail to grow for a variety of reasons outside of our control, including
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competition in our industry or changing regulation. If any of these risks materialize, it could harm our business and prospects.
We depend on key personnel to operate our business. An inability to retain, attract, and integrate qualified personnel would harm our ability to develop and successfully grow our business.
Our success and growth strategy depend on our ability to attract and retain key management and operating personnel, including skilled developers, marketing personnel, project managers, product managers and content editors. Our future success depends on our continuing ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain highly qualified and skilled employees. Qualified individuals are in high demand, and we may incur significant costs to attract and retain them. Experienced developers and marketing personnel, who are critical to the success of our business, are also in particularly high demand. Competition for their talents is intense and retaining such individuals can be difficult.
The future success of our business is highly dependent on the services and decisions of our management team, including Charles Gillespie, our Chief Executive Officer and Kevin McCrystle, our Chief Operating Officer. The loss of one or more of our executive officers or key employees could materially adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan and strategy, and we may not be able to find adequate replacements on a timely basis, or at all. Messrs. Gillespie and McCrystle are at-will employees, which means they may terminate their employment relationships with us at any time, and their knowledge of our business and industry would be extremely difficult to replace. We cannot ensure that we will be able to retain the services of any members of our senior management or other key employees. If we do not succeed in attracting well-qualified employees or retaining and motivating existing employees, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
Our ability to increase our revenue depends on our ability to introduce successful new products and services. Our ongoing investments in developing products and services involve significant risks which could disrupt our current operations and may not produce the long-term benefits that we expect.
We compete in rapidly evolving and highly competitive markets, and we expect competition to intensify further in the future with the emergence of new technologies and new market entrants. We face competition from new and established local and international players in the online marketing industry, traditional marketing providers such as TV, printed publications and radio, and online gambling operators who conduct extensive marketing activities of their own.
Our competitors may enjoy competitive advantages, such as greater name recognition, longer operating histories, substantially greater market share, large existing user bases, and substantially greater financial, technical, and other resources. These companies may use these advantages to offer services similar to ours at a lower price and respond more effectively than we do to new opportunities and customer demands.
To attract new visitors, we must offer and develop new features on a continuous basis and perform regular system updates. As a result, we have invested, and expect to continue to invest, significant resources in developing products and services to drive traffic to our platform and engage our customers. For example, we have made considerable investments in our technology platform, including the Adge Business Intelligence Software, the Origins Publishing Platform, the Genesis content management system, the Elements advertiser management system, and the Adge business intelligence system. Our product development efforts may include significant changes to our existing products or new products that are unproven. Such investments may not prioritize short-term financial results and may involve significant risks and uncertainties, including distracting management and disrupting our current operations. We cannot assure you that any resulting new or enhanced products and services will engage online gamblers and online gambling operators. We may fail to generate sufficient revenue, operating margin or other value to justify our investments in such products, thereby harming our ability to generate and increase revenue.
An actual, alleged, or perceived security incident, inadvertent disclosure or breach of sensitive information, including confidential and personal information, we process, or of the security of our or our customers’, vendors’, or partners’ networks and systems could be detrimental to our business, reputation, financial information and results of operations.
Advances in technology, discoveries of new weaknesses and other developments with software generally used by the Internet community may increase the risk that we will suffer a security incident. As part of our business, we process certain personal, confidential and sensitive information. We may in the future fail to detect or prevent security incidents, inadvertent disclosure or breach of sensitive information, including from malware, ransomware, viruses, worms or similar threats for any number of reasons, such as our failure to enhance and expand our platform to reflect industry trends, new technologies and new operating environments, the complexity of the environment, network or systems of our clients, vendors, or partners. We, our customers, vendors or partners may experience
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such incidents due to data being misappropriated by a malicious insider or unauthorized party, such as employee error, rogue employee activity, or other unlawful or unauthorized acts, which if successful, may result in either threatened or actual exposure leading to unauthorized access, disclosure and misuse of sensitive information or other information regarding customers, vendors, partners, employees, or our company and business, and our technologies, systems and networks have been subject to attempted cyberattacks. If we experience any such incidents, we may incur significant costs in protecting against or remediating such incidents, which include investing in resources to address these incidents. We may not be able to remedy any incidents or incidental problems in a timely manner, or at all. To the extent potential customers, industry stakeholders or other third parties believe that the failure to detect or prevent any particular threat is a flaw or indicates that our platform is not secure our reputation and business would be harmed. Any real or perceived defects, errors or vulnerabilities in our platform or business, or any other failure of our platform to detect an incident, could result in:
We were the target of a cybersecurity attack that impacted a portion of our information technology systems.
In September 2020, we experienced a security incident, where unauthorized access to a cloud computing account occurred during which new cloud computing servers were deployed, which we believe was in an attempt to mine Bitcoin. We quickly detected and stopped the unauthorized access and secured our systems by changing all passwords. We subsequently hired a third-party security firm that conducted an external security audit which identified a number of remediation points to further tighten security, all of which were resolved by the end of the reporting period. This incident did not cause any material disruptions of our business and operations and had no material impact on the financial condition or results of operations of the business.
We may incur losses associated with claims by third parties, as well as fines, penalties and other sanctions imposed by regulators relating to or arising from the incident, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations in future periods. While we have implemented remediation points identified by our third party security firm to address the constantly evolving threat landscape, we cannot provide assurance that our security frameworks and measures will be successful in preventing future cyberattacks. Further, the incident may have a negative impact on our reputation and cause customers, suppliers and other third parties with whom we maintain relationships to lose confidence in us. We are unable to definitively determine the impact to these relationships and whether we will need to engage in any activities to rebuild them. If customers lose confidence in us and we fail to rebuild these relationships, our business, financial condition, and results of operations would be materially negatively impacted.
Systems failures and resulting interruptions in the availability of our websites, apps, or platforms could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
It is critical to our success that online gamblers can access our platform at all times. Our systems may experience service interruptions or degradation or other performance problems because of peak usage times, hardware and software defects or malfunctions, distributed denial-of-service and other cyberattacks, infrastructure changes, human error, natural disasters, power losses, disruptions in telecommunications services, fraud, military or political conflicts, terrorist attacks, computer viruses, ransomware, malware, or other events. Our systems also may be subject to break-ins and other intentional acts of vandalism, including by our own employees, independent contractors or other insiders. Some of our systems are not fully redundant and our disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient for all eventualities.
We may experience system failures and other events or conditions from time to time that could interrupt the availability, reduce or affect the speed or functionality of our platform. These system failures generally occur either as a result of software updates being deployed with unexpected errors or as a result of temporary infrastructure failures related to storage, network, or compute capacity being exhausted. These events have resulted in losses in
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revenue, though such losses have not been material to date. System failures in the future could result in significant losses of revenue. Further, in some instances, we may not be able to identify the cause or causes of these performance problems within an appropriate period of time. A prolonged interruption in the availability or reduction in the availability, speed, or other functionality of our platform could adversely affect our business and reputation and could result in the loss of users.
The implementation of a new accounting system could interfere with our business and operations.
We implemented a new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system in fiscal 2022. The ERP implementation encompasses accounting and reporting activities. The implementation of new systems and enhancements may be disruptive to our business and can be time consuming and divert management’s attention. Any disruptions relating to our systems or any problems with the implementation, particularly any disruptions impacting our operations or our ability to accurately report our financial performance on a timely basis, could materially and adversely affect our business and operations.
We have acquired, and may continue to acquire, other companies or technologies, which could divert management’s attention and otherwise disrupt our operations and harm our operating results, whether or not the acquisition is consummated. We may fail to acquire companies whose market power or technology could be important to the future success of our business.
As part of our business strategy, we have previously acquired businesses and will continue to consider potential strategic transactions that we believe could complement or expand our geographic presence, enhance our technical capabilities, or otherwise offer growth opportunities. For example, in February 2017, we acquired SvenskaCasino.se, Lyckospel.se, CasinoMobilt.se and AndroidSlots.co.uk. In 2018, we acquired a mobile performance-marketing network and Bookies.com, Bookmakers.co.uk, and FootballScores.com and their associated assets, along with 500 additional undeveloped domain names. Between January 1, 2022 and the date of this annual report, we acquired Roto Sports, Inc. (“Roto Sports”), owner and operator of RotoWire.com, a provider of expert fantasy sports news and advicegrowth, NDC Media, operator of BonusFinder.com, a leading gambling bonus comparison site, USBettingReport.com, scores.com, and domain portfolios consisting of more than 100 domains intended for targeting North American markets.
The acquisition of a company or business is accompanied by a number of risks, including:
Pursuit of future potential acquisitions may divert the attention of management and cause us to incur various expenses in identifying, investigating, and pursuing suitable acquisitions, whether or not they are consummated.
The acquisition of new businesses is costly and such acquisitions may not enhance our financial condition.
Part of our growth strategy is to acquire companies and identify and acquire assets and technologies from companies that complement our business. The process to undertake a potential acquisition is time-consuming and costly. We expend significant resources to undertake business, financial, and legal due diligence on our potential acquisition target and there is no guarantee that we will acquire the company after completing due diligence.
Our acquisitions could result in the use of substantial amounts of cash, potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities or convertible debt securities, significant amortization expenses related to goodwill, and other intangible assets and exposure to undisclosed or potential liabilities of the acquired companies. To the extent that the goodwill arising from the acquisitions carried on the financial statements do not pass the annual goodwill impairment test, excess goodwill will be charged to, and reduce, future earnings.
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We may not be able to effectively integrate previously acquired businesses, which could materially adversely affect our growth.
We may be unsuccessful in integrating our acquired businesses or any additional business we may acquire in the future, and we may fail to acquire companies whose market power or technology could be important to the future success of our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We also may not achieve the anticipated benefits from any acquired business due to a number of factors, including:
If we fail to address the foregoing risks or other problems encountered in connection with past or future acquisitions of businesses, or if we fail to successfully integrate such acquisitions or investments, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, acquisitions also could result in dilutive issuances of equity securities or the incurrence of debt, which could adversely affect our operating results.
If we fail to manage our rapid growth effectively, our brand, business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Since our founding in 2006, we have experienced rapid growth in the number of customers, the number of websites we own, our geographic reach, and our operations. We expect to continue to experience growth in the future. This growth has imposed, and may continue to impose, significant responsibilities on our management, including the need to identify, recruit and integrate additional employees with relevant expertise, expand the scope of our current technological platform and invest in improved controls over technology, financial reporting and information disclosure. If we fail to manage the growth of our business and operations effectively, the quality of our service and the efficiency of our operations could suffer, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In addition, our rapid growth may make it difficult to evaluate our future performance. Our ability to forecast our future results of operations is subject to a number of uncertainties, including our ability to model future growth. If we fail to achieve the necessary level of efficiency in our company as it grows, or if we are not able to accurately forecast future growth, our business would be negatively impacted.
We rely on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store to offer and promote our apps. If such platform providers change their terms and conditions to our detriment, our business will suffer.
We offer a number of apps through the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. We are subject to the policies and terms of service of these third-party platforms. Each platform provider has broad discretion to change and interpret its terms of service and other policies with respect to us and other developers, and those changes may be unfavorable to us. A platform provider may also add fees associated with access to and use of its platform, alter how we advertise on the platform, or limit the use of personal information for advertising purposes. Any limit or discontinuation of our access to any platform could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The impact of economic conditions, including the resulting effect on consumer spending, may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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Our performance is subject to economic conditions and their impact on the levels of consumer spending. Demand for entertainment and leisure activities, including online gambling, may decline if discretionary consumer spending declines, including during economic downturns, when consumers generally earn less disposable income. Changes in discretionary consumer spending or consumer preferences are driven by factors beyond our control, such as:
During periods of economic contraction, our revenues may decrease while most of our costs remain fixed and some costs may even increase, resulting in decreased earnings.
Consolidation among the online gambling operators may reduce demand for our products and profitability.
Much of the demand for our products derives from the desire of online gamblers to switch between different online gambling websites. The revenues of an online gambling website from a particular online gambler are usually highest in the first month after that online gambler signs up to the website. Therefore, online gamblers switching between platforms are likely to bring higher revenues to us. A consolidation of the online gambling sector could significantly reduce the ability and desire of online gamblers to switch between platforms, thereby potentially reducing our expected revenues. Furthermore, consolidation among online gambling operators may reduce competition for use of our product and therefore reduce our pricing power in the marketplace. Any significant move towards consolidation within the online gambling industry could therefore have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Negative events or negative media coverage relating to online gambling may adversely impact our ability to retain or attract online gamblers, which could have an adverse impact on our business.
The online gambling industry is subject to negative publicity relating to perceptions of underage gambling, exploitation of vulnerable customers, and the historic link between the gambling industry to criminal activities. As a service provider to the online gambling industry, our reputation can be negatively affected and, accordingly, significantly influence our business. In addition, a negative shift in the perception of online gambling by the public or by policymakers, lobbyists or others could affect future legislation of online gambling, which could cause jurisdictions to abandon proposals to legalize online gambling, thereby limiting the number of jurisdictions in which we can operate. Furthermore, illegal betting activity could result in negative publicity for our industry and could harm our brand reputation. Negative public perception could also lead to new restrictions on or to the prohibition of online gambling in jurisdictions in which we currently operate. Such negative publicity could also reduce could diminish confidence in, and the use of, our platform and result in decreased revenue or slower customer growth rates, which could seriously harm our business.
We and our customers may have difficulty accessing the services of certain banks or financial systems and our business could be materially adversely affected.
Although financial institutions are permitted to provide services to us and others in the online gambling industry, certain banks may be hesitant to offer services to us because we operate and are service providers for iGaming and sports betting businesses in certain jurisdictions. Consequently, we may encounter difficulties in establishing and maintaining banking relationships in certain jurisdictions with a full scope of services and generating market rate interest. If we were unable to maintain these bank accounts, it may make it difficult for us to operate our business, increase our operating costs, and pose additional operational, logistical and security challenges which could materially adversely impact our business. Similarly, some customers may be unable to access the services of banks or the financial system, whether due to banks’ concerns with respect to providing services to the iGaming and sports betting businesses in general or changes of laws and regulations that might limit our customers’ ability to access the financial system. For example, the Financial Action Task Force recently subjected Malta to increased monitoring, where revenue generated amounted to 11% and 14% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. If some of our customers were unable to access the service of banks or the financial system, we would not be able to collect payment due from such customers in time or at all, which could materially adversely impact our business and financial performance.
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Risks Related to Government Regulation
The online gambling industry is heavily regulated. Changes to the regulatory framework in the jurisdictions in which we operate could restrict our ability to advertise or harm our customers’ business, which could in turn negatively affect our financial performance.
As an online gambling affiliate, our principal customers are online gambling operators. Any regulatory development that could harm the financial performance or otherwise adversely affect online gambling operators could negatively affect our performance.
The regulatory framework for online gambling is complex and varies across the jurisdictions in which we operate. In some jurisdictions, online gambling regulations are subject to debate and continuous development. For example, the U.K. Gambling Commission has announced it is considering limiting the maximum allowable stake on iGaming games. If implemented, the stake limitations would have a detrimental effect on online gambling operators in the U.K. including reducing player values, which would in turn adversely affect our performance in the U.K. market. The U.K. Gambling Commission announced in February 2021 a range of new restrictions on certain features for online slot games and additionally, introduced a ban on reverse withdrawals for all online gambling and operators, with all such entities to be compliant by October 31, 2021. In addition, in July 2020, the Swedish government introduced iGaming restrictions in an effort to combat problem gambling amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including a maximum weekly deposit and bonus offers for iGaming players until December 31, 2020, and then extended to November 14, 2021. These restrictions were removed on November 14, 2021 but Spelinspektionen, the Swedish gaming regulator, was directed to evaluate the impact of the measures and consider new regulations to better protect customers. We believe if any equivalent limitations were introduced on a permanent basis, this would reduce player values in the Swedish regulated industry to whom we provide service, and therefore possibly negatively affecting our business in Sweden during the restrictive period. Furthermore, in June 2020, the U.K. All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Related Harm recommended that the U.K. government ban all forms of gambling advertising. If such ban is implemented and our business would fall within the definition of gambling advertising, our business in the U.K. would be blocked. In June 2021, Canada passed Bill C-218 which allows individual provinces and territories to decide how to regulate single-event sports betting within their jurisdictions. In Ontario, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario released its Standards for Internet Gaming to govern the province’s new online gaming market. The regulations set out certain technical requirements and also included regulations and advertising restrictions. The launch of the province’s new market for online gambling and sports bets was delayed from the fourth quarter 2021 to April 4, 2022. As Ontario’s new market has not yet launched and most other provinces in Canada have not yet determined their approach to this regulation, we cannot yet predict the impact of this regulation on our business in Canada. The Netherlands’ commercial online gambling market launched on October 2, 2021 with a limited number of operators having been awarded a license to offer games of chance via the internet and it is too early at this stage to predict the impact of this newly regulated market on our business. On October 21, 2021, the Irish government introduced the General Scheme of Gambling Regulation Bill which is the start of the process to modernize gambling regulation in Ireland, including the proposed establishment of a gambling regulator. It is expected that legislation to implement these new gaming regulations in Ireland will be published in 2022. Given that this is the initial stage of the implementation of a new regulatory regime it is difficult to predict at this stage what impact this may have on our business. On July 1, 2021, Germany’s new Interstate Treaty on Gambling, or ISTG 2021, came into effect. ISTG 2021 implemented certain new advertising rules that have had a negative effect on our business in Germany. As the new rules are still being interpreted and the German federal and state regulatory authorities are still only at an early implementation stage, we cannot yet predict the long term impact on our business. In the event these rules continue to limit our marketing activities in that jurisdiction, then our business might be negatively affected in Germany. We cannot predict whether, in the future, similar regulations will be implemented in a market where we operate or the impact of these regulations on our business. In addition, online gambling operators and their B2B providers, such as online gambling operator affiliates (directly and/or directly by way of their commercial relationship with online gambling operators), are currently subject to significant taxes and fees in addition to normal corporate income taxes, and such taxes and fees are subject to increase at any time. Tax authorities may interpret laws originally enacted for mature industries and apply it to newer industries, such as online gambling. From time to time, various legislators and other government officials have proposed and adopted changes in tax laws, or in the administration or interpretation of such laws, affecting the gambling industry. In addition, any worsening of economic conditions and the large number of jurisdictions with significant current or projected budget deficits, many of which have been made worse due to COVID-19, could intensify the efforts of governments to raise revenues through increases in gambling taxes and/or other taxes. It is not possible to determine with certainty the likelihood of changes in tax laws or in the administration or interpretation or enforcement of such laws.
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As the legal framework for the online gambling industry is constantly developing, we are unable to predict whether or when additional restrictions will be applied to online gambling operators in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Any development such as the above-mentioned could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
Our failure to obtain or maintain applicable licenses or approvals, or otherwise comply with applicable requirements, could adversely affect our business and our operations.
As an online gambling affiliate, we may be required to obtain licenses or approvals to operate in most but not all jurisdictions in the U.S. where we conduct business. As of December 31, 2021, we have obtained licenses or approvals to operate from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia, Arizona, and Michigan. We are not required to obtain licenses or approvals in Iowa or Wyoming where we conduct business. In January 2022, we commenced operations in Louisiana and New York. In February 2022, we were approved to operate in Maryland, which market is expected to open sometime in 2022. Some of these approvals are subject to renewal, a potentially time-consuming process. Our delay or failure to renew licenses or approvals in any jurisdiction may prevent us from distributing our product offerings, increasing our customer base and/or generating revenues.
Currently, we are not required to obtain licenses or approvals to conduct business in the jurisdictions outside the U.S. However, the laws and regulations relating to online gambling are constantly evolving. We cannot predict if or when laws and regulations in these jurisdictions will be changed and to what degree such changes will have an impact on online gambling affiliates. Any regulatory development that would restrict or prevent us from conducting our business activities in any given territory could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
We expect to continue to expand our operations to additional U.S. states and to expand our international operations. Any new markets or countries that we attempt to enter may not be receptive. For example, we may not be able to expand further in some markets if we are unable to obtain applicable licenses or approvals. If we are unable to effectively develop and operate within these new markets, or if our competitors are able to successfully penetrate geographic markets that we cannot access or where we face other restrictions, then our business, operating results and financial condition could be impaired.
We may be subject to legislation that limits or restricts the marketing of online gambling services and we could fail to comply with such legislation.
As service providers to online gambling operators, online gambling affiliates are generally not subject to the same laws and regulations governing online gambling operators. However, in many jurisdictions, we are obligated to comply with the regulations and standards around advertising in general. For example, the Advertising Standards Authority in the U.K. prescribes certain standards for online and affiliate marketing in general as well as specific policies around gambling. In the U.S., the American Gaming Association, or the AGA, has produced a Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering which its members have pledged to follow. We are not a member of the AGA currently but should we join in the future, we would be required to comply with their marketing codes. The Irish Labour Party introduced in February 2021 the Gambling (Prohibition of Advertising) Bill 2021, which in its current form, could prohibit online gambling affiliates from providing digital marketing services. While this legislation has not yet been progressed through the relevant legislative stages for it to become law, if such law were to pass, our business in Ireland will be blocked. As the General Scheme of Gambling Regulation Bill has been introduced in the interim, it is more probable the legislation resulting from it will supersede the Gambling (Prohibition of Advertising) Bill 2021. However as matters stand, the Gambling (Prohibition of Advertising) Bill 2021 remains an active legislative bill and its potential impact requires continued monitoring. In addition, we are subject to general marketing legislation in all jurisdictions that we operate. In the future, we may be subject to additional regulatory requirements aimed at the promotion of online gambling services, for example if we enter new geographical markets or if regulations are expanded to include our operations. Regulatory compliance is costly and time-consuming. We have dedicated significant time and financial resources to monitor our regulatory compliance and will continue to in the future. However, as we operate more than 30 websites in 13 jurisdictions and continue to grow our business globally, we, from time to time, may fail to maintain all websites fully compliant with marketing laws and regulations. This could result in penalties or other sanctions from relevant authorities, lead to increased costs or otherwise have a negative impact on our operations.
We are subject to governmental regulation and other legal obligations related to privacy, data protection and information security. If we are unable to comply with these, we may be subject to governmental enforcement actions, litigation, fines and penalties or adverse publicity.
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We collect and process personal data about operators who are our customers as part of our "know your customer" (or kyc) procedures. We also collect and process minimal personal data about referred players, NDCs, and other individuals when they create user accounts on our websites or register for our newsletters. We further collect and process personal data about individuals who participate in our American Gambling Awards (e.g., nominees, winners) and generally when we perform our administrative functions (e.g., information about employees and job applicants) for various business purposes, including marketing and promotional purposes. The collection, use and processing of such information about individuals are governed by data privacy laws and regulations enacted in the E.U., U.K., U.S. (federal and state), and other jurisdictions around the world, including U.S. marketing laws such as The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And Marketing Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act. These data privacy laws and regulations are complex, continue to evolve, and on occasion may be inconsistent between jurisdictions leading to uncertainty in interpreting such laws and it is possible that these laws, regulations and requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our existing information processing practices, and many of these laws are significantly litigated and/or subject to regulatory enforcement.
The implication of this includes that various federal, state, and foreign legislative or regulatory bodies may enact or adopt new or additional laws and regulations concerning data privacy, data retention, data transfer, and data protection. Such laws may continue to restrict or dictate how we collect, maintain, combine and disseminate information and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Most of the jurisdictions in which we operate have established their own data privacy and security legal frameworks. For instance, in the European Economic Area, or the E.E.A., we are subject to the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679, the GDPR, and in the U.K., we are subject to the U.K. data protection regime consisting primarily of the U.K. General Data Protection Regulation, the U.K. GDPR, and the U.K. Data Protection Act 2018, each of which imposes strict requirements on covered processing and provides for robust regulatory enforcement and sanctions for non-compliance. The GDPR and the U.K. GDPR regimes enable competent authorities to issue fines up to the greater of €20 million/£17.5 million, or 4% of global annual turnover. Such penalties are in addition to any civil litigation claims by data controllers, data processors, customers and data subjects. In addition, in July 2020, the Court of Justice of the E.U., or the CJEU, invalidated the E.U.-U.S. Privacy Shield (a mechanism for the transfer of personal data from the E.E.A to U.S.) and also indicated that reliance on standard contractual clauses (another such transfer mechanism) alone may not necessarily be sufficient in all circumstances. We previously relied on our E.U.-U.S Privacy Shield certification and in some cases the Privacy Shield certification(s) of our vendors and partners for the purposes of transferring personal data from the E.E.A. to the U.S. in compliance with the GDPR’s data export conditions. We are monitoring the developments following the CJEU decision as well as implementing the standard contractual clauses and reviewing other mechanisms for transfers from the E.E.A. and the U.K., including to the U.S. We are additionally subject to evolving E.U. and U.K. privacy laws on electronic marketing and cookies. In recent years, European lawmakers and regulators have expressed concern over electronic marketing and the use of nonessential cookies, web beacons and similar technology for online behavioral advertising, or tracking technologies, leading to an effort to replace the current rules on e-marketing (currently set out in the 2002 Privacy & Electronic Communication Directive 2002/58/EC, as amended, or the ePrivacy Directive, and national implementing laws) with a new ePrivacy Regulation. When implemented, the new ePrivacy Regulation is expected to alter rules on tracking technologies and significantly increase fining powers to the same levels as the GDPR.
Some recent developments in the U.S. include the enactment of the Nevada Security and Privacy of Personal Information, or the NSPPI, the California Consumer Privacy Act, or the CCPA, which was recently expanded by the California Privacy Rights Act, or the CPRA, which was passed as a ballot initiative in November 2020 and comes into effect on January 1, 2023. Further, Virginia recently enacted the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, or the VCDPA, another comprehensive state privacy law, that will also be effective January 1, 2023. The CCPA, CPRA, and VCDPA may increase our compliance costs and potential liability, particularly in the event of a data breach, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, including how we use personal information, our financial condition, the results of our operations or prospects.
We have invested, and expect to continue to invest, significant resources to comply with the GDPR and other privacy laws and regulations. Failure to meet any of the requirements of these laws and regulations could result in significant penalties or legal liability, adverse publicity and/or damage to our reputation, which could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The international scope of our operations and our corporate and financing structure may expose us to potentially adverse tax consequences.
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We are subject to taxation in, and to the tax laws and regulations of, multiple jurisdictions due to the international scope of our operations and our corporate and financing structure. We are also subject to intercompany pricing laws including those relating to the flow of funds between our subsidiaries pursuant to, for example, purchase agreements, licensing agreements, or other arrangements. Adverse developments in such laws or regulations, or any change in position regarding the application, administration or interpretation of these laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction or our inability to comply with all applicable requirements of these laws or regulations due to travel restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, the application of withholding tax, social security tax obligations, value added tax, goods and services tax, sales taxes and other non-income taxes is not always clear and we may be subject to tax audits relating to such withholding, social security obligations, or non-income taxes. Further, the tax or labor authorities in any applicable jurisdiction may disagree with the positions we have taken or intend to take regarding the tax treatment or characterization of any of our activities or transactions, including the tax treatment or characterization of our tax residency, indebtedness or the transactions. If any applicable tax authorities successfully challenge the tax treatment or characterization of any of these, it could result in the disallowance of deductions; the imposition of additional or new taxation in certain jurisdictions; the imposition of withholding taxes on internal deemed transfers or in general, capital gains taxes, including on transfers that have been made and/or deemed to have been made in connection with the transactions; or otherwise, the reallocation of income, penalties; or other consequences that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our failure to comply with trade restrictions such as economic sanctions and export controls could negatively impact our reputation and results of operations.
We are subject to trade restrictions, including economic sanctions and export controls, imposed by governments around the world with jurisdiction over our operations, which prohibit or restrict transactions involving certain designated persons and certain designated countries or territories, including Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, and the Crimea Region of Ukraine. Our failure to successfully comply with these laws and regulations may expose us to reputational harm as well as significant sanctions, including criminal fines, imprisonment, civil penalties, disgorgement of profits, injunctions, debarment from government contracts and other remedial measures. Investigations of alleged violations can be expensive and disruptive. We maintain policies and procedures designed to comply with these laws and regulations. As part of our business, we may, from time to time, engage in limited sales and transactions involving certain countries that are targets of economic sanctions, provided that such sales and transactions are authorized pursuant to applicable economic sanctions laws and regulations. However, we cannot predict the nature, scope, or effect of future regulatory requirements, including changes that may affect existing regulatory authorizations, and we cannot predict the manner in which existing laws and regulations may be administered or interpreted.
In addition, any perceived or actual breach of compliance by us with respect to applicable laws, rules, and regulations could have a significant impact on our reputation; could cause us to lose existing customers; prevent us from obtaining new customers; negatively impact investor sentiment about our company; require us to expend significant funds to remedy problems caused by violations and to avert further violations; and expose us to legal risk and potential liability, all of which may have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our failure to comply with the anti-corruption laws of the U.S. and various international jurisdictions could negatively impact our reputation and results of operations.
Doing business on a worldwide basis requires us to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations imposed by governments around the world with jurisdiction over our operations, which includes the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or the U.K. Bribery Act, as well as the laws of each of the countries where we do business. These laws and regulations may restrict our operations, trade practices, investment decisions, and partnering activities. The FCPA and the U.K. Bribery Act prohibit us and our officers, directors, employees, and business partners acting on our behalf, including agents, or representatives, from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing, or providing anything of value, directly or indirectly, to foreign government officials for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The U.K. Bribery Act also prohibits non-governmental commercial bribery, soliciting or accepting bribes, and “facilitation payments,” or small payments to low-level government officials to expedite routine approvals. We also are subject to the jurisdiction of various governments and regulatory agencies around the world, which may bring our personnel and representatives into contact with foreign government officials responsible for evaluating and implementing legislative and regulatory changes relevant to our industry and issuing or renewing permits, licenses or approvals or for enforcing other governmental regulations. In addition, some of the international
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locations in which we operate lack a developed legal system, and some jurisdictions have been perceived to have elevated levels of public corruption. Our global operations expose us to the risk of violating, or being accused of violating, anti-corruption laws and regulations.
Other companies, including some that may compete with us, may not be subject to the prohibitions listed above, and therefore may have a competitive advantage over us. We are in the process of developing policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with applicable anti-corruption laws and regulations. However, there can be no guarantee that our policies and procedures will effectively prevent violations by our officers, directors, employees, and business partners acting on our behalf for which we may be held responsible, and any such violation could adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition, and results of operations. Our failure to successfully comply with these laws and regulations may expose us to reputational harm as well as significant sanctions, including criminal fines, imprisonment, civil penalties, disgorgement of profits, injunctions, and debarment from government contracts, as well as other remedial measures. Responding to any enforcement action or internal investigation related to alleged misconduct may result in a significant diversion of management’s attention and resources and significant defense costs and other professional fees.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
If we fail to protect or enforce our rights in our proprietary technology, brands or other intellectual property, our competitive position and our business could be materially adversely affected.
We primarily rely on a combination of trademark, copyright, and other intellectual property laws and contractual restrictions to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights. However, we cannot be certain that the steps we have taken or will take to protect and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights will be successful. We currently hold rights to the Gambling.com domain name and various other related domain names in multiple jurisdictions. If we lose the ability to use a domain name, whether due to trademark claims, failure to renew the applicable registration, or any other cause, we may be forced to market our solutions under a new domain name, which could cause us substantial harm, or to incur significant expense to purchase rights to the domain name in question. In addition, our competitors could attempt to capitalize on our brand recognition by using domain names similar to ours. We may fail to prevent third parties from acquiring and using domain names that are similar to our brand. Protecting and enforcing our rights in our domain names may require litigation, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of management’s attention, and ultimately may not be successful.
We also have certain registered trademarks that are important to our brand, such as the combined mark, Gambling.com. If we fail to protect or enforce our rights under our trademarks, we may lose the ability to use the trademarks or prevent others from using them, which could adversely harm our reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, we have invested significant resources in developing our Adge Business Intelligence Software, Origins Publishing Platform, Genesis content management system, and Elements advertiser management system. All are essential to our business and ability to compete successfully with other online gambling affiliates. Unauthorized parties may copy aspects of our platform or obtain and use information that we consider proprietary. In addition, unauthorized parties may also attempt, or successfully endeavor, to obtain our intellectual property, confidential information, and trade secrets through various methods, including through cybersecurity attacks, which could adversely affect our business. Our competitors or other third parties may also independently develop similar or competing technology or duplicate our solutions and services, which could harm our competitive position.
We cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will prevent infringement, misappropriation or other violations of our intellectual property rights, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not protect our proprietary rights as fully as they do in the U.S. Further, we may be required to enforce our intellectual property or other proprietary rights through litigation, which, regardless of success, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management’s attention.
We may face potential liability and expense for legal claims alleging that the content on our platform or the operation of our business infringes intellectual property rights of third parties, who may assert claims against us for unauthorized use of such rights.
On our publishing platform, we publish both our own content and content from third parties. We cannot be certain that the published content on our platform and the operation of our business do not, or will not, infringe or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of third parties. Third parties may assert claims against us alleging that we are infringing or otherwise violating their intellectual property rights, including claims for copyright or trademark infringement, or other claims based on the nature and content of the material that we publish or distribute. These claims, whether or not successful, could divert management time and attention away from our business and harm
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our reputation and financial condition. In addition, the outcome of litigation is uncertain, and third parties asserting claims could secure a judgment awarding substantial damages, as well as injunctive or other equitable relief against us, which could require us to rebrand, redesign, or reengineer our platforms or websites, and/or effectively block our ability to distribute or market our products and services.
Our use of “open source” software in our applications could subject our proprietary software to general release, adversely affect our ability to sell our services and subject us to possible litigation, claims or proceedings.
We may use open source software in connection with the development and deployment of our solutions and services, and we expect to continue to use open source software in the future. Companies that use open source software in connection with their products have, from time to time, faced claims challenging the use of open source software and/ or compliance with open source license terms. As a result, we could be subject to suits by parties claiming ownership of what we believe to be open source software or claiming noncompliance with open source licensing terms. Some open source software licenses may require users who distribute software containing or linked to open source software to publicly disclose all or part of the source code to such software and/or make available any derivative works of the open source code to their licensees, which could include proprietary code of the user. In such cases, the open source software license may restrict users from charging fees to licensees for use of their software. While we monitor the use of open source software and try to ensure that none is used in a manner that would subject our proprietary source code to these requirements and restrictions, such use could inadvertently occur, in part because open source license terms are often ambiguous and have generally not been interpreted by U.S. or foreign courts.
Further, in addition to risks related to license requirements, use of certain open source software carries greater technical and legal risks than does the use of third-party commercial software. For example, open source software is generally provided without any support or warranties or other contractual protections regarding infringement or the quality of the code, including the existence of security vulnerabilities. To the extent that our platform depends upon the successful operation of open source software, any undetected errors or defects in open source software that we use could prevent the deployment or impair the functionality of our systems and injure our reputation. In addition, the public availability of such software may make it easier for others to compromise our platform. Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Status as a Non-U.S. Company
The rights of our shareholders may differ from the rights typically offered to shareholders of a U.S. corporation.
We are incorporated under Jersey law. The rights of holders of ordinary shares are governed by Jersey law, including the provisions of the Jersey Companies Law, and by our memorandum and articles of association. These rights differ in certain respects from the rights of shareholders in typical U.S. corporations. See “Item 10B. Additional Information - Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation -Differences in Corporate Law” in our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-257403), as amended, originally filed with the SEC on June 25, 2021 and declared effective by the SEC on July 23, 2021 (the "F-1 Registration Statement"), under the headings “Description of Share Capital” for a description of the principal differences between the provisions of the Jersey Companies Law applicable to us and the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to shareholders’ rights and protections.
It may be difficult to enforce a U.S. judgment against us or our directors and officers outside the U.S., or to assert U.S. securities law claims outside of the U.S.
Several of our directors and executive officers are not residents of the U.S., and the majority of our assets and the assets of these persons are located outside the U.S. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process upon us within the U.S. or other jurisdictions, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the U.S. See “Item 10B. Additional Information - Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation - Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” in the F-1 Registration Statement. Additionally, it may be difficult for you to assert U.S. securities law claims in actions originally instituted outside of the U.S. Foreign courts may refuse to hear a U.S. securities law claim because foreign courts may not be the most appropriate forums to bring such a claim. Even if a foreign court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that the law of the jurisdiction in which the foreign court resides, and not U.S. law, is applicable to the claim. Further, if U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law must be proved as a fact, which can be a time-consuming and costly process and certain matters of procedure would still be governed by the law of the jurisdiction in which the foreign court resides.
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In particular, investors should be aware of the uncertainty as to whether the courts of Jersey would recognize and enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or management predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the U.S. or any state in the U.S. or entertain original actions brought in courts of Jersey against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the U.S. or any states in the U.S. As a result of the difficulty associated with enforcing a judgment against us, you may not be able to collect any damages awarded by either a U.S. or foreign court.
Because most of our material agreements are governed by foreign laws, we may not be able to enforce our rights within a foreign jurisdiction, which could result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital.
Foreign laws govern most of our material agreements. We may fail to enforce the terms of our material agreements and remedies may not be available outside of a foreign jurisdiction. The system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws in such jurisdiction may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the U.S. The judiciaries in certain foreign countries may be relatively inexperienced in enforcing corporate and commercial law, leading to a higher than usual degree of uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation. Our inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our material agreements could result in a significant loss of business and business opportunities.
Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and volatility in global currency markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
While our reporting currency for our consolidated financial statements is the U.S. dollar, a significant part of our revenues is denominated in Euros and GBP and a significant part of our operating expenses are denominated in Euros. Consequently, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may cause our revenues and expenses to fluctuate and may impact our profitability, cash flows and our results generally. These risks related to exchange rate fluctuations and currency volatility may increase in the future as our operations outside the U.S. continue to expand. We have not traditionally used foreign exchange hedging to protect our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, and do not expect to put in place such hedging. Consequently, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Our international operations involve additional risks, and our exposure to these risks will increase as our business continues to expand.
We operate in a number of jurisdictions and intend to continue to expand our global presence. To date, we have focused our efforts on the EU. International operations are subject to the legal, political, regulatory, requirements and economic conditions in the jurisdictions in which they are conducted. Risks inherent to international operations include, but are not limited to:
We believe that our overall success as a global business depends on our ability to succeed in different legal, regulatory, economic, social, and political situations and conditions. We may not be able to develop and implement effective policies and strategies in each jurisdiction where we may conduct operations or do business in the future.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the U.S. securities laws and are permitted to file less information with the SEC than a U.S. domestic public company. This may limit the information available to holders of our ordinary shares.
As a “foreign private issuer,” we are not subject to all the disclosure requirements applicable to public companies organized within the U.S. For example, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that regulate disclosure obligations and procedural requirements related to the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations applicable to a security registered under the Exchange Act, including the U.S. proxy rules under Section 14 of the
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Exchange Act. In addition, our officers and directors are exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and related rules with respect to their purchases and sales of our securities. Moreover, while we submit quarterly interim consolidated financial data to the SEC under cover of the SEC’s Form 6-K, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. domestic public companies are required and are not required to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information concerning us than there would be if we were a U.S. domestic public company.
As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to and we expect to, follow certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from Nasdaq’s corporate governance standards. These practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we were required to comply fully with the Nasdaq corporate governance standards.
As a foreign private issuer listed on Nasdaq, we are subject to Nasdaq’s corporate governance standards. However, Nasdaq rules permit foreign private issuers such as us to follow our home country corporate governance practices instead of Nasdaq’s corporate governance standards as long as notification is provided to Nasdaq of the intention to take advantage of such exemptions. Certain corporate governance practices in Jersey, which is our home country, may differ significantly from Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Other than as set forth in the section of this annual report titled “Item 16G. Corporate Governance,” we currently intend to comply with the corporate governance listing standards of Nasdaq to the extent possible under Jersey law. However, we may choose to change such practices to follow additional home country practices in the future.
As a result of the accommodations for foreign private issuers, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would have under Nasdaq’s corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. For an overview of our corporate governance practices, see “Item 16G. Corporate Governance.”
We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional costs and expenses.
We are a “foreign private issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Under Rule 405, the determination of foreign private issuer status is made annually on the last business day of an issuer’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
In the future, we would lose our foreign private issuer status if a majority of our shareholders, directors or management are U.S. citizens or residents and we fail to meet additional requirements necessary to avoid loss of foreign private issuer status. Although we have elected to comply with certain U.S. regulatory provisions, our loss of foreign private issuer status would make such provisions mandatory. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher. If we are not a foreign private issuer, we will be required to file periodic reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, which are more detailed and extensive than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. For example, the annual report on Form 10-K requires domestic issuers to prepare U.S. GAAP financial statements be filed on a more accelerated timeframe than a Form 20-F, disclose executive compensation information on an individual basis with specific disclosure regarding the domestic compensation philosophy, objectives, annual total compensation (base salary, bonus, and equity compensation) and potential payments in connection with change in control, retirement, death or disability, while the annual report on Form 20-F permits foreign private issuers to disclose compensation information on an aggregate basis. We will also have to file Form 10-Qs each quarter and mandatorily comply with U.S. federal proxy requirements, and our officers, directors, principal shareholders will become subject to the short-swing profit disclosure and recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. We may also be required to modify certain of our policies to comply with good governance practices associated with U.S. domestic issuers. Such conversion and modifications will involve additional costs. In addition, we may lose our ability to rely upon exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements on U.S. stock exchanges that are available to foreign private issuers.
U.S. Holders of our ordinary shares could be subject to material adverse tax consequences if we are considered a Passive Foreign Investment Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
There is a risk that we will be classified as a Passive Foreign Investment Company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which could result in a reduction in the after-tax return to U.S. Holders (as defined below under “Item 10. Additional Information – Taxation—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations”) of our ordinary shares and may cause a reduction in the value of our ordinary shares. A corporation is classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which either (i) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income” or (ii) at least 50% of the average quarterly value of all its assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income.
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For this purpose, passive income generally includes among other things, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties, annuities, certain gains from the sale of stock and securities, and certain gains from commodities transactions.
Based on the projected composition of our income and valuation of our assets, we do not believe we were a PFIC for our most recent table year, and we do not expect to become a PFIC for our current taxable year or in the foreseeable future, although there can be no assurance in this regard. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service or a U.S. court could determine that we are or were a PFIC in any past, current, or future taxable years. The determination of whether we are a PFIC is a fact-intensive determination made on an annual basis applying principles and methodologies which in some circumstances are unclear and subject to varying interpretation. If we were classified as a PFIC, U.S. Holders of our ordinary shares could be subject to greater U.S. income tax liability than might otherwise apply, imposition of U.S. income tax in advance of when tax would otherwise apply and additional tax filing requirements that would not otherwise apply. The PFIC rules are complex and a U.S. Holder of our ordinary shares should consult its own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules to it in its particular circumstances. See “Item 10. Additional Information – Taxation— Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations.”
Risks Related to Ownership of our Ordinary Shares
The trading price of our ordinary shares has been and will likely continue to be highly volatile.
The trading price of our ordinary shares has been and is likely to continue to be volatile. Since our IPO in July 2021, the trading price of our ordinary shares has ranged from $6.56 to $16.97 through December 31, 2021. The market price of our ordinary shares may fluctuate or decline significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including, in addition to other factors described in “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors,” may have an impact on the market price of our ordinary shares:
In addition, in recent years, the stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant impact on the market price of securities issued by many companies, including companies in the end-markets we serve. The changes frequently appear to occur without regard to the operating performance of the affected companies. Hence, the price of our ordinary shares could fluctuate based upon factors that have little or nothing to do with us or our business, and these fluctuations could materially reduce our share price and cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Further, in the past, market fluctuations and price declines in a company’s
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stock have led to securities class action litigations. If such a suit were to arise, it could have a substantial cost and divert our resources regardless of the outcome.
An active, liquid, and orderly market for our ordinary shares may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your ordinary shares at or above the price you bought them for.
Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “GAMB”. However, we cannot assure you that an active, liquid, and orderly trading market for our ordinary shares will exist or be sustained, which could affect your ability to sell your ordinary shares.
Our chairman of the board is able to exert significance influence over our company, and his interest may be different from or conflict with that of our other shareholders.
As of March 17, 2022, Mr. Mark Blandford, our chairman of the board, beneficially owns approximately 37% of our ordinary shares. Mr. Blandford is a well-recognized industry leader and has been a board member for a very significant time period, and the members of the Board and management often look to him for guidance on major financial, operational and strategic matters. Accordingly, Mr. Blandford, although a non-executive director, could have significant influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations, the appointment of directors and other significant corporate actions. Without the consent of Mr. Blandford, we may be prevented from entering into transactions that could be beneficial to us or our minority shareholders. In addition, Mr. Blandford could violate his fiduciary duties by diverting business opportunities from us to himself or others. For more information regarding Mr. Blandford and his affiliated entity, see “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”
Sales of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public markets by our founders, affiliates, or non-affiliates, or the perception that such sales might occur, could reduce the price that our ordinary shares might otherwise attain and may dilute your voting power and your ownership interest in us.
Sales of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market by our founders, affiliates, or non-affiliates, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the trading price of our ordinary shares and may make it more difficult for you to sell your ordinary shares at a time and price that you deem appropriate. Subject to limited exceptions, none of our shareholders are subject to any contractual lock-up or other contractual restriction on the transfer or sale of their ordinary shares. As of December 31, 2021, approximately 57% of our outstanding ordinary shares are held by our directors, officers, or other affiliates, and are there restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. These shares are now eligible for resale in the public market subject to certain restrictions regarding the volume, manner of sale, holding period, and other restrictions under Rule 144.
The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources and divert management’s attention.
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the listing requirements of Nasdaq, and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Compliance with these rules and regulations incurs substantial legal and financial compliance costs, makes some activities more difficult, time-consuming, or costly, and places increased demand on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual and current reports with respect to our business and operating results. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. In order to maintain disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting that meet this standard, significant resources and management oversight are required. As a result, management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could harm our business and operating results. Although we have already hired additional employees to comply with these requirements, we may need to hire more employees in the future, which will increase our costs and expenses.
In addition, changing laws, regulations, and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations, and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We intend to continue to invest resources to complying with evolving laws, regulations, and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations, and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be harmed..
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If securities or industry analysts do not continue to publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, or we fail to meet the expectations of industry analysts, the market price for our ordinary shares and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ordinary shares will depend in part on the continued research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or about our business. If research analysts do not continue to maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our ordinary shares or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ordinary shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, interest in the purchase of our ordinary shares could decrease, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume for our ordinary shares to decline.
We identified material weaknesses in our internal control over our financial reporting process. If we are unable to remediate these material weaknesses, we may not be able to accurately or timely report our financial condition or results of operations.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. We and our independent registered public accounting firm identified material weaknesses in our internal control environment over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. These control deficiencies could result in a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that would result in a material misstatement of our financial results that would not be prevented or detected. The material weaknesses related to (i) our lack of a sufficient number of personnel with an appropriate level of knowledge and experience in the application of IFRS, commensurate with our financial reporting requirements and (ii) the fact that policies and procedures with respect to the review, supervision and monitoring of our accounting and reporting functions were either not designed and in place or not operating effectively. As a result, numerous adjustments to our consolidated financial statements were identified and made during the course of the audits.
We have initiated a number of steps designed to assist us in remediating the material weakness including: (i) adopting a more rigorous period-end review process for financial reporting; (ii) adopting improved period close processes and accounting processes; (iii) implementing a new ERP platform; and (iv) adding additional resources with sufficient accounting knowledge. While we have designed and are implementing new controls to remediate these material weaknesses, they have not operated for a sufficient period of time to demonstrate the material weakness has been remediated. We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date will be sufficient to remediate the material weakness we identified or avoid the identification of additional material weaknesses in the future. If the steps we take do not remediate the material weakness in a timely manner, there could continue to be a reasonable possibility that this control deficiency or others could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements that would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Furthermore, investors’ perceptions that our internal controls are inadequate or that we are unable to produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis may harm our stock price. If we are unable to successfully remediate our identified material weaknesses, or if we discover additional material weaknesses, we would be required to continue disclosing such material weaknesses in future filings with the SEC, which could adversely impact investor confidence in our company and the market price of our ordinary shares, and could subject us to litigation or regulatory enforcement actions.
If we fail, for any reason, to effectively or efficiently implement new internal control over financial reporting procedures for compliance with Section 404 of SOX or determine once required that such procedures are ineffective, such failure or determination could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We will be required to comply with the internal control evaluation and certification requirements of Section 404(a) of SOX by the end of our 2022 fiscal year. While we intend to achieve compliance within the time required, we may not be able to meet the management certification requirements in a timely manner. If it is determined that we are not in compliance with Section 404(a), we will be required to design and implement new internal control procedures and re-evaluate our financial reporting. We may experience higher than anticipated operating expenses as well as outside auditor fees during the implementation of these changes and thereafter. We will need to hire additional qualified personnel in order for us to be compliant with Section 404(a). During the course of documenting and testing our internal control procedures, in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404(a), we may identify weaknesses and deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail, for any reason, to implement these changes effectively or efficiently, such failure could harm our operations, financial reporting or financial results and the trading
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price of our ordinary shares, expose us to increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets, subject us to regulatory investigations and civil or criminal sanctions and could result in our conclusion that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. If we fail to remediate the material weaknesses identified above, our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. This conclusion could adversely impact the market price of our ordinary shares due to a loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our reporting processes. For more information on potential risks related to compliance with related Section 404(b) of SOX, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Ownership of our Ordinary Shares—We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the JOBS Act and will take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements, which may make our ordinary shares less attractive to investors.”
We do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future.
We intend to retain all available liquidity sources and future earnings, if any, to fund the development and expansion of our business, and we have no plans to pay regular dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. Any payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors (subject to, and in accordance with, our memorandum and articles of association) and will depend on then-existing conditions, including our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, statutory and contractual restrictions applying to the payment of dividends, and other considerations that our board of directors deems relevant. Accordingly, you may have to sell some or all of your ordinary shares after price appreciation in order to generate cash flow from your investment. You may not receive a gain on your investment when you sell your ordinary shares and you may lose the entire amount of the investment.
Future sales of our ordinary shares in the public market could lower our share price, and any additional capital raised by us through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities may dilute your ownership in us and may adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares.
We may sell additional ordinary shares in one or more subsequent public offerings. We may also issue additional ordinary shares or convertible debt securities, for a variety of reasons, including to finance future acquisitions. We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our ordinary shares or the effect, if any, that future issuances and sales of our ordinary shares will have on the market price of our ordinary shares. Sales of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our ordinary shares.
We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the JOBS Act and will take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements, which may make our ordinary shares less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 effective on April 5, 2012, or the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. Most of such requirements relate to disclosures that we would only be required to make if we cease to be a foreign private issuer in the future, including exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Nevertheless, as a foreign private issuer that is an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for up to five fiscal years after our initial public offering date of July 23, 2021. We may take advantage of these exemptions as long as we remain an emerging growth company, which could be for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if our total annual gross revenues reach $1.07 billion, if the aggregate market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million or if we issue more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt over a three-year period. We cannot predict if investors will find our ordinary shares less attractive because we rely on the above emerging growth company exemptions. If some investors find our ordinary shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our ordinary shares and the price of our ordinary shares may be more volatile.
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in the British Virgin Islands as TGG International Holdings Limited on July 26, 2006. We changed our name to KAX Media Limited on October 3, 2012 and subsequently continued as a private limited liability company in Malta on October 7, 2016. We changed our name to Gambling.com Group Limited on May 18,
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2017. On January 7, 2018, we converted into a public limited liability company with a name change to Gambling.com Group Plc. We redomiciled from Malta to the Channel Island of Jersey in accordance with the provisions of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991, as amended, or the Jersey Companies Law, on May 27, 2021 and were renamed Gambling.com Group Limited.
On July 23, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering of 5,250,000 ordinary shares and, as a result, our shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol “GAMB”. In addition, following the domiciliation described in the paragraph above, our jurisdiction of incorporation is in the Channel Island of Jersey and the address of our principal executive offices is 22 Greenville St., St. Helier, Channel Island of Jersey JE4 8PX.
Our agent for service of process in the U.S. is GDC America Inc., located at 514 North Franklin St, Suite 201, Tampa, FL 33602, telephone number +1 813 445 7555. Our wholly-owned subsidiaries are GDC Media Limited, incorporated in Dublin, Ireland; GDC Malta Limited, registered in Malta; and GDC America Inc., a Florida corporation. During January 2022, through GDC America, Inc. we completed the acquisition of Roto Sports, Inc. and through GDC Malta Limited, we acquired NDC Holding Limited.
The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings through its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval, (“EDGAR”), system. All our Exchange Act reports and other SEC filings will be available through the EDGAR system. You may also access information about GAMB through our corporate website at www.gambling.com/corporate. The information contained in both websites is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.
Emerging Growth Company
The JOBS Act was enacted in April 2012 with the intention of encouraging capital formation in the United States and reducing the regulatory burden on newly public companies that qualify as EGCs. We are an EGC within the meaning of the JOBS Act. As an EGC, we are not required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis), and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation-related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. We may take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an EGC. We will remain an EGC until the earliest of:
For more information see “Item 3D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Ordinary Shares.” The reduced disclosure requirements applicable to EGCs may make our common shares less attractive to investors due to certain risks related to our status as an EGC.
Our History
2006-2009
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2010-2011
2012-2015
2016-2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
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Present
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures totaled $5.6 million, $0.1 million and $1.7 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, primarily consisting of capitalized software development costs, the purchase of domains and the purchase of office equipment.
For information on the Company’s current capital expenditures, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
We are a multi-award-winning performance marketing company and a leading provider of digital marketing services active exclusively in the online gambling industry based on December 31, 2021 revenue. Our principal focus is on iGaming and sports betting. Through our proprietary technology platform, we publish a portfolio of premier branded websites including Gambling.com and Bookies.com. On January 1, 2022, we acquired Roto Sports, owner and operator of RotoWire.com, a provider of expert fantasy sports news and advice, to enhance our portfolio. On January 31, 2022, we acquired NDC Media, operator of BonusFinder.com, a leading North American affiliate business. We tailor each one of our websites to different user interests and markets within the online gambling industry by producing original content in six national languages relating to the sector, such as news, odds, statistics, product reviews and product comparisons of locally available online gambling services. We attract online gamblers through online marketing efforts and refer these online gamblers to companies that are licensed by gambling regulators to provide real-money online gambling services, known as online gambling operators, who convert these potential online gamblers into actual paying players. In this way, we provide business-to-business, or B2B, digital marketing services to online gambling operators. Through the acquisition of Roto Sports, which closed on January 1, 2022, we also provide business-to-consumer content subscription services and business-to-business content syndication services.
We are not a gambling company and do not offer any gambling services ourselves. We can alternatively be described as a lead generation company, an affiliate marketing company or simply an affiliate. Online gambling operators pay us to refer online gamblers to their services. In many ways, we are more akin to an online media company as our revenue is derived primarily from online marketing. We take high-value gambling industry domain names and develop them into market leaders.
We generate revenue primarily by referring online gamblers to online gambling operators. When an online gambler visits an online gambling operator from one of our websites, registers a new account and makes a deposit, this online gambler becomes one of our referred players. Each of our referred players entitles us to remuneration pursuant to our agreements with the online gambling operator. Our agreements are primarily based on a revenue share model, a Cost Per Acquisition model (also referred to as CPA), or a combination of both.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company owned and operated 30 different websites in six languages and 13 national markets across North America, Europe and Oceania covering all aspects of the online gambling industry, which includes iGaming and sports betting. While as of March 24, 2022, the Company increased a number of websites operated to 50 in seven languages and 15 national markets.
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By consistently attracting online gamblers with high-quality content, we referred more than 115,000, 100,000 and approximately 78,000 players to online gambling operators in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We have increased our customer base to approximately 220 in 2021 from approximately 110 in 2017.
We achieved an organic revenue compound annual growth rate of 50% from the period of 2017 to 2021.
Financial highlights for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are presented below.
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands USD, except Adjusted EBITDA Margin, unaudited) |
|
|||||||||
Revenue |
|
$ |
42,323 |
|
|
$ |
27,980 |
|
|
|
19,266 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
12,453 |
|
|
$ |
15,151 |
|
|
$ |
(1,901 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
18,356 |
|
|
$ |
14,608 |
|
|
|
3,747 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
|
|
43 |
% |
|
|
52 |
% |
|
|
19 |
% |
Cash flows generated by operating activities |
|
$ |
13,997 |
|
|
$ |
10,894 |
|
|
$ |
4,004 |
|
Free cash flow |
|
$ |
8,423 |
|
|
$ |
10,804 |
|
|
$ |
2,283 |
|
For a breakdown of our revenues by geographic market and product type for each of the years indicated, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results – Revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Free Cash Flow are non-IFRS financial measures and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and have limitations as analytical tools. For more information about our non-IFRS financial measures and reconciliations thereof to the most comparable respective IFRS measures, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results – Non-IFRS Financial Measures.”
Our Value Proposition
By delivering the high-quality content online gamblers need, we create value across the industry’s ecosystem, from player to online gambling operator.
Value to Online Gamblers. We help online gamblers start their consumer journey with confidence by providing a comprehensive set of resources to educate and inform online gamblers before they pick an online gambling operator.
Value to Online Gambling Operators. We provide a reliable and deep source of NDCs. Our performance-based compensation model and history of continued business with industry heavyweights speak to our reputation as a key partner in helping our customers meet their customer acquisition targets.
Value to Online Gambling and Platform Providers. We create value for the entire online gambling ecosystem by powering the growth of online gambling operators.
Value to Gambling Regulators. By steadfastly following and helping to enforce the guidelines and policies of the regulators of the online gambling industry within the 13 national markets in which we operate, we help steer players away from black-market, offshore online gambling operators and toward regulated operators.
Our Competitive Strengths
We believe the following to be our core competitive strengths, which distinguish us significantly from our competitors and allow us to compete more effectively in the online gambling affiliate market.
Premier Branded Destinations. We take pride in our tightly managed network of 30 high quality websites which include the industry-defining website Gambling.com as well as the ideally-branded Bookies.com for the U.S. market. In comparison to some of our peers who, we believe, operate thousands of websites of varying degrees of quality, our portfolio is much smaller and more tightly managed through common software systems. By investing more into each individual website in our portfolio, we can ensure our websites get adequate resources to be leaders in their particular focus areas.
Our iconic website Gambling.com lends itself easily to branding efforts and creates instant credibility in the eyes of new consumers. We intend to continue to leverage this brand and its unique position to make it the definitive global leader in the online gambling affiliate market.
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Strategic Presence in Growth Markets. We focus on legalized and soon-to-be legalized markets around the world. Currently, we publish content localized for the regulated North American markets, more than eight European countries, and Oceania. Revenues in our established European markets for the year ended December 31, 2021 have grown to $21.4 million from $16.2 million and $13.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, in the U.K and Ireland and to $10.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $5.3 million and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, in Other Europe. Identifying the growth opportunity of the North American market, in 2019 we opened an office in Charlotte, North Carolina and relocated our Chief Operating Officer, Kevin McCrystle, to lead our growth efforts in North America. With revenue growth of 89% from 2020 to 2021 and 107% from 2019 to 2020, North America saw significant growth during the periods presented in this annual report.
High-Quality Customer Base Consisting of Major Online Gambling Operators. We have a robust client portfolio which includes most major online gambling operators from the U.S. and Europe. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we worked with over 200 online gambling operators including publicly-traded business such as DraftKings, Flutter Entertainment (FanDuel, PaddyPower, Betfair), Entain (BetMGM, Ladbrokes, bwin, partypoker), Kindred Group (Unibet, 32Red), Rush Street Interactive (Sugarhouse, BetRivers), William Hill, 888, Golden Nugget Online Gaming and PointsBet. While we prioritize deepening our relationships with our existing customers, we have also increased our number of customers from approximately 110 in 2017 to approximately 220 in 2021. With an ever-growing base of customers, we are able to discover more high-quality customers with which we can build significant partnerships. In 2021 and 2020, our reputation as an effective online gambling affiliate drew in over 1,500 and 450 inquiries, respectively, from potential customers. We have not been ranked lower than eight on the eGaming Review, or EGR, Power Affiliates list since its inception in 2018.
Proven Track Record of Transforming Domains into Successful Businesses. We have the expertise and experience to transform high-value gambling industry domain names into high-performing websites. We acquired the Gambling.com domain name in 2011, with no business or revenue, and turned it into the globally recognized, market-leading brand that it is today, operating in ten markets and five languages. We have also developed the CasinoSource and SlotSource series of websites into operating websites. We leveraged all of our experience with Gambling.com to refine Bookies.com at a faster pace. Since we acquired Bookies.com in early 2018, we have transformed it into an all-inclusive platform focusing on sports betting in the U.S., with more than 60 contributors, positioning Bookies.com to benefit from the next wave of online gambling regulation in the U.S. During 2020 and 2021 we have successfully built and launched a series of high-quality US-focused sites targeting specific local markets and product niches.
Integrated Platforms Empowered by Technological Excellence. We have developed four proprietary software platforms to maximize operational efficiency in the delivery of our consumer websites. These platforms are used across our network and enable us to significantly reduce website loading times for visitors, efficiently organize and manage all of the content which appears on our websites and precisely optimize the placement of our customers’ messages across our network. We have never hesitated to invest in our own technical systems and believe we are at the forefront, compared to our peers, in terms of leveraging technology in general and artificial intelligence in particular to optimize our business.
Our ability to increase market share by continuing to deliver best in class content on our branded destinations depends on the effective implementation of search engine optimization, or SEO, strategies across our portfolio of websites, which itself depends in part oni the efficient use of our technology platforms. SEO is the practice of optimizing websites so that they are favored by search engines, such as Google, to appear in top positions on the search engine results pages for particular search queries. The ranking of a website is determined by the search engine according to an algorithm which factors in thousands of different parameters including quality of content, website speed and how people engage with a website.
We have demonstrated time and again over our more than 15-year history that we are adept at building websites which are ranked favorably by search engines such as Google. We believe that Google and other search engines are increasingly adept at identifying the truly high-quality content that deserves prominence. Our investments in content, product and website delivery have thus naturally resulted in strong rankings without significant additional effort.
By leveraging our investments in technology, we can ensure that our team remains able to efficiently produce and publish high quality content which in turn serves to improve our SEO as high-quality content is one of the key factors in SEO success.
Experienced Leadership. We continue to be led by our founding team, Charles Gillespie and Kevin McCrystle, which have been with the company since our inception in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Mr. Gillespie is a recognized
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leader in the online gambling industry and was named Sports Betting Community Leader of the Year in 2019. He is cited regularly by business and industry media for his work in advocating for a free and open online gambling market in the U.S. Mr. McCrystle has led us to become a global performance marketing leader with a team of over 200 employees. He has developed and implemented our strategy for product, marketing, content and sales, as well as the integration of key acquisitions. Our co-founders’ technology-forward approach, strategic vision for growth and long-standing reputation as industry experts has led us to become one of the fastest-growing performance marketing companies for online gambling.
Proven History of Organic Growth and Continued High Organic Growth Potential. We have delivered significantly more organic growth than our peers which report publicly over the last three years. Our organic growth strategy focuses on perfecting our internal processes, technology, and products instead of relying on acquisitions. For the period from 2017 to 2021, we recognized a 50% organic revenue CAGR compared to 18% for Better Collective and 12% for Catena Media over the same period. In 2021, our year-over-year organic revenue growth was 47%, compared to 29% for Better Collective and 24% for Catena Media. We have grown faster than our established global online gambling affiliate peers, which validates our focus on superior brands and technological excellence as the winning strategy. We expect our foundation of big brands and technological precision to continue to pay dividends over the long-term as we scale the business.
According to the H2 Global Report, as of January 2021, the global online gambling industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10% from 2019 to 2025 (onshore and offshore). Even if we only maintain our current market share of the global online gambling affiliate market, we believe that we will continue to grow in line with the broader industry. We intend to grow our market share, which will further increase our growth.
The U.S online gambling market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 39% from 2019 to 2025 according to the H2 Global Report. We expect that our U.S business will grow faster than the market over the period.
We expect that our established markets will continue to grow at a steady pace over the next few years. The combined market for online gambling in two of our largest, established markets, the U.K. and Ireland, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2019 to 2025, according to the H2 Global Report. We expect that our operations in these countries will grow at lease in line with the market, supplementing the more dramatic growth we expect to deliver in faster growing markets.
Our Growth Strategies
Key elements of our growth strategy include:
Expanding in the U.S. As states across the U.S. continue to legalize online gambling, we are laying the foundation for the U.S. market to become our largest market by revenue. We are pursuing market share by deploying publishing assets on both a national and, to the extent that a state is regulated, state-based, level as well as adding U.S. content to our international destinations. As of December 31, 2021, we were operating in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia,. In January 2022, we commenced operations in Louisiana and New York. In February 2022, we obtained a license to operate in Maryland when that market launches. We are actively pursuing licenses or approvals in all states where we expect a viable market..
Our revenue in North America has grown to $7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and from $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. North America is the fastest growing market of our business over that period. In addition to growing our international flagship website Gambling.com, we intend to grow several U.S.-oriented websites, such as Bookies.com, TopUSCasinos.com, NewYorkBets.com, EmpireStakes.com, BetArizona.com, TopNJCasinos.com, VirginiaIsForBettors.com (soon to be BetVirginia.com), GreatLakesStakes.com, IllinoisBet.com and PennStakes.com, to become the go-to resources for information on U.S. iGaming and sports betting in their respective states. The launch of the Ontario market expected in April 2022 along with the potential future launches in other Canadian provinces present a significant additional opportunity for our North American operations.
Growing Our Global Strategic Presence. Internationally, we target stable, regulated markets with significant growth potential. We believe we will continue to grow in existing markets in Europe and Oceania. We regularly monitor the regulatory landscape to be in a position to enter soon-to-be regulated markets for possible future expansion, such as Latin America.
Pursuing Strategic Acquisitions. While we primarily focus on organically growing our current business and expanding into new markets, the possibility for quality acquisitions provides another avenue for future growth. Between 2017 and 2018, we completed four acquisitions. In January 2022, we completed two acquisitions. As
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jurisdictions impose stricter regulatory requirements and compliance demands that create additional work for online gambling affiliates, this disproportionately burdens smaller online gambling affiliates who are less able to handle the influx of requests from online gambling operators and regulators. Online gambling operators value the professionalism and competence of larger online gambling affiliates who are adept at maintaining high regulatory standards.
We expect this environment will lead to strategic and tactical opportunities for us to acquire strong, sub-scale online properties such as gambling affiliate sites or sports media sites. Smaller sites may have product market fit in a particular niche of the industry but lack the sophisticated online publishing and monetization systems available to larger online gambling affiliates like us. Our experience and technological capabilities position us as a sophisticated player to acquire strong sub-scale sites that will benefit from our more established processes. We plan to continue to leverage our history of successful acquisitions and internal organic growth to search for potential targets with strategic assets and strong management teams.
Pursuing Media Partnerships. We target entering into mutually beneficial partnerships with leading media brands. By combining our sophisticated publishing and monetization systems with the website authority of leading media brands we can derive supplementary revenue from those websites. In January, 2022 we entered into a media partnership with The McClatchy Company, one of the United States largest news media companies with operations in 29 regional markets across the country.
Developing Pipeline Projects. We currently have a robust portfolio of over 500 undeveloped gambling domain names for future projects, including premium domain names such as Scores.com, BetCalifornia.com and BetTexas.com.
Our Products
Our core product offering is industry leading content produced by award-winning journalists, reporters, copywriters and lifelong followers of the online gambling industry. This best-in-class content is then masterfully distributed to online gamblers through our proprietary technology platform which publishes 30 premier websites. Thanks to the advantages of our internally developed technology platforms, consumers can readily locate this great content easily with the use of search engines such as Google. Visitors to our websites looking to engage with online gambling services can then easily find, compare and visit the best online gambling operators available in their jurisdiction from links on our websites. When a website visitor leaves one of our websites to visit an online gambling operator, the referral is tracked and we are compensated by the online gambling operator in the event that the visitor registers and funds a new account, becoming our referred player.
Although we have invested into Gambling.com, Bookies.com and RotoWore.com, which we consider our core brands, we also operate several niche websites that cater to specific geographies or online gambling products. Each of our websites offers online gamblers high-quality and relevant content, such as independent reviews and comparisons of regulated online gambling operators in their jurisdiction.
Our Core Brands
Gambling.com
We acquired the Gambling.com domain name in April of 2011 for $2.5 million. The domain name came alone, without an accompanying business or any existing revenue streams. Since then, we have invested significant resources to launch a new website and grow it into one of the largest and highest revenue producing online gambling affiliate websites in the world. As of December 31, 2021, localized versions of Gambling.com were available in ten markets and in five languages.
Gambling.com covers the entirety of the online gambling industry with content spanning all of the key verticals in the industry: Casino, Sports, Poker and Bingo. But more than anything else, Gambling.com is a leading source for iGaming information and is casino-first in its content strategy.
Bookies.com
We acquired the Bookies.com website in early 2018. Since then, we have transformed it into an all-inclusive platform for sports bettors that provides promo codes, odds comparison, game previews, betting strategies and news. In contrast to Gambling.com which is an international destination with a casino-first focus, Bookies.com was built from the ground up with a US-first and sports-first focus. We believe Bookies.com is well positioned to become a leading sports-betting destination in the U.S.
RotoWire.com
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On January 1, 2022, we acquired Roto Sports, owner and operator of RotoWire.com, a provider of expert fantasy sports news and advice. The RotoWire business has three different revenue streams, which provide access into sports media organizations as well as with advertisers and individual sports fans. We plan to leverage RotoWire's existing audience, content library, talented workforce, media partnerships and trust with U.S. sports fans to further accelerate our already fast-growing business in the U.S. online sports betting market.
Our Niche Brands
By expanding the portfolio beyond our core brands, we can more directly target specific products in specific markets. Online gamblers tend to trust local media more than national or international sources. By producing destinations that feature locally produced content, we can more easily gain the trust of users in a particular location. The enlarged portfolio also reduces volatility in month-to-month financial performance by diversifying the sources of our revenue across multiple territories and products.
TopUSCasinos.com
TopUSCasinos.com is an internally developed website that has been recently launched with an iGaming and U.S. first focus. Similar to Bookies.com in that both websites are U.S. first and national in scope, TopUSCasinos.com will play a leading role in the development of our overall U.S. offering. These national websites address the entirety of the U.S. market by providing detailed content on each state with an active online gambling market.
U.S. State Specific Properties
We have launched a series of websites dedicated to individual U.S. states. Examples include NewYorkBets.com and EmpireStakes.com for New Yorkers, BetArizona.com for Arizona residents, GreatLakesStakes.com for Michiganders, IllinoisBet.com for Illinoisians and VirginiaIsForBettors.com (soon to be BetVirginia.com) for Virginians. These websites provide local online gamblers with the news and analysis they need to make informed decisions when it comes to online gambling. GreatLakesStakes.com covers all forms of online gambling due to Michigan’s full embrace of the industry’s product offering, while VirginiaisforBettors.com, IllinoisBet.com, NewYorkBets.com. EmpireStakes.com and BetArizona.com are primarily oriented around sports betting since Virginia, Illinois, New York and Arizona have yet to regulate iGaming.
CasinoSource.co.uk
We launched CasinoSource.co.uk in 2010 as our first dedicated casino affiliate website. The website offers in-depth expert online casino reviews, exclusive network partner bonuses, casino guides and tutorials. We have redeveloped the website regularly and now expanded it into ten markets in five languages.
SlotSource.com
We launched SlotSource into the U.K. market in 2016 as a slots-first destination. We have since expanded the website to six markets in two languages. The U.S. version of the website showcases online slots in a player-friendly website where games and casinos are categorized by their availability per state. As a one-stop shop for online slots, the website provides online gamblers real-money slot reviews, fully featured free-to-play slots as well as a comprehensive list of slots bonuses.
BonusFinder.com
On January 31, 2022, we acquired NDC Media, operator of BonusFinder.com, a leading North American affiliate business. BonusFinder publishes online portals which help consumers find and compare bonuses for online sportsbooks and casinos. BonusFinder's strong presence in Canada is expected to drive increased market share for us ahead of the anticipated Ontario online sports betting and iGaming market launch in April.
Many of our niche sites are relatively new, particularly those for the U.S. market. This positions us well for additional organic growth in the coming years.
Our Original Publishing Platform and Content Management System
Our co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Charles Gillespie, is a technologist at heart who taught himself to program to deliver our first website. Under Mr. Gillespie’s leadership, we have prioritized outsized investments in technology to best serve our customers, online gamblers and internal stakeholders. The dividends of these investments are significantly increased operational efficiency fundamental to delivering market-leading organic growth. We have developed four key internal platforms which sit behind and power all of our consumer facing websites. In comparison to some of our peers, all our websites run on internally developed platforms and are nearly all universally integrated into these platforms.
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Adge: Our Business Intelligence Software
We launched Adge in 2015 as a business intelligence system which integrates data from our websites and our advertising partners. This platform gives us the ability to compete and optimize our offerings.
Origins: a Publishing Platform for Maximum Speed
We launched Origins in 2015 as a tailor-made high-speed publishing platform that prepares and distributes our content across seven global locations—all from the cloud. The system was developed with an SEO-first mentality, to ensure that all our websites are published according to the best technical SEO standards. In-built version control provides us total control over source code changes and enables nimble switching between version numbers. Quality control systems scan all outgoing content to ensure it passes a number of internal quality control checks. Websites and content ready for release are pre-rendered, compressed and distributed to a global network of origin servers which are then enhanced by a global content delivery network with over 200 points of presence. This stack of systems ensures that end-users requesting one of our services get their request fulfilled at the fastest speeds technologically possible.
Genesis: a Content Management System for Gambling Industry Data
We launched Genesis in 2020 as our content management system, or CMS, to warehouse our growing database of gambling industry related content. Genesis provides a central location for the management of all content types across our websites and applications. Users can log into a cloud-based system to add, update or import content assets. By centralizing all CMS functionality into one universal system, users get one common interface for updating all of our publishing assets. Users can be categorized into groups with varying levels of permissions according to management’s requirements, allowing the system to be opened to external contributors. Our developers can also plug into one common API to consume data in one common format regardless of its ultimate destination. As pain-points are identified, we can deploy specific tools and features to streamline repetitive or time-consuming tasks for our users.
Elements: an Ad Server for Gambling Operators
Elements is our proprietary advertiser management system—our central interface to manage the terms, offers, and details of advertisement placements across our entire network. With tens of thousands of pages of content, advertisers can appear in a great variety of locations which we believe, despite these challenges, should be optimized on every occasion. Elements provides us with a centralized platform to coordinate the appearance, rankings and advertiser details at any location across the network. Tightly integrated with our business intelligence team, we are able to track advertiser performance at scale and quickly identify under and over performance. Sophisticated machine-learning algorithms crunch performance data and make recommendations on which online gambling operator is truly best positioned to meet online gamblers’ needs in each circumstance.
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Our Track Record of Awards and Recognitions
Our products have been recognized for their excellence over the years, achieving several of the online gambling affiliate industry’s biggest awards. In 2021, we were named the 2021 EGR Affiliate of the Year and 2021 SBC North America Casino Affiliate of the Year.
Our Sales Process and Customers
Online gambling operators typically discover us by accessing one of our websites. After finding one of our online gambling affiliate websites, the online gambling operator locates our corporate website and submits an advertising proposal through a contact form. In 2021, our reputation as a strong partner for online gambling operators drew over 1,500 inquiries from potential customers.
We have a strong and growing portfolio of major online gambling operators. Our customer base was 206, 206 and 221 in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. We work with regulated online gambling operators, including industry heavyweights—DraftKings, Flutter Entertainment (FanDuel, PaddyPower, Betfair), Entain (BetMGM, Ladbrokes, bwin, partypoker), Kindred Group (Unibet, 32Red), Rush Street Interactive (Sugarhouse, BetRivers), William Hill, 888, Golden Nugget Online Gaming and PointsBet. As is evident from the list above, many of our customers operate multiple player-facing brands. We believe we increased our number of customers as a result of a variety of factors including an increase in the number of markets where we operate, new online gambling operators entering various markets, an increase in demand for player acquisition services and an expanded internal sales team.
We have ranked between four and eight on the EGR Power Affiliates list since its inception in 2018. The list is compiled from votes cast by full-time affiliate managers working with the online gambling operators who rate affiliates based on their commercial, operational, product, compliance and M&A capabilities.
In 2021, 2020, and 2019, our top ten customers accounted for 52%, 55%, and 56% of our total revenue, respectively. In 2021, our two largest customers accounted for 13% and 10% of our revenue. In 2020 and 2019, our largest customer account for 20% and 21% of our revenue, respectively.
While attracting new customers is important, we primarily focus on maintaining and deepening our relationships with our existing customers by increasing the amount of traffic and, in-turn, the number of NDCs we can refer to our existing customer base. Our account management team coordinates the day-to-day relationships with our customers. While improving the commercial aspects of our deals, our team optimizes the content, offers, news and
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other details of how our customers’ brands are presented to the online gamblers to maximize conversion rates and engagement. In many cases we can negotiate exclusive bonuses and offers for the players referred from our websites. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, our account management team regularly met with our key customers in person and plans to resume such face-to-face meetings as soon as it is once again possible. We plan to continue to grow both the number of customers and the level of participation from each customer. As we scale traffic and NDC delivery in our existing markets, we expect to generate additional traffic for our existing customer base in those markets. To the extent that we wish to enter new markets in the future, we may seek to onboard local gambling operators in a target market t optimize the localized products.
We strive to control the maximum amount of relevant high intent traffic possible and thus be online gambling operators’ preferred partner for online gambling player acquisition due to our ability to help them meet their player acquisition goals with our extensive reach.
Increasing Customer Performance
The math that determines the commercial performance of an individual online gambling operator on one of our websites is driven principally by the effectiveness by which the online gambling operator can monetize the traffic that we send them. Online gambling operators who are skilled at converting the traffic from click to registration and then from registration to first deposit while offering commercial terms at the low end of the acceptable range can be significantly more valuable to us than the opposite. Online gambling operators offering abnormally high CPA rates but who are not skilled at converting traffic do not make good partners. Expected conversion rates range from 1% to 15% (1,500% difference) where CPA levels for a given type of traffic may only vary from the smallest to largest offer less than 100%.
Because the effectiveness of our partners is a key commercial concern, we have a dedicated system to manage the placement of operators and operators’ offers on our websites called Elements. As we reached the limit of what was possible with manual adjustments, we have started to leverage machine learning systems to help us ensure we are showing the most appropriate operator in every circumstance. These advanced data science models can process many more input variables and larger data sets than our commercial team could process on its own. The 2021 initiatives have made our models more efficient, allowed us to develop a method to test changes in a low-risk manner without impacting the user experience and enabled us to explore more granular customer segmentation.
Seasonality
See "Item 5A. Operating Results - Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations" for a description of the seasonality of our business.
Competition
The online gambling affiliates market is highly fragmented, intensely competitive and constantly evolving. With the introduction of new technologies and new market entrants, we expect the competitive environment to remain intense going forward. We compete with other performance marketing service providers in the online gambling industry, such as Better Collective and Catena Media, both publicly traded in Europe. Our most comparable publicly traded companies in the U.S. are GAN Limited, Genius Sports Ltd., and Sportradar AG, all of which are B2B service providers to the industry.
We believe we compete favorably on the basis of the quality of our websites, our strategic geographical presence, our diversified and growing customer base, our technological excellence and our proven history of growth. We have delivered significantly more organic growth than our peers over the last four years. Our organic growth strategy focuses on perfecting our internal processes, technology, and products and does not rely on acquisitions.
Social Responsibility
As the online gambling market continues to expand globally, we believe it is important to not lose focus on the social costs of the industry. We are committed to being a leader in responsible gambling and ensuring that a conservative approach is adopted by the industry at large to ensure the sustainability of what should be a harmless recreational activity.
With that vision, we maintain one of the most restrictive adverting policies in the online gambling affiliates industry to avoid problematic channels. We acquire online gamblers responsibly, focusing on locally regulated markets, recommending licensed online gambling operators, and displaying terms and conditions in accordance with best practices, clear messages about responsible gambling on our sites, and never any aggressive messaging encouraging problematic gambling. Our team also regularly monitor regulations and standards prescribed by each
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market’s respective authorities, such as the U.K. Gambling Commission, the U.K Advertising Standards Authority, CAP Advertising Guidelines—Gambling and the CAP Code for Online Affiliate Marketing.
To help online gamblers recognize problematic behavior early, we established the Responsible Gambling Center on our flagship website Gambling.com, which provides online gamblers access to support organizations in our major markets. The Responsible Gambling Center is divided into three sections:
Responsible Gambling Fundamentals. Educates online gamblers about the basic risks of problem gambling, gambling addiction and how to gamble responsibly.
Staying in Control. Helps online gamblers recognize the signs of problem gambling and gives guidance on staying in control. Explains key concepts like self-exclusion, betting logs and deposit limits.
Protection and Support. Provides detailed access information for problem gambling support groups as well as links to tools to protect children from gambling content.
We strive to contribute positively—not only to our industry at-large through responsible gambling initiatives but also in our communities through corporate social responsibility initiatives. Each year, employees in Ireland and the U.S. choose a local nonprofit organization to support through fundraising and volunteering.
Regulations
As a company providing services to online gambling operators and conducting business on the Internet, we are subject to a variety of laws in the U.S. and abroad that involve matters central to our business, including laws regarding online gambling and data protection and privacy, among others.
Online Gambling Regulations
Outside of the U.S., online gambling affiliates are not required to apply for licenses or approvals with the only known exception being Romania. Since we operate a pure B2B business model and have no direct business relationship with online gamblers, we are not required to be licensed or approved as a gambling operator in Europe or elsewhere.
In the U.S., any company providing services to regulated gambling entities is typically required to either register or apply for a license or an approval with the gambling regulator in each state where they are active. In the case of gambling affiliates, a tiered system is typically available with a relatively simple registration required for online gambling affiliates only looking to do CPA deals and a much more onerous license application required for online gambling affiliates seeking to do deals with a revenue share component. As of December 31, 2021, we have obtained licenses or approvals to operate from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia, Arizona, and Michigan. In January 2022, we were approved to operate in Louisiana and New York.
Data Protection and Privacy
Because, on a limited basis, we handle, collect, store, receive, transmit and otherwise process certain personal information of individuals, including our users, customers and employees, we are also subject to federal, state and foreign laws related to the privacy and protection of such data, as further set forth in the section of this annual report entitled “We are subject to governmental regulation and other legal obligations related to privacy, data protection and information security. If we are unable to comply with these, we may be subject to governmental enforcement actions, litigation, fines and penalties or adverse publicity”. Regulations such as the CCPA, which is a relatively new, untested law could affect our business, and its potential impact is unknown.
With our operations in the E.E.A and the U.K., we may also face particular privacy, data security, and data protection risks in connection with requirements of the GDPR, U.K. GDPR and other data protection regulations. Any failure or perceived failure to comply with these rules may result in regulatory fines or penalties including orders that require us to change the way we process data. In the event of a data breach, we are also subject to breach notification laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including the GDPR, and the risk of litigation and regulatory enforcement actions.
Any significant change to applicable laws, regulations, interpretations of laws or regulations, or market practices, regarding the use of personal data, or regarding the manner in which we seek to comply with applicable laws and regulations, could require us to make modifications to our products, services, policies, procedures, notices, and business practices, including potentially material changes. Such changes could potentially have an adverse impact on our business.
Compliance
39
We have developed and implemented various internal compliance policies to help ensure that we comply with legal and regulatory requirements imposed on us. Our compliance and risk program focuses primarily on vetting the online gambling operators we work with to ensure that we do not work with an operator which is unsuitable. We also provide education and tools to assist users in making educated choices related to gambling activities.
Additionally, we employ various methods and tools across our operations such as geolocation blocking, which restricts access based upon the user’s geographical location and age verification to ensure our users are old enough interact with certain content. We have a zero-tolerance approach to money laundering and terrorist financing.
While we are firmly committed to full compliance with all applicable laws and have developed appropriate policies and procedures in order to comply with the requirements of the evolving regulatory regimes, we cannot assure that our compliance program will prevent the violation of one or more laws or regulations, or that a violation by us or an employee will not result in the imposition of a monetary fine or suspension or revocation of one or more of our licenses.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently a party to any material litigation. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
Recent Developments
Acquisition of Rotowire
On January 1, 2022, we acquired Roto Sports, owner and operator of RotoWire.com, a provider of expert fantasy sports news and advise. The acquisition of Roto Sports was made pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Roto Sports Purchase Agreement”), dated December 13, 2021 between the Company, on the one hand, and Peter Schoenke, Herbert Ilk, Jeffrey Erickson, Timothy Schuler, and Christopher Liss and trusts of certain of the Roto Sports owners (each, a “Roto Sports Seller” and, collectively, the “Roto Sports Sellers”), on the other hand. The Roto Sports Sellers were the sole shareholders of Roto Sports.
Under the terms of the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement, we acquired from the Roto Sports Sellers all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Roto Sports (the "Roto Sports Transaction") for an aggregate purchase price of $27.5 million (subject to adjustments for (i) the working capital, cash, and indebtedness of Roto Sports at closing), and (ii) any transaction expenses of Roto Sports or the Sellers (to the extent unpaid at closing)), payable in three tranches of cash and, at the Company's election, unregistered ordinary shares of the Company ("Common Shares"). At the closing, we paid to the Roto Sports Sellers an aggregate of $13.5 million in cash (net of holdbacks and sellers expenses paid) and issued an aggregate of 451,264 Common Shares. Of the remaining portion of the purchase price, $2.5 million will be paid on the first anniversary, and $5.3 million will be paid on second anniversary of the closing, subject to a Seller not being a "bad actor" (as such term is defined in the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement) at the point in time when such a payment is due. We have the option to pay 50% of the consideration due on the first and second anniversaries of the closing in Common Shares.
Acquisition of BonusFinder.com
On January 31, 2022, we acquired NDC Holding Limited (“NDC Holding”), a private company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the holding company of NDC Media Limited, the publisher of BonusFinder.com, a performance marketing business focused on the online gambling industry in North America.
Under the terms of the share purchase agreement (the "BonusFinder Purchase Agreement"), we paid NDC Holding shareholders an aggregate purchase price of EUR 12.5 million ($13.92 million), of which EUR 10 million ($11.14 million) was paid in cash (subject to adjustments for cash, working capital, and indebtedness, among other factors), with cash on hand and EUR 2.5 million ($2.86 million) in newly issued, unregistered ordinary shares. NDC Media shareholders may benefit from an additional payment of up to a maximum of EUR 19.0 million ($21.85 million) to be paid in 2023 based on their financial performance during 2022, and a further potential payment of up to EUR 28.5 ($32.8) million to be paid in 2024 based on their financial performance during 2023, subject to such shareholder not being a "bad actor" (as such term is defined in the BonusFinder Purchase Agreement) at the point in time when such a payment is due. We have the option to pay up to 50% of each of the earnout payments in unregistered ordinary shares. A conversion rate of 1.1138 EUR to USD (the Central Bank reference rate on January 28, 2022) was used.
40
Gambling.com Group Limited is the publicly traded holding company for its three wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Group”).
Our significant subsidiaries are listed below.
Name |
Country of Incorporation and Place of Business |
Proportion of Ownership Interest |
GDC Media Limited |
Ireland |
100% |
GDC America Inc. |
Florida, U.S.A. |
100% |
GDC Malta Limited |
Malta |
100% |
RotoSports, Inc. |
Delaware, U.S.A. |
100% |
Gambling.com Group Limited is the publicly traded holding company for the Group. It was originally incorporated in the British Virgin Islands as TGG International Holdings Limited on July 26, 2006. It was renamed as KAX Media Limited on October 3, 2012 and subsequently continued as a private limited liability company in Malta on October 7, 2016. It was renamed as Gambling.com Group Limited on May 18, 2017. On January 7, 2018, it converted into a public limited liability company with a name change to Gambling.com Group Plc. It redomiciled from Malta to the Channel Island of Jersey in accordance with the Jersey Companies Law on May 27, 2021 and was renamed Gambling.com Group Limited.
GDC Malta Limited (formerly known as GDC Trading Limited) is a private limited company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on June 2, 2011 and was subsequently continued in Malta on October 17, 2016. GDC Malta Limited provides intra-group services to the Group.
GDC Media Limited (formerly known as KAX Media Limited (Ireland)) is a private limited company incorporated on May 20, 2015 in Ireland. It operates the Group’s business outside of the U.S. and is the owner of all the Group’s intellectual property, domains and websites.
GDC America Inc. (formerly known as KAX Media America Inc.) is a corporation incorporated in the State of Florida on July 14, 2011. It operates the Group’s business in the U.S. under a license from GDC Media Limited.
Changes after the reporting date
Roto Sports, Inc is a corporation incorporated in the State of California on March 22, 2001. It was acquired in January 2022 and operates under GDC America Inc. as part of the Group's U.S. business. The company was reincorporated in Delaware in January 2022.
NDC Media Limited is a corporation incorporated Malta on December 3, 2015. It was acquired in January 2022 and operates as a subsidiary of GDC Malta Limited.
Our principal operational offices are located in Dublin, Ireland, under a lease expiring in January 2028. We also lease regional offices and space in Tampa, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina and Gzira, Malta.
We believe that our current facilities are adequate to meet our needs for the near future and that suitable additional or alternative space will be available on commercially reasonable terms to accommodate our foreseeable future operations.
ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
Overview
We are a multi-award-winning performance marketing company and a leading provider of digital marketing services active exclusively in the online gambling industry based on December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 revenue, respectively. Our principal focus is on iGaming and sports betting. Through our proprietary technology platform, we publish a portfolio of premier branded websites including Gambling.com, Bookies.com, RotoWire.com (which was acquired in January 2022), and BonusFinder.com. We tailor each one of our websites to different user interests and markets within the online gambling industry by producing original content relating to the sector, such as news, odds, statistics, product reviews and product comparisons of locally available online gambling services. We attract online
41
gamblers through online marketing efforts and refer these online gamblers to companies that are licensed by gambling regulators to provide real-money online gambling services, known as online gambling operators, who convert these potential online gamblers into actual paying players. In this way, we provide business-to-business, or B2B, digital marketing services to online gambling operators.
We primarily generate revenue by referring online gamblers to online gambling operators. When an online gambler visits an online gambling operator from one of our websites, registers a new account and makes a deposit, this online gambler becomes one of our referred players. Each of our referred players entitles us to remuneration pursuant to our agreements with the online gambling operator. Our agreements are primarily based on a revenue share model, a Cost Per Acquisition model (also referred to as CPA), or a combination of both, which is referred to as hybrid.
Under the revenue share model, we are entitled to a certain percentage of the NGR generated by a referred player with no flat fee component. NGR is calculated as GGR less general and direct costs such as transaction fees, bonus offers, loyalty rewards, charge backs and, sometimes, administrative fees. Revenue share commissions are typically calculated on the basis of a pool of referred players across a given online gambling affiliate account. While most of our arrangements are valid for the entire customer lifetime of the referred players, in practice referred players typically play for a limited time only.
Under the CPA model, we are compensated with a flat fee commission per NDC according to terms which may include a minimum deposit. The CPA model captures a sizable portion of the value of the online gambler at the start and therefore has much better cash flow dynamics compared to revenue share which can take months or years to catch up to and exceed the CPA value that could have been achieved for an individual referred player (if it exceeds it at all).
The hybrid model combines both revenue share and CPA. Under this model, online gambling operators pay a lower up-front payment and a lower revenue share percentage.
For the years ended 2021, 2020 and 2019 respectively 8%, 12% and 20% of our revenue was generated under the revenue share model, 44%, 32% and 18% of our revenue was generated under the CPA model and 37%, 53% and 57% of our revenue was generated under the hybrid model.
We have also received and continue to receive revenue from other commercial structures, such as fixed fees, initiation fees minimum guarantees for revenue share and bonuses for achieving certain NDC targets in a period.
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, 11%, 3%, and 5% of our revenue was generated from other commercial structures, respectively.
As we are compensated primarily on a performance-based model, our revenue depends overwhelmingly on the quantity and quality of traffic we can provide to our customers, rather than on our commercial team’s ability to sell advertising based on fixed fees or placements. Our commercial team focuses on finding high performing partners and curating the relationship with our existing partners to improve and expand our business relationships.
Our revenue performance can be optimized by selecting the best commercial model available to us from each of our customers. Usually, some combination of the models will be offered and it is incumbent on us to negotiate and select our preferable model. Operators’ favored model tends to vary over time depending on internal priorities and personnel. Internally we are agnostic as to the superiority of any one of the three models above. We have a predictive analytics system which estimates the value to us of each of these models based on each operator, product and market and we simply choose the one that our systems predict will yield the best results.
Online gamblers generally locate our websites via search engines, and we are thus dependent on the effective implementation of SEO strategies across our portfolio of websites. We plan to organically increase our market share by continuing to deliver best in class content on our branded destinations through the efficient use of our technology platforms. Google and other search engines are increasingly adept at identifying the truly high-quality content which deserves prominence. Our investments in content, product and website delivery thus naturally result in strong search engine rankings without extra effort.
The main drivers for the online gambling affiliate market in which we operate are the underlying online gambling market, pace and detail of regulation, the amount of advertising conducted by the online gambling operators and the share of such advertising going to online gambling affiliates such as us. Underlying market growth stems from both an increase in the number of jurisdictions regulating online gambling for the first time as well as growth from
42
already regulated jurisdictions where online gambling is becoming an increasingly accepted, mainstream leisure activity.
Newly regulated markets, such as the U.S. and Canada, we believe, present significant opportunities for future growth. Changes to existing regulations could present both risks and opportunities depending on the nature of the change. An increase in underlying gaming tax, for example, would negatively affect the revenue potential from such market whereas an expansion in the number of online gambling licensees would typically positively affect the revenue potential.
Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Revenue from sports products tend to fluctuate significantly with the sporting events schedule. Revenue from casino products is typically subject to seasonality to a lesser extent. In Europe, the first and fourth quarters are typically stronger while the second and third quarters are subject to negative seasonality for both sports and casino products. In North America, the first and third quarters are typically stronger for sports products with the second quarter being subject to significant negative seasonality, and the first and fourth quarters are typically stronger for casino products with the second and third quarters subject to negative seasonality. In the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, we saw larger than typical positive seasonality for casino products coinciding with the implementation of restrictive COVID-19 measures. We have seen such positive effects being reversed in connection with the restrictive COVID-19 measures being lifted during 2021.
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, 15%, 11% and 24% of our revenue was generated from sports products including online betting and daily fantasy sports and 84%, 86% and 73% was generated from casino products including iGaming and social casino, respectively.
Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 global pandemic has presented health and economic challenges on an unprecedented scale. The online gambling industry has been affected by COVID-19 both directly in terms of disruptions to revenue generating activities and indirectly as a result of effects to the general economy and financial markets.
The direct impact of COVID-19 on our business beyond disruptions to normal business operations in several offices primarily results from the suspension and cancellation of sports seasons and sporting events. As a result of most major sports events having been postponed or cancelled for parts of 2020, our revenue from sports betting was directly and significantly affected. However, revenue from sports recovered in 2021. Revenue from casino and other non-sports products showed strong growth in 2020 and 2021 and was positively affected by restrictive COVID-19 measures in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021.
Based on currently available information, we do not expect a significant negative long-term impact on our business. We believe our and our customer’s online business models benefit from an accelerated structural change from offline to online. The demands for our services were not impacted significantly by changes in buying behavior and disposable income of online gamblers. Management assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and based on actual results in the fiscal years 2020 and 2021 and concluded there was no overall negative impact on our financial performance.
As a leading provider of digital marketing services for the global online gambling industry, we have seen significant growth in revenues, as we believe COVID-19 has accelerated the structural shift from offline to online entertainment. Our total revenue increased to $42.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $28.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, representing a year over year increase of 51%. Our revenue from casino products increased to $35.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $24.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, representing an increase year over year of 48%. Our revenue from sports products increased to $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, representing an increase of 92%. Our net income decreased to $12.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $15.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Our Adjusted EBITDA increased to $18.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $14.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, representing a year over year increase of 26%.
Our total revenue increased to $28.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $19.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 representing a year over year increase of 45%. Our revenue from casino products increased to $24.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $14.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, representing an increase year over year of 72%. Our revenue from sports products decreased to $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, representing a decrease of 31%. Our net income increased to net income of $15.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020
43
from a net loss of $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our Adjusted EBITDA increased to $14.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, representing a year over year increase of 290%.
While the lasting impact of COVID-19 on the online gambling market is uncertain, we believe that the changes in player behaviors may have a permanent positive effect on the online gambling market and our business.
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
Management uses several financial measures, both IFRS and non-IFRS financial measures in analyzing and assessing the overall performance of the business and for making operational decisions.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure defined as earnings excluding net finance costs, income tax charge, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure defined as EBITDA adjusted to exclude the effect of non-recurring items, significant non-cash items, share-based payment expense and other items that our board of directors believes do not reflect the underlying performance of the business. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is a non-IFRS measure defined as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.
We believe EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are useful to our management as a measure of comparative operating performance from period to period as they remove the effect of items not directly resulting from our core operations including effects that are generated by differences in capital structure, depreciation, tax effects and non-recurring events.
While we use EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as tools to enhance our understanding of certain aspects of our financial performance, we do not believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are substitutes for, or superior to, the information provided by IFRS results. As such, the presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure prepared in accordance with IFRS. The primary limitations associated with the use of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as compared to IFRS results are that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as we define them may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in our industry and that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin may exclude financial information that some investors may consider important in evaluating our performance.
Below is a reconciliation to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from net income for the period attributable to the equity holders as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the period specified:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
CHANGE 2021 vs 2020 |
|
|
CHANGE 2020 vs 2019 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|||||||
|
|
(in thousands, USD, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income (loss) for the year |
|
$ |
12,453 |
|
|
$ |
15,151 |
|
|
|
(1,901 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,698 |
) |
|
|
(18 |
)% |
|
$ |
17,052 |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
Add Back: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net finance (income) costs(1) |
|
|
(772 |
) |
|
|
379 |
|
|
|
2,429 |
|
|
|
(1,151 |
) |
|
|
(304 |
)% |
|
|
(2,050 |
) |
|
|
(84 |
)% |
Income tax (benefit) charge |
|
|
(289 |
) |
|
|
(4,399 |
) |
|
|
872 |
|
|
|
4,110 |
|
|
|
(93 |
)% |
|
|
(5,271 |
) |
|
n/m |
|
|
Depreciation expense |
|
|
176 |
|
|
|
123 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
43 |
% |
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
12 |
% |
Amortization expense |
|
|
2,225 |
|
|
|
2,104 |
|
|
|
2,116 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
)% |
EBITDA |
|
|
13,793 |
|
|
|
13,358 |
|
|
|
3,626 |
|
|
|
435 |
|
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
9,732 |
|
|
|
268 |
% |
Share-based payments |
|
|
1,995 |
|
|
|
371 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,624 |
|
|
|
438 |
% |
|
|
371 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
Accounting and legal fees related to the offering (2) |
|
|
963 |
|
|
|
724 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
239 |
|
|
|
33 |
% |
|
|
724 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
Employees’ bonuses related to offering (2) |
|
|
1,085 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,085 |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
n/m |
|
||
Acquisition related costs (3) |
|
|
520 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
520 |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
n/m |
|
||
Costs related to lease termination |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
155 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
(155 |
) |
|
n/m |
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
28 |
% |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
|
18,356 |
|
|
|
14,608 |
|
|
|
3,747 |
|
|
|
3,748 |
|
|
|
26 |
% |
|
|
10,861 |
|
|
|
290 |
% |
44
n/m = not meaningful
Below is the Adjusted EBITDA Margin calculation for the period specified:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
CHANGE |
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
CHANGE |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
||||||||
|
|
(in thousands USD, except Adjusted EBITDA Margin, unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands USD, except Adjusted EBITDA Margin, unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
Revenue |
|
$ |
42,323 |
|
|
$ |
27,980 |
|
|
$ |
14,343 |
|
|
|
51 |
% |
|
$ |
27,980 |
|
|
$ |
19,266 |
|
|
$ |
8,714 |
|
|
|
45 |
% |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
18,356 |
|
|
$ |
14,608 |
|
|
$ |
3,748 |
|
|
|
26 |
% |
|
$ |
14,608 |
|
|
$ |
3,747 |
|
|
$ |
10,861 |
|
|
|
290 |
% |
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
|
|
43 |
% |
|
|
52 |
% |
|
n/m |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
|
52 |
% |
|
|
19 |
% |
|
n/m |
|
|
n/m |
|
n/m = not meaningful
Free Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow is a non-IFRS financial measure defined as cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures, or CAPEX.
We believe Free Cash Flow is useful to our management as a measure of financial performance as it measures our ability to generate additional cash from our operations. While we use Free Cash Flow as a tool to enhance our understanding of certain aspects of our financial performance, we do not believe that Free Cash Flow is a substitute for, or superior to, the information provided by IFRS metrics. As such, the presentation of Free Cash Flow is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure prepared in accordance with IFRS.
The primary limitation associated with the use of Free Cash Flow as compared to IFRS metrics is that Free Cash Flow does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures due to the fact that the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt service and other obligations or payments made for business acquisitions. Free Cash Flow as we define it also may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in the online gambling affiliate industry.
Below is a reconciliation to Free Cash Flow from cash flows generated by operating activities as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the period specified:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
CHANGE |
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
CHANGE |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
||||||||
|
|
(in thousands, USD, unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands, USD, unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
Cash flows generated by operating activities |
|
$ |
13,997 |
|
|
$ |
10,894 |
|
|
$ |
3,103 |
|
|
|
28 |
% |
|
$ |
10,894 |
|
|
$ |
4,004 |
|
|
$ |
6,890 |
|
|
|
172 |
% |
Capital Expenditures |
|
|
(5,574 |
) |
|
|
(90 |
) |
|
|
(5,484 |
) |
|
n/m |
|
|
|
(90 |
) |
|
|
(1,721 |
) |
|
|
1,631 |
|
|
|
(95 |
)% |
|
Free Cash Flow |
|
$ |
8,423 |
|
|
$ |
10,804 |
|
|
|
(2,381 |
) |
|
|
(22 |
)% |
|
$ |
10,804 |
|
|
$ |
2,283 |
|
|
$ |
8,521 |
|
|
|
373 |
% |
n/m = not meaningful
Constant Currency
Changes in our financial results include the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We provide “constant currency” analysis, as if EUR-USD exchange rate had remained constant period-over-period, to enhance the comparability of our results. When we use the term “constant currency,” we adjust for the impact related to the translation of our consolidated financial statements from EUR to USD by translating financial data for the year ended December 31, 2020 using the same foreign currency exchange rates that we used to translate financial data for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Constant currency metrics should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported results prepared in accordance with IFRS. Refer to “Results of Operations – Year ended December 31, 2021 with year ended
45
December 31, 2020” for Management’s discussion of the constant currency impact for these periods. For foreign exchange rates used, refer to “Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Foreign Currency Translation,” within the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we did not include the impact of constant currency within this annual report as foreign exchange did not have a significant impact on our reported USD amounts for these years. Refer to the section “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Transaction Exposure Sensitivity” for additional information.
Key Performance Indicator
The Key Performance Indicator, or KPI, does not represent an IFRS based measurement. We define an NDC as a unique referral of a player from our system to one of our customers that satisfied an agreed performance obligation (typically making a deposit above a minimum threshold) with the customer and thereby triggered the right to commission for us. Management uses “NDCs” as an indication of the performance of our websites or mobile apps as we generate commission revenues from customers based on the referred players.
While no estimation is necessary in quantifying NDCs, the KPI is subject to various risks such as reliance on search engines, reliance on customer data, customer concentration, competition, licensing and regulation, and macroeconomic conditions. Refer to “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors” within this annual report for further risks associated with our business which could affect this KPI.
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
CHANGE |
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
CHANGE |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
thousands |
|
|
% |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
thousands |
|
|
% |
|
||||||||
|
|
(in thousands, unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands, unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
New Depositing Customers |
|
|
117 |
|
|
|
104 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
13 |
% |
|
|
104 |
|
|
|
79 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
32 |
% |
The increase in NDCs for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020 demonstrates the growth in the business, related to the increase in casino products and recovery in sports products (previously decreased due to fewer sporting events during of COVID-19). The increase in NDCs for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019 demonstrates the growth in the business, specifically related to the increase in casino products which was offset by the decline in sports products due to decreased sporting events as a result of COVID-19. As such, we believe this is a meaningful metric in evaluating our operating performance.
46
Results of Operations
Year ended December 31, 2021 with year ended December 31, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019
The following discussion summarizes our results of operations for our one reportable segment for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. This information should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report.
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
2021 to 2020 CHANGE |
|
|
2020 to 2019 CHANGE |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|||||||
Revenue |
|
$ |
42,323 |
|
|
$ |
27,980 |
|
|
$ |
19,266 |
|
|
$ |
14,343 |
|
|
|
51 |
% |
|
$ |
8,714 |
|
|
|
45 |
% |
Sales and Marketing expenses |
|
|
(14,067 |
) |
|
|
(8,103 |
) |
|
|
(10,862 |
) |
|
|
(5,964 |
) |
|
|
74 |
% |
|
|
2,759 |
|
|
|
(25 |
)% |
Technology expenses |
|
|
(3,947 |
) |
|
|
(2,503 |
) |
|
|
(2,498 |
) |
|
|
(1,444 |
) |
|
|
58 |
% |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
0 |
% |
General & Administrative expenses |
|
|
(13,014 |
) |
|
|
(5,956 |
) |
|
|
(4,213 |
) |
|
|
(7,058 |
) |
|
|
119 |
% |
|
|
(1,743 |
) |
|
|
41 |
% |
Movements in credit loss allowance and write offs |
|
|
97 |
|
|
|
(287 |
) |
|
|
(293 |
) |
|
|
384 |
|
|
|
(134 |
)% |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
(2 |
)% |
Operating profit |
|
|
11,392 |
|
|
|
11,131 |
|
|
|
1,400 |
|
|
|
261 |
|
|
|
2 |
% |
|
|
9,731 |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
Gains (losses) on financial liability at fair value through |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,417 |
|
|
|
(94 |
) |
|
|
(1,417 |
) |
|
|
(100 |
)% |
|
|
1,511 |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
Finance income |
|
|
2,581 |
|
|
|
303 |
|
|
|
140 |
|
|
|
2,278 |
|
|
|
752 |
% |
|
|
163 |
|
|
|
116 |
% |
Finance expense |
|
|
(1,809 |
) |
|
|
(2,099 |
) |
|
|
(2,475 |
) |
|
|
290 |
|
|
|
(14 |
)% |
|
|
376 |
|
|
|
(15 |
)% |
Income (loss) before tax |
|
|
12,164 |
|
|
|
10,752 |
|
|
|
(1,029 |
) |
|
|
1,412 |
|
|
|
13 |
% |
|
|
11,781 |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
Income tax benefit (charge) |
|
|
289 |
|
|
|
4,399 |
|
|
|
(872 |
) |
|
|
(4,110 |
) |
|
|
(93 |
)% |
|
|
5,271 |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
Net income (loss) for the year attributable to equity holders |
|
|
12,453 |
|
|
|
15,151 |
|
|
|
(1,901 |
) |
|
|
(2,698 |
) |
|
|
(18 |
)% |
|
|
17,052 |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
Other comprehensive (loss) income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Exchange differences on translating foreign currencies |
|
|
(4,812 |
) |
|
|
2,480 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
(7,292 |
) |
|
|
(294 |
)% |
|
|
2,430 |
|
|
n/m |
|
|
Total comprehensive income (loss) for the year |
|
|
7,641 |
|
|
|
17,631 |
|
|
|
(1,851 |
) |
|
|
(9,990 |
) |
|
|
(57 |
)% |
|
|
19,482 |
|
|
n/m |
|
n/m = not meaningful
Revenue
We generate most of our revenue by referring online gamblers to online gambling operators with agreements based on one of three models: revenue share, cost per acquisition (CPA), or a combination of both, which is referred to as hybrid. We consider each referred player to be a separate performance obligation. It is satisfied at the point in time when the referral is accepted by the relevant online gambling operator. Revenue share fees for each referred player are considered variable consideration and are only recognized to the extent it is probable that no significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized for the referral will occur when the ultimate fees are known. CPA fees for each referred player are recognized when earned upon acceptance of the referral by the online gambling operator.
Other revenues are derived from advertising, onboarding fees, and bonuses for achieving certain NDC targets paid by online gambling operators. These revenues are recognized as earned or straight-line over the applicable service period.
Fees generated by each customer during a particular month are paid to us typically within 30-45 days after month end.
47
The following tables set forth the breakdown of our revenue in U.S. dollar amounts and as percentages of total revenues for the periods indicated:
Our revenue disaggregated by market is as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
AS A PERCENTAGE |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
||||||
U.K. and Ireland |
|
$ |
21,391 |
|
|
$ |
16,189 |
|
|
$ |
13,412 |
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
58 |
% |
|
|
70 |
% |
Other Europe |
|
|
10,800 |
|
|
|
5,252 |
|
|
|
2,879 |
|
|
|
26 |
% |
|
|
19 |
% |
|
|
15 |
% |
North America |
|
|
7,484 |
|
|
|
3,959 |
|
|
|
1,916 |
|
|
|
18 |
% |
|
|
14 |
% |
|
|
10 |
% |
Rest of the world |
|
|
2,648 |
|
|
|
2,580 |
|
|
|
1,059 |
|
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
9 |
% |
|
|
5 |
% |
Total revenues |
|
$ |
42,323 |
|
|
$ |
27,980 |
|
|
$ |
19,266 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
Other Europe includes revenue from Germany, Italy, Sweden and other European markets. North America includes revenue from the U.S. and Canada. Rest of the world includes revenue from Oceania and other markets outside of Europe and North America. Revenue is disaggregated based on the location of online gamblers. During the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, and the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 revenue increased across each of our disaggregated markets driven by organic growth. We believe, the growth stems from a combination of increased demand, market growth, increased addressable market, increased market share, and improved technology and operational efficiencies.
Our revenue disaggregated by monetization is as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
AS A PERCENTAGE |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
||||||
Hybrid commission |
|
$ |
15,616 |
|
|
$ |
14,738 |
|
|
$ |
11,060 |
|
|
|
37 |
% |
|
|
53 |
% |
|
|
57 |
% |
Revenue share commission |
|
|
3,596 |
|
|
|
3,308 |
|
|
|
3,856 |
|
|
|
8 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
20 |
% |
CPA commission |
|
|
18,591 |
|
|
|
9,047 |
|
|
|
3,447 |
|
|
|
44 |
% |
|
|
32 |
% |
|
|
18 |
% |
Other revenue |
|
|
4,520 |
|
|
|
887 |
|
|
|
903 |
|
|
|
11 |
% |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
5 |
% |
Total revenues |
|
$ |
42,323 |
|
|
$ |
27,980 |
|
|
$ |
19,266 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
Revenue share commission includes revenue from arrangements where we are remunerated exclusively by a share of the customer’s NGR from the referred players. CPA commission includes revenue from arrangements where we are remunerated exclusively by a single cash payment for each referred player. Hybrid commission includes revenue from arrangements where we are remunerated by both a CPA commission and a revenue share commission from the referred players. Other revenue includes revenue from arrangements not based on the referred players including advertising, onboarding fees, and bonuses for achieving certain NDC targets.
The revenue increase for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 is driven primarily by increased CPA commission revenue of $9.5 million or 105% and Other revenue of $3.6 million or 410% on account of increased tenancy and flat fees.
The increase in revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 is driven primarily by additional Hybrid commission and CPA commission revenue of $3.7 million, or 33%, and $5.6 million, or 162%, respectively. These increases were offset by a decline in Revenue share commission of $0.5 million, or 14%. Other revenue experienced flat growth year over year.
The change in revenue by monetization is driven primarily by relative changes in the product and market mix with sports products typically being monetized to a greater degree with Revenue Share or Hybrid commission relative to casino products and the North American market, including sports, typically being monetized to a greater degree with CPA commission relative to other markets.
48
Our revenue disaggregated by product type from which it is derived is as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
AS A PERCENTAGE |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
||||||
Casino |
|
$ |
35,632 |
|
|
$ |
24,135 |
|
|
$ |
14,020 |
|
|
|
84 |
% |
|
|
86 |
% |
|
|
73 |
% |
Sports |
|
|
6,188 |
|
|
|
3,210 |
|
|
|
4,686 |
|
|
|
15 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
24 |
% |
Other |
|
|
503 |
|
|
|
635 |
|
|
|
560 |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
2 |
% |
|
|
3 |
% |
Total revenues |
|
$ |
42,323 |
|
|
$ |
27,980 |
|
|
$ |
19,266 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
Revenue from Casino includes revenue from iGaming and social casino products. Revenue from Sports includes revenue from online sports betting and fantasy sports. Other revenue includes revenue from products other than Casino and Sports including online poker and online bingo.
The revenue increase for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 is driven primarily by revenue from Casino products, which increased $11.5 million, or 48%. The increase in revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 is driven primarily by revenue from Casino products, which increased $10.1 million, or 72%. This revenue increase, we believe, is driven partly by a structural shift from offline to online casino products, accelerated by the closure of traditional brick-and-mortar gambling facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, positively impacting the overall market growth.
In Sports revenue, we saw an increase of $3.0 million, or 93%, for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 which was directly impacted by the resumption of the sports season and in-person sporting events resulting from a decrease in COVID-19 restrictions. In Sports revenue, we saw a decrease of $1.5 million, or 31%, for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 which was directly impacted by COVID-19 as a result of the suspension and cancellation of sports seasons and sporting events.
Other revenue remained relatively flat compared period-to-period.
The majority of our revenues were denominated in EUR and GBP. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased $13.4 million, or 46%, for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Fluctuations in the EUR to USD and GBP to USD exchange rates did not have a significant impact on our reported USD revenue amounts for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Our reported revenues in future periods will continue to be affected by fluctuations in the EUR to USD and GBP to USD exchange rates. Refer to the section “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Transaction Exposure Sensitivity” for additional information
Operating Expenses
The following tables set forth the breakdown of our expenses in U.S. dollar amounts and as percentages of total revenues for the period indicated:
Sales and Marketing Expenses
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
AS A PERCENTAGE |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
||||||
Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs |
|
$ |
8,362 |
|
|
$ |
4,515 |
|
|
$ |
4,303 |
|
|
|
20 |
% |
|
|
16 |
% |
|
|
22 |
% |
External marketing expenses |
|
|
2,070 |
|
|
|
1,208 |
|
|
|
3,526 |
|
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
18 |
% |
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
1,817 |
|
|
|
1,817 |
|
|
|
1,873 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
7 |
% |
|
|
10 |
% |
Share-based payments |
|
|
524 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
— |
|
Other |
|
|
1,294 |
|
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
1,160 |
|
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
2 |
% |
|
|
6 |
% |
Total Sales and Marketing Expenses |
|
$ |
14,067 |
|
|
$ |
8,103 |
|
|
$ |
10,862 |
|
|
|
33 |
% |
|
|
29 |
% |
|
|
56 |
% |
Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs include commercial, marketing and content functions. External marketing expenses include search and other marketing activities. Amortization of intangible assets relates to amortization of domains, apps and customer contracts. Share-based payment expense pertains to the share-based compensation plan whereby certain employees and consultants are eligible to purchase share warrants or receive share options. Other expenses include external service providers and software licenses.
49
Sales and marketing expenses increased $6.0 million, or 74%, in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase is primarily the result of Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs of $3.9 million or 85% as a result of new hires during the year and year-over-year salary increase. External marketing costs increased $0.9 million or 71% as a result of increased marketing campaigns and sponsorship costs as well as higher outreach marketing. Other sales and marketing expenses increased $0.8 million or 159% as a result of higher content costs.
Sales and marketing expenses decreased by $2.8 million, or 25%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The decrease is primarily the result of decreased external marketing expenses of $2.3 million, or 66%, as a result of significantly reduced pay-per-click advertising. Other sales and marketing expenses also decreased by $0.7 million, or 57%, as a result of moving some marketing and content functions that had previously been outsourced in-house. Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs increased $0.2 million, or 5%, as a result of year-over-year salary increases in addition to the impact of foreign exchange.
The majority of our sales and marketing expenses were denominated in EUR. On a constant currency basis, sales and marketing expenses increased $5.7 million, or 68%, for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Fluctuations in the EUR to USD exchange rate did not have a significant impact on our reported USD sales and marketing expense amounts for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Technology Expenses
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
AS A PERCENTAGE |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
||||||
Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs |
|
$ |
3,296 |
|
|
$ |
2,183 |
|
|
$ |
2,225 |
|
|
|
8 |
% |
|
|
8 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
Depreciation of property and equipment |
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
129 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
— |
|
Share-based payments |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
91 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
— |
|
Other |
|
|
476 |
|
|
|
201 |
|
|
|
268 |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
Total Technology Expenses |
|
$ |
3,947 |
|
|
$ |
2,503 |
|
|
$ |
2,498 |
|
|
|
9 |
% |
|
|
9 |
% |
|
|
13 |
% |
Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs include software, web, and business intelligence technology functions. Depreciation expense pertains to computer and office equipment. Amortization of intangible assets relates to amortization of capitalized development costs. Share-based payment expense pertains to the share-based compensation plan whereby certain employees and consultants are eligible to purchase share warrants or receive share options. Other expenses include hosting, software licenses, and external service providers.
Technology expenses increased $1.4 million, or 58%, in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase is primarily the result of wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs of $1.1 million or 51% as a result of new hires during the year and year-over-year salary increase.
Technology expenses remained stable for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019 as we continue to invest to further expand on our technology capabilities.
The majority of our technology expenses were denominated in EUR. On a constant currency basis, technology expenses increased $1.4 million, or 52%, for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Fluctuations in the EUR to USD exchange rate did not have a significant impact on our reported USD technology expense amounts for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
50
General and Administrative Expenses
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|
AS A PERCENTAGE |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
||||||
Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs |
|
$ |
4,044 |
|
|
$ |
3,114 |
|
|
$ |
1,757 |
|
|
|
10 |
% |
|
|
11 |
% |
|
|
9 |
% |
Share-based payments |
|
|
1,471 |
|
|
|
217 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
— |
|
Depreciation of property and equipment |
|
|
130 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
Amortization of right-of-use assets |
|
|
279 |
|
|
|
272 |
|
|
|
243 |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
Short term leases |
|
|
382 |
|
|
|
203 |
|
|
|
630 |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
3 |
% |
Legal and consultancy fees |
|
|
2,590 |
|
|
|
928 |
|
|
|
460 |
|
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
2 |
% |
Accounting and legal fees related to the offering |
|
|
963 |
|
|
|
724 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2 |
% |
|
|
2 |
% |
|
|
— |
|
Costs related to lease termination |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
155 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
Employees’ bonuses related to offering |
|
|
1,085 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition related costs |
|
|
520 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
— |
|
Other |
|
|
1,550 |
|
|
|
233 |
|
|
|
897 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
5 |
% |
Total General and Administrative Expense |
|
$ |
13,014 |
|
|
$ |
5,956 |
|
|
$ |
4,213 |
|
|
|
31 |
% |
|
|
21 |
% |
|
|
22 |
% |
Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs include directors and executive management, finance, and human resource functions. Share-based payment expense pertains to the share-based compensation plan whereby certain employees and consultants are eligible to purchase share warrants or receive share options. Depreciation expense pertains to computer and office equipment. Amortization of right-of-use assets relates to amortization of leases under IFRS 16. Short term leases relate to lease and other property expenses not classified as right-of-use assets. Legal and consultancy fees include fees for external auditors, tax, legal, and other advisors. Other expenses include office expenses and travel and entertainment expenses.
General and administrative expenses increased $7.1 million, or 119%, in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs increased $0.9 million, or 30%, as a result of year-over-year salary and bonus increases and expansion of the senior management team. Share-based payments increased by $1.3 million due to the stock options granted during 2021. Legal and consultancy fees increased by $1.7 million, or 179%, as a result of increased auditing, accounting, and tax expenses. We incurred expenses of $1.0 million in 2021 consisting of accounting and legal fees related to the offering, $1.1 million related to employee bonus related to the offering and $0.5 million of other transactional costs. Other expenses increased by $1.3 million primarily as a result increased cost of liability insurance post IPO, travel and office expenses.
General and Administrative expenses increased by $1.7 million, or 41%, in 2020 compared to 2019. Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs increased $1.4 million, or 77%, as a result of year-over-year salary and bonus increases and expansion of the senior management team. Legal and consultancy fees increased by $0.5 million, or 102%, as a result of increased auditing, accounting, and tax expenses. We incurred expenses of $0.7 million in 2020 consisting of accounting and legal fees related to the offering. These were offset by a decrease in short term lease expense of $0.4 million, or 68%, due to reduced office space in Dublin and discounts in rent expense for the Charlotte office. Other expenses decreased by $0.7 million, or 74%, primarily as a result of lower travel and entertainment expenses which were directly impacted by COVID-19 measures.
The majority of our general and administrative expenses were denominated in EUR. On a constant currency basis, general and administrative expenses increased $6.8 million, or 111%, for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Fluctuations in the EUR to USD exchange rate did not have a significant impact on our reported USD general and administrative expense amounts for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Financial Items
For the year ended December 31, 2021, finance expense in the aggregate of $1.8 million is comprised of interest expense of $0.5 million on our Term Loan, interest expense on lease liabilities of $0.2 million on our long-term lease liabilities, $1 million of translation losses on balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than each entity’s functional currency, and $0.1 million of other finance expenses.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, finance expense in the aggregate of $2.1 million is comprised mainly of interest expense of $1.5 million on our 2021 Bonds and term loan, interest expense on lease liabilities of $0.2 million
51
on our lease liabilities, $0.2 million of costs to repurchase warrants, and $0.2 million of translation losses on balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than each entity’s functional currency.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, finance expense in the aggregate of $2.5 million is comprised mainly of interest expense of $2.0 million on our senior secured bonds fully redeemed in December 2020, or the 2021 Bonds, and our convertible promissory notes, or the 2019 Convertible Notes, fully redeemed on maturity as per June 30, 2019, interest expense on lease liabilities of $0.2 million on our long-term lease liabilities (as a result of IFRS 16 application), $0.1 million of translation losses on balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than each entity’s functional currency, and $0.1 million of other finance expenses related to the senior secured bond.
Gains (losses) attributable to financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss comprised of movement in the fair value of the 2021 Bonds, of $1.4 million and ($0.1 million) as determined by market quotes for the years ended December 31, 2019 and at redemption in 2020, respectively.
We experienced an increase of $2.2 million in finance income to $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $0.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. We experienced an increase of $0.2 million, or 116%, in finance income to $0.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2020 from $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Finance income is mainly comprised of translation gains of balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than each entity’s functional currency.
We experienced a decrease of $0.3 million, or 14%, in finance expense to $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The primary drivers of this decrease were lower interest expenses due to early redemption of the 2021 Bonds which resulted in a decrease in interest on borrowings by $ 1.0 million, which was offset by increases of $ 0.9 million related to translation of monetary assets and liabilities.
We experienced a decrease of $0.4 million, or 15%, in finance expense to $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The primary drivers of this decrease were the redemption of the 2021 Bonds, which resulted in a decrease in interest on borrowings of $0.5 million, and a $0.1 million decrease in other finance expense, which were offset by an increase of $0.2 million related to warrant issuance costs.
Taxation
We are subject to income taxes in Malta, Ireland and the U.S. Tax charges (credits) amounted to ($0.3 million), ($4.4 million) and $0.9 million of which ($1.8 million), ($5.38 million) and $0.5 million related to movements in deferred taxes for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Deferred taxes relate to the difference between the accounting and tax base of transferred intangible assets and carried forward tax losses. As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we had cumulative carried forward tax losses of $31.5 million, $25.5 million and $26.0 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had unutilized capital allowances of $93.4 million and $79.3 million, respectively, related to the transferred intangible assets.
Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash generated from our initial public offering, operations, equity investments by third parties and borrowings. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, our cash deposited in banks was $51.0 million and $8.2 million, respectively, primarily in accounts with banks in the U.S., Ireland, and Sweden, which have credit ratings (long term, as assessed by Moody’s) of A2, A2 and Aa2, respectively. Historically, our fundraising efforts generally related to the expansion of our business through acquisitions and continued development of our platform.
On October 22, 2018, we issued the 2021 Bonds. Of the total principal amount, $17.7 million was sold to investors at par, and the remaining $0.6 million was purchased by us and initially held in treasury and was sold to investors in May 2019. The 2021 Bonds had a fixed interest rate of 10.5% paid semi-annually on April 22 and October 22. The 2021 Bonds were listed on Nasdaq Stockholm on December 4, 2018. The 2021 Bonds were secured by our shares in material subsidiaries and intergroup loans. The 2021 Bonds included a voluntary early redemption embedded call option that allowed us to redeem the 2021 Bonds starting April 22, 2020. The redemption price included a premium, which varied from 1.05% up to 5.25% depending on the period when the embedded call option was exercised by us.
Through March 2020, we repurchased on the open market 2021 Bonds with a nominal amount (including accrued interest) of EUR 4.4 million ($5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020), in exchange for a cash payment of EUR 3.1 million ($3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020). The repurchased 2021 Bonds were initially held in treasury and subsequently cancelled.
52
During the second quarter of 2020, we received a $0.2 million loan from an unsecured bank loan in the U.S. in connection with the COVID-19 paycheck protection program, or the PPP loan, as part of the CARES Act. The loan is repayable in monthly instalments from April 2021 to May 2022, bears interest at 1% per annum and could be forgiven to the extent proceeds of the loan are used for eligible expenditures, such as payroll and other expenses described in the CARES Act. As the Group reasonably believes that it will meet the terms for forgiveness, the loan is accounted for as a grant related to income and initially recognized as a deferred income liability. Subsequent to initial recognition, the Company reduced the liability, with the offset presented as a reduction of the related expense (i.e., payroll related costs) during the year ended December 31, 2020. The loan was forgiven in May 2021.
On December 7, 2020, in lieu of the exercise of warrants issued in 2019, we closed a share subscription agreement with Charles Gillespie, Kevin McCrystle, Mark Blandford, Edison Partners, and other parties thereto for a growth equity investment of $3.0 million in new equity.
In December 2020, we and an investor entered into a $6.0 million two-year term loan carrying interest at 8%, or the term loan. The term loan is secured by shares in our subsidiaries.
On December 29, 2020, we fully redeemed the remaining 2021 Bonds at 103.15% plus accrued interest which totaled $14.1 million.
In July 2021, we issued and sold 5,250,000 ordinary shares in our initial public offering on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol “GAMB” in exchange for total gross cash proceeds of $42.0 million.
We estimate based on cash on hand, cash generated from operations and proceeds from additional financings, that we will have adequate liquidity to fund operations for at least twelve months from the issuance date of our consolidated financial statements.
Working Capital
Our working capital is mainly comprised of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and trade and other payables. Our working capital increased to $46.7 million as of December 31, 2021 compared to $10.1 million as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, our working capital equaled $46.7 million comprising of cash and cash equivalents of $51.0 million and trade and other receivables of $5.5 million less trade and other payables of $3.3 million, borrowings and accrued interest of $5.9 million, lease liability of $0.4 million and income tax payable of $0.2 million. As of December 31, 2020, our working capital equaled $10.1 million comprising mainly of cash and cash equivalents of $8.2 million and trade and other receivables of $5.5 million less trade and other payables of $2.4 million, lease liability of $0.4 million and income tax payable of $0.8 million. Our trade and other receivables are amounts due from customers for services performed in the ordinary course of business. Such balances are typically classified as current. Our trade and other payables are obligations to pay for services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. We believe that our current working capital is sufficient to support our operations for the next twelve months.
Cash Flow Analysis
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the period indicated:
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands, USD) |
|
|||||||||
Cash flows generated by operating activities |
|
$ |
13,997 |
|
|
$ |
10,894 |
|
|
$ |
4,004 |
|
Cash flows used in investing activities |
|
|
(5,574 |
) |
|
|
(90 |
) |
|
|
(1,721 |
) |
Cash flows generated by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
34,988 |
|
|
|
(10,201 |
) |
|
|
316 |
|
Net movement in cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
43,411 |
|
|
$ |
603 |
|
|
$ |
2,599 |
|
Cash Flows Generated by Operating Activities
Cash flow from operating activities in 2021 and 2020 was primarily attributable to cash from operations due to strong cash conversion and amounted to $13.7 million and $13.3 million and $0.3 million and ($2.4 million) from changes in working capital, respectively.
Cash flows generated by operating activities increased $3.1 million or 28%, to a $14.0 million net inflow during the year ended December 31, 2021 from a $10.9 million net inflow for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities is the result of an increase in income before tax of $1.4 million due to growth in the business as described above. The increase was offset by changes in non-cash add backs, adjustments to income before tax and changes in operating assets and liabilities as follows: (i) net finance costs
53
decreased by $2.6 million due to decreased interest expense on our 2021 Bonds, (ii) financial instruments valuation gains decreased $1.4 million due to the redemption of our 2021 Bonds, (iii) share option charges increased $1.7 million, (iv) income tax payments increased $1.5 million and (v) working capital changes increased by $2.8 million reflecting increased trade and other receivables balances for 2021 compared to 2020. The increase in trade and other receivables is the result of increased prepayments as of December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020.
Cash flow from operating activities in 2020 and 2019 was primarily attributable to cash from operations due to strong cash conversion and amounted to $13.3 million and $3.8 million and ($2.4 million) and $0.2 million from changes in working capital, respectively.
Cash flows generated by operating activities increased $6.9 million or 172%, to a $10.9 million net inflow for the year ended December 31, 2020 from a $4.0 million net inflow during the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities is the result of an increase in income before tax of $11.8 million due to organic growth in the business as described above. The increase was offset by changes in non-cash add backs, adjustments to income before tax and changes in operating assets and liabilities as follows: (i) net finance costs decreased to $1.8 million from $2.3 million due to decreased interest expense on our 2021 Bonds, (ii) financial instruments valuation gains increased $1.5 million due to fair value movement on our 2021 Bonds, (iii) share option charges increased $0.3 million, (iv) income tax payments increased $0.5 million and (v) working capital changes decreased by $2.6 million reflecting increased trade and other receivables balances for 2020 compared to 2019. The increase in trade and other receivables is the result of increased revenue in 2020 compared to 2019, resulting in larger receivable balances as of December 31, 2020.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
Cash flows used in investing activities increased $5.5 million to a $5.6 million net outflow during the year ended December 31, 2021 from a $0.1 million net outflow during the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase is mainly the result of capitalized software development costs of $1.7 million, the purchase of domains of $3.6 million and increases in the purchase of computers, software and office equipment of $0.3 million.
Cash flows used in investing activities decreased $1.6 million, or 95%, to a $0.1 million net outflow during the year ended December 31, 2020 from a $1.7 million net outflow during the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is the result of a final cash payment made in 2019 for mobile apps acquired in 2018 of $1.5 million and decreases in the purchase of computers, software and office equipment.
Cash Flows Generated by (Used in) Financing Activities
Cash flows generated by financing activities of $35.0 million in 2021 was the result of the initial public offering of ordinary shares, net of equity issue costs, of $35.9 million and scheduled interest payments of $0.5 million. Rent payments for long term leases of $0.4 million are presented as part of financing cash flows as a result of application of IFRS 16 and comprised of principal paid of $0.2 million and interest paid of $0.2 million.
Cash flows used in financing activities of $10.2 million in 2020 was the result of the issue of ordinary shares and warrants, net of equity issue costs, of $3.4 million, proceeds from the issuance of financial instruments, net of issuance costs, of $5.9 million, repayments of Notes of $17.4 million, repurchases of warrants of $0.1 million, and scheduled interest payments of $1.7 million. Rent payments for long term leases of $0.4 million are presented as part of financing cash flows and comprised of principal paid of $0.2 million and interest paid of $0.2 million.
Cash flows generated by financing activities of $0.3 million in 2019 was primarily the result of the issue of ordinary shares and warrants, net of equity issue costs, of $6.8 million, repayments of Notes of $4.5 million, scheduled interest payments of $2.3 million, and proceeds received from the sale of 2021 Bonds held in treasury of $0.6 million. Rent payments for long term leases of $0.4 million are presented as part of financing cash flows as a result of application of IFRS 16 and comprised of principal paid of $0.2 million and interest paid of $0.2 million.
Research and Development
We have built our technology platform relying primarily on software and systems that we have developed in-house and to a lesser extent on third-party software that we have modified and incorporated. Our strong technology platform is essential to our business and ability to compete successfully with other online gambling affiliates. We continue to invest significant resources to further develop our platform.
54
Intellectual Property
We consider our trademarks and domain names as critical to our success. We currently hold rights to the Gambling.com and bookies.com domain names and various other related domain names in multiple jurisdictions. We also have certain registered trademarks that are important to our brand, such as the combined mark, Gambling.com. We primarily rely on a combination of trademark, copyright and other intellectual property laws and contractual restrictions to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights.
As of December 31, 2021, we owned 4 trademarks and over 650 domains.
For a discussion of trends, see “Item 4.B. Information on the Company – Business Overview” and “Item 5.A. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results.”
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making the judgements about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
ASSET ACQUISITIONS
Between September 2016 and February 2018, the Group made five separate acquisitions of intellectual property consisting of domain names together with the related websites, mobile apps and content, and customer contracts. Effective January 1, 2019, the Group early adopted the amended definition of the business in IFRS 3 with retrospective application to prior acquisitions. As amended, IFRS 3 defines a business as an integrated set of activities and assets, which must include at a minimum an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output. Entities are also allowed to perform an optional concentration test. If substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar assets, the acquired integrated set does not constitute a business.
All the Group’s acquisitions satisfied the requirements of the concentration test, as substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired was concentrated in the domain names together with the related websites, mobile apps, and content. The Group determined the value of the domain names is not separable from the content of the websites and apps and does not exist on its own, as potential players visit the websites and install and use the apps to research and select their desired gaming opportunities.
In addition, the Group made separate acquisitions of intellectual property consisting of domain names during 2021. For all acquisitions, the Company elected to bypass the optional concentration test and evaluated if a substantive process was acquired. The Company concluded that no substantive processes were included in any of the acquisitions. When no workforce is acquired, a process is considered substantive when it is unique or scarce. The Group did not acquire any workforce, and promptly transitioned the acquired assets onto its technology platform, integrating them into its existing processes. The legacy processes underlying the acquired assets were not unique or scarce, as they were based on commercially available Internet technologies and did not incorporate any substantive know-how. The Group concluded that all acquisitions were acquisitions of assets, and that early adoption of the amended definition of the business in IFRS 3 did not have any quantifiable impact on the assessment of the acquisitions.
INDEFINITE LIFE INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The acquired domain names, together with the related assets, are assigned an indefinite useful life when there is evidence based on the analysis of the applicable market trends and circumstances, management plans, expected usage and information about the ongoing cash inflows that the asset will be able to generate cash flows to the Group for an indefinite period. Indefinite-life intangibles are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually as of December 31. In addition, the Group reassesses in each period the assumptions underlying the useful life of indefinite-life intangible assets and assigns such assets a finite life if indicated by changes in the applicable facts
55
and circumstances. Finite-life domain names and the related assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated period during which they are expected to continue to generate cash flows for the Group.
During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Group had domain name intangibles with an indefinite useful life and the aggregate carrying value of $22.6 million and $20.3 million, respectively. The Group also had one finite-life mobile apps intangible asset, which was amortized over its useful life of 48 months and had a carrying value of $1.3 million and $3.3 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Group has concluded no changes to the useful lives of these assets were necessary.
Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are tested for impairment annually at December 31. For the purposes of impairment assessment, assets are grouped at the lowest level which generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows of the remaining assets (cash-generating units). Substantially all of the Group’s cash inflows are generated through the use of its technology platform which is monetized via various informational portals that include domain names, websites and mobile apps. When customers utilize our platform, they acquire leads from the whole suite of websites rather than by domain. Accordingly, the Group determined it has one cash-generating unit that includes all of its intangibles, property and equipment, and right of use assets.
As of December 31, 2021, the Group tested its indefinite-life intangible assets for impairment as part of the Group’s single cash generating unit. The recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit was based on projected cash flows for 2022—2031 in which an average annual rate of growth between 3% and 44.7% was assumed and a long-term sustainable growth rate of 3% was applied. The projected cash flows were discounted using a discount rate of 13%. The effective tax rate was estimated at 15%. The methods for determining the significant inputs and assumptions are based on experience and expectations regarding market performance.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Group tested its indefinite-life intangible assets for impairment as part of the Group’s single cash generating unit. The recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit was based on the cash flow projections reflecting actual income from operations in 2020 and 2019, and projected cash flows for 2021—2029 in which an average annual rate of growth between 4% and 40% was assumed and a long-term sustainable growth rate of 3% was applied. The projected cash flows were discounted using a discount rate of 18%. The effective tax rate was estimated at 12.5%. The methods for determining the significant inputs and assumptions are based on experience and expectations regarding market performance.
The Group concluded that the recoverable amount is well in excess of the assets’ carrying amount, and accordingly a sensitivity analysis in this regard is not disclosed. Consequently, the Group concluded no impairment charges were necessary.
When a triggering event arises, it may be necessary to test an asset for impairment at an individual asset level. This is the case when the asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use are both negligible. As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, no intangible assets met the criteria to be tested at the individual asset level.
CAPITALIZATION AND IMPAIRMENT OF INTERNALLY DEVELOPED ASSETS
Management reviews expenditures, including wages and benefits for employees, incurred on development activities and based on their judgment of the costs incurred assesses whether the expenditure meets the capitalization criteria set out in IAS 38 and the intangible assets accounting policy within the notes to our consolidated financial statements. Management specifically considers if additional expenditure on projects relates to maintenance or new development projects. In addition, the useful life of capitalized development costs is determined by management at the time the software is brought into use and is regularly reviewed for appropriateness. For unique software products we control and develop, the life is based on historical experience with similar products as well as anticipation of future events, which may impact their useful economic life, such as changes in technology. Management reviews intangible assets at each reporting period to determine potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an intangible asset may not be fully recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the intangible asset with the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. Management must make estimates related to future cash flows and discount rates that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted. If such assets are considered impaired, an impairment loss would be measured by comparing the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the intangible asset.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Group entered into a senior secured bond arrangement in October 2018 with third parties. The bonds had an embedded early redemption derivative, and the Group elected to measure senior secured bonds at fair value
56
through profit and loss. The fair value of the bonds is categorized as Level 1 and was determined using market quoted prices, after considering whether any adjustments may be required, for example, due to timing differences between the market transaction dates and the valuation dates. No adjustments to market quoted prices were required during the year ended December 31, 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Group repurchased and redeemed all of the outstanding senior secured bonds which is accounted for as an extinguishment. Therefore, the liability associated with the senior secured bonds is derecognized from the consolidated statement of financial position at December 31, 2020.
Warrants issued with common shares are measured at fair value at the date of issue using the Black-Scholes pricing model or binomial pricing model, and incorporate certain input assumptions including the share price, risk-free interest rate, expected warrant life and expected share price volatility. The fair value of certain warrants is included in the share options and warrants reserve component of equity and is transferred to share capital and capital reserve on exercise. The fair value of liability-classified warrants is determined using the Black-Scholes pricing model and such warrants are marked to market at each period end.
SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS
Management determines costs for share-based payments using market-based valuation techniques.
The fair value of the equity-classified options and warrants are determined at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model or Monte Carlo simulation, as applicable. One of the warrants provided for contingent net settlement in cash as a forward instrument, with the net settlement price based on a formula, in the event of termination of the holder’s employment within a stated period. As of December 31, 2020, the warrant was considered to be a compound financial instrument with an equity component of nil. The debt component was treated as cash settled and was liability classified. The fair value of this warrant was determined at each statement of financial position date, with fair value recognized over the expected service period and changes recognized in profit and loss, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. In June 2021, this warrant was reclassified as equity as, through an addendum, it was no longer considered cash-settled.
Assumptions are made and judgments are used in applying valuation techniques. Such judgments and assumptions are inherently uncertain. Changes in these assumptions affect the fair value estimates. For options and warrants valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, these assumptions and judgments include estimating the future volatility of the stock price, risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield, expected term, future employee turnover rates and future employee stock option exercise behaviors and corporate performance.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company granted stock options to certain employees subject to time vesting. The Company determined the fair value of these options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. During 2021, the Company also granted stock options to Company’s founders subject to market performance vesting conditions. The founders are required to hold exercised shares for a period of three years ("holding restriction") after the exercise date. The Company determined the fair value of these options using a Monte Carlo simulation and the following inputs: volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield, holding restriction discount, and expected time to vest.
See Note 13 for additional information on the valuation of options and warrants.
COMMON STOCK VALUATIONS
In valuing our common stock, the fair value of our business, or enterprise value, was determined using a combination of the market and income approaches. We believe both approaches are relevant and meaningful given our robust Company projections, publicly traded comparable stock information available and the price in the most recent equity transaction. The market approach estimates value based on a comparison of the subject company to comparable public companies in a similar line of business and secondary transactions of our capital stock. From the comparable companies, a representative market value multiple is determined and then applied to the subject company’s financial results to estimate the value of the subject company. The market approach also includes consideration of the transaction price of secondary sales of our capital stock by investors. The income approach estimates the fair value of a company based on the present value of the company’s future estimated cash flows and the residual value of the company beyond the forecast period. These future cash flows, including the cash flows beyond the forecast period for the residual value, are discounted to their present values using an appropriate discount rate, to reflect the risks inherent in the company achieving these estimated cash flows.
Our assessments of the fair value of common stock for grant dates were based in part on the current available financial and operational information and the common stock value provided in the most recent valuation as compared to the timing of each grant. For financial reporting purposes, we considered the amount of time between
57
the valuation date and the grant date to determine whether to use the latest common stock valuation or a straight-line interpolation between the two valuation dates. This determination included an evaluation of whether the subsequent valuation indicated that any significant change in valuation had occurred between the previous valuation and the grant date.
For valuations after the completion of the listing of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market, our board of directors will determine the fair value of each share of underlying common stock based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the date of grant.
TAXATION
Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable future taxable profits will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized. The key area of judgement is therefore an assessment of whether it is probable that there will be suitable taxable profits against which any deferred tax assets can be utilized. The deferred tax asset recognized as of December 31, 2021 was based on management’s performance projections for 2022 – 2026. The deferred tax asset recognized as of December 31, 2020 was based on management’s performance projections for 2021 – 2025. We operate in a number of international tax jurisdictions. Judgement is required in respect of the interpretation of state, federal and international tax law and practices as e-commerce and tax continues to evolve. We file our tax returns and duty calculations and estimate our tax provisions based on current tax rules and practices and our transfer pricing policy, together with advice received from professional advisors and believe that our accruals for tax liabilities are adequate.
Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial information and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilized.
Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized, or the liability is settled based upon tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position date. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and (Loss).
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each Consolidated Statement of Financial Position date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is measured using tax rates that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position date and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset or liability is realized or settled.
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our executive officers, and directors as of the date of this annual report:
NAME |
|
AGE |
|
|
POSITION |
|
Executive officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Gillespie |
|
|
38 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Director |
Kevin McCrystle |
|
|
38 |
|
|
Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder |
Elias Mark |
|
|
41 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Johannes Bergh |
|
|
53 |
|
|
Chief Strategy Officer |
Ellen Monaghan |
|
|
37 |
|
|
Vice President, People |
|
|
|
||||
Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Blandford |
|
|
64 |
|
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Susan Ball |
|
|
60 |
|
|
Director (1)(2)(3) |
Fredrik Burvall |
|
|
49 |
|
|
Director (1)(3) |
Gregg Michaelson |
|
|
56 |
|
|
Director (2) |
Pär Sundberg |
|
|
49 |
|
|
Director (2)(3) |
Daniel J. D’Arrigo |
|
|
53 |
|
|
Director(1)(3) |
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Executive Officers
Charles Gillespie is our Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and a director, which positions he has held since the Company’s inception in 2006. Through his tenure, Mr. Gillespie has overseen the Company’s operations across multiple jurisdictions including Europe and U.S. Under his leadership, the Company has prioritized technological investments and has completed four acquisitions to expand the breadth of the Company’s portfolio. He has built a reputation as a recognized leader and was named Sports Betting Community Leader of the Year in 2019. Mr. Gillespie holds a Bachelor of Art degree in Political Science and Entrepreneurship from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Kevin McCrystle is our Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder, which positions he has held since 2007. Through his tenure, Mr. McCrystle has developed and implemented strategies for product, marketing, content, sales, and integration of key acquisitions. Since July 2016, he has served as a director of GDC Media Limited (Ireland), a subsidiary of the Company. In 2020, Mr. McCrystle relocated to the Charlotte office to oversee the development of the North American market. Mr. McCrystle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Philosophy from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Elias Mark is our Chief Financial Officer, which position he has held since 2016. Mr. Mark also served on the board of directors of Ampezzo Capital PCC Ltd, a technology and Internet focused private equity firm, where he was a founding partner and previously served as a member of the investment advisory team from January 2010 to December 2014. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Mark served as CFO at Whispr Group from March 2015 to December 2016. Mr. Mark also previously served as a director at Nöjesguiden from December 2013 to April 2016, at Highlight Media Group from February 2010 to September 2014 and at Web Guide Partner from September 2008 to January 2010. Mr. Mark began his career as Siguiente Capital AB, where he served as an Associate from June 2007 to September 2008. Mr. Mark holds a Master of Arts degree in Management from the University of St. Andrews and is an associate of Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.
Ellen Monaghan is our Vice President, People, which position she has held since December 2020. Ms. Monaghan has served in several positions since she joined the Company in December 2015, including Director of People Operations since December 2018, People Operations Manager from December 2017 to December 2018 and HR Business Partner from December 2015 to December 2017. Ms. Monaghan was recognized by iGaming Business as one of the industry’s women to watch. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Monaghan served as Manager—Office and Facilities Management of Openet from July 2012 to December 2015, and previously as Personal Assistant to CTO from March 2010 to August 2012. Ms. Monaghan also previously served as ICT Recruitment Consultant at RECRUITERS from April 2008 to March 2010. From April 2007 to April 2008, Ms. Monaghan served as a Banking & Finance Consultant at HRM. She has led the opening and expansion of our offices in Dublin, Malta and Charlotte through talent acquisition and management. Since 2015, Ms. Monaghan has served as a director of our subsidiary based in Dublin, GDC Media Limited (Ireland). Ms. Monaghan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and Sociology from University College Dublin.
Johannes Bergh is our Chief Strategy Officer, which position he has held since August 2020. Under his leadership, Mr. Bergh has facilitated the scaling of the business. Mr. Bergh has more than 15 years of experience at the c-level in public companies, operating on a global arena. He has evaluated over 100 affiliate acquisitions. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Bergh served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Catena Media, a lead generation company focusing on the iGaming and Finance industries. He served at Catena Media from January 2017 to July 2020. From August 2014 to December 2016, Mr. Bergh served as Chief Executive Officer at Rewir, a management consulting firm focusing on brand strategy. Prior to Rewir, Mr. Bergh served as Chief Brand Officer at FLIR Systems from August 2008 to April 2014. Mr. Bergh holds a diploma in marketing from RMI Berghs School of Communications.
Directors
Mark Blandford has served as a director since October 2008 and the Chairman of the board of directors since February 2018. Mr. Blandford founded Sportingbet Plc which was one of the first online gambling companies to accept a card payment over the Internet and at one point in time the world’s largest bookmaker. Mr. Blandford led the company through a landmark initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in 2001 to become the first publicly traded online gambling company, later winning him the award for AIM Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002. Sportingbet Plc was later recognized with the AIM Transaction of the Year award in 2005. Mr. Blandford also currently serves as Chairman of the board of directors at FSB Technology (U.K.) Ltd., Double Diamond Limited and Condor Properties, and as a non-executive director of Gaming Realms PLC. Mr. Blandford is also a Partner at Burlywood Capital, a venture capital and private equity firm, where he has served in that role since 2012. Previously, Mr. Blandford served as a member of the board of directors at Mfuse LTD and Intela. Mr. Blandford holds a Higher National Diploma in Business Studies from Wolverhampton University.
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Susan Ball has served as a director since February 2018. Ms. Ball also currently serves as a member of the board of directors at FSB Technology Group, a B2B omnichannel sports betting provider, and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Ms. Ball previously served as a member of the board of directors at The Bannatyne Group, a premium U.K. health club and spa operator; Playtech Plc, a listed online global gaming software supplier; Kambi Group Plc, a listed sportsbetting technology provider, where she led the initial public offering in 2014; and Fig, a U.K. venture capital group. From January 2011 to June 2013, Ms. Ball served as Chief Financial Officer at MOO.com, a global online digital print business. Ms. Ball also served as Chief Financial Officer at Bookatable.com during 2010, and at Praesepe Plc, a U.K.-listed B2B gambling company from April 2007 to December 2009. From 2003 to 2008, Ms. Ball served as Chief Financial Officer at Kindred Group Plc (where she led the initial public offering of Unibet Group). Prior to this, Ms. Ball served at BrightVenture Enterprises from 2000 to 2003, a private investment vehicle which she founded, and as Finance Director of U.K.-listed Burnden Leisure Plc (formerly Mosaic Investments Plc) from 1991 to 1999. Ms. Ball began her career at Ernst & Young, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1986. Ms. Ball holds a BA (Hons) in Accountancy from Birmingham University and has completed the London Business School Corporate Finance Programme.
Fredrik Burvall has served as a director since December 2017. Mr. Burvall also currently serves as Chairman of the board of directors at M.O.B.A Network AB (Plc) and Speqta AB (Plc), and as a board member at Enteractive Malta Ltd and Aspire Global. Mr. Burvall is also the Chief Executive Officer/Owner at The Networked Nation—tNN AB, where he has served in that role since May 2017. Previously, Mr. Burvall served in several roles at Cherry AB, including as Strategic Advisor from March 2017 to July 2017, as Chief Executive Officer from May 2015 to February 2017, as Acting Chief Executive Officer from December 2014 to May 2015 and as Chief Final Officer, Deputy CEO from September 2006 to March 2015. From February 2004 to September 2006, Mr. Burvall served as Manager of Business Control at Modern Times Group, Viasat AB. Mr. Burvall previously served as Chief Financial Officer at Ericsson Technology Licensing AB from 2001 to 2004, and he also worked in Business Control at Ericsson from January 1998 to January 2001. Mr. Burvall holds an MBA in Economics from Stockholm University and also holds a BA in Economics from Örebro University.
Gregg Michaelson has served as a director of Gambling.com Group since September 2019. Mr. Michaelson also currently serves as a member of the board of directors at Health Recovery Solutions, Ringmaster Technologies, Inc., Purple Lab, and Wyng. Mr. Michaelson is a General Partner at Edison Partners, a Princeton, New Jersey based private equity firm where he has served since June 2015. From November 2011 to May 2015, he served as Chief Executive Officer at Linkwell Health, a healthcare consumer engagement company. From October 2001 to November 2011, Mr. Michaelson served as President and Chief Marketing Officer at Rodale, a global health and wellness content and performance marketing company. Mr. Michaelson served as Vice President, Marketing at American Family Enterprises, a Time Warner affiliate, from June 1996 to September 2001. Mr. Michaelson began his career at Reader’s Digest Association from August 1992 to April 1996, where he served in various marketing and financial roles. Mr. Michaelson holds an MBA in Finance from New York University—Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a BA from the University of Michigan.
Pär Sundberg has served as a director since February 2018. Mr. Sundberg also currently serves as Chairman of the board of directors at Brand New Content, and as a board member at SNÖ of Sweden and Speqta AB (Plc). Previously, Mr. Sundberg served as a member of the board of directors at G5 Entertainment AB, KOEN Media, AB Traction, Buzzador AB and IPS Förändringskompetens AB. From July 2010 to September 2011, Mr. Sundberg served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Metronome Film & Television AB, a Film and Television production company with operations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and the U.S. From its inception in May 1996 to August 2009, Mr. Sundberg served as President and Chief Executive Officer of OTW, Sweden’s leading content marketing group of companies that he also co-founded. From January 2000 to November 2001, Mr. Sundberg served as a member of the board of directors of Stockholm News, a free daily newspaper that he co-founded. Previously, Mr. Sundberg served as a Reporter at Expressen from 1991 to 1996. Mr. Sundberg holds a M.Sc. degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from Luleå University of Technology.
Daniel J. D’Arrigo has served as a director since July 2021. From 2007 to 2019, Mr. D’Arrigo served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), an S&P 500 global entertainment company with U.S. domestic and international locations, where he was responsible for the company’s world-wide financial functions. During this time, he led the initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange of MGM China Holdings, LLC (HKSE:2282) in 2011 and the initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange of MGM Growth Properties, LLC (NYSE: MGP) in 2016. From 1995 to 2007, Mr. D’Arrigo served in various finance and management roles at MGM, including oversight over MGM’s $6.4 billion acquisition of Mirage Resorts in 2000 and $7.3 billion acquisition of Mandalay Resort Group in 2005. Mr. D’Arrigo previously served as a member of the
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board of directors of MGM China Holdings, LLC from 2011 to 2019 and its audit committee from 2014 to 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration—Accounting from West Virginia University.
The aggregate compensation paid and share-based compensation and other payments expensed by us and our subsidiaries to our directors and executive officers with respect to the year ended December 31, 2021 was $4,298,000.
For so long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer, we are not required to comply with the proxy rules applicable to U.S. domestic companies, including the requirement applicable to emerging growth companies to disclose the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other two most highly compensated executive officers on an individual, rather than an aggregate, basis.
Equity Incentive Plans
We have historically granted options (incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options) and warrants to incentivize employees and other service providers under our equity incentive plans. There are options to purchase 605,000 ordinary shares and warrants to purchase 250,000 ordinary shares currently outstanding under our Amended and Restated 2020 Stock Incentive Plan, or the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, described below. The outstanding options under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan have a weighted average exercise price of $5.88 per Ordinary Share and typically vest over four years as follows: 25% of the options vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, with 1/48th of the total number of options vesting monthly thereafter, in each case, subject to the grantee’s continued employment or service with us on each vesting date. The options expire between November 2027 and October 2031.The outstanding warrants under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan have a weighted average exercise price of $3.52 per Ordinary Share and are vested and exercisable four years from the grant date. 150,000 warrants were granted to our independent directors in 2018 under the Gambling.com Group Plc Independent Director Options Program 2018, all of which were exercised or repurchased in June 2020. We have also granted 10-year performance awards to our Co-Founders totaling 4,056,770 options, subject to performance vesting, to purchase ordinary shares. As of December 31, 2021, the performance conditions were not achieved. See “Senior Executive Officer Performance Option Awards” below for additional information
Amended and Restated 2020 Stock Incentive Plan and Its Supplements
Effective Date and Shares Reserved. The Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, which was last amended and restated on July 6, 2021, became effective on the date on which it was adopted by our board of directors and will continue in effect until terminated or suspended by our board of directors. No awards may be granted under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan after the expiration of four years from the earlier of the date on which the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan was (i) adopted by our board of directors and (ii) approved by our shareholders. The Amended and Restated 2020 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, warrants, and other stock-based awards to our employees, officers, directors (including non-executive directors), and consultants and advisors. The maximum aggregate number of shares that may be granted initially under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan is 1,500,000 shares. The shares reserved for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan will be increased on the first day of each calendar year in an amount equal to 2% of the total number of shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar year, unless otherwise determined by the board prior to the increase. The maximum amount of shares that may be granted to a non-employee director shall not exceed $500,000 in total value. If any award expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part, such shares will again be available for the grant under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan. In addition, shares tendered to us to exercise an award will be added to the number of shares of available for grant under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan.
Plan Administration. Our board of directors or a committee established by our board of directors administers the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, and the administrator has the authority to (i) select eligible grantees, (ii) determine the amount of the grant, terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to each award, (iii) construe, interpret, adopt, amend, and repeal administrative rules, guidelines, and practices relating to the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, (iv) accelerate the vesting or distribution date (if applicable) of any award and (v) establish the sub-plans as it deems necessary or appropriate to conform to requirements or practices of jurisdictions outside of the U.S.
Types and Terms and Conditions of Awards. The administrator may grant awards intended to qualify as an incentive stock option, non-qualified stock option, warrants, or other stock-based awards permissible by applicable laws. The maximum amount of shares that may be issued through the exercise of incentive stock options granted under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan is 1,500,000 shares. The Amended and Restated 2020 Plan requires that
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incentive stock options and warrants have an exercise price that is not less than 100% of the fair market value of a share underlying such options. With respect to incentive stock options the exercise price may be not less than 110% of the fair market value in case of a grantee who at the time of the grant owns shares possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our shares on the date of grant.
The exercise period of an option award will be determined by the administer in the applicable option agreement, but in no event may the exercise period be more than ten years from the grant date, or seven years in case of grantees employed in Ireland. In addition, each option will be subject to vesting (in whole or in part) over a period of four years, upon the terms and conditions determined by the administer in the applicable option agreement. The exercise period of a warrant will be determined by the administer in the applicable option agreement, provided that the exercise period is no less than two years and no more than four years after the grant date.
Adjustment Provisions. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to shareholders other than an ordinary cash dividend, the administrator shall have the authority to make equitable adjustments as to (i) the number and class of securities available under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, (ii) the number and class of securities subject to any outstanding option, (iii) the number and class of securities subject to any outstanding warrant and (iv) the exercise price per share covered by any awards, unless the grantee is a California resident, whose securities shall be adjusted proportionately following the abovementioned triggering events. In addition, if the strike price and number of shares covered by any outstanding option or warrant are adjusted as of the distribution date of any stock dividend, then a grantee having exercised an option or warrant between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend will be entitled to the stock dividend with respect to any shares acquired through exercising such options or warrants.
Upon a change in control (as defined in the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan), the administrator may (i) agree that some or all of the outstanding awards will be assumed or substituted by the surviving company on substantially equivalent terms and conditions as the original award, (ii) accelerate the vesting of awards, (iii) grant awards in substitution for awards granted by another entity in connection with our merger or consolidation of that entity or (iv) settle some or all of the awards in cash, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise price thereof) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing.
Amendment and Termination. The board of directors may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding award, provided that the grantee’s consent to such action will be required unless it would not materially and adversely affect the grantee. The board of directors may, without shareholder approval, reprice stock options and cancel any outstanding award and grant in substitution new awards under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan covering the same or a different number of ordinary shares and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled award.
Miscellaneous Provisions. Options granted under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan are not transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. No fractional shares shall be issued or delivered under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan. Warrants are transferable to the extent permissible by applicable laws, but we retain the right of first refusal. The right to exercise any awards will be terminated within a fixed period as determined by the administrator after the termination of a grantee’s employment with us. For the purposes of complying with California law, we allow California grantees to exercise their options until at least 30 days from the termination date unless such grantee’s employment is terminated for cause.
Senior Executive Officer Performance Option Awards
In July 2021, the board of directors approved a 10-year performance award for each of Charles Gillespie and Kevin McCrystle (each referred to in this summary as an “Executive Optionee”) that is designed to incentivize their continued leadership of the Company over the long-term, or the Performance Option Awards. The key terms of the Performance Option Awards are set out below. The total number of the ordinary shares of the Company underlying each Performance Option Award is 2,028,385, divided equally among 12 separate tranches.
Equity Type. The Performance Option Awards are comprised of performance-based nonqualified stock options. The Executive Optionees will receive compensation from the Performance Option Awards only to the extent that the Company achieves the applicable performance milestones. The Performance Option Awards will not be made under an equity incentive plan, such as the Company’s Amended and Restated 2020 Share Incentive Plan, as amended.
Exercise Price. The exercise price of the Performance Option Awards is the $8 per share initial public offering price of the Company’s ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market.
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Award Vesting / Milestones. Each of the 12 tranches of the Performance Option Awards will vest upon certification by the board of directors that each of the Market Capitalization Milestone for such tranche has been met. There are 12 Market Capitalization Milestones, each one requiring an incremental increase in the Company’s market capitalization, initially to $500 million and by increments of $500 million thereafter, with each incremental increase being approximately equivalent to the Company’s approximate market capitalization of $500 million in late 2021 (each, a “Market Capitalization Milestone”). To meet all 12 Market Capitalization Milestones, the Company will have to add approximately $6 billion to its current market capitalization. Except in a change in control situation, measurement of the Market Capitalization Milestones will be based on both (i) a six calendar month trailing average of the Company’s share price as well as (ii) a 30 calendar day trailing average of the Company’s share price, in each case based on trading days only, and will thus require sustained market capitalization appreciation to be met.
Term of Award / Post-Termination of Employment Exercise Period. The term of the Performance Option Awards is 10 years from the date of the grant, unless the Executive Optionee’s employment with the Company is terminated prior to such date. Accordingly, the Optionee has unrototil the tenth anniversary of the date of the grant to exercise any portion of the award that has vested on or prior to such date, provided that he remains employed at the Company. Additionally, the Optionee has up to one year following the termination of his employment with the Company to exercise any portion of the award that vested prior to such termination, subject to any earlier expiration of the Performance Option Awards on the tenth anniversary of the date of the grant. Further, the award also may terminate earlier in connection with a change in control event of the Company, as described further below.
Post-Exercise Holding Period. The Executive Optionee must hold shares that he acquires upon exercise of the award for three years post-exercise (except for shares used to pay exercise price and tax withholdings, or in certain other limited circumstances described further below), or such other holding period as agreed by the board of directors and the Optionee in writing.
Employment Requirement for Continued Vesting. The Executive Optionee must continue to lead the Company’s management at the time each milestone is met in order for the corresponding tranche to vest under the Performance Option Award. Specifically, in the case of Charles Gillespie, he must be serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or any other full-time C-level officer of the Company as agreed by the board of directors and the Participant. In the case of Kevin McCrystle, he must be serving as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer or any other full-time C-level officer of the Company as agreed by the board of directors and the Participant.
Termination of Employment. There will be no acceleration of vesting of the Performance Option Award if the employment of the Executive Optionee is terminated, or if he dies or becomes disabled. In other words, termination of the Optionee’s employment with the Company will preclude his ability to earn any then - unvested portion of the Performance Option Award following the date Executive of his termination. Vesting of the Performance Option Award will be suspended in the event of any leave of absence by the Optionee.
Change in Control of the Company. If the Company experiences a change in control event, such as a merger with or purchase by another company, vesting under the Performance Option Award will not automatically accelerate. In a change in control situation, the achievement of the milestones will be based solely on the Market Capitalization Milestones, with the measurement of the Company’s market capitalization determined by the product of the total number of outstanding ordinary shares of the Company immediately before the change in control multiplied by the greater of the last closing price of a share of the Company ordinary shares before the effective time of the change in control or the per share price (plus the per share value of any other consideration) received by the Company’s shareholder in the change in control. The treatment of the award upon a change in control is intended to align the Executive Optionee’s interests with the Company’s other shareholders with respect to evaluating potential takeover offers.
Clawback. In the event of a restatement of the Company’s financial statements previously filed with the SEC, or the restated financial results, and if a lesser portion of the Performance Option Award would have vested based on the restated financial results, then the Company will require forfeiture (or repayment, as applicable) of the portion of the Performance Option Awards that would not have vested based on the restated financial results (less any amounts the Executive Optionee may have paid to the Company in exercising any forfeited awards). The Performance Option Awards also will be subject, if more stringent than the foregoing, to any current or future the Company’s clawback policy applicable to equity awards, provided that the policy does not discriminate solely against the Executive Optionee except as required by applicable law.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors currently consists of seven members. Our board of directors has determined that five of our seven directors, Susan Ball, Fredrik Burvall, Gregg Michaelson, Pär Sundberg, and Daniel D’Arrigo, do not have a
63
relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under the rules of Nasdaq. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or senior management.
In accordance with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our board of directors is divided into three classes, each consisting of an equal number of directors to the maximum extent possible and serving for a three-year term. Each of our directors retires from office at the annual meeting at which their class’s term expires, but is eligible for reappointment by ordinary resolution at such annual general meeting. In each case, where a director is re-appointed, the director shall be entitled to serve until the annual general meeting of shareholders three years later. At the third annual general meeting of shareholders, where a director is re-appointed, they shall be entitled to serve until the third annual general meeting falling after the third annual general meeting. At each succeeding annual general meeting following the third annual general meeting, directors shall be elected to serve for a term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual general meeting. If a vacated office is not filled, the retiring director, if willing to act, shall be deemed to be re-elected, unless at the meeting a resolution is passed not to fill the vacancy or to elect another person in his place or unless the resolution to re-elect such director is put to the meeting and lost.
Our directors are divided among the three classes as follows:
In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association allow our board of directors to appoint directors, create new directorships or fill vacancies on our board of directors, for a term of office equal to the remaining period of the term of office of the director(s) whose office(s) have been vacated. The board has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee.
Directors’ Service Contracts
There are no arrangements or understandings between us, on the one hand, and any of our directors, on the other hand, providing for benefits upon termination of their employment or service as directors of our company.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee currently consists of Susan Ball, Fredrik Burvall and Daniel J. D’Arrigo. Susan Ball serves as the Chairman of the audit committee.
Under the Nasdaq listing requirements and applicable SEC rules, the audit committee is required to have at least three members, all of whom must be independent, subject to exemptions available to foreign private issuers. All members of our audit committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq corporate governance rules. Our board of directors has determined that Susan Ball, Fredrik Burvall and Daniel J. D’Arrigo are each an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC rules and each has the requisite financial sophistication as defined by Nasdaq corporate governance rules. Each of the members of the audit committee is “independent” as such term is defined in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act of 1934 and the Nasdaq listing requirements, which is different from the general test for independence of board and committee members.
Our audit committee provides assistance to our board of directors in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations in matters involving our accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control and legal compliance functions by pre-approving the services performed by our independent accountants and reviewing their reports regarding our accounting practices and systems of internal control over financial reporting. Our audit committee also oversees the audit efforts of our independent accountants and takes those actions that it deems necessary to satisfy itself that the accountants are independent of management.
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Our board of directors has adopted an audit committee charter effective as of July 23, 2021 that sets forth the responsibilities of the audit committee consistent with the rules of the SEC and Nasdaq rules, including the following:
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee consists of Susan Ball, Gregg Michaelson and Pär Sundberg. Pär Sundberg serves as the Chairman of the compensation committee. All of the members of our compensation committee satisfy the independence requirements under the Nasdaq rules. The committee will recommend to the board of directors for determination the compensation of each of our executive officers and directors. Under SEC and Nasdaq rules, there are heightened independence standards for members of the compensation committee.
Our board of directors has adopted a compensation committee charter setting forth the responsibilities of the committee, which include:
Nominating and Governance Committee
Our nominating and governance committee consists of Susan Ball, Fredrik Burvall, Daniel J. D’Arrigo and Pär Sundberg. Our board of directors has adopted a nominating and governance committee charter effective as of July 23, 2021 that sets forth the responsibilities of the nominating and governance committee, which include:
Insurance and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
To the extent permitted by the Jersey Companies Law, we are empowered to indemnify our directors against any liability they incur by reason of their directorship. We intend to obtain directors and officers liability insurance for the benefit of our office holders and intend to continue to maintain such coverage and pay all premiums thereunder to the fullest extent permitted by the Jersey Companies Law. We have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers.
Insofar as indemnification of liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our board of directors, executive officers, or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all of our directors and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, controller or principal accounting officer, or other persons performing similar functions, which is a “code of ethics” as defined in Item 16B of Form 20-F promulgated by the SEC. The full text of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our website at www.gambling.com/corporate. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website does not constitute a part of this annual report and is not incorporated by reference herein. If we make any amendment to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or grant any waivers, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website to the extent required by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Under Item 16B of the SEC’s Form 20-F, if a waiver or amendment of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and relates to standards promoting any of the values described in Item 16B(b) of Form 20-F, we are required to disclose such waiver or amendment on our website in accordance with the requirements of Instruction 4 to such Item 16B.
Our goal is to attract and retain highly qualified and motivated personnel. We promote diversity and equality in the workplace. As of December 31, 2021, 32 different nationalities were represented in our workforce. We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees, and we have not experienced any significant labor disputes. Our employees are not represented by any collective bargaining agreements or labor unions.
As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Group had 229, 119 and 117 employees, respectively. The average number of employees, including executive and non-executive directors, during the year was as follows:
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|
YEAR ENDED |
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|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Executive directors |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Non-executive directors |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Sales and marketing employees |
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
61 |
|
Technology employees |
|
|
58 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
General and administrative employees |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
|
186 |
|
|
|
111 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
The following table describes our average number of employees by geographic location:
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|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Ireland |
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
79 |
|
|
|
82 |
|
Malta |
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
North America |
|
|
41 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
Other |
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
186 |
|
|
|
111 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
The total number of ordinary shares beneficially owned by our directors and executive officers as of March 17, 2022 was 21,219,961, which represents 58% of the total shares of the company. See table in “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – Major Shareholders.”
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our shares as of March 17, 2022 by (i) each person or entity known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our outstanding shares; (ii) each of our directors and executive officers individually; and (iii) all of our executive officers and directors as a group.
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Neither our major shareholders nor our directors and executive officers have different or special voting rights with respect to their ordinary shares.
The beneficial ownership of ordinary shares is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes any ordinary shares over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power, or the right to receive the economic benefit of ownership. For purposes of the table below, we deem shares subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 17, 2022, to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person holding the options for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of that person but we do not treat them as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. To our knowledge, except as indicated in the footnotes to this table and pursuant to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all of our common shares. Except as otherwise indicated in the table below, addresses of named beneficial owners are c/o Gambling.com Group Limited, 22 Grenville Street, St. Helier, Channel Island of Jersey JE4 8PX.
As of March 17, 2022, we had 36 holders of record of our ordinary shares, of which 14 holders are in the U.S. These shareholders held in the aggregate 46% of our outstanding ordinary shares. The number of record holders in the United States is not representative of the number of beneficial holders nor is it representative of where such beneficial holders are resident since many of these ordinary shares were held by brokers or other nominees.
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER |
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NUMBER |
|
|
% |
|
||
5% Shareholders: |
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|
|
|
|
|
||
Edison Partners IX, LP(1) |
|
|
5,556,588 |
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|
|
15.7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Executive officers and directors: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Mark Blandford(2) |
|
|
12,991,405 |
|
|
|
36.7 |
% |
Charles Gillespie |
|
|
5,436,690 |
|
|
|
15.2 |
% |
Kevin McCrystle |
|
|
1,511,255 |
|
|
|
4.2 |
% |
Elias Mark |
|
|
875,691 |
|
|
|
2.5 |
% |
Johannes Bergh |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
* |
|
|
Ellen Monaghan |
|
|
19,444 |
|
|
* |
|
|
Susan Ball |
|
|
45,476 |
|
|
* |
|
|
Fredrik Burvall |
|
|
69,264 |
|
|
* |
|
|
Pär Sundberg |
|
|
70,736 |
|
|
* |
|
|
Daniel J. D’Arrigo |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
All executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons): |
|
|
21,219,961 |
|
|
|
57.9 |
% |
Significant Changes
Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022, as of that date Gerard J. Hall no longer beneficially owned more than 5% of our ordinary shares. To our knowledge, other than as disclosed above, our other filings with the SEC and this annual report, there has been no significant change in the percentage ownership held by any major shareholder since January 1, 2019.
Our policy is to enter into transactions with related parties on terms that, on the whole, are no more favorable, or no less favorable, than those available from unaffiliated third parties. Based on our experience in the business sectors in which we operate and the terms of our transactions with unaffiliated third parties, we believe that all of the transactions described below met this policy standard at the time they occurred.
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For more information on our related party transactions, refer to Note 23 to our audited consolidated financial statements included at the end of this annual report.
Rights of Appointment
Our current board of directors consists of seven directors. Pursuant to our memorandum and articles of association in effect prior to our initial public offering, Edison Partners IX, LP, or Edison, one of our shareholders, had rights to appoint one member of our board of directors as long as Edison holds at least 12.5% of our issued share capital, subject to certain limitations.
As of the date of this annual report, we are not a party to, and are not aware of, any voting agreements among our shareholders.
Agreements with Directors and Officers
Employment agreements. In connection with our Initial Public Offering, we entered into amended and restated executive engagement agreements with Mr. Gillespie, our Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. McCrystle, our Chief Operating Officer; we also entered into a new executive engagement agreement with Mr. Mark, our Chief Financial Officer, together the executive engagement agreements. The executive engagement agreements continue until terminated in accordance with their terms, subject to the payment of severance by the Company on certain terminations of employment. The executive engagement agreements also include restrictive covenants, including non-competition and non-solicitation covenants in relation to our business and employees.
Indemnification and insurance. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association permit us to indemnify and insure certain of our office holders to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of Jersey. We have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers as of the date of this annual report. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Board Practices” for additional details.
Share Subscription Agreement
In October 2019, we issued an aggregate of 2,291,543 of our ordinary shares to Edison for gross proceeds of $6.98 million. As part of the transaction, Edison also received from us, subject to the other shareholders’ pre-emption rights, warrants to purchase up to 985,610 of our ordinary shares at an exercise price of $3.04 per share. In October 2020, we cancelled these warrants and granted Edison the rights to subscribe to our ordinary shares on substantially the same terms. Pursuant to these rights, in December 2020, we entered into a share subscription agreement with Edison and certain of our existing shareholders (including the following executive officers and board of directors: Charles Gillespie, Kevin McCrystle, Mark Blandford, Susan Ball, Fredirk Burvall, and Pär Sundberg) subject to shareholders pre-emptive rights pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 985,610 of our ordinary shares for cash proceeds of $3.0 million.
For more information on our related party transactions, refer to Note 23 to our audited consolidated financial statements included at the end of this annual report.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Please see “Item 18. Financial Statements” for a list of the financial statements filed with this Form 20-F.
We are not aware of any significant changes other than what has been discussed in other parts of this annual report. Please refer to "Note 24 – Events After the Reporting Period” to our audited consolidated financial statements beginning on page F-1 for a discussion of subsequent events.
ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING
Our ordinary shares are currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “GAMB”.
Not applicable.
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Our ordinary shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “GAMB” on July 23, 2021.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Not applicable.
The information set forth in our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-257403), as amended, originally filed with the SEC on June 25, 2021 and declared effective by the SEC on July 23, 2021, under the headings “Description of Share Capital” is incorporated herein by reference.
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities
U.S. laws do not necessarily extend either to us or our officers or directors. We are organized under the laws of Jersey. Many of our directors and officers reside outside of the U.S. Substantially all the assets of both us and our directors and officers are located outside the U.S. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process on either us or our officers and directors within the U.S., or to enforce against these persons or us, either inside or outside the U.S., a judgment obtained in a U.S. court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities or other laws of the U.S. or any U.S. state.
We have appointed GDC America Inc., as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the U.S. under the federal securities laws of the U.S. or of the laws of any state of the U.S.
A judgment of a U.S. court is not directly enforceable in Jersey, but constitutes a cause of action which will be enforced by Jersey courts provided that:
It is the policy of Jersey courts to award compensation for the loss or damage actually sustained by the person to whom the compensation is awarded. Although the award of punitive damages is generally unknown to the Jersey legal system that does not mean that awards of punitive damages are not necessarily contrary to public policy. Whether a judgment was contrary to public policy depends on the facts of each case. Exorbitant, unconscionable, or excessive awards will generally be contrary to public policy. Moreover, if a US court gives a judgment for multiple damages against a qualifying defendant the amount which may be payable by such defendant may be limited by virtue of the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980, an Act of the U.K. extended to Jersey by the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980 (Jersey) Order, 1983, which provides that such qualifying defendant may be able to recover such amount paid by it as represents the excess of such multiple damages over the sum assessed as
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compensation by the court that gave the judgment. A “qualifying defendant” for these purposes is a citizen of the U.K. and Colonies, a body corporate incorporated in the U.K., Jersey or other territory for whose international relations the U.K. is responsible or a person carrying on business in Jersey.
Jersey courts cannot enter into the merits of the foreign judgment and cannot act as a court of appeal or review over the foreign courts. In addition, a plaintiff who is not resident in Jersey may be required to provide a security bond in advance to cover the potential of the expected costs of any case initiated in Jersey. In addition, we have been further advised by our legal counsel in Jersey, that it is uncertain as to whether the courts of Jersey would entertain original actions based on U.S. federal or state securities laws, or enforce judgments from U.S. courts against us or our officers and directors which originated from actions alleging civil liability under U.S. federal or state securities laws.
Underwriting Agreement
On July 22, 2021, we entered into an underwriting agreement with Jefferies LLC, as the representative of Jefferies LLC, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Truist Securities, Inc. (collectively, the "underwriters”), with respect to the primary offering of our ordinary shares sold in our initial public offering. We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and certain of their controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
Roto Sports Stock Purchase Agreement
On December 13, 2021, we and GDC America, Inc. entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Roto Sports Purchase Agreement”), by and among Peter Schoenke, Herbert Ilk, Jeffrey Erickson, Timothy Schuler, and Christopher Liss (each, a “Seller” and, collectively, the “Sellers”). The Sellers are the sole shareholders of Roto Sports, Inc. (“Roto Sports”), a California corporation, owner and operator of RotoWire.com, a provider of expert fantasy sports news and advice.
The Roto Sports Purchase Agreement provides that, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, GDC America will acquire from the Sellers all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Roto Sports (the "Transaction"). The aggregate purchase price for the Transaction is $27.5 million (subject to adjustments for (i) the working capital, cash, and indebtedness of Roto Sports at closing), and (ii) any transaction expenses of Roto Sports or the Sellers (to the extent unpaid at closing) payable in three tranches of cash and, at the Company's election, unregistered ordinary shares of the Company ("Parent Shares"). The aggregate cash portion of the purchase price will be paid with cash on hand. A portion of the purchase price will be paid on the first and second anniversaries of the closing of the Transaction, subject to a Seller not being a "bad actor" (as such term is defined in the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement) at the point in time when such a payment is due.
The Transaction closed in January 2022.
The Roto Sports Purchase Agreement contains representations, warranties, covenants, and indemnities of each party customary for a transaction of this nature. Between the date of the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement and the Closing Date, the Sellers have generally agreed to operate Roto Sports in the ordinary course of business, subject to certain matters which require the prior consent of GDC America.
The foregoing description of the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 4.5 to this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement.
The representations and warranties and covenants set forth in the Purchase Agreement have been made only for the purposes of the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement and solely for the benefit of the parties to the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purpose of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. In addition, such representations and warranties were made only as of the dates specified in the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement. Accordingly, the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement which is filed as Exhibit 4.5 to this Annual Report only to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the Roto Sports Purchase Agreement and not to provide investors with any other factual information regarding the parties or their respective businesses.
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“Item 4. Information on the Company—History and development of the company,” “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Liquidity and Capital Resources,” “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Compensation,” and “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – Related-Party Transactions” are incorporated herein by reference.
NDC Share Purchase Agreement
On January 31, 2022, we entered into a share purchase agreement (the "NDC Purchase Agreement") by and among our wholly owned subsidiary GDC Malta Limited (“GDC Malta”), the shareholders of NDC Holding Limited (“NDC”), a private company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and publisher of BonusFinder.com, a performance marketing business focused on the online gambling industry in North America, and Finder Media B.V., pursuant to which we acquired NDC through GDC Malta.
Under the terms of the NDC Purchase Agreement, we paid NDC Media shareholders an aggregate purchase price of EUR 12.5 million ($13.9 million), of which EUR 10 million ($11.1 million) was paid in cash (subject to adjustments for cash, working capital, and indebtedness, among other factors), with cash on hand and EUR 2.5 million ($2.9 million) in newly issued, unregistered ordinary shares. NDC Media shareholders may benefit from an additional payment of up to a maximum of EUR 19.0 million ($21.9 million) to be paid in 2023 based on their financial performance during 2022, and a further potential payment of up to EUR 28.5 million ($32.8 million) to be paid in 2024 based on their financial performance during 2023, subject to such shareholder not being a "bad actor" (as such term is defined in the NDC Purchase Agreement) at the point in time when such a payment is due. We have the option to pay up to 50% of each of the earnout payments in unregistered ordinary shares. A conversion rate of 1.1138 EUR to USD (the Central Bank reference rate on January 28, 2022) was used.
The NDC Purchase Agreement contains representations, warranties, covenants, and indemnities of each party customary for a transaction of this nature.
The foregoing description of the NDC Purchase Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement, which will be filed as Exhibit 4.6 to this annual report. The foregoing description of the NDC Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the NDC Purchase Agreement.
The representations and warranties and covenants set forth in the NDC Purchase Agreement have been made only for the purposes of the NDC Purchase Agreement and solely for the benefit of the parties to the NDC Purchase Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purpose of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the NDC Purchase Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. In addition, such representations and warranties were made only as of the dates specified in the NDC Purchase Agreement. Accordingly, the Purchase Agreement is being filed with this annual report only to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the NDC Purchase Agreement and not to provide investors with any other factual information regarding the parties or their respective businesses.
There is no law, governmental decree or regulation in The Channel Islands of Jersey that restricts the export or import of capital, or which would affect the remittance of dividends or other payments by the Company to non-resident holders of the Company’s Ordinary Shares, other than withholding tax requirements.
The following description is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares. You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the laws of any state, local, foreign or other taxing jurisdiction.
Jersey Tax Considerations
This summary of Jersey taxation issues can only provide a general overview of this area and it is not a description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to invest in the Company.
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The following summary of the anticipated treatment of the Company and holders of ordinary shares (other than residents of Jersey) is based on Jersey taxation law and practice as it is understood to apply at the date of this document and may be subject to any changes in Jersey law occurring after such date. It does not constitute legal or tax advice and does not address all aspects of Jersey tax law and practice (including such tax law and practice as it applies to any land or building situate in Jersey). Legal advice should be taken with regard to individual circumstances. Prospective investors in our ordinary shares should consult their professional advisers on the implications of acquiring, buying, selling or otherwise disposing of ordinary shares in the Company under the laws of any jurisdiction in which they may be liable to taxation.
Shareholders should note that tax law and interpretation can change and that, in particular, the levels and basis of, and reliefs from, taxation may change and may alter the benefits of investment in the Company.
Any person who is in any doubt about their tax position or who is subject to taxation in a jurisdiction other than Jersey should consult their own professional adviser.
Company Residence
Under the Income Tax (Jersey) Law 1961 (as amended), or the Tax Law, the Company will not be regarded as a resident in Jersey under Article 123(1) of the Tax Law, provided that (and for so long as) it satisfies the conditions set out in that provision, in which case the Company will not (except as noted below) be liable to Jersey income tax.
Under the Tax Law, the Company shall be regarded as a resident in Jersey if it is incorporated under the Jersey Companies Law unless:
Summary
Under current Jersey law, there are no capital gains, capital transfer, gift, wealth or inheritance taxes, or any death or estate duties. No capital or stamp duty is levied in Jersey on the issue, conversion, redemption, or transfer of ordinary shares. On the death of an individual holder of ordinary shares (whether or not such individual was domiciled in Jersey), duty at rates of up to 0.75% of the value of the relevant ordinary shares may be payable on the registration of any Jersey probate or letters of administration which may be required in order to transfer, convert, redeem, or make payments in respect of, ordinary shares held by a deceased individual sole shareholder, subject to a cap of £100,000.
Income Tax—The Company
In respect of any period for which the Company is tax resident in a jurisdiction other than Jersey:
Provided that (and for so long as) it satisfies the conditions set out in Article 123(1) of the Tax Law so as to not be resident for tax in Jersey, the Company will not (except as noted below) be liable to Jersey income tax.
If the Company derives any income from the ownership, exploitation or disposal of land/property in Jersey or
the trade of importing or supplying hydrocarbon oil to or in Jersey, such income will be subject to Jersey income tax at the rate of 20 per cent. It is not expected that the Company will derive any such income.
In respect of any period for which the Company is tax resident in Jersey:
The general rate of income tax under the Tax Law on the profits of companies regarded as resident in Jersey or having a permanent establishment in Jersey is 0%, or zero tax rating. Certain exceptions from zero tax rating apply, namely:
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Income Tax—Shareholders
Persons holding ordinary shares who are not resident for taxation purposes in Jersey will be exempt from Jersey income tax on dividends from the Company.
Shareholders who are resident for income tax purposes in Jersey will be subject to income tax in Jersey at the standard rate of 20% on any dividends paid on ordinary shares held by them or on their behalf and income tax may be withheld by the Company on payment of any such dividends.
Article 134A of the Tax Law contains a general anti-avoidance provision, which in the view of the Taxes Office may be utilized, in certain circumstances, in respect of individuals who are resident in Jersey and who invest in capital investments, where the main or one of the main purposes of the investment is the avoidance of tax.
Withholding Tax—The Company
For so long as the Company is rated for tax, or is not deemed to be resident for tax purposes in Jersey, no withholding in respect of Jersey taxation will be required on payments in respect of the ordinary shares to any holder of the ordinary shares not resident in Jersey.
Stamp Duty
In Jersey, no stamp duty is levied on the issue or transfer of the ordinary shares (unless there is any element of Jersey residential property being transferred, in which case a land transaction tax may apply pursuant to the Taxation (Land Transactions) (Jersey) Law 2009) except that stamp duty is payable on Jersey grants of probate and letters of administration, which will generally be required to transfer ordinary shares on the death of a holder of such ordinary shares if such holder was entered as the holder of the shares on the register maintained in Jersey. In the case of a grant of probate or letters of administration, stamp duty is levied according to the size of the estate (wherever situated in respect of a holder of ordinary shares domiciled in Jersey, or situated in Jersey in respect of a holder of ordinary shares domiciled outside Jersey) and is payable on a sliding scale at a rate of up to 0.75% on the value of an estate with a maximum value of £13,360,000. The rules for joint holders and holdings through a nominee are different and advice relating to this form of holding should be obtained from a professional adviser.
Jersey does not otherwise levy taxes upon capital, inheritances, capital gains or gifts nor are there otherwise estate duties.
Goods and Services Tax
Pursuant to the Goods and Services Tax (Jersey) Law 2007, or GST Law, a tax rate which is currently 5% applies to the supply of goods and services, unless the supply is regarded as exempt or zero rated, or the relevant supplier or recipient of such goods and services is registered as an “international services entity.”
A company must register for GST if its turnover is greater than £300,000 in any 12 month period, and will then need to charge GST to its customers. Companies can also choose to register voluntarily.
A company may apply to be registered as an International Services Entity, or ISE, if it mainly serves non-Jersey residents. By virtue of a company being an ISE, it will not have to register for GST, will not charge GST on its supplies, and will not be charged GST on its purchases.
The Company is an ISE within the meaning of the GST Law, as it satisfies the requirements of the Goods and Services Tax (International Services Entities) (Jersey) Regulations 2008, as amended. As long as it continues to be such an entity, a supply of goods or of a service made by or to the Company shall not be a taxable supply for the purposes of the GST Law.
Substance Legislation
With effect from January 1, 2019, Jersey implemented legislation to meet EU demands for companies to have substance in certain circumstances. Broadly, part of the legislation is intended to apply to holding companies managed and controlled in Jersey.
The summary of certain Jersey tax issues is based on the laws and regulations in force as of the date of this document and may be subject to any changes in Jersey laws occurring after such date. Legal advice should be taken with regard to individual circumstances. Any person who is in any doubt as to his/her tax position or where he/she is resident, or otherwise subject to taxation, in a jurisdiction other than the U.S., the U.K. and Jersey, should consult his/her professional adviser.
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U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following is a description of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares by U.S. Holders (as defined below). This description addresses only the U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders that are initial purchasers of our ordinary shares pursuant to the offering and that will hold such ordinary shares as capital assets (generally, assets held for investment). This description does not address tax considerations applicable to holders that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation:
Moreover, this description does not address the U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum tax consequences, or any state, local or foreign tax consequences, of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares.
This description is based on the Code, existing, proposed and temporary U.S. Treasury Regulations and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, in each case as in effect and available on the date hereof. All of the foregoing is subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below. There can be no assurances that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, will not take a different position concerning the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares or that such a position would not be sustained. Holders should consult their tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of our ordinary shares in their particular circumstances.
For purposes of this description, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
If a partnership (or any other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Such a partner or partnership should consult its tax advisor as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of our ordinary shares in its particular circumstance.
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You should consult your tax advisor with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of our ordinary shares.
Distributions
Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” if you are a U.S. Holder, the gross amount of any distribution made to you with respect to our ordinary shares before reduction for any non-U.S. taxes withheld therefrom, other than certain distributions, if any, of our ordinary shares distributed pro rata to all our shareholders, generally will be includible in your income as dividend income to the extent such distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent that the amount of any distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, it will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your adjusted tax basis in our ordinary shares and thereafter as either long-term or short-term capital gain depending upon whether the U.S. Holder has held our ordinary shares for more than one year as of the time such distribution is received. However, because we do not expect to maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, U.S. Holders should expect that the entire amount of any distribution generally will be reportable as dividend income. Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” non-corporate U.S. Holders may qualify for the preferential rates of taxation with respect to dividends on ordinary shares applicable to long-term capital gains (i.e., gains from the sale of capital assets held for more than one year), provided that certain conditions are met, including the absence of certain risk reduction transactions. In addition, some corporate U.S. Holders may be entitled to a dividends received deduction. The dividends will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations.
Subject to certain conditions and limitations, any non-U.S. taxes withheld on dividends, if any, will be treated as foreign income tax eligible for deduction from your taxable income or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability. If you are a U.S. Holder, dividends paid to you with respect to our ordinary shares will generally be treated as foreign source income, which may be relevant in calculating your foreign tax credit limitation. However, for periods in which we are a “U.S.-owned foreign corporation,” a portion of dividends paid by us may be treated as U.S. source solely for purposes of the foreign tax credit. We would be treated as a U.S.-owned foreign corporation if 50% or more of the total value or total voting power of our shares are owned, directly, indirectly or constructively by U.S. persons. In general, U.S.-owned foreign corporations with less than 10% of earnings and profits attributable to sources within the United States are excepted from these rules. Accordingly, for periods in which we are a U.S.-owned foreign corporation, if 10% or more of our earnings and profits are attributable to sources within the United States, then a portion of the dividends paid on our ordinary shares allocable to our U.S. source earnings and profits will be treated as U.S. source, and, as such, the ability of a U.S. Holder to claim a foreign tax credit for any non-U.S. withholding taxes payable in respect of our dividends may be limited. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors about the impact of, and any exception available to, the special sourcing rule described in this paragraph, and the desirability of making, and the method of making, such an election.
The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends that we distribute generally should constitute “passive category income.” A foreign tax credit for foreign taxes imposed on distributions may be denied if you do not satisfy certain minimum holding period requirements. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and you should consult your tax advisor to determine whether and to what extent you will be entitled to this credit.
Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” if you are a U.S. Holder, you generally will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our ordinary shares equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale, exchange or other taxable disposition and your adjusted tax basis in our ordinary shares, and such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss. If any non-U.S. taxes are imposed on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder’s amount realized will include the gross amount of the proceeds before deduction of any such non-U.S. taxes. The adjusted tax basis in an ordinary share generally will be equal to the cost of such ordinary share. If you are a non-corporate U.S. Holder, capital gain from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of ordinary shares is generally eligible for a preferential rate of taxation applicable to capital gains, provided that your holding period for such ordinary shares exceeds one year (i.e., such gain is long-term capital gain). The deductibility of capital losses for U.S. federal income tax purposes is subject to limitations under the Code.
Any gain or loss that a U.S. Holder recognizes from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our ordinary shares generally will be treated as U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Accordingly,
75
because you may use foreign tax credits to offset only the portion of U.S. federal income tax liability that is attributed to foreign source income, you may be unable to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to non-U.S. taxes, if any, imposed on gains from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our ordinary shares. You should consult your tax advisor as to whether any non-U.S. taxes, if any, imposed on gains may be creditable against your U.S. federal income tax on foreign-source income from other sources.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
A non-U.S. corporation will generally be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any taxable year in which, after applying certain look-through rules with respect to the income and assets of subsidiaries, either:
Although PFIC status is determined on an annual basis and generally cannot be determined until the end of the taxable year, based on current estimates of our gross income, gross assets and the nature of our business, we do not believe we were a PFIC for the 2021taxable year, and we do not expect to become a PFIC for our current taxable year or in the foreseeable future. However, because the PFIC determination is highly fact intensive and made at the end of each taxable year, it is possible that we may be a PFIC for the current or any future taxable year or that the IRS may challenge our determination concerning our PFIC status. Because of the uncertainties involved in establishing our PFIC status, our U.S. counsel expresses no opinion regarding our PFIC status, and also expresses no opinion with respect to our predictions or past determinations regarding our PFIC status.
If we are a PFIC in any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder owns ordinary shares, such U.S. Holder could be liable for additional taxes and interest charges upon (1) a distribution paid during a taxable year that is greater than 125% of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares, and (2) any gain recognized on a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition, including a pledge, of the ordinary shares, whether or not we continue to be a PFIC. In these circumstances, the tax will be determined by allocating such distribution or gain ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares. The amount allocated to the current taxable year (i.e., the year in which the distribution occurs or the gain is recognized) and any year prior to the first taxable year in which we are a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income earned in the current taxable year. The amount allocated to other taxable years will be taxed at the highest marginal rates in effect for individuals or corporations, as applicable, to ordinary income for each such taxable year, and an interest charge, generally applicable to underpayments of tax, will be added to the tax. If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds the ordinary shares, we must generally continue to be treated as a PFIC by that holder for all succeeding years during which the U.S. Holder holds the ordinary shares, unless we cease to meet the requirements for PFIC status and the U.S. Holder makes a “deemed sale” election with respect to the ordinary shares. If such election is made, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have sold the ordinary shares it holds at their fair market value on the last day of the last taxable year in which we qualified as a PFIC, and any gain from such deemed sale would be subject to the consequences described above. After the deemed sale election, the U.S. Holder’s ordinary shares with respect to which the deemed sale election was made will not be treated as shares in a PFIC, unless we subsequently again become a PFIC.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds the ordinary shares and one of our non-U.S. subsidiaries is also a PFIC (i.e., a lower-tier PFIC), such U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC and would be subject to the rules described above on certain distributions by the lower-tier PFIC and a disposition of shares of the lower-tier PFIC, even though such U.S. Holder would not receive the proceeds of those distributions or dispositions. Each U.S. Holder is advised to consult its tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
The tax consequences that would apply if we were a PFIC would be different from those described above if a timely and valid “mark-to-market” election is made by a U.S. Holder for the ordinary shares held by such U.S. Holder (but not with respect to lower-tier PFIC). An electing U.S. Holder generally would take into account as ordinary income each year, the excess of the fair market value of the ordinary shares held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such ordinary shares. The U.S. Holder would also take into account, as an ordinary loss each year, the excess of the adjusted tax basis of such ordinary shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the excess of amounts previously included in income over ordinary losses deducted in prior years as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the ordinary shares would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss recognized as a result of the mark-to-market election. Any gain from a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of the ordinary shares in any taxable year in which we are a PFIC
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would be treated as ordinary income and any loss from such sale, exchange or other taxable disposition would be treated first as ordinary loss (to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains previously included in income) and thereafter as capital loss. If, after having been a PFIC for a prior taxable year, we cease to be classified as a PFIC, the U.S. Holder would not be required to take into account any latent gain or loss in the manner described above and any gain or loss recognized on the sale or exchange of the ordinary shares would be classified as a capital gain or loss.
A mark-to-market election is available to a U.S. Holder only for “marketable stock.” Generally, ordinary shares will be considered marketable stock if it is “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange” within the meaning of applicable Treasury Regulations. A class of stock is regularly traded during any calendar year during which such class of stock is traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. The ordinary shares will be marketable stock as long as they remain listed on a qualified exchange, such as Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange, and are regularly traded. A mark-to-market election will not apply to the ordinary shares for any taxable year during which we are not a PFIC, but will remain in effect with respect to any subsequent taxable year in which we become a PFIC. Such election will not apply to any subsidiary that we own. Accordingly, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to any lower-tier PFICs notwithstanding the U.S. Holder’s mark-to-market election for the ordinary shares.
The tax consequences that would apply if we were a PFIC would also be different from those described above if a U.S. Holder were able to make a valid “qualified electing fund,” or QEF, election. As we do not expect to provide U.S. Holders with the information required in order to permit a QEF election, prospective investors should assume that a QEF election will not be available.
Each U.S. Holder who is a shareholder of a PFIC must file an annual information report on IRS Form 8621 containing such information as the U.S. Treasury Department may require. The failure to file IRS Form 8621 could result in the imposition of penalties and the extension of the statute of limitations with respect to U.S. federal income tax.
The U.S. federal income tax rules relating to PFICs are very complex. Prospective U.S. investors are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the impact of these rules on the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares, the consequences to them of an investment in a PFIC, any elections available with respect to the ordinary shares and the IRS information reporting obligations with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ordinary shares.
Medicare Tax
Certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which may include all or a portion of their dividend income and net gains from the disposition of ordinary shares. Each U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to its income and gains in respect of its investment in our ordinary shares.
Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting Requirements
U.S. backup withholding tax and information reporting requirements may apply to certain payments to certain holders of stock. Information reporting generally will apply to payments of dividends on, and to proceeds from the sale or redemption of, our ordinary shares made within the U.S., or by a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman, to a holder of our ordinary shares, other than an exempt recipient (including a payee that is not a U.S. person that provides an appropriate certification and certain other persons). A payor will be required to withhold backup withholding tax from any payments of dividends on, or the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, ordinary shares within the U.S., or by a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman, to a holder, other than an exempt recipient, if such holder fails to furnish its correct taxpayer identification number or otherwise fails to comply with, or establish an exemption from, such backup withholding requirements. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against the beneficial owner’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, and any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Asset Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals are required to report information relating to an interest in our ordinary shares, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for shares held in accounts maintained by U.S. financial institutions) by filing IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) with their federal income tax return. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding their information reporting obligations, if any, with respect to their ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares.
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The above description is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences relating to acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares. You should consult your tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of your particular situation.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act that are applicable to foreign private issuers, and under those requirements file reports with the SEC. Those other reports or other information may be inspected without charge at the locations described below.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act related to the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders will be exempt from reporting under short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file annual, quarterly and current reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as United States companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, we will file with the SEC, within 120 days after the end of each subsequent fiscal year, or such applicable time as required by the SEC, an annual report on Form 20-F containing financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm. We also intend to furnish certain other material information, including unaudited quarterly financial information, to the SEC on Form 6-K.
The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings through its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system. All our Exchange Act reports and other SEC filings will be available through the EDGAR system. You may also access information about GAMB through our corporate website https://www.gambling.com/corporate. The information contained in both websites is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.
Not applicable.
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our operations are exposed to a variety of financial risks: market and currency risk, interest rate risk, contractual risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. Our overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimize potential adverse effects on our financial performance.
Risk management is carried out by management under policies approved by our board. Management identifies and evaluates financial risks in close co-operation with our operating segment. Our board of directors provides principles for overall risk management, as well as policies covering specific areas, such as interest rate risk, non-derivative financial instruments and investment of excess liquidity.
In common with all other businesses, we are exposed to risks that arise from our use of financial instruments. Further quantitative information in respect of these risks is presented throughout our consolidated financial statements.
Market and Currency Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss that may arise from changes in market factors such as interest rates and foreign exchange rates.
We have exposure to foreign currency risk. Sales invoicing to customers is primarily in U.K. Pounds Sterling and Euro, and the majority of outgoing payments are in Euro and U.S. dollar payments. The 2021 Bonds were denominated in Euro and the term loan is denominated in U.S. dollar. Our cash balances are primarily in U.S. dollar.
Our board of directors carefully monitors exchange rate fluctuations and reviews their impact on our net assets and position. Exchange rates are negotiated with our main provider of banking services as and when needed. We do not enter into any derivative financial instruments to manage our exposure to foreign currency risk.
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The carrying amount of our foreign currency denominated monetary assets and monetary liabilities and details of the exposure as at December 31, 2021 and 2020 are shown in Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements.
Transaction exposure relates to business transactions denominated in foreign currency required by operations (purchasing and selling) and/or financing (interest and amortization). Translation exposure relates to net investments in foreign operations.
We have continued to see significant macro-economic uncertainty as a result of COVID-19. The scale and duration of this development remains uncertain and could impact our earnings and cash flow. As part of our risk management process, we are closely monitoring the situation, including factors as outlined in “Note 3 – Risk Management” to the consolidated financial statements as it relates to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Transaction Exposure Sensitivity
In most cases, our customers are billed in their respective local currency. Major payments, such as salaries, consultancy fees, and rental fees are settled in local currencies.
The table below shows the immediate impact on net income before tax of a 10% strengthening in the closing exchange rate of significant currencies to which we had exposure for the years ended December 31, 2021,2020 and 2019. The impact on net income or loss is due primarily to monetary assets and liabilities in a transactional currency other than the functional currency of the entity. The sensitivity associated with a 10% weakening of a particular currency would be equal and opposite. This assumes that each currency moves in isolation.
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET INCOME BEFORE TAX (IN THOUSANDS): |
|
USD |
|
|
GBP |
|
||
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
2,742 |
|
|
|
1,194 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
175 |
|
|
|
262 |
|
December 31, 2019 |
|
|
628 |
|
|
|
120 |
|
Interest Rate Risk
We have minimal exposure to interest rate risk. We are exposed to interest rate risk on some of our financial assets (being its cash at bank balances). The board of directors currently believe that interest rate risk is at an acceptable level.
The 2021 Bonds had a fixed interest rate of 10.5% and therefore were not exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. The term loan has a fixed interest rates of 8%.
Due to our minimal exposure to interest rate risk, we have not prepared any sensitivity analysis.
Contractual Risk
In the ordinary course of business, we contract with various parties. These contracts may include performance obligations, indemnities and contractual commitments. Management monitors our performance and any relevant counterparties against such contractual conditions to mitigate the risk of material, adverse non-compliance.
Credit Risk
Credit risk is the financial loss if a customer or counterparty to financial instruments fails to meet its contractual obligation. Credit risk arises from our cash and cash equivalents and trade and other balances. The concentration of our credit risk is considered by counterparty, geography and currency. We give careful consideration to which organizations we use for our banking services in order to minimize credit risk.
We use forward-looking information in our analysis of expected credit losses for all instruments, which is limited to the carry value of cash and cash equivalents and trade and other balances. Our management considers the above measures to be sufficient to control the credit risk exposure.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that we will not be able to meet our financial obligations as they fall due. This risk relates to our prudent liquidity risk management and implies maintaining sufficient cash. Ultimate responsibility for liquidity risk management rests with our board of directors. Our board of directors manages liquidity risk by regularly reviewing our cash requirements by reference to short-term cash flow forecasts and medium-term working capital projections prepared by management.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Group repurchased and redeemed all of the outstanding senior secured bonds.
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The following table presents our future material cash requirements as of December 31, 2021 (in thousands USD):
|
|
LESS THAN |
|
|
1-3 |
|
|
3-5 |
|
|
MORE THAN |
|
|
TOTAL |
|
|||||
Term loan |
|
|
6,480 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,480 |
|
Lease liabilities |
|
|
393 |
|
|
|
745 |
|
|
|
718 |
|
|
|
359 |
|
|
|
2,215 |
|
Total as at December 31, 2021: |
|
|
6,873 |
|
|
|
745 |
|
|
|
718 |
|
|
|
359 |
|
|
|
8,695 |
|
Capital Risk
Our capital structure is comprised entirely of shareholders’ equity, including share capital, share premium and accumulated deficits.
Our objective when managing capital is to maintain adequate financial flexibility to preserve our ability to meet financial obligations, both current and long term. Our capital structure is managed and adjusted to reflect changes in economic conditions.
We fund our expenditures on commitments from existing cash and cash equivalent balances.
Financing decisions are made by our board of directors based on forecasts of the expected timing and level of capital and operating expenditure required to meet our commitments and development plans.
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Initial Public Offering
In July 2021, we sold 5,250,000 ordinary shares, excluding the underwriter’s option to purchase additional shares, in our initial public offering at a public offering price of $8.00 per share. The net proceeds to us from the offering, before expenses, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, were approximately $42.0 million. The offering commenced on July 23, 2021 and did not terminate before all of the securities registered in the registration statement were sold. The effective date of the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-257403), for our initial public offering of ordinary shares was July 22, 2021. Jefferies LLC, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Truist Securities, Inc. acted as joint book-running managers of the offering and as representatives of the several underwriters named in the underwriting agreement.
Approximately $6.1 million of the net proceeds from our initial offering were used to pay transaction related expenses. The balance is held in cash and cash equivalents and is intended to obtain additional working capital, to create a public market for our ordinary shares, and to facilitate our future access to the public equity markets. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses and capital expenditures and potential strategic investments and acquisitions. Employees’ bonuses of $1.0 million related to our initial public offering were paid out to employees, including executive officers, from the net proceeds of our initial public offering. Aside from these bonuses, there were no other payments made from the net proceeds of our initial public offering, directly or indirectly, to any director, officer, or persons owning ten percent or more of our ordinary shares, or to any of our related parties.
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as this term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer recognize that these controls, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of these controls will be met.
Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2021. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2021, due to material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to (i) our lack of a sufficient number of personnel with an appropriate level of knowledge and experience in the application of IFRS, commensurate with our financial reporting requirements and (ii) the fact that policies and procedures with respect to the review, supervision and monitoring of our accounting and reporting functions were either not designed and in place or not operating effectively. Notwithstanding the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting described below, our management concluded that our consolidated financial statements in this annual report present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of the dates, and for the periods presented, in conformity with IFRS as issued by the IASB.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
This annual report does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report of the company’s registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for newly public companies.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
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In connection with the audits of our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified material weaknesses in our internal control environment over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 relating to (i) our lack of a sufficient number of personnel with an appropriate level of knowledge and experience in the application of IFRS, commensurate with our financial reporting requirements and (ii) the fact that policies and procedures with respect to the review, supervision and monitoring of our accounting and reporting functions were either not designed and in place or not operating effectively. As a result, numerous adjustments to our consolidated financial statements were identified and made during the course of our audits. These control deficiencies could result in a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that would result in a material misstatement of our financial results that would not be prevented or detected.
We have initiated a number of steps designed to assist us in remediating the material weaknesses including: (i) adopting a more rigorous period-end review process for financial reporting; (ii) adopting improved period close processes and accounting processes; (iii) implementing a new ERP platform; and (iv) adding additional resources with sufficient accounting knowledge. While we have designed and are implementing new controls to remediate these material weaknesses, they have not operated for a sufficient period of time to demonstrate the material weaknesses have been remediated. We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date will be sufficient to remediate the material weaknesses we identified or avoid the identification of additional material weaknesses in the future. If the steps we take do not remediate the material weaknesses in a timely manner, there could continue to be a reasonable possibility that this control deficiency or others could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements that would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
See “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors – Risks Related to Ownership of our Ordinary Shares – We identified material weaknesses in our internal control over our financial reporting process. If we are unable to remediate these material weaknesses, we may not be able to accurately or timely report our financial condition or results of operations.”
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Except as described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act) that occurred during the period covered by this Annual Report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 16. [RESERVED]
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
Our board of directors has determined that our directors Susan Ball, Fredrik Burvall, and Daniel J. D’Arrigo are each an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC rules and each has the requisite financial sophistication as defined by Nasdaq corporate governance rules. Susan Ball, Fredrik Burvall and Daniel J. D’Arrigo are each independent as such term is defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and under the listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Market.
82
ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS
We adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all of our directors and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, controller or principal accounting officer, or other persons performing similar functions, which is a “code of ethics” as defined in Item 16B of Form 20-F promulgated by the SEC. The full text of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our website at www.gambling.com/corporate. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website does not constitute a part of this annual report and is not incorporated by reference herein. If we make any amendment to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or grant any waivers, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website to the extent required by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Under Item 16B of the SEC’s Form 20-F, if a waiver or amendment of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and relates to standards promoting any of the values described in Item 16B(b) of Form 20-F, we are required to disclose such waiver or amendment on our website in accordance with the requirements of Instruction 4 to such Item 16B.
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
BDO LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal years 2021 and 2020. Our accountant’s fees for professional services are as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
|
|
(in thousands, USD) |
|
|||||
Audit fees |
|
|
1,025 |
|
|
|
359 |
|
Audit-related fees |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Tax fees |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other fees |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
|
1,025 |
|
|
|
359 |
|
“Audit Fees” are the aggregate fees for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements and annual statutory financial statements, reviews of interim financial statements, review of our registration statement, and related consents.
“Audit-related Fees” are the aggregate fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and are not reported under Audit Fees.
“Tax Fees” are the aggregate fees for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning related services.
“Other Fees” are any additional amounts for products and services provided by the principal accountant.
Our audit committee has adopted a pre-approval policy for the engagement of our independent accountant to perform certain audit and non-audit services. All of the audit and non-audit services performed for us by our independent registered public accounting firm in 2021 and 2020 were pre-approved by our audit committee.
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
Not applicable.
ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
Not applicable.
83
ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
The disclosure called for by paragraph (a) of this Item 16F was previously reported, as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, in “Item 16.F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant” of our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-257403) originally filed with the SEC on June 25, 2021.
ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Under Nasdaq rules, a foreign private issuer, such as us, may generally follow its home country rules with regard to corporate governance in lieu of the comparable requirements of the applicable Nasdaq rules, except for certain matters including, among others, the composition and responsibilities of the audit committee and the independence of its members within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the SEC.
We rely on this “home country practice exemption” with respect to the following:
We otherwise intend to comply with the rules generally applicable to U.S. domestic companies listed on the Nasdaq. We may in the future decide to use the foreign private issuer exemption with respect to some or all of the other Nasdaq corporate governance rules.
We intend to take all actions necessary for us to maintain compliance as an FPI under the applicable corporate governance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the rules adopted by the SEC, and Nasdaq listing rules. Accordingly, our shareholders will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not Applicable.
ITEM 16I. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not Applicable.
84
PART III
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our audited consolidated financial statements are included at the end of this annual report.
85
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registration (in effect prior to July 27, 2021) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2021). |
1.2* |
|
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant (in effect as of July 27, 2021) |
2.1* |
|
|
4.1+ |
|
Amended and Restated 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2021). |
4.2 |
|
Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2021). |
4.3+ |
|
Form of Executive Engagement Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2021). |
4.4+ |
|
Form of Performance Stock Option Award Agreement between the Registrant and each of Charles Gillespie and Kevin McCrystle (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2021). |
4.5*≠§ |
|
|
4.6*≠§ |
|
|
8.1* |
|
|
12.1* |
|
|
12.2* |
|
|
13.1* |
|
|
13.2* |
|
|
15.1* |
|
Consent of BDO LLP, independent registered public accounting firm |
101.INS |
|
Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
101.SCH |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
101.CAL |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
101.DEF |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
101.LAB |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
101.PRE |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
104 |
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
* Filed herewith.
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
86
≠ The schedules to this exhibit have been omitted from this filing pursuant to the instructions to Form 20-F. Registrant will furnish copies of such schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request by the Commission.
§ Certain identified information has been omitted from this exhibit because it is both (1) not material, and (2) is the type that the Company treats as private or confidential.
The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by us in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
|
|
Company Name |
|
|
|
|
|
Date: March 24, 2022 |
|
By: |
/s/ Charles Gillespie |
|
|
Name: |
Charles Gillespie |
|
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
87
GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
PAGE |
|
|
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-2 |
|
|
|
|
F-3 |
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 |
|
|
F-4 |
|
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 |
|
|
F-5 |
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 |
|
|
F-6 |
|
|
|
F-7 |
|
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Shareholders and Board of Directors
Gambling.com Group Limited
St. Helier, Channel Island of Jersey
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Gambling.com Group Limited (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income and (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ BDO LLP
BDO LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2020.
London, United Kingdom
March 24, 2022
F-2
GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and (Loss)
(USD in thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
NOTE |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Revenue |
|
17 |
|
|
42,323 |
|
|
|
27,980 |
|
|
|
19,266 |
|
Sales and marketing expenses |
|
18 |
|
|
(14,067 |
) |
|
|
(8,103 |
) |
|
|
(10,862 |
) |
Technology expenses |
|
18 |
|
|
(3,947 |
) |
|
|
(2,503 |
) |
|
|
(2,498 |
) |
General and administrative expenses |
|
18 |
|
|
(13,014 |
) |
|
|
(5,956 |
) |
|
|
(4,213 |
) |
Movements in credit loss allowance and write offs |
|
3 |
|
|
97 |
|
|
|
(287 |
) |
|
|
(293 |
) |
Operating profit |
|
|
|
|
11,392 |
|
|
|
11,131 |
|
|
|
1,400 |
|
Gains (losses) on financial liability at fair value through |
|
14 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,417 |
|
|
|
(94 |
) |
Finance income |
|
20 |
|
|
2,581 |
|
|
|
303 |
|
|
|
140 |
|
Finance expense |
|
20 |
|
|
(1,809 |
) |
|
|
(2,099 |
) |
|
|
(2,475 |
) |
Income (loss) before tax |
|
|
|
|
12,164 |
|
|
|
10,752 |
|
|
|
(1,029 |
) |
Income tax benefit (charge) |
|
22 |
|
|
289 |
|
|
|
4,399 |
|
|
|
(872 |
) |
Net income (loss) for the year attributable to equity |
|
|
|
|
12,453 |
|
|
|
15,151 |
|
|
|
(1,901 |
) |
Other comprehensive (loss) income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Exchange differences on translating foreign currencies |
|
|
|
|
(4,812 |
) |
|
|
2,480 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
Total comprehensive income (loss) for the year |
|
|
|
|
7,641 |
|
|
|
17,631 |
|
|
|
(1,851 |
) |
Net income (loss) per share attributable to ordinary |
|
21 |
|
|
0.40 |
|
|
|
0.55 |
|
|
|
(0.07 |
) |
Net income (loss) per share attributable to ordinary |
|
21 |
|
|
0.37 |
|
|
|
0.49 |
|
|
|
(0.07 |
) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(USD in thousands)
|
|
|
|
DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
NOTE |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Property and equipment |
|
5 |
|
|
569 |
|
|
|
515 |
|
Intangible assets |
|
7 |
|
|
25,419 |
|
|
|
23,560 |
|
Right-of-use assets |
|
6 |
|
|
1,465 |
|
|
|
1,799 |
|
Deferred tax asset |
|
16 |
|
|
7,028 |
|
|
|
5,778 |
|
Total non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
34,481 |
|
|
|
31,652 |
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Trade and other receivables |
|
8 |
|
|
5,497 |
|
|
|
5,506 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
9 |
|
|
51,047 |
|
|
|
8,225 |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
|
|
56,544 |
|
|
|
13,731 |
|
Total assets |
|
|
|
|
91,025 |
|
|
|
45,383 |
|
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Share capital |
|
10 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
64 |
|
Capital reserve |
|
11 |
|
|
55,953 |
|
|
|
19,979 |
|
Share option and warrants reserve |
|
12,13 |
|
|
2,442 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
Foreign exchange translation reserve |
|
|
|
|
(2,282 |
) |
|
|
2,530 |
|
Retained earnings |
|
|
|
|
23,796 |
|
|
|
11,343 |
|
Total equity |
|
|
|
|
79,909 |
|
|
|
34,212 |
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Borrowings |
|
14 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
5,937 |
|
Lease liability |
|
6 |
|
|
1,286 |
|
|
|
1,562 |
|
Total non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
1,286 |
|
|
|
7,499 |
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Trade and other payables |
|
15 |
|
|
3,291 |
|
|
|
2,428 |
|
Borrowings and accrued interest |
|
14 |
|
|
5,944 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
Lease liability |
|
6 |
|
|
393 |
|
|
|
413 |
|
Income tax payable |
|
|
|
|
202 |
|
|
|
808 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
9,830 |
|
|
|
3,672 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
|
|
11,116 |
|
|
|
11,171 |
|
Total equity and liabilities |
|
|
|
|
91,025 |
|
|
|
45,383 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED
Consolidated Statements of Changes In Equity
(USD in thousands)
|
|
NOTE |
|
SHARE |
|
|
CAPITAL |
|
|
SHARE |
|
|
FOREIGN |
|
|
RETAINED |
|
|
TOTAL |
|
||||||
Balance at January 1, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
19,979 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
|
|
2,530 |
|
|
|
11,343 |
|
|
|
34,212 |
|
Transactions with owners |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Issue of share capital, net of issuance costs |
|
10, 11 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
35,910 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
35,910 |
|
Transfer between reserves |
|
10, 11 |
|
|
(64 |
) |
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Movements in share option and warrants reserve |
|
11,12 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,146 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,146 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(64 |
) |
|
|
35,974 |
|
|
|
2,146 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
38,056 |
|
Comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Net income |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
12,453 |
|
|
|
12,453 |
|
Exchange differences on translating foreign currencies |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(4,812 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(4,812 |
) |
Balance at December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
55,953 |
|
|
|
2,442 |
|
|
|
(2,282 |
) |
|
|
23,796 |
|
|
|
79,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Balance at January 1, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
61 |
|
|
|
16,007 |
|
|
|
621 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
(3,808 |
) |
|
|
12,931 |
|
Transactions with owners |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Issue of share capital |
|
10, 11 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3,427 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,430 |
|
Movements in share option and warrants reserve |
|
11,12 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
545 |
|
|
|
(325 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
220 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3,972 |
|
|
|
(325 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,650 |
|
Comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Net income |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15,151 |
|
|
|
15,151 |
|
Exchange differences on translating foreign currencies |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,480 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,480 |
|
Balance at December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
19,979 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
|
|
2,530 |
|
|
|
11,343 |
|
|
|
34,212 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Balance at January 1, 2019 |
|
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
9,772 |
|
|
|
129 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,907 |
) |
|
|
8,051 |
|
Transactions with owners |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Issue of share capital |
|
10, 11 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
6,235 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,239 |
|
Movements in share option and warrants reserve |
|
11,12 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
492 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
492 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
6,235 |
|
|
|
492 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,731 |
|
Comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Net loss |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,901 |
) |
|
|
(1,901 |
) |
Exchange differences on translating foreign currencies |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
50 |
|
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
|
|
|
|
61 |
|
|
|
16,007 |
|
|
|
621 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
(3,808 |
) |
|
|
12,931 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(USD in thousands)
|
|
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
NOTE |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Income (loss) before tax |
|
|
|
|
12,164 |
|
|
|
10,752 |
|
|
|
(1,029 |
) |
Finance (income) expenses, net |
|
20 |
|
|
(772 |
) |
|
|
1,796 |
|
|
|
2,335 |
|
(Gains) losses on financial instruments valuation |
|
14 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,417 |
) |
|
|
94 |
|
Adjustments for non-cash items: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
|
|
2,401 |
|
|
|
2,227 |
|
|
|
2,226 |
|
Movements in credit loss allowance and write offs |
|
3 |
|
|
(97 |
) |
|
|
287 |
|
|
|
293 |
|
Other operating loss |
|
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Share option charge |
|
13 |
|
|
1,995 |
|
|
|
315 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Income tax paid |
|
|
|
|
(2,092 |
) |
|
|
(642 |
) |
|
|
(93 |
) |
Cash flows from operating activities before changes in |
|
|
|
|
13,669 |
|
|
|
13,318 |
|
|
|
3,826 |
|
Changes in working capital |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Trade and other receivables |
|
|
|
|
(549 |
) |
|
|
(3,053 |
) |
|
|
511 |
|
Trade and other payables |
|
|
|
|
877 |
|
|
|
629 |
|
|
|
(333 |
) |
Cash flows generated by operating activities |
|
|
|
|
13,997 |
|
|
|
10,894 |
|
|
|
4,004 |
|
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Acquisition of property and equipment |
|
5 |
|
|
(305 |
) |
|
|
(46 |
) |
|
|
(195 |
) |
Acquisition of intangible assets |
|
7 |
|
|
(5,269 |
) |
|
|
(44 |
) |
|
|
(1,526 |
) |
Cash flows used in investing activities |
|
|
|
|
(5,574 |
) |
|
|
(90 |
) |
|
|
(1,721 |
) |
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Issue of ordinary shares and share warrants, net of underwriters fees |
|
10, 11, 12 |
|
|
39,060 |
|
|
|
3,483 |
|
|
|
6,979 |
|
Issuance costs |
|
10, 11, 12 |
|
|
(3,150 |
) |
|
|
(55 |
) |
|
|
(157 |
) |
Proceeds from issuance of financial instruments |
|
14 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
560 |
|
Financial instruments issuance costs |
|
14 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(89 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Repayment of notes and bonds |
|
14 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(17,352 |
) |
|
|
(4,480 |
) |
Interest paid |
|
14 |
|
|
(509 |
) |
|
|
(1,656 |
) |
|
|
(2,246 |
) |
Interest received |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
24 |
|
Warrants repurchased |
|
12 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(133 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Principal paid on lease liability |
|
6 |
|
|
(225 |
) |
|
|
(198 |
) |
|
|
(175 |
) |
Interest paid on lease liability |
|
6 |
|
|
(188 |
) |
|
|
(201 |
) |
|
|
(189 |
) |
Cash flows generated by (used in) financing |
|
|
|
|
34,988 |
|
|
|
(10,201 |
) |
|
|
316 |
|
Net movement in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
43,411 |
|
|
|
603 |
|
|
|
2,599 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
|
|
|
|
8,225 |
|
|
|
6,992 |
|
|
|
4,423 |
|
Net foreign exchange differences on cash and cash |
|
|
|
|
(589 |
) |
|
|
630 |
|
|
|
(30 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year |
|
9 |
|
|
51,047 |
|
|
|
8,225 |
|
|
|
6,992 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(USD in thousands except share and per-share amounts)
1. GENERAL COMPANY INFORMATION
Gambling.com Group Limited (the “Company” or "Group”) is a public limited liability company founded in 2006 and incorporated in the Channel Island of Jersey in accordance with the provisions of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991, as amended. We redomiciled from Malta to the Channel Island of Jersey and renamed from Gambling.com Group Plc to Gambling.com Group Limited in May 2021. Our registered address is 22 Grenville Street, St. Helier, Channel Island of Jersey JE4 8PX.
We are a multi-award-winning performance marketing company and a leading provider of digital marketing services active exclusively in the online gambling industry. Our principal focus is on iGaming and sports betting. Through our proprietary technology platform, we publish a portfolio of premier branded websites including gambling.com and bookies.com. Each of our websites is bespoke and tailored for different user interests and markets within the online gambling industry and include original and curated news relating to the online gambling sector, odds, statistics, product reviews and product comparisons of online gambling services around the world. We attract online gamblers through online marketing efforts and refer these online gamblers to companies that are licensed by gambling regulators to provide real-money online gambling services, known as online gambling operators, who convert online gamblers into paying players. In this way, we provide business-to-business, or B2B, digital marketing services to online gambling operators.
The Group has a workforce of more than 200 and operates from offices in Dublin, Malta, Charlotte, and Tampa.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial information are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied throughout the years presented.
BASIS OF PREPARATION
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and as adopted by the European Union (“EU”), and were approved and authorized for issuance by the Board of Directors on March 24, 2022.
The financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis. The preparation of financial statements in compliance with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires Group management to exercise judgment in applying the Group’s accounting policies. The areas where significant judgments and estimates have been made in preparing the financial statements and their effects are disclosed in Note 4.
The Board of Directors has prepared these non-statutory financial statements as of December 21, 2021 and 2020 and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 for inclusion in an annual report on Form 20-F to be submitted by the Company to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
New and Amended Standards Adopted by the Group in 2021
The Group has analyzed the following amendments to existing standards that are mandatory for the Group’s accounting period beginning on January 1, 2021, and determined they had limited or no impact on the Group’s financial statements:
Standards Issued but Not Yet Effective
There were a number of standards and interpretations which were issued but not yet effective at December 31, 2021 and have not been adopted for these consolidated financial statements. These amendments are not expected to have a significant impact on disclosures or amounts reported in the Group’s consolidated financial statements in the period of initial application.
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2022:
F-7
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023:
BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Group as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. The Company controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group. Control is reassessed whenever facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes in control.
All intra-Group assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between members of the Group are eliminated in full on consolidation.
The subsidiaries of the Company, all of which have been included in these consolidated financial statements, are as follows:
NAME |
|
PRINCIPAL |
|
COUNTRY OF |
|
OWNERSHIP % |
|
|
GDC Media Limited |
|
Digital marketing |
|
Ireland |
|
|
100 |
|
GDC Malta Limited |
|
Digital marketing |
|
Malta |
|
|
100 |
|
GDC America Inc. |
|
Digital marketing |
|
United States |
|
|
100 |
|
BASIS OF GOING CONCERN
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Group is required to evaluate whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt about the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least, but not limited to, 12 months from the date of issuance of the financial statements. An entity’s ability to continue as a going concern is assumed absent significant information to the contrary. If there are indications that there could be significant doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, then a detailed analysis must be performed. This evaluation includes an assessment of whether the Company can continue to meet its obligations as they become due without substantial disposition of assets outside the ordinary course of business, restructuring of debt, revisions of its operations or similar actions.
The Board of Directors have assessed the financial risks facing the business, including macroeconomic events as outlined in Note 3 and Note 24, and compared this risk assessment to the net current asset position. The Directors have also reviewed relationships with key customers and software providers and are satisfied that the appropriate contracts and contingency plans are in place. The Directors have prepared detailed revenue, operating expense and cashflow forecasts as well as sensitivity analyses to assess whether the Company has adequate resources for the foreseeable future. Based on the analyses performed, the Board of Directors considers that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least a period of 12 months from the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
F-8
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
The following exchange rates were used to translate the financial statements of the Group into USD from Euros:
|
|
PERIOD END (1) |
|
|
AVERAGE FOR |
|
|
BEGINNING |
|
|
LOW |
|
|
HIGH |
|
|||||
Year Ended December 31: |
|
(EUR per USD) |
|
|||||||||||||||||
2021 |
|
|
0.88 |
|
|
|
0.85 |
|
|
|
0.81 |
|
|
|
0.81 |
|
|
|
0.89 |
|
2020 |
|
|
0.81 |
|
|
|
0.88 |
|
|
|
0.89 |
|
|
|
0.81 |
|
|
|
0.93 |
|
2019 |
|
|
0.89 |
|
|
|
0.89 |
|
|
|
0.88 |
|
|
|
0.87 |
|
|
|
0.92 |
|
Transactions and Balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at period-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
Translation into Reporting Currency
The assets and liabilities of the Company and its primary subsidiaries are translated from the functional currency of the operations to USD, being the reporting currency, using the exchange rates at the reporting date. The Company and its primary subsidiaries functional currency is Euro. The USD has been selected as the reporting currency to ensure comparability with the financial reports of similar entities. The revenues and expenses are translated into USD using the average exchange rates for the period, which approximate the exchange rates at the date of the transaction. All resulting foreign exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income and included in foreign exchange translation reserve in equity.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment. Historical cost includes expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the items.
Subsequent costs are included in the assets’ carrying amount or recognized as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be reliably measured.
All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income during the financial period in which they are incurred.
The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses on disposals of property and equipment are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognized, where applicable, within ‘other operating income’ in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
An intangible asset is recognized if it is probable that the expected future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the Group and the cost of the asset can be measured reliably. Intangible assets are initially measured at cost. The cost of a separately acquired intangible asset comprises its purchase price and any directly attributable cost of preparing the asset for its intended use. The cost of acquisition of intangible assets for which the consideration comprises an issue of equity shares is calculated as the fair value of the equity instruments issued in the transaction. Where the cost of a separately acquired intangible asset includes contingent consideration, cost includes the fair value of the contingent consideration as determined on the date of acquisition. Subsequent changes in estimates of the likely outcome of the contingent event are reflected as increases or decreases in the value of the intangible asset. The remaining changes in the value of contingent consideration are recognized as interest expense.
F-9
Internally Developed Intangible Assets
The Company capitalizes certain development costs related to its technological platform during the development stage. The Company also capitalizes certain costs related to specific upgrades and enhancements when it is probable that expenditures will result in additional functionality of the platform to its customers. The capitalization policy provides for the capitalization of certain payroll and payroll related costs for employees who spent time directly associated with development and enhancements of the technology platform.
Expenditures incurred on development activities are capitalized if it can be demonstrated that all the following criteria are met:
Expenditures related to development activities that do not satisfy the above criteria, including expenditures incurred during the preliminary project stage and post implementation activities, are expensed as incurred in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
Subsequent expenditure on capitalized intangible assets is capitalized only where it clearly increases the economic benefits to be derived from the asset to which it relates. All other expenditures, including those incurred in order to maintain an intangible asset’s current level of performance, is expensed as incurred. Capitalized intangible assets have a useful life of 60 months, which is reviewed on an annual basis. Capitalized intangible assets are amortized over their useful life using straight-line basis.
Externally Purchased Intangible Assets
Separately acquired intangibles include Internet domain names together with related websites and content, and customer contracts.
Domain names together with the related assets have an indefinite useful life when there is evidence based on the analysis of the applicable market trends and circumstances, management plans, expected usage and information about the ongoing cash inflows that the asset will be able to generate cash flows to the Group for an indefinite period. Indefinite-life intangibles are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually as of December 31. In addition, the Group reassesses in each period the assumptions underlying the useful life of indefinite-life intangibles and assigns such assets a finite life if indicated by changes in the applicable facts and circumstances. When this happens, the related assets are also tested for impairment. Finite-life domain names and the related assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated period during which they are expected to continue to generate cash flows for the Group. During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Group had one finite-life mobile apps intangible asset, amortized straight-line over its estimated useful life of 48 months.
Customer contracts have a useful life of 12 – 24 months, which are reviewed on an annual basis. Customer contracts are amortized over their useful life using the straight-line method.
Intangible assets are derecognized on disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected from their use or disposal. Gains or losses arising from derecognition represent the difference between the net disposal proceeds, if any, and the carrying amount of intangible assets, and are recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the respective period.
IMPAIRMENT ASSESSMENT
Assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Assets that have an indefinite useful life (which are not subject to amortization) are tested annually for impairment. For the purposes of impairment assessment, assets are grouped at the lowest level which generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows of the remaining assets (cash-generating units). Through December 31, 2021, substantially all of the Group’s cash inflows have been generated through the use of its technology platform which is monetized via various informational portals that include domain names, websites and mobile apps. Accordingly, the Group determined it has one cash-generating unit that includes all of its intangibles, property and equipment, and right of use assets.
F-10
An impairment loss is recognized as the difference between the carrying amount of the cash-generating unit and its recoverable amount and is accounted for in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in the period identified. The recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and value in use.
Where the fair value of an asset less its costs to sell are determinable, and the fair value less costs to sell are estimated to be close to its value in use, the recoverable amount can be assessed for an individual asset. In this instance, an impairment may be recognized at an individual asset level where the fair value less costs to sell and value in use are both negligible. As at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Group had no impairments.
Non-financial assets, excluding goodwill, that suffered an impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at the end of each reporting period.
FINANCIAL ASSETS
Financial assets are classified at initial recognition and subsequently measured at amortized cost, fair value through profit or loss, or fair value through other comprehensive income. The classification of financial assets depends on the assets’ contractual cash flows characteristics and the Group’s model for managing such.
Through December 31, 2021, the Group’s financial assets consist of trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents. The Group’s objective for holding financial assets is to hold them to collect contractual cash flows, which are solely payment of principal and interest. Accordingly, these assets are accounted for at amortized cost.
Expected Credit Loss Assessment and Write-offs
The Group recognizes an allowance for Expected Credit Losses (“ECLs”) for all financial assets carried at amortized cost. ECLs are based on the difference between the contractual cash flows due in accordance with the contract and the cash flows that the Group expects to receive.
The Group applies the simplified approach in calculating ECLs for trade and other receivables. Therefore, the Group does not track changes in credit risk but instead recognizes a loss allowance based on lifetime ECLs at each reporting date. The Group has established a provision matrix that is based on its historical credit loss experience, adjusted for forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and the economic environment. The assessment is completed at the end of each reporting period.
Movements in ECLs, including recoveries, are presented within the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss in the period incurred.
Financial assets are written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery, such as:
When trade and other receivables have been written off, the Group continues to engage in enforcement activities in order to recover the receivable due. If successful, the recoveries are recognized in profit or loss.
Derecognition
A financial asset is derecognized when:
TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES
Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for services performed in the ordinary course of business and are classified as current. Other receivables include prepaid expenses and deposits.
F-11
Trade and other receivables are recognized initially at fair value, which due to their comparatively short maturities, approximates their carrying value. They are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, less an expected credit loss allowance. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced through the use of an allowance account, and the amount of the loss is recognized in profit or loss. When a receivable is uncollectible, it is written off against the allowance account for trade and other receivables. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited against profit or loss.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank, cash in transit and demand deposits that have maturities of three months or less from inception, are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates their fair value based on the short-term nature of such assets and the effect of any fair value differences being negligible.
ISSUED CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Share Capital
As of the initial public offering date, the Company’s ordinary shares have a nominal value of nil per share. As of the initial public offering date, the balance of share capital was reclassified to capital reserve as a result of the change in nominal value per share. Prior to the completion of the initial public offering, ordinary shares were classified as equity. Share capital includes the nominal value of ordinary shares issued and outstanding. The excess of the consideration received from the issuance of shares over their nominal value is recognized in the capital reserve.
Capital Reserve
As of the initial public offering date, capital reserve includes consideration received from the issuance of shares and any other contributions made by the shareholders of the Company of a cash or non-cash nature without the issuance of shares. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issuance of new ordinary shares or other shareholder contributions are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. Prior to the initial public offering date, capital reserve comprised of the excess consideration received from the issuance of shares over their nominal value.
Share Option and Warrants Reserve
The share option and warrants reserve is used to recognize the value of equity-classified share options and warrants, including share-based payments.
Foreign Exchange Translation Reserve
Foreign exchange translation reserve comprises foreign currency translation differences arising from the translation of the assets and liabilities of all Group entities from the functional currency into USD, the reporting currency.
Retained Earnings
Retained earnings includes all current and prior period earnings (losses).
FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
The Group recognizes a financial liability in its consolidated statement of financial position when it becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. The Group’s financial liabilities are classified as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss and financial liabilities at amortized cost.
Financial liabilities not at fair value through profit or loss are recognized initially at fair value net of transaction costs that are directly attributable to the financial liability. Subsequent measurement of the liabilities differs based on the classification originally applied and is described below.
The Group derecognizes a financial liability from its consolidated statement of financial position when the obligation specified in the contract or arrangement is discharged, cancelled or expires.
F-12
Trade and Other Payables
Trade payables comprise obligations to pay for goods and services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade and other payables are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.
Borrowings
In October 2018, the Company issued senior secured bonds which contained an embedded derivative that was not closely related to the host instrument. Therefore, the Group elected to recognize these bonds as financial liabilities carried at fair value through profit or loss, with changes in fair value recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Any directly attributable transaction costs incurred upon issuing such instruments are recognized in profit or loss. These bonds are classified as current liabilities unless the Company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the end of the reporting period.
In March 2020, the Group repurchased a portion of the senior secured bonds in the open market, placing them in treasury. In December 2020, the Group cancelled the bonds held in treasury and early redeemed the remaining outstanding senior secured bonds. These transactions are accounted for as an extinguishment, and the liability is derecognized from the consolidated statement of financial position. As the senior secured bonds are accounted for at fair value through profit or loss, the Bonds are remeasured to fair value using the market quoted prices just prior to repurchase or redemption. Accordingly, any gain or loss on repurchase or redemption is classified as “Gains (losses) on financial liability at fair value through profit or loss”.
In December 2020, the Group entered into a two-year fixed rate term loan agreement with an investor which is accounted for at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The transaction costs directly attributable to the issuance are capitalized as part of the initial carrying amount of the term loan and subsequently amortized into profit or loss over its term through the application of the effective interest method.
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
In June 2020, the Group received an unsecured loan granted under the Paycheck Protection Plan program authorized by the United States government in response to the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic as part of the CARES Act. The loan was repayable but could be forgiven to the extent proceeds of the loan are used for eligible expenditures, such as payroll and other expenses described in the CARES Act. As the Group reasonably believed that it would meet the terms for forgiveness, the loan was accounted for as a grant related to income and initially recognized as a deferred income liability. Subsequent to initial recognition, the Company reduced the liability, with the offset presented as a reduction of the related expense (i.e., payroll related costs) in the year ended December 31, 2020. The loan was forgiven in May 2021.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Group generates revenue primarily from commissions derived from referrals of prospective players visiting the Group’s websites or mobile apps to the Group’s customers, who are regulated online gambling operators. Depending on the customer, commission revenue may be earned in the form of ongoing revenue-share fees, one-time fee for each acquired player (cost per acquisition, or CPA, fee), or both, which is referred to as hybrid.
Revenue-share fees represent a set percentage of net gaming revenues the operator generates over the lifetime of the referred player. Negative revenue share-amounts usually do not carry over into subsequent months. CPA fees are fixed rate fees owed for each player who registers and usually deposits a minimum balance on the operator’s site. Fees generated by each operator during a particular month are paid to the Group shortly after the month-end.
The Group transacts with its customers pursuant to the terms of marketing affiliate agreements and/or insertion orders, which typically do not require a minimum number of player referrals nor minimum fees and can be terminated for convenience by either party at any time. Termination or changes in the terms of these agreements do not typically affect the rights of the parties or the fees earned or to be earned with respect to the players previously referred to the operator.
F-13
The Group considers each player referral to be a separate performance obligation. It is satisfied at the point in time when the referral is accepted by the relevant operator. The Group is not involved in the operator’s delivery of gaming or gambling services to players. Digital marketing activities of the Group and its subsidiaries are primarily to compile and to present content focused on prospective player education and engagement on websites and are not considered distinct services rendered to the operator customers.
CPA fees for each player referral are recognized when earned upon acceptance of the referral by the operator. Revenue-share fees for each referral are considered variable consideration and are only recognized to the extent it is probable that no significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized for this referral will occur when the ultimate fees are known. Although performance is complete when the referral is accepted, the ultimate revenue-sharing fees from the referral are subject to significant uncertainties, including how long the referred player will remain active, the size and frequency of the wager amounts, and the patterns of wins and losses. These factors vary significantly between markets as well as between individual operators and are further influenced by competition from other entertainment channels, taxation and regulatory developments, disruptive events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as general conditions of the economy. Consequently, revenue-share fees are considered constrained and not included in the transaction price and not recognized until earned during each month based on the relevant player’s activities. Revenue-share fees recognized by the Company are based on the revenues generated and expenses incurred by the customers and depend on the customers’ calculations, which could be subject to miscalculations or deliberate misrepresentation. The Company monitors revenues by customer to corroborate the amounts reported.
The Group has no material obligations for discounts, incentives or refunds of commissions subsequent to completion of performance obligations.
Other revenues are derived from promotion services whereby the Company charges a fixed fee for providing a prominent position to a customer on the Company’s website(s). The Company also generates revenue from fixed tenancy fees for operators who desire to be listed and critically reviewed on the Company’s sites. Control of the promotion service is transferred over time because the operators consume the benefit of the service in real time as it is being rendered. Therefore, these revenues are recognized straight-line over the applicable service period, with variable fees generally recognized as earned.
There are no incremental costs to obtain and no costs to fulfill contracts with customers eligible to be capitalized.
FINANCE INCOME AND EXPENSES
Finance income comprises of unrealized/realized currency gains.
Finance expenses comprises of (i) interest expenses on borrowings; (ii) deemed interest charged under IFRS 16; (iii) bank and other finance charges; and (iv) unrealized/realized currency losses. Interest expense is recognized as it accrues in profit or loss, using the effective interest method.
CURRENT AND DEFERRED TAX
The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognized in profit or loss, except to the extent that it relates to items recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this case, the tax is also recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.
Deferred tax is recognized, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. However, deferred tax liabilities are not recognized if they arise from the initial recognition of goodwill; deferred tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss.
Deferred tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset is realized, or the deferred tax liability is settled.
Deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.
F-14
WARRANTS
Proceeds from the issue of common share purchase warrants (warrants) treated as equity are recorded as a separate component of equity. Costs incurred on the issuance of warrants are netted against proceeds. Warrants issued with common shares are measured at fair value at the date of issue using an appropriate pricing model as indicated in IFRS 9, and incorporates certain input assumptions including the warrant price, risk-free interest rate, expected warrant life and expected share price volatility. The fair value for equity-classified warrants is included in the share option and warrant reserve component of equity and is transferred to share capital and capital reserve on exercise.
SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS
The Company has operated equity-settled share-based compensation plans since 2020. Through these plans, the Group has received services from employees and consultants as consideration for equity instruments (options) of the Company. The fair value of the assets acquired, or services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognized as an expense.
The total amount to be expensed is determined by the fair value of the options granted, which is estimated:
At the end of each reporting period, the Company revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest based on the non-market performance and service vesting conditions. For options with market-based performance vesting conditions, the initial amount to be expensed is not revised, unless the grantee’s service is terminated prior to the end of the original estimated period required to satisfy the vesting condition, or unless the vesting conditions are met prior to the end of this period. The Company recognizes the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, with a corresponding adjustment to equity. When the options are exercised, the Company, or another entity at the request of the Company, transfers shares to the option holder. For grants of options to the employees and consultants, the fair value of services received is measured by reference to the grant date fair value of the options.
In addition, the Board issues warrants to purchase common stock to eligible participants in exchange for cash consideration paid by the recipient at the warrant market value on the grant date. If the warrants are not issued in exchange for consideration at least equal to their fair value on the issuance date, or if the Company funds the purchase of the warrants, the warrants are considered compensation. Such warrants are classified as equity-settled share-based payment transactions if they are to be settled in shares or if the manner of settlement is outside the control of the warrant holder and settlement in shares is expected. Such warrants are measured at fair value on the grant date. The fair value of the warrants is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. At December 31, 2020, one of the warrants provided for contingent net settlement in cash as a forward instrument, with the net settlement price based on a formula, in the event of termination of the holder’s employment within a stated period. This warrant was considered to be cash-settled and was liability-classified as of December 31, 2020. In June 2021, this warrant was reclassified as equity as, through an addendum, it was no longer considered cash-settled.
DEFERRED OFFERING COSTS
Direct and incremental legal, accounting and other professional costs associated with the Company’s initial public offering of $180 were deferred and classified as a component of other assets in the consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2020. Such costs were offset against the proceeds received in the offering which was completed during July 2021.
LEASES
The Group assesses at contract inception whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. That is, if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.
The Group leases office premises in countries of its operation and applies a single recognition and measurement approach for all leases, except for short-term leases and leases of low-value assets. The Group recognizes lease liabilities for future remaining lease payments and right-of-use assets representing the right to use the underlying assets.
F-15
Right-of-use Assets
The Group recognizes a right-of-use asset at the lease commencement date (i.e., the date the underlying asset is available for use). Right-of-use assets are measured at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses and adjusted for certain remeasurements of lease liabilities. The cost of right-of-use assets includes the amount of lease liabilities recognized, lease payments made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received, initial direct costs incurred, and restoration costs.
Right-of-use assets are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term or the useful life of the right-of-use asset using the straight-line method.
Lease Liabilities
At the commencement date of the lease, the Group recognizes lease liabilities measured at the present value of the following payments, when applicable:
Lease payments are discounted using the incremental borrowing rate that the lessee would have to pay to borrow funds under a secured loan with similar terms to those of the lease, to obtain an asset of value similar to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the incremental borrowing rate was estimated at 8%. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the incremental borrowing rate was estimated at 10.5%.
Lease liabilities are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. In addition, the carrying amount of lease liabilities is remeasured if there is a modification, a change in the lease term, or a change in the lease payments (e.g., changes to future payments resulting from a change in an index or rate used to determine such lease payments).
For short-term or low-value leases, the Group recognizes lease expense in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
SEGMENT REPORTING
An operating segment is a part of the Group that conducts business activities from which it can generate revenue and incur costs, and for which independent financial information is available. Identification of segments is based on internal reporting to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”). The CODM, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The Group does not divide its operations into different segments, and the CODM operates and manages the Group’s entire operations as one segment, which is consistent with the Group’s internal organization and reporting system.
F-16
3. RISK MANAGEMENT
3.1 FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The Group’s activities potentially expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (foreign exchange risk and cash flow and fair value interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The management of the Group’s financial risk is based on a financial policy approved by the Board of Directors. The Group did not make use of derivative financial instruments to hedge risk exposures during the periods presented.
(A) Market Risk
(I) Foreign Exchange Risk
Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions and recognized assets and liabilities which are denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s functional currency. In 2021, the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities are mainly denominated in USD; however, the majority of operations of the Group were carried out in EUR and British Pound Sterling (“GBP”). In 2020 the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities were mainly denominated in EUR; however, some operations of the Group were carried out in GBP and USD. Management performs ongoing assessments of foreign currency fluctuations on financial results; however, the Group does not enter into any derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to foreign currency risk.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Group’s exposure to foreign exchange risks was primarily through cash and working capital balances held by its entities which have Euro as the functional currency. These balances included USD-denominated net assets of $27,148 and net liabilities of $1,732 and GBP-denominated net assets of $11,819 and $2,597 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Based on the sensitivity analyses performed, movements in USD and GBP exchange rates to EUR by 10% would result on average in gains or losses of $2,742 and $1,194 to the Group’s net profit (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2020, movements in USD and GBP exchange rates to EUR by 10% would result on average in gains or losses of $175 and $262. For the year ended December 31, 2019, movements in USD and GBP exchange rates to EUR by 10% would result on average in gains or losses of $628 and $120. Management anticipates 10% is a reasonable extent of currency fluctuations in the foreseeable future.
(II) Cash Flow and Fair Value Interest Rate Risk
The Group has minimal interest-bearing assets, and its borrowings carry fixed interest rates. The risk associated with the effects of fluctuations in the prevailing levels of market interest rates on its financing position and cash flows is not deemed to be substantial.
(B) Credit Risk
Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables. The exposure as of the reporting date is as follows:
|
|
AS AT DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments) (Note 8) |
|
|
4,253 |
|
|
|
5,046 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 9) |
|
|
51,047 |
|
|
|
8,225 |
|
|
|
|
55,300 |
|
|
|
13,271 |
|
For the year ended December 31, 2021, revenues generated from the largest two single customers amounted to 13% and 10% of the Group's total sales for the year. For the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, revenues generated from a single customer amounted to 20% and 21% of the Group’s total sales for the year, respectively.
The Group has the following financial assets that are subject to the ECL model: trade receivables and other financial assets carried at amortized cost. The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss allowance for all trade receivables. The expected loss rates are based on the historical credit losses experienced over a recent twelve-month period. The historical loss rates are adjusted to reflect current and forward-looking information on macroeconomic factors (such as GDP growth, inflation rate and unemployment forecasts) affecting the ability of the customers to settle the receivables.
F-17
The aging of trade receivables that are past due but not impaired is shown below:
|
|
AS AT DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Between one and two months |
|
|
159 |
|
|
|
190 |
|
Between two and three months |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
21 |
|
More than three months |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
181 |
|
|
|
219 |
|
The Company did not recognize any specific impairment on trade receivables in the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
The activity in the credit loss allowance was as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
As of January 1 |
|
|
352 |
|
|
|
340 |
|
(Decrease) Increase in credit losses allowance |
|
|
(187 |
) |
|
|
254 |
|
Write offs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(275 |
) |
Translation effect |
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
33 |
|
As of December 31 |
|
142 |
|
|
|
352 |
|
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company wrote off receivables from customers with the total value of $90; the balances were not specifically provided during the year.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company wrote off receivables from customers with the total value of $275, including the balance of $241 which was specifically provided.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded an increase of $293 in the credit losses allowance, of which $180 was related to a specific provision for one customer, within the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
The Group actively manages credit limits and exposures in a practicable manner such that past due amounts receivable from the operator customers are within controlled parameters. Management assesses the credit quality of the operators, taking into account their financial position, past experience and other factors. The Group’s receivables are principally in respect of transactions with operators for whom there is no recent history of default. Management does not expect significant losses from non-performance by these operators above the ECL provision. The directors consider that the Group was not exposed to significant credit risk as at the end of the current reporting period.
The Group monitors intra-group credit exposures at the individual entity level on a regular basis and ensures timely performance in the context of its overall liquidity management. Management concluded the Group’s exposure to credit losses on intra-group receivables were immaterial.
As cash and cash equivalents are held with financial institutions, any credit risk is deemed to be immaterial. The IFRS 9 assessment conducted for these balances did not identify any material impairment loss as of December 31, 2021, 2020 or 2019.
(C) Liquidity Risk
The Group is exposed to liquidity risk in relation to meeting future obligations associated with its financial liabilities, which are predominantly comprised of trade and other payables and borrowings (Notes 14 and 15). Prudent liquidity risk management includes maintaining sufficient cash and committed credit lines to ensure the availability of adequate funding to meet the Group’s obligations when they are due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to its reputation.
Management monitors liquidity risk by continual observation of cash inflows and outflows. To improve the net cash inflows and maintain cash balances at a specified level, management ensures that no additional financing facilities are expected to be required over the coming year. In this respect, management does not consider liquidity risk to the Group as significant when taking into account the liquidity management process referred to above.
The following tables summarize the maturity profile of the Group’s financial liabilities based on contractual undiscounted payments. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Group repurchased and redeemed all of
F-18
the outstanding senior secured bonds. Balances due within 12 months equal their carrying balances as the impact of discounting is not significant.
|
|
LESS |
|
|
BETWEEN |
|
|
MORE |
|
|
TOTAL |
|
||||
As of December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Term loan |
|
|
6,480 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,480 |
|
Lease liability |
|
|
393 |
|
|
|
386 |
|
|
|
1,436 |
|
|
|
2,215 |
|
Trade and other payables |
|
|
3,291 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,291 |
|
Total |
|
|
10,164 |
|
|
|
386 |
|
|
|
1,436 |
|
|
|
11,986 |
|
As of December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Term loan |
|
|
480 |
|
|
|
6,480 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,960 |
|
Lease liability |
|
|
413 |
|
|
|
389 |
|
|
|
1,945 |
|
|
|
2,747 |
|
Trade and other payables |
|
|
2,428 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,428 |
|
Total |
|
|
3,321 |
|
|
|
6,869 |
|
|
|
1,945 |
|
|
|
12,135 |
|
3.2 CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The Group’s capital management objectives are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders, and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt. The directors intend to retain all available liquidity sources and future earnings, if any, to fund the development and expansion of the business and they have no plans to pay regular dividends on ordinary shares in the foreseeable future.
At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the net current asset position of the Group was $46,714 and $10,059, respectively. Management prepares and reviews a rolling forecast of the Group’s operations for the 12-month period to anticipate any liquidity deficit. Per the assessment made as of the reporting date, the Group will have sufficient funds to settle liabilities in a timely manner in the foreseeable future.
The Group’s equity, as disclosed in the consolidated statement of financial position, constitutes its capital. The Group maintains the level of capital by reference to its financial obligations and commitments arising from operational requirements. In view of the nature of the Group’s activities, the capital level as at the end of the reporting year is deemed adequate.
3.3 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Financial instruments measured at fair value in the consolidated statement of financial position are grouped into three levels of fair value hierarchy. This grouping is determined based on the lowest level of significant inputs used in fair value measurement, as follows:
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not have any financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value within the fair value hierarchy noted above.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, and trade and other payables reflected in the consolidated statement of financial position are reasonable estimates of fair value in view of the nature of these instruments or the relatively short period of time between the origination of the instruments and their expected realization. There were no transfers into or out of any classification of financial instruments in the periods presented.
4. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the
F-19
results of which form the basis of making the judgements about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
ASSET ACQUISITIONS
Between September 2016 and February 2018, the Group made four separate acquisitions of intellectual property consisting of domain names together with the related websites, mobile apps and content, and customer contracts. Effective January 1, 2019, the Group early adopted the amended definition of the business in IFRS 3 with retrospective application to prior acquisitions. As amended, IFRS 3 defines a business as an integrated set of activities and assets, which must include at a minimum an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output. Entities are also allowed to perform an optional concentration test. If substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar assets, the acquired integrated set does not constitute a business.
The Group’s acquisitions made between 2016 and 2018 satisfied the requirements of the concentration test, as substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired was concentrated in the domain names together with the related websites, mobile apps, and content. The Group determined the value of the domain names is not separable from the content of the websites and apps and does not exist on its own, as potential players visit the websites and install and use the apps to research and select their desired gaming opportunities.
In addition, the Group made separate acquisitions of intellectual property consisting of domain names during 2021. For all acquisitions, the Company elected to bypass the optional concentration test and evaluated if a substantive process was acquired. The Company concluded that no substantive processes were included in any of the acquisitions. When no workforce is acquired, a process is considered substantive when it is unique or scarce. The Group did not acquire any workforce, and promptly transitioned the acquired assets onto its technology platform, integrating them into its existing processes. The legacy processes underlying the acquired assets were not unique or scarce, as they were based on commercially available Internet technologies and did not incorporate any substantive know-how. The Group concluded that all acquisitions were acquisitions of assets, and that early adoption of the amended definition of the business in IFRS 3 did not have any quantifiable impact on the assessment of the acquisitions.
INDEFINITE LIFE INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The acquired domain names, together with the related assets, are assigned an indefinite useful life when there is evidence based on the analysis of the applicable market trends and circumstances, management plans, expected usage and information about the ongoing cash inflows that the asset will be able to generate cash flows to the Group for an indefinite period. Indefinite-life intangibles are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually as of December 31. In addition, the Group reassesses in each period the assumptions underlying the useful life of indefinite-life intangible assets and assigns such assets a finite life if indicated by changes in the applicable facts and circumstances. Finite-life domain names and the related assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated period during which they are expected to continue to generate cash flows for the Group.
During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Group had domain name intangibles with an indefinite useful life and the aggregate carrying value of $22,642 and $20,270, respectively. The Group also had one finite-life mobile apps intangible asset, which was amortized over its useful life of 48 months and had a carrying value of $1,280 and $3,273 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Group has concluded no changes to the useful lives of these assets were necessary.
Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are tested for impairment annually at December 31. For the purposes of impairment assessment, assets are grouped at the lowest level which generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows of the remaining assets (cash-generating units). Substantially all of the Group’s cash inflows are generated through the use of its technology platform which is monetized via various informational portals that include domain names, websites and mobile apps. When customers utilize our platform, they acquire leads from the whole suite of websites rather than by domain. Accordingly, the Group determined it has one cash-generating unit that includes all of its intangibles, property and equipment, and right of use assets.
As of December 31, 2021, the Group tested its indefinite-life intangible assets for impairment as part of the Group’s single cash generating unit. The recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit was based on projected cash flows for 2022—2031 in which an average annual rate of growth between 3% and 45% was assumed and a long-term
F-20
sustainable growth rate of 3% was applied. The projected cash flows were discounted using a discount rate of 13%. The effective tax rate was estimated at 15%. The methods for determining the significant inputs and assumptions are based on experience and expectations regarding market performance.
The Group concluded that the recoverable amount is well in excess of the assets’ carrying amount, and accordingly a sensitivity analysis in this regard is not disclosed. Consequently, the Group concluded no impairment charges were necessary.
When a triggering event arises, it may be necessary to test an asset for impairment at an individual asset level. This is the case when the asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use are both negligible. As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, no intangible assets met the criteria to be tested at the individual asset level.
CAPITALIZATION AND IMPAIRMENT OF INTERNALLY DEVELOPED INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Management reviews expenditures, including wages and benefits for employees, incurred on development activities and based on their judgment of the costs incurred assesses whether the expenditure meets the capitalization criteria set out in IAS 38 and the intangible assets accounting policy within the notes to our consolidated financial statements. Management considers if additional expenditure on projects relates to maintenance or new development projects. In addition, the useful life of capitalized development costs is determined by management at the time the software is brought into use and is regularly reviewed for appropriateness. For unique software products we control and develop, the life is based on historical experience with similar products as well as anticipation of future events, which may impact their useful economic life, such as changes in technology. Management reviews intangible assets at each reporting period to determine potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an intangible asset may not be fully recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the intangible asset with the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. Management must make estimates related to future cash flows and discount rates that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted. If such assets are considered impaired, an impairment loss would be measured by comparing the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the intangible asset.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Group entered into a senior secured bond arrangement in October 2018 with third parties. The bonds had an embedded early redemption derivative, and the Group elected to measure senior secured bonds at fair value through profit and loss. The fair value of the bonds was categorized as Level 1 and was determined using market quoted prices, after considering whether any adjustments may be required, for example, due to timing differences between the market transaction dates and the valuation dates. No adjustments to market quoted prices were required during the year ended December 31, 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Group repurchased and redeemed all of the outstanding senior secured bonds which was accounted for as an extinguishment. Therefore, the liability associated with the senior secured bonds was derecognized from the consolidated statement of financial position at December 31, 2020.
Warrants issued with common shares are measured at fair value at the date of issue using the Black-Scholes pricing model or binomial pricing model, and incorporate certain input assumptions including the share price, risk-free interest rate, expected warrant life and expected share price volatility. The fair value of certain warrants is included in the share options and warrants reserve component of equity and is transferred to share capital and capital reserve on exercise. The fair value of liability-classified warrants is determined using the Black-Scholes pricing model and such warrants are marked to market at each period end.
SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS
Management determines costs for share-based payments using market-based valuation techniques.
The fair value of the equity-classified options and warrants are determined at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model or Monte Carlo simulation, as applicable. One of the warrants provided for contingent net settlement in cash as a forward instrument, with the net settlement price based on a formula, in the event of termination of the holder’s employment within a stated period. As of December 31, 2020, the warrant was considered to be a compound financial instrument with an equity component of nil. The debt component was treated as cash settled and was liability classified. The fair value of this warrant was determined at each statement of financial position date, with fair value recognized over the expected service period and changes recognized in profit and loss, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. In June 2021, this warrant was reclassified as equity as, through an addendum, it was no longer considered cash-settled.
F-21
Assumptions are made and judgments are used in applying valuation techniques. Such judgments and assumptions are inherently uncertain. Changes in these assumptions affect the fair value estimates. For options and warrants valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, these assumptions and judgments include estimating the future volatility of the stock price, risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield, expected term, future employee turnover rates and future employee stock option exercise behaviors and corporate performance.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company granted stock options to the Company’s founders subject to market performance vesting conditions. The founders are required to hold exercised shares for a period of three years ("holding restriction") after the exercise date. The Company determined the fair value of these options using a Monte Carlo simulation and the following inputs: volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield, holding restriction discount, and expected time to vest.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company granted stock options to certain employees subject to employment during the vesting period. The Company determined the fair value of these options using a Black-Scholes model and the following inputs: volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield, and expected time to vest.
See Note 13 for additional information on the valuation of options and warrants.
COMMON STOCK VALUATIONS
In valuing our common stock, the fair value of our business, or enterprise value, was determined using a combination of the market and income approaches. We believe both approaches are relevant and meaningful given our robust Company projections, publicly traded comparable stock information available and the price in the most recent equity transaction. The market approach estimates value based on a comparison of the subject company to comparable public companies in a similar line of business and secondary transactions of our capital stock. From the comparable companies, a representative market value multiple is determined and then applied to the subject company’s financial results to estimate the value of the subject company. The market approach also includes consideration of the transaction price of secondary sales of our capital stock by investors. The income approach estimates the fair value of a company based on the present value of the company’s future estimated cash flows and the residual value of the company beyond the forecast period. These future cash flows, including the cash flows beyond the forecast period for the residual value, are discounted to their present values using an appropriate discount rate, to reflect the risks inherent in the company achieving these estimated cash flows.
Our assessments of the fair value of common stock for grant dates were based in part on the current available financial and operational information and the common stock value provided in the most recent valuation as compared to the timing of each grant. For financial reporting purposes, we considered the amount of time between the valuation date and the grant date to determine whether to use the latest common stock valuation or a straight-line interpolation between the two valuation dates. This determination included an evaluation of whether the subsequent valuation indicated that any significant change in valuation had occurred between the previous valuation and the grant date.
For valuations after the completion of the listing of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market, we determine the fair value of each share of underlying common stock based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the date of grant.
TAXATION
Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable future taxable profits will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized. The key areas in this area are that the capital allowances to which the deferred tax asset relate will be accepted by the relevant tax authorities and whether it is probable that there will be suitable taxable profits against which any deferred tax assets can be utilized. The deferred tax asset recognized as of December 31, 2021 was based on management’s performance projections for 2022 – 2026. The deferred tax asset recognized as of December 31, 2020 was based on management’s performance projections for 2021 – 2025. We operate in a number of international tax jurisdictions. Judgement is required in respect of the interpretation of state, federal and international tax law and practices as e-commerce and tax continues to evolve. We file our tax returns and duty calculations and estimate our tax provisions based on current tax rules and practices and our transfer pricing policy, together with advice received from professional advisors and believe that our accruals for tax liabilities are adequate.
Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial information and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable
F-22
profit and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilized.
Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized, or the liability is settled based upon tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position date. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and (Loss).
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each Consolidated Statement of Financial Position date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is measured using tax rates that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position date and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset or liability is realized or settled.
5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
|
|
COMPUTER |
|
|
LEASEHOLD |
|
|
TOTAL |
|
|||
At January 1, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Cost |
|
|
663 |
|
|
|
243 |
|
|
|
906 |
|
Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(321 |
) |
|
|
(70 |
) |
|
|
(391 |
) |
Net book amount |
|
|
342 |
|
|
|
173 |
|
|
|
515 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Opening net book amount |
|
|
342 |
|
|
|
173 |
|
|
|
515 |
|
Additions |
|
|
305 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
305 |
|
Other movements |
|
|
(36 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(36 |
) |
Depreciation charge |
|
|
(152 |
) |
|
|
(24 |
) |
|
|
(176 |
) |
Translation differences |
|
|
(26 |
) |
|
|
(13 |
) |
|
|
(39 |
) |
Closing net book amount |
|
|
433 |
|
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
569 |
|
At December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Cost |
|
|
738 |
|
|
|
223 |
|
|
|
961 |
|
Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(305 |
) |
|
|
(87 |
) |
|
|
(392 |
) |
Net book amount |
|
|
433 |
|
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
569 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Opening net book amount |
|
|
376 |
|
|
|
175 |
|
|
|
551 |
|
Additions |
|
|
41 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
46 |
|
Depreciation charge |
|
|
(100 |
) |
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
(123 |
) |
Translation differences |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
41 |
|
Closing net book amount |
|
|
342 |
|
|
|
173 |
|
|
|
515 |
|
At December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Cost |
|
|
663 |
|
|
|
243 |
|
|
|
906 |
|
Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(321 |
) |
|
|
(70 |
) |
|
|
(391 |
) |
Net book amount |
|
|
342 |
|
|
|
173 |
|
|
|
515 |
|
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, cash paid for the acquisition of property and equipment was $305, $46 and $195, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company expensed low value office equipment with a net book value of $36.
F-23
6. LEASES
In August 2021, the Group signed a 2-year lease office agreement in Tampa with total lease payments of $79 which, as discounted at the Group’s weighted average incremental borrowing rate of 8%, resulted in additional lease liability of $70 during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Below are the carrying amounts of the Group’s right-of-use assets and lease liabilities and the movements during the year:
|
|
RIGHT-OF-USE |
|
|
LEASE |
|
||
At January 1, 2021 |
|
|
1,799 |
|
|
|
1,975 |
|
Additions |
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
70 |
|
Amortization of right-of-use assets |
|
|
(279 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
188 |
|
Payments |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(413 |
) |
Translation differences |
|
|
(125 |
) |
|
|
(141 |
) |
At December 31, 2021 |
|
|
1,465 |
|
|
|
1,679 |
|
At January 1, 2020 |
|
|
1,914 |
|
|
|
2,003 |
|
Additions |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Amortization of right-of-use assets |
|
|
(272 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
204 |
|
Payments |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(399 |
) |
Translation differences |
|
|
157 |
|
|
|
167 |
|
At December 31, 2020 |
|
|
1,799 |
|
|
|
1,975 |
|
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, amortization expense of right-of-use assets was $279, $272 and $243, respectively, and lease payments related to lease liabilities were $413, $399 and $364, respectively.
Lease payments not recognized as a liability
The Group has elected not to recognize a lease liability for leases that are short term (with expected lease term of 12 months or less) or for low-value leases up to $25. Payments made under such leases are expensed on a straight-line basis. In addition, certain variable lease payments are not permitted to be recognized as lease liabilities and are expensed as incurred.
F-24
7. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
|
|
DOMAINS |
|
|
CUSTOMER |
|
|
INTERNALLY DEVELOPED |
|
|
TOTAL |
|
||||
At January 1, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cost |
|
|
27,769 |
|
|
|
1,085 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
28,888 |
|
Accumulated amortization |
|
|
(4,226 |
) |
|
|
(1,085 |
) |
|
|
(17 |
) |
|
|
(5,328 |
) |
Net book amount |
|
|
23,543 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
23,560 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Opening net book amount |
|
|
23,543 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
23,560 |
|
Additions |
|
|
4,110 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,659 |
|
|
|
5,769 |
|
Amortization charge |
|
|
(1,817 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(129 |
) |
|
|
(1,946 |
) |
Translation differences |
|
|
(1,914 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(50 |
) |
|
|
(1,964 |
) |
Closing net book amount |
|
|
23,922 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,497 |
|
|
|
25,419 |
|
At December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cost |
|
|
29,578 |
|
|
|
1,085 |
|
|
|
1,619 |
|
|
|
32,282 |
|
Accumulated amortization |
|
|
(5,656 |
) |
|
|
(1,085 |
) |
|
|
(122 |
) |
|
|
(6,863 |
) |
Net book amount |
|
|
23,922 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,497 |
|
|
|
25,419 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Opening net book amount |
|
|
23,272 |
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
23,310 |
|
Additions |
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
44 |
|
Amortization charge |
|
|
(1,784 |
) |
|
|
(33 |
) |
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
(1,832 |
) |
Translation differences |
|
|
2,043 |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,038 |
|
Closing net book amount |
|
|
23,543 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
23,560 |
|
At December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cost |
|
|
27,769 |
|
|
|
1,085 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
28,888 |
|
Accumulated amortization |
|
|
(4,226 |
) |
|
|
(1,085 |
) |
|
|
(17 |
) |
|
|
(5,328 |
) |
Net book amount |
|
|
23,543 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
23,560 |
|
Amortization expense of intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $1,946, $1,832 and $1,873, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, cash paid for the acquisition of intangible assets and capitalized software developments was $5,269, $44 and $1,526, respectively.
As of December 31, 2021, the Group had a deferred payment of $500 for the acquisition of domains, which is due to be settled in January - March 2022. As of January 1, 2019, the Group had an outstanding consideration obligation of $1,462 for assets purchased in a prior period. The balance was fully paid during the year ended December 31, 2019 for a final amount of $1,526 including earn-out adjustment of $90 and foreign exchange effect of $26.
As of December 31, 2021, the net book value of assets with finite useful lives was $2,777 out of which $1,280 relating to a finite life mobile app and $1,497 related to other intangibles. As at December 31, 2021 net book value of assets with indefinite useful lives was $22,642 related to domain names and related websites.
As of December 31, 2020, the net book value of assets with finite useful lives was $3,290 of which $3,273 related to a finite life mobile app and $17 related to other intangibles, and the net book value of assets with indefinite useful lives was $20,270 related to domain names and related websites.
The annual impairment testing of indefinite-life intangibles is discussed in Note 4.
F-25
8. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES
|
|
AS AT |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Current |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Trade receivables, net (i) |
|
|
4,003 |
|
|
|
4,839 |
|
Other receivables |
|
|
129 |
|
|
|
141 |
|
Deposits |
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
66 |
|
Prepayments |
|
|
1,244 |
|
|
|
460 |
|
|
|
|
5,497 |
|
|
|
5,506 |
|
|
|
AS AT |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Trade receivables, gross |
|
|
4,145 |
|
|
|
5,191 |
|
Credit loss allowance |
|
|
(142 |
) |
|
|
(352 |
) |
|
|
|
4,003 |
|
|
|
4,839 |
|
Trade receivables are unsecured and subject to settlement typically within 30 days. Details on movements in the allowance are disclosed within Note 3.
9. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents comprise the following:
|
|
AS AT |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Cash at bank |
|
|
51,047 |
|
|
|
8,225 |
|
10. SHARE CAPITAL
|
|
SHARES |
|
|
USD |
|
||
Issued and fully paid ordinary shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
As at January 1, 2021 |
|
|
28,556,422 |
|
|
|
64 |
|
Shares issued and sold |
|
|
5,250,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Transfer to capital reserve upon change of par value |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(64 |
) |
As at December 31, 2021 |
|
|
33,806,422 |
|
|
|
— |
|
As at January 1, 2020 |
|
|
27,291,543 |
|
|
|
61 |
|
Shares issued and sold |
|
|
1,264,879 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
As at December 31, 2020 |
|
|
28,556,422 |
|
|
|
64 |
|
As at January 1, 2019 |
|
|
2,500,000 |
|
|
|
57 |
|
Shares issued and sold |
|
|
2,291,543 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
As at December 31, 2019 |
|
|
27,291,543 |
|
|
|
61 |
|
In July 2021, the Group issued and sold in its initial public offering 5,250,000 ordinary shares in exchange for total gross cash proceeds of $42,000. Costs attributable to the issue of new equity amounted to $6,090 and were netted against proceeds received.
In February 2020, the Group issued and sold 164,269 ordinary shares in exchange for cash proceeds of $500.
In June 2020, 115,000 share warrants were exercised, resulting in an increase to share capital of $124.
In October 2020, the warrants to purchase 985,610 ordinary shares of the Company at an exercise price of $3.04 per share were cancelled and replaced with rights to subscribe to shares on substantially the same terms. Pursuant to these rights, in December 2020, the Company issued and sold an aggregate of 985,610 of its ordinary shares for gross proceeds of $3,000 to the investor, additional parties nominated by the investor including the Company's lender and some officers and directors, and some of the existing shareholders based on their pre-emptive rights. The sale of shares to directors included an element of compensation. Refer to additional details in Notes 13 and 23.
F-26
Share issuance costs totaling $55 were capitalized as a part of Share Capital for the year ended December 31, 2020.
At December 31, 2021, total authorized shares of the Company were unlimited. Shares have no par value. At December 31, 2020, total authorized share capital of the Company was 35,000,000 shares with a nominal value of EUR 0.002 ($0.002) each.
11. CAPITAL RESERVE
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Opening carrying amount |
|
|
19,979 |
|
|
|
16,007 |
|
|
|
9,772 |
|
Share warrants exercised/repurchased/cancelled and replaced with new |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
545 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Share capital issue (Note 10), net of issuance costs |
|
|
35,910 |
|
|
|
3,427 |
|
|
|
6,235 |
|
Transfer from share capital reserve upon change of par value |
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Closing carrying amount |
|
|
55,953 |
|
|
|
19,979 |
|
|
|
16,007 |
|
12. SHARE OPTION AND WARRANTS RESERVE
Changes in the share option and warrants reserve are as follows:
|
|
OPTIONS AND |
|
|
USD |
|
||
As at January 1, 2021 |
|
|
2,854,744 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
Share options and warrants expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
640 |
|
Share options granted |
|
|
4,186,770 |
|
|
|
645 |
|
Share options forfeited |
|
|
(20,000 |
) |
|
|
(8 |
) |
Modification of share warrants |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
869 |
|
As at December 31, 2021 |
|
|
7,021,514 |
|
|
|
2,442 |
|
As at January 1, 2020 |
|
|
3,345,354 |
|
|
|
621 |
|
Share warrants & share options issued |
|
|
745,000 |
|
|
|
220 |
|
Share warrants exercised |
|
|
(115,000 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
Share warrants cancelled and replaced with new shares |
|
|
(985,610 |
) |
|
|
(541 |
) |
Share warrants repurchased |
|
|
(135,000 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
As at December 31, 2020 |
|
|
2,854,744 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
As at January 1, 2019 |
|
|
2,259,744 |
|
|
|
129 |
|
Share warrants issued |
|
|
1,085,610 |
|
|
|
476 |
|
Modification of share warrants |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
16 |
|
As at December 31, 2019 |
|
|
3,345,354 |
|
|
|
621 |
|
In January 2021, share options to purchase 10,000 ordinary shares that were issued under the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") were forfeited. In August 2021, a further 10,000 were forfeited (see Note 13).
On July 31, 2021, 4,056,770 share options were granted under the Founders' Award (Note 13).
On September 1, 2021, 10,000 share options were granted to an employee under the Plan (Note 13).
During November 2021, 120,000 share options were granted to employees and contractors as a part of the Plan (Note 13).
As at December 31, 2021, there was a total of 7,021,514 warrants and options outstanding including 855,000 warrants and options issued under the 2020 Stock Incentive plan and 4,056,770 under the Founders' Awards granted in 2021 (see Note 13). The remaining balance relates to warrants granted to executives, including officers, in prior years.
As part of a transaction including issuance of shares in October 2019 to an investor, the Company issued share warrants subject to the other shareholders’ pre-emption rights to purchase up to 985,610 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $3.04 per share, exercisable between seven and twelve months from the issuance date. The fair value of the share warrants of $475 was determined using the Black-Scholes model with the main data inputs being
F-27
volatility of 42.6% and an annual risk-free interest rate of 1.63%. In October 2020, the warrants were cancelled and replaced with rights to subscribe to shares on substantially the same terms. Pursuant to these rights, in December 2020 the Company issued and sold 985,610 ordinary shares in exchange for gross cash proceeds of $3,000. Refer to additional detail in Note 10.
In 2020, the Group granted certain employees and consultants options and warrants pursuant to the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (see Note 13) to purchase 745,000 shares with a weighted average exercise price equal to EUR 3.01 ($3.52) per share. The options vest in tranches over the service period of four years. The majority of the warrants were fully vested when issued, except for 200,000 warrants which became vested in June 2021.
In 2020, 115,000 warrants were exercised and 135,000 warrants were repurchased for consideration of $133.
As at December 31, 2020, there was a total of 2,854,744 warrants and options outstanding including 745,000 warrants and options issued under the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (see Note 13).
13. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS
On October 22, 2020, the Company’s shareholders, in an extraordinary general meeting, approved the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (“the Plan”). Under the Plan, employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors, on the grant date are eligible to purchase share warrants or receive share options, which can be in the form of incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options. No amounts are paid or payable by the recipient on receipt of the option. The options carry neither right to dividends nor voting rights. Options may be exercised at any time from the date of vesting to the date of their expiry. The number of options granted, and the exercise price of the options is fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company.
According to the Plan, awards may be made for up to 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s shares of common stock. If any award expires or is terminated, surrendered, or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part, or results in any common stock not being issued, the unused common stock covered by such award shall again be available for the grant of awards under the Plan.
In 2021, the Board granted 4,186,770 stock options with a weighted average exercise price of $8.18 per share. In 2020, the Board granted 495,000 stock options and 250,000 warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $3.52 per share.
The number of awards outstanding as at December 31, 2021, is as follows:
|
|
NUMBER |
|
|
WEIGHTED AVERAGE |
|
||
Awards outstanding as at January 1, 2021 |
|
|
745,000 |
|
|
|
3.52 |
|
Granted |
|
|
4,186,770 |
|
|
|
8.18 |
|
Forfeited |
|
|
(20,000 |
) |
|
|
(3.52 |
) |
Awards outstanding as at December 31, 2021 |
|
|
4,911,770 |
|
|
|
7.49 |
|
The number of awards outstanding as at December 31, 2020, is as follows:
|
|
NUMBER |
|
|
WEIGHTED AVERAGE |
|
||
Awards outstanding as at January 1, 2020 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Granted |
|
|
745,000 |
|
|
|
3.52 |
|
Awards outstanding as at December 31, 2020 |
|
|
745,000 |
|
|
|
3.52 |
|
In December 2020, an investor in the Company nominated several Board members to purchase shares in the Company at an exercise price of $3.04 per share pursuant to its subscription rights that replaced a warrant to purchase the Company’s ordinary shares issued in connection with the Company financing during 2019 (see Note 10). An aggregate of 46,428 ordinary shares were purchased pursuant to this arrangement. The Company recognized an aggregate compensation expense of $66 based on the difference between the purchase price of the shares and the deemed fair value of the Company’s ordinary stock on the purchase date.
Determination of Fair Value of Options and Warrants
In July 2021, the Company granted options for 4,056,770 shares subject to performance vesting under the Founders' Award. Each option is divided in twelve tranches subject to different market capitalization thresholds. Holders are required to hold the shares for a period of three years ("holding period") after the exercise date. The
F-28
share options tranches were valued individually using Monte Carlo simulations with the main input data being volatility of 55%, risk free rate of 1.24%, holding restriction discount of 20% and expected weighted average time to vest is 6.62 years. The exercise price for each tranche is $8.00 per share. The weighted average fair value was determined at $1.92 per share as at measurement date. As of December 31, 2021 the performance conditions were not achieved for any of the tranches.
In September 2021, the Company granted options to an employee for 10,000 shares subject to continuous employment during the vesting period. The option was valued using Black-Scholes model with the main input data being volatility of 55%, risk free rate of 0.94%, and expected weighted average time to vest is 6.1 years. The exercise price and share price are $12.91 per share.
In November 2021, the Company granted options to certain employees for 120,000 shares subject to continuous employment during the vesting period. The options were valued using Black-Scholes model with the main input data being volatility of 55%, risk free rates of 1.19% and 1.23%, and expected weighted average time to vest is 4.6 years. The exercise price and share price were between $14.61 and $14.71 per share.
As of December 31, 2020, one of the warrants provides for contingent net settlement in cash as a forward instrument, with the net settlement price based on a formula, in the event of termination of the holder’s employment within a stated period. This warrant was considered to be cash-settled and was liability-classified. The fair value of this warrant was determined at each statement of financial position date, with fair value recognized over the expected service period and changes recognized in profit and loss, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value per share for this warrant as of December 31, 2020 of EUR 0.67 was determined using the Black-Scholes model with the main data inputs being volatility of 55%, an expected life of 3.89 years and an annual risk-free interest rate of 0.17%. The exercise price for this warrant is EUR 3.01 per share. The remaining inputs are consistent with the below option table for 2020.
In June 2021, the liability-classified warrant issued in November 2020 was modified to additionally allow net-share settlement in the event of the holder’s employment termination. The Company has the right to choose between settlement on a net-share or net-cash basis. Accordingly, effective in June 2021, the warrant qualified for recognition as an equity instrument. The carrying value of the warrant liability of $869 was reclassified as equity at the modification date.
As of the modification date, the fair value per share for these warrants of EUR 3.66 ($4.43) was determined using the Black-Scholes model with the main data inputs being volatility of 60%, an expected life of 3.4 years and an annual risk-free interest rate of 0.51%. The exercise price for these warrants is EUR 3.01 ($3.65) per share and the share price was EUR 7.13 ($8.64) per share.
Weighted average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of other options and warrants granted during the year ended December 31 are as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Exercise price, USD |
|
|
8.18 |
|
|
|
3.52 |
|
Share price, USD |
|
|
8.18 |
|
|
|
4.22 |
|
Risk free interest rate |
|
|
1.20 |
% |
|
|
0.41 |
% |
Expected volatility |
|
|
55 |
% |
|
|
55 |
% |
Expected option term |
|
6.56 years |
|
|
5.16 years |
|
||
Dividend yield |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
Expected volatility is based on historical volatility of comparable companies. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the weighted average remaining contractual life for options and warrants issued as share based payments was 8.98 and 6.96 years, respectively. The range of exercise prices for options and warrants issued as share based payments was $8.00 to $14.71 per share and $3.52 to EUR 3.01 per share as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Share-based Payment Expense
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Equity classified share options and warrants expense |
|
|
1,286 |
|
|
|
232 |
|
Liability classified warrants' expense |
|
|
709 |
|
|
|
139 |
|
Share-based payment expense |
|
|
1,995 |
|
|
|
371 |
|
F-29
Share-based Payment Reserve
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Balance at January 1 |
|
|
220 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Forfeiture and reclass to Other Reserves |
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Modification of warrant accounting |
|
|
151 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Expense for year |
|
|
2,003 |
|
|
|
371 |
|
Liability classified warrants |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(151 |
) |
Share-based payment reserve at December 31 |
|
|
2,366 |
|
|
|
220 |
|
Share-based payment reserve is included within the share option and warrants reserve (see Note 12).
14. BORROWINGS
Below is the carrying amount of the Group’s term loan and PPP loan and the movements during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the non-current and current borrowings are as follows:
|
|
AS AT DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Non-current |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
5,937 |
|
Current |
|
|
5,944 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
Total |
|
|
5,944 |
|
|
|
5,960 |
|
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the total outstanding borrowings are as follows:
|
|
AS AT DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Term loan |
|
|
5,944 |
|
|
|
5,960 |
|
Below is the carrying amount of the Group’s borrowings, excluding the term loan and PPP loan, and the movements during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
||
As at January 1, at fair value |
|
|
18,611 |
|
|
|
23,050 |
|
Senior secured bonds sold, at cash |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
560 |
|
Interest paid |
|
|
(1,656 |
) |
|
|
(2,246 |
) |
Interest accrued (Note 20) |
|
|
1,495 |
|
|
|
2,008 |
|
Fair value movements |
|
|
(1,417 |
) |
|
|
94 |
|
Redemptions related to convertible promissory notes |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(4,480 |
) |
Repurchases and redemptions of senior secured bonds |
|
|
(17,352 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Translation differences |
|
|
319 |
|
|
|
(375 |
) |
As at December 31, at fair value |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
18,611 |
|
F-30
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Group had outstanding Euro-denominated senior secured bonds due in 2021 which were secured with the Company’s interest in its subsidiaries and therefore with substantially all of the Group’s assets. These bonds bore an interest rate of 10.5% per annum and could be redeemed early by the Company at a premium ranging between 1.05% and 5.25% depending on the timing. Interest on the bonds was subject to increase by 0.5% to 1.5% if the Group did not maintain certain leverage ratios. Bondholders also had a right of early redemption in the event of the Group’s change in control or default. The bonds were listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
As at January 1, 2019, the nominal amount of the senior secured bonds outstanding was EUR 15,500 ($17,665). During 2019, the Group sold to third parties additional bonds from treasury with a nominal amount of EUR 500 ($560) at December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, the aggregate nominal amount of the senior secured bonds due in 2021 amounted to EUR 16,000 ($17,974) carried at fair value of $18,242, and accrued interest was $369.
As at January 1, 2019, the Group had outstanding convertible promissory notes with a nominal amount of EUR 2,625 ($2,939) due on June 30, 2019, bearing interest at 10% per annum and convertible at maturity at a rate based on the Group’s EBITDA for the last quarter prior to the maturity date. In addition, the Group had an outstanding balance of $1,541 owed to certain existing shareholders who had redeemed convertible promissory notes on the Company’s behalf during 2018. During 2019, the Group redeemed in cash the remaining convertible promissory notes and repaid the balance owed to the shareholders.
All debt securities outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2019 were designated by management as financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss. At December 31, 2019, the fair value of the senior secured bonds exceeded the nominal value of these bonds by $270 and was determined using market quotes.
In March 2020, the Group repurchased a portion of the senior secured bonds with a nominal amount (including accrued interest) of EUR 4,364 ($4,975), in exchange for a cash payment of EUR 3,123 ($3,567) and subsequently cancelled the purchased bonds. In December 2020, the Group early redeemed the remaining outstanding senior secured bonds with a nominal amount of EUR 11,700 ($13,364), in exchange for a cash payment of EUR 12,069 ($13,785), which includes the redemption premium of 3.15%. The total cash outflow for the redemption of the bonds was EUR 12,301 ($14,050) which included accrued interest. These transactions were accounted for as an extinguishment, and the liability was derecognized from the consolidated statement of financial position as at December 31, 2020. As the senior secured bonds were accounted for at fair value through profit or loss, such bonds were remeasured to fair value using the market quoted prices just prior to repurchase or redemption. Accordingly, the gain on repurchase of EUR 1,241 ($1,417) is recorded as “Fair value movements”, and the redemption premium of EUR 369 ($421) is recorded within “Repurchases and redemptions of senior secured bonds” for the year ended December 31, 2020.
In June 2020, the Group received $180 under an unsecured loan granted under the Payment Protection Plan program authorized by the United States government in response to the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, as part of the CARES Act. The loan was repayable in monthly instalments from April 2021 to May 2022, borne interest at 1% per annum and could be forgiven to the extent proceeds of the loan are used for eligible expenditures, such as payroll and other expenses described in the CARES Act. As the Group reasonably believed that it would meet the terms for forgiveness, the loan was accounted for as a grant related to income and initially recognized as a deferred income liability. Subsequent to initial recognition, the Company reduced the liability, with the offset presented as a reduction of the related expense (i.e., payroll related costs) during the year ended December 31, 2020. The loan was forgiven in May 2021.
In December 2020, the Group entered into a term loan agreement with an investor, pursuant to which it borrowed $6,000 bearing an interest rate of 8% and due in December 2022, which was used, in part, to redeem the remaining outstanding senior secured bonds due in 2021. The term loan is secured with the shares in the Group's subsidiaries. The term loan is accounted for at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The transaction costs directly attributable to the issuance were $66 and are capitalized as part of the initial carrying amount of the term loan and subsequently amortized into profit or loss over its term through the application of the effective interest method. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Group paid interest of $484 and $, respectively, on the term loan.
F-31
15. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES
|
|
AS AT |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Trade payables (i) |
|
|
1,045 |
|
|
|
521 |
|
Accruals |
|
|
1,968 |
|
|
|
1,447 |
|
Indirect taxes |
|
|
256 |
|
|
|
225 |
|
Liability classified warrants |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
151 |
|
Other payables |
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
84 |
|
|
|
|
3,291 |
|
|
|
2,428 |
|
16. DEFERRED TAX
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when they relate to the same fiscal authority, and there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities.
The following amounts determined after appropriate offsetting are shown in the consolidated statement of financial position:
|
|
AS AT |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Deferred tax asset to be recovered after more than 12 months |
|
|
7,028 |
|
|
|
5,778 |
|
Deferred tax liability to be recovered after more than 12 months |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
7,028 |
|
|
|
5,778 |
|
The change in the deferred income tax account is as follows:
|
|
AS AT |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
At January 1 |
|
|
5,778 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Credit to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income |
|
|
1,770 |
|
|
|
5,377 |
|
Translation differences |
|
|
(520 |
) |
|
|
401 |
|
Deferred tax asset at December 31 |
|
|
7,028 |
|
|
|
5,778 |
|
Deferred taxes are calculated on temporary differences under the liability method using the principal tax rate within the relevant jurisdiction. The balance is comprised of the following:
|
|
AS AT |
|
|||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Intangible assets |
|
|
6,481 |
|
|
|
4,956 |
|
Trading losses and other allowances |
|
|
547 |
|
|
|
822 |
|
Net deferred tax assets |
|
|
7,028 |
|
|
|
5,778 |
|
At December 31, 2021, the Group had unutilized trading losses and other allowances of $31,508 of which $20,576 were not recognized based on management’s performance projections for 2022 – 2026 and the related ability to utilize the tax losses. At December 31, 2020, the Group had unutilized trading losses and other allowances of $25,458 of which $9,011 were not recognized based on management’s performance projections for 2021 – 2025 and the related ability to utilize the tax losses. The resulting deferred tax asset of $547 and $822 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, is based on the deductions allowed by Article 14(1)(m) of the Malta Income Tax Act.
At December 31, 2021, the Group had unutilized capital allowances of $93,409 related to intangible assets, a net increase of $28 million during the year as a result of a step up in the intangible assets' value after the public offering in July 2021. The balance of $41,554 were not recognized based on management’s performance projections for 2022 – 2026 and related ability to utilize capital allowance resulting in a recognition of a deferred tax asset of $6,482. At December 31, 2020, the Group had unutilized capital allowances of $79,296 related to intangible assets, of which
F-32
$39,645 were not recognized based on management’s performance projections for 2021 – 2025 and related ability to utilize capital allowance resulting in a recognition of a deferred tax asset of $4,956.
17. REVENUE
Revenue is disaggregated based on how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of the revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, our top ten customers accounted for 52% of our revenue and our two largest customers accounted for 13% and 10% of our revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2020, our top ten customers accounted for 55% of our revenue and our largest customer accounted for 20% of our revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2019, our top ten customers accounted for 56% of our revenue and our largest customer accounted for 21% of our revenue.
The Group presents revenue as disaggregated by market based on the location of the end user as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
U.K. and Ireland |
|
|
21,391 |
|
|
|
16,189 |
|
|
|
13,412 |
|
Other Europe |
|
|
10,800 |
|
|
|
5,252 |
|
|
|
2,879 |
|
North America |
|
|
7,484 |
|
|
|
3,959 |
|
|
|
1,916 |
|
Rest of the world |
|
|
2,648 |
|
|
|
2,580 |
|
|
|
1,059 |
|
Total revenues |
|
|
42,323 |
|
|
|
27,980 |
|
|
|
19,266 |
|
The Group presents disaggregated revenue by monetization type as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Hybrid commission |
|
|
15,616 |
|
|
|
14,738 |
|
|
|
11,060 |
|
Revenue share commission |
|
|
3,596 |
|
|
|
3,308 |
|
|
|
3,856 |
|
CPA commission |
|
|
18,591 |
|
|
|
9,047 |
|
|
|
3,447 |
|
Other revenue |
|
|
4,520 |
|
|
|
887 |
|
|
|
903 |
|
Total revenues |
|
|
42,323 |
|
|
|
27,980 |
|
|
|
19,266 |
|
The Group also tracks its revenues based on the product type from which it is derived. Revenue disaggregated by product type is as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Casino |
|
|
35,632 |
|
|
|
24,135 |
|
|
|
14,020 |
|
Sports |
|
|
6,188 |
|
|
|
3,210 |
|
|
|
4,686 |
|
Other |
|
|
503 |
|
|
|
635 |
|
|
|
560 |
|
Total revenues |
|
|
42,323 |
|
|
|
27,980 |
|
|
|
19,266 |
|
18. OPERATING EXPENSES
Sales and marketing expenses
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs |
|
|
8,362 |
|
|
|
4,515 |
|
|
|
4,303 |
|
External marketing expenses |
|
|
2,070 |
|
|
|
1,208 |
|
|
|
3,526 |
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
1,817 |
|
|
|
1,817 |
|
|
|
1,873 |
|
Share-based payments |
|
|
524 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other |
|
|
1,294 |
|
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
1,160 |
|
Total sales and marketing expenses |
|
|
14,067 |
|
|
|
8,103 |
|
|
|
10,862 |
|
F-33
Technology expenses
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs |
|
|
3,296 |
|
|
|
2,183 |
|
|
|
2,225 |
|
Depreciation of property and equipment |
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
129 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Share-based payments |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
91 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other |
|
|
476 |
|
|
|
201 |
|
|
|
268 |
|
Total technology expenses |
|
|
3,947 |
|
|
|
2,503 |
|
|
|
2,498 |
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Wages, salaries, benefits and social security costs |
|
|
4,044 |
|
|
|
3,114 |
|
|
|
1,757 |
|
Share-based payments |
|
|
1,471 |
|
|
|
217 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Depreciation of property and equipment |
|
|
130 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
Amortization of right-of-use assets |
|
|
279 |
|
|
|
272 |
|
|
|
243 |
|
Short term leases |
|
|
382 |
|
|
|
203 |
|
|
|
630 |
|
Legal and consultancy fees |
|
|
2,590 |
|
|
|
928 |
|
|
|
460 |
|
Accounting and legal fees related to offering |
|
|
963 |
|
|
|
724 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Costs related to lease termination |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
155 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
Employees’ bonuses related to offering |
|
|
1,085 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition related costs |
|
|
520 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other |
|
|
1,550 |
|
|
|
233 |
|
|
|
897 |
|
Total general and administrative expenses |
|
|
13,014 |
|
|
|
5,956 |
|
|
|
4,213 |
|
19. PERSONNEL
The average number of employees, including executive and non-executive directors, during the year was as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Executive directors |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Non-executive directors |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Sales and marketing employees |
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
61 |
|
Technology employees |
|
|
58 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
General and administrative employees |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
|
186 |
|
|
|
111 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Group had 229, 119 and 117 employees, respectively.
20. FINANCE INCOME AND FINANCE EXPENSES
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Finance income |
|
|
2,581 |
|
|
|
303 |
|
|
|
140 |
|
Finance expenses |
|
|
(1,809 |
) |
|
|
(2,099 |
) |
|
|
(2,475 |
) |
Net finance expenses |
|
|
772 |
|
|
|
(1,796 |
) |
|
|
(2,335 |
) |
Finance income of the Group is mainly comprised of translation gains of balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than each entity’s functional currency.
Finance expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 is comprised of $480 of interest expense on term loan, $188 of interest expense on lease liabilities, $1,041 of translation losses on balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than each entity's functional currency, and $100 related to other finance charges.
Finance expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 is comprised of $1,521 of interest expense on senior secured bonds due in 2021 and the term loan, $204 of interest expense on lease liabilities, $157 of costs to
F-34
repurchase warrants, $173 of translation losses of balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than each entity’s functional currency, and $44 related to other finance charges.
Finance expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019 is comprised of $2,008 of interest expense on senior secured bonds due in 2021 and convertible promissory notes, $211 of interest expense on lease liabilities, $108 of translation losses of balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than each entity’s functional currency, and $148 of other finance expenses related issuance of the senior secured bond.
21. BASIC AND DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic net income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Due to the net loss recorded for the year ended December 31, 2019, potential ordinary shares were anti-dilutive for the loss per share calculation.
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Net income (loss) for the year attributable to the equity holders |
|
|
12,453 |
|
|
|
15,151 |
|
|
|
(1,901 |
) |
Weighted-average number of ordinary shares, basic |
|
|
30,886,559 |
|
|
|
27,595,446 |
|
|
|
25,477,405 |
|
Net income (loss) per share attributable to ordinary |
|
|
0.40 |
|
|
|
0.55 |
|
|
|
(0.07 |
) |
Net income (loss) for the year attributable to the equity holders |
|
|
12,453 |
|
|
|
15,151 |
|
|
|
(1,901 |
) |
Weighted-average number of ordinary shares, diluted |
|
|
33,746,536 |
|
|
|
30,879,550 |
|
|
|
25,477,405 |
|
Net income (loss) per share attributable to ordinary |
|
|
0.37 |
|
|
|
0.49 |
|
|
|
(0.07 |
) |
Common stock warrants and options to purchase 7,021,514, 2,854,744 and 3,345,354 ordinary shares were outstanding at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, that could potentially be dilutive in the future (Note 12).
For disclosures regarding the number of outstanding shares, see Note 10.
22. TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Current tax expense |
|
|
1,481 |
|
|
|
978 |
|
|
|
420 |
|
Deferred tax charge (Note 16) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
452 |
|
Deferred tax credit (Note 16) |
|
|
(1,770 |
) |
|
|
(5,377 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
(289 |
) |
|
|
(4,399 |
) |
|
|
872 |
|
The tax on the Group’s profit before tax differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the applicable tax rate of 5% as follows:
|
|
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Income (loss) before tax |
|
|
12,164 |
|
|
|
10,752 |
|
|
|
(1,029 |
) |
Tax expense at 5% |
|
|
608 |
|
|
|
538 |
|
|
|
(52 |
) |
Tax effects of: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Disallowed expenses (credits) |
|
|
239 |
|
|
|
(692 |
) |
|
|
322 |
|
Movements in temporary differences |
|
|
(939 |
) |
|
|
(1,892 |
) |
|
|
233 |
|
Income subject to other tax rates |
|
|
(273 |
) |
|
|
(2,144 |
) |
|
|
248 |
|
Other |
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
(209 |
) |
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
|
(289 |
) |
|
|
(4,399 |
) |
|
|
872 |
|
23. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
All significant shareholders and other companies controlled or significantly influenced by the shareholders, and all members of the key management personnel of the Group are considered by the Board of Directors to be related parties.
F-35
Directors’ and key management emoluments
Key management personnel are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Group, including Directors. Compensation paid or payable to key management was comprised of the following:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Salaries and remuneration to key management and executive |
|
|
3,897 |
|
|
|
1,379 |
|
|
|
714 |
|
Non-executive directors’ fees |
|
|
401 |
|
|
|
246 |
|
|
|
150 |
|
|
|
|
4,298 |
|
|
|
1,625 |
|
|
|
864 |
|
The emoluments paid to the Directors during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 amounted to $1,202, $834 and $450, respectively.
The following transactions were carried out with related parties:
|
|
YEAR ENDED |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|||
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Remuneration paid as consultancy fees |
|
|
1,874 |
|
|
|
874 |
|
|
|
468 |
|
Salaries and wages |
|
|
1,079 |
|
|
|
542 |
|
|
|
246 |
|
Other expenses |
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
Share-based payments |
|
|
1,345 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
4,318 |
|
|
|
1,432 |
|
|
|
727 |
|
As per December 31, 2021 and 2020, the balance outstanding to key management and directors was $584 and $25, respectively.
As at December 31, 2021 and 2020 the following stock options and warrants were held by related parties:
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
||
Key management and executive directors |
|
|
6,216,514 |
|
|
|
1,909,744 |
|
In July 2021 the Company granted 4,056,770 share options under the Founders' Award (Note 13).
During the year ended December 31, 2021, 250,000 warrants held by an executive that were not previously included within related parties’ holdings were included as a result of a change in role.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, non-executive directors exercised 115,000 warrants and the Company repurchased 35,000 warrants. Additionally, in December 2020 the Company issued and sold to related parties 655,783 ordinary shares in exchange for cash proceeds of $1,990. These shares were sold pursuant to the rights to subscribe to shares that previously replaced warrants to purchase the Company’s ordinary shares issued in connection with the Company financing during 2019 (see Note 10). Of the aggregate 655,783 ordinary shares purchased, 46,438 shares were purchased by the Company’s directors nominated by the holder of the warrants, and included an element of compensation (see Note 12). The remaining 609,345 shares were purchased by the original investor in the 2019 financing and other related parties.
24. EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD
On January 1, 2022, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Roto Sports, Inc. ("Roto Sports") for consideration of (i) a cash amount of $13,500 (net of holdbacks and sellers expenses paid and being a subject to a final net working capital adjustment), (ii) issued 451,264 unregistered ordinary shares, (iii) $2,500 due on the first anniversary of the closing date and (iv) $5,300 due on the second anniversary of the closing date. At its own discretion, the Company can pay up to 50% of the deferred payments in unregistered ordinary shares. The acquisition of Roto Sports is envisaged to enable the Group to accelerate its business in the U.S. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Group incurred acquisition-related costs of $0.5 million on legal and consulting fees, which were included in general and administrative expenses. The Company is in the process of evaluating the acquisition accounting considerations and has engaged a third-party valuation specialist to assist with the purchase price allocation. Disclosure is limited to information available as of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
F-36
On January 31, 2022, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of NDC Media, operator of BonusFinder.com, for an aggregate purchase price of EUR 12,500 ($13,920), of which EUR 10,000 ($11,140) was paid in cash (subject to adjustments for cash, working capital, and indebtedness, among other factors), with cash on hand and EUR 2,500 ($2,860), or 269,294 in newly issued, unregistered ordinary shares. NDC Media shareholders may benefit from an additional payment of up to a maximum of EUR 19,000 ($21,850) to be paid in 2023 based on their financial performance, such as an EBIDTA target, during 2022, and a further potential payment of up to EUR 28,500 ($32,800) to be paid in 2024 based on certain conditions being met during 2023. The Company has the option to pay up to 50% of each of the earnout payments in unregistered ordinary shares. A conversion rate of 1.1138 EUR to USD (the Central Bank reference rate on January 28, 2022) was used. The acquisition of NDC Media is envisaged to enable the Group to accelerate its business in the U.S. and Canada. Subsequent to year ended December 31, 2021, the Group incurred acquisition-related costs of $0.3 million on legal and consulting fees. The Company is in the process of evaluating the acquisition accounting considerations and has engaged a third-party valuation specialist to assist with the purchase price allocation. Due to the proximity of the date of this acquisition and the issuance of these consolidated financial statements, the Group has not finalized it’s acquisition accounting and as such the disclosure is limited to the information available as of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
In January 2022, the Company began operating in Louisiana, Maryland and New York.
In January 2022, the Company entered into a sports betting media partnership with the McClatchy Company.
F-37
Companies (Jersey) Law 1991
|
Memorandum of Association of Gambling.com Group Limited |
Exhibit 1.2
COMPANIES (JERSEY) LAW 1991
A PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED
NO. 135800
(Adopted on July 27, 2021)
CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PRELIMINARY |
|
|
1 |
|
||
1. |
|
Interpretation |
|
|
1 |
|
2. |
|
Amendments to the Articles of Association |
|
|
9 |
|
SHARE CAPITAL |
|
|
9 |
|
||
3. |
|
Authorised share capital |
|
|
9 |
|
4. |
|
Register of holders |
|
|
9 |
|
5. |
|
Rights attached to shares |
|
|
10 |
|
6. |
|
Unissued shares |
|
|
11 |
|
7. |
|
Power to pay commission and brokerage, and to issue shares at less than nominal value |
|
|
11 |
|
8. |
|
Power to increase, consolidate, sub-divide and cancel shares |
|
|
11 |
|
9. |
|
Power to issue redeemable shares |
|
|
12 |
|
10. |
|
Power to purchase own shares |
|
|
12 |
|
11. |
|
Power to reduce capital |
|
|
12 |
|
12. |
|
Trusts not recognised |
|
|
12 |
|
UNCERTIFICATED SHARES - GENERAL POWERS |
|
|
12 |
|
||
13. |
|
Uncertificated shares - general powers |
|
|
12 |
|
VARIATION OF RIGHTS |
|
|
14 |
|
||
14. |
|
Variation of rights |
|
|
14 |
|
TRANSFERS OF SHARES |
|
|
14 |
|
||
15. |
|
Right to transfer shares |
|
|
14 |
|
16. |
|
Transfers of uncertificated shares |
|
|
15 |
|
17. |
|
Transfers of certificated shares |
|
|
15 |
|
18. |
|
Other provisions relating to transfers |
|
|
15 |
|
19. |
|
Notice of refusal |
|
|
16 |
|
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES |
|
|
16 |
|
||
20. |
|
Transmission on death |
|
|
16 |
|
21. |
|
Election of person entitled by transmission |
|
|
16 |
|
22. |
|
Rights of person entitled by transmission |
|
|
16 |
|
DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS IN SHARES |
|
|
17 |
|
||
23. |
|
Disclosure of interests in shares |
|
|
17 |
|
24. |
|
Member Rights Plan |
|
|
19 |
|
GENERAL MEETINGS |
|
|
20 |
|
||
25. |
|
Annual general meetings |
|
|
20 |
|
26. |
|
Convening of general meetings other than annual general meetings |
|
|
20 |
|
27. |
|
Members’ power to require circulation of resolutions for annual general meetings |
|
|
20 |
|
28. |
|
Members’ power to nominate board members |
|
|
23 |
|
29. |
|
Separate general meetings; actions by written consent |
|
|
26 |
|
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS |
|
|
26 |
|
||
30. |
|
Length and form of notice |
|
|
26 |
|
31. |
|
Omission or non-receipt of notice |
|
|
26 |
|
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS |
|
|
27 |
|
||
32. |
|
Quorum |
|
|
27 |
|
33. |
|
Security |
|
|
27 |
|
34. |
|
Chairman |
|
|
27 |
|
35. |
|
Right to attend and speak |
|
|
27 |
|
36. |
|
Resolutions and amendments |
|
|
28 |
|
37. |
|
Adjournment |
|
|
28 |
|
38. |
|
Meeting at more than one place |
|
|
29 |
|
39. |
|
Method of voting and demand for poll |
|
|
29 |
|
40. |
|
How poll is to be taken |
|
|
30 |
|
41. |
|
Chairman’s casting vote |
|
|
31 |
|
VOTES OF MEMBERS |
|
|
32 |
|
||
42. |
|
Voting rights |
|
|
32 |
|
43. |
|
Representation of bodies corporate |
|
|
32 |
|
44. |
|
Voting rights of joint holders |
|
|
33 |
|
45. |
|
Voting rights of members incapable of managing their affairs |
|
|
33 |
|
46. |
|
Voting rights suspended where sums overdue |
|
|
33 |
|
47. |
|
Objections to admissibility of votes |
|
|
33 |
|
POWERS OF THE BOARD |
|
|
40 |
|
||
67. |
|
General powers of the board to manage the Company’s business |
|
|
40 |
|
68. |
|
Power to act notwithstanding vacancy |
|
|
40 |
|
69. |
|
Provisions for employees |
|
|
40 |
|
70. |
|
Power to borrow money |
|
|
41 |
|
DELEGATION OF BOARD’S POWERS |
|
|
41 |
|
||
71. |
|
Delegation to individual directors |
|
|
41 |
|
72. |
|
Committees |
|
|
41 |
|
73. |
|
Powers of attorney |
|
|
41 |
|
DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS |
|
|
41 |
|
||
74. |
|
Directors’ interests other than in relation to transactions or arrangements with the Company |
|
|
41 |
|
75. |
|
Declaration of interests other than in relation to transactions or arrangements with the Company |
|
|
42 |
|
76. |
|
Declaration of interest in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the Company |
|
|
42 |
|
77. |
|
Declaration of interest in an existing transaction or arrangement with the Company |
|
|
42 |
|
78. |
|
Provisions applicable to declarations of interest |
|
|
42 |
|
79. |
|
Directors’ interests and voting |
|
|
43 |
|
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD |
|
|
45 |
|
||
80. |
|
Board meetings |
|
|
45 |
|
81. |
|
Notice of board meetings |
|
|
45 |
|
82. |
|
Quorum |
|
|
46 |
|
83. |
|
Chairman or deputy chairman to preside |
|
|
46 |
|
84. |
|
Competence of board meetings |
|
|
46 |
|
85. |
|
Voting |
|
|
46 |
|
86. |
|
Telephone/electronic board meeting |
|
|
46 |
|
87. |
|
Resolutions without meetings |
|
|
47 |
|
88. |
|
Validity of acts of directors in spite of formal defect |
|
|
47 |
|
89. |
|
Minutes |
|
|
47 |
|
SECRETARY |
|
|
47 |
|
||
90. |
|
Secretary |
|
|
47 |
|
SHARE CERTIFICATES |
|
|
47 |
|
||
91. |
|
Issue of certificates |
|
|
47 |
|
92. |
|
Charges for and replacement of certificates |
|
|
48 |
|
LIEN ON SHARES |
|
|
48 |
|
||
93. |
|
Lien on partly paid shares |
|
|
48 |
|
94. |
|
Enforcement of lien |
|
|
48 |
|
107. |
|
Declaration of dividends by the Company |
|
|
51 |
|
108. |
|
Fixed and interim dividends |
|
|
52 |
|
109. |
|
Calculation and currency of distributions |
|
|
52 |
|
110. |
|
Method of payment |
|
|
52 |
|
111. |
|
Distributions not to bear interest |
|
|
53 |
|
112. |
|
Calls or debts or amounts required by law may be deducted from distributions |
|
|
53 |
|
113. |
|
Unclaimed distributions etc |
|
|
53 |
|
114. |
|
Uncashed distributions |
|
|
53 |
|
115. |
|
Distributions in specie |
|
|
53 |
|
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES |
|
|
54 |
|
||
116. |
|
Authority to capitalise |
|
|
54 |
|
117. |
|
Application of capitalised sums |
|
|
54 |
|
118. |
|
Capitalisation of reserves - employee share schemes |
|
|
55 |
|
119. |
|
Capitalisation of reserves - shares allotted for less than nominal value |
|
|
55 |
|
RECORD DATES |
|
|
56 |
|
||
120. |
|
Fixing of record dates |
|
|
56 |
|
ACCOUNTS |
|
|
56 |
|
||
121. |
|
Accounting records |
|
|
56 |
|
COMMUNICATIONS |
|
|
56 |
|
||
122. |
|
Communications to the Company |
|
|
56 |
|
123. |
|
Communications by the Company |
|
|
56 |
|
124. |
|
Communication by advertisement |
|
|
58 |
|
125. |
|
When communication is deemed received |
|
|
58 |
|
126. |
|
Record date for communications |
|
|
59 |
|
127. |
|
Communication to person entitled by transmission |
|
|
59 |
|
UNTRACED MEMBERS |
|
|
60 |
|
||
128. |
|
Sale of shares of untraced members |
|
|
60 |
|
129. |
|
Application of proceeds of sale |
|
|
60 |
|
DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS |
|
|
61 |
|
||
130. |
|
Destruction of documents |
|
|
61 |
|
WINDING UP |
|
|
61 |
|
||
131. |
|
Winding up |
|
|
61 |
|
132. |
|
Powers to distribute in specie |
|
|
62 |
|
INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE, ETC |
|
|
62 |
|
||
133. |
|
Directors’ indemnity, insurance and defence |
|
|
62 |
|
UNSUITABILITY |
|
|
62 |
|
||
134. |
|
For purposes of this Article 133, the following definitions apply. |
|
|
62 |
|
Company number: 135800
COMPANIES (JERSEY) LAW 1991
A PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED
PRELIMINARY
|
1. |
Interpretation |
(a) |
In these Articles, unless the contrary intention appears: |
|
(a) |
the following definitions apply: |
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) to be interested in the Company’s shares, or |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b) to have been so interested at any time during the three years immediately preceding the date on which the disclosure notice is issued; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
distribution |
|
... |
|
has the meaning given in Article 114 of the Law; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
dividend |
|
... |
|
means a distribution that is identified as a dividend and made in accordance with the provisions of Articles 106 or 107; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
electronic communication |
|
... |
|
has the same meaning as in the Electronic Communications (Jersey) Law 2000; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
electronic form |
|
... |
|
means information sent or supplied by electronic means (for example email or fax) or by any other means while in electronic form (for example, sending a list by post); |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
electronic signature |
|
... |
|
has the meaning given in Article 1(1) of the Electronic Communications (Jersey) Law 2000; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
employee share scheme |
|
... |
|
means any employee and/or executive incentive plan or scheme established for the benefit of employees and/or executives and their relations (as determined in accordance with such plans or schemes) of the Company and/or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries (whether or not such plan or scheme is open to all employees, executives or relations or not) and which is operated either by the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or by a third party on their behalf and under the terms of which employees and/or executives and their relations may acquire and/or benefit from shares or any interest therein, whether directly or pursuant to any option over shares granted to them or otherwise; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
equity security |
|
... |
|
means a relevant share (other than a share shown in the Memorandum of Association to have been taken by a subscriber to the Memorandum of Association or a bonus share) or a right to subscribe for, or to convert securities into relevant shares in the Company. For the avoidance of doubt any reference to the allotment of equity securities includes the grant of such a right but not the allotment of shares pursuant to such a right; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Exchange Act |
|
|
|
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
fully paid |
|
... |
|
means fully paid as to the subscription price for which the relevant share is issued; |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
hard copy form |
|
... |
|
means information sent or supplied in paper copy or similar form capable of being read; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
holder |
|
... |
|
in relation to any share, means the member whose name is entered in the register as the holder of that share; |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
interest |
|
... |
|
means an interest of any kind whatsoever in relation to shares, including but not limited to: |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) an interest which arises as a result of entry into a contract for the purchase of the shares in question (whether for cash or other consideration); |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d) the interest a person has in shares of which he is not the registered holder, but for which he is entitled to exercise any right conferred by the holding of the shares or is entitled to control the exercise of any such right; and |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(e) the interest a person has in shares if, otherwise than by virtue of having an interest under a trust: (A) he has a right to call for delivery of the shares to himself or to his order; or (B) he has a right to acquire an interest in shares or is under an obligation to take an interest in shares, whether in any case the right or obligation is conditional or absolute. |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the purposes of this definition of interest, persons having a joint interest are treated as each having that interest and a person is deemed to be entitled to exercise or control the exercise of any right conferred by the holding of shares if he: |
|
|
|
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I. has a right (whether subject to conditions or not) the exercise of which would make him so entitled; or |
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II. is under an obligation (whether so subject or not) the fulfilment of which would make him so entitled; |
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IPO |
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means the underwritten initial public offering by the Company of certain of its ordinary shares; |
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Jersey |
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... |
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means the Island of Jersey; |
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Law |
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... |
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means the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991; |
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Listing Rules |
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... |
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means the listing rules of the Stock Exchange. |
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Memorandum of Association |
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... |
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means the document of the same name of the Company, as from time to time altered; |
4
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Office |
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... |
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means the registered office for the time being of the Company; |
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officer |
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... |
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includes, in relation to a body corporate, a director, manager or secretary; |
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Operator |
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... |
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has the meaning given to “authorised operator” in the Uncertificated Securities Order; |
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ordinary resolution |
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... |
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means a resolution of the Company in general meeting passed by a simple majority of the votes cast at that meeting; |
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paid up |
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... |
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means paid up or credited as paid up; |
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person entitled by transmission |
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... |
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means a person whose entitlement to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or of any other event giving rise to its transmission by operation of law has been noted in the register; |
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principal register |
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... |
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means the register maintained in Jersey; |
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a proxy notification address |
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... |
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means the address or addresses, including any electronic address, specified in a notice of a meeting or in any other information issued by the Company in relation to a meeting (or, as the case may be, an adjourned meeting or a poll) for the receipt of proxy notices relating to that meeting (or adjourned meeting or poll) or, if no such address is specified, the Office; |
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qualifying person |
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... |
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means: |
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(a) an individual who is a member of the Company; |
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(b) a person authorised to act as the representative of a body corporate in relation to the meeting; or |
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(c) a person appointed as proxy of a member in relation to the meeting; |
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register |
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... |
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means the register of members of the Company (and, unless the context requires otherwise, includes any overseas branch register) to be kept and maintained in accordance with Articles and the Statutes; |
5
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relevant securities |
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... |
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means shares in the Company other than subscriber shares, or shares allotted pursuant to an employee share scheme, and any right to subscribe for or to convert any security into, shares in the Company. For the avoidance of doubt any reference to the allotment of relevant securities includes the grant of such a right but not the allotment of shares pursuant to such a right; |
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relevant share |
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... |
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means a share in the Company other than: |
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(a) a share which, as respects dividends and capital, carries a right to participate only up to a specified amount in a distribution; and |
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(b) a share which is held by a person who acquired it in pursuance of an employee share scheme or, in the case of shares which have not been allotted, are to be allotted in pursuance of such a scheme or, in the case of shares held by the Company as treasury shares, are to be transferred in pursuance of such scheme; |
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relevant situation |
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... |
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means a situation which arises in which a director has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company (including, without limitation, in relation to the exploitation of any property, information or opportunity, whether or not the Company could take advantage of it but excluding any situation which cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest); |
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relevant system |
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... |
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means any computer-based system and its related facilities and procedures that is provided by an Operator and by means of which title to units of a security can be evidenced and transferred, in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Order, without a written instrument; |
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rights issue |
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... |
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means an offer or issue to or in favour of holders of ordinary shares in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings and holders of other equity securities if this is required by the rights of those securities or, if the directors consider it necessary, as permitted by the rights of those securities, but the board may make such exclusions or other arrangements as the board considers expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates or legal or practical problems under the laws in any territory or the requirements of any relevant regulatory body or stock exchange or any other matter; |
6
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seal |
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... |
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means any common seal of the Company or any official seal or securities seal which the Company may have or be permitted to have under the Statutes; |
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secretary |
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... |
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means the secretary of the Company or, if there are joint secretaries, any of the joint secretaries and includes an assistant or deputy secretary and any person appointed by the board to perform any of the duties of the secretary of the Company; |
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special resolution |
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... |
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means a special resolution defined in Article 90 of the Law; |
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Statutes |
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... |
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means the Law and every other statute, statutory instrument, regulation or order for the time being in force concerning companies registered under the Law including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Electronic Communications (Jersey) Law 2000 and the Uncertificated Securities Order; |
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Stock Exchange |
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means The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC or such other body corporate that is declared by the board to be the Company’s primary stock exchange for the purposes of this definition; |
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total majority special resolution |
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... |
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means a resolution that has been passed as a special resolution at a general meeting of the Company by the holders of two thirds of the total voting rights represented by the then total issued shares in the capital of the Company; |
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Transfer Office |
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... |
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means: (a) in relation to the principal register, the location in Jersey where the principal register is kept and maintained; and (b) where the Company keeps an overseas branch register in respect of any country, territory or place outside of Jersey, the location in that country, territory or place where that overseas branch register is kept and maintained; |
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treasury shares |
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... |
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means those shares held by the Company in treasury in accordance with Article 58A of the Law; |
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US branch register |
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... |
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means the overseas branch register of the Company, if any, maintained in the United States of America; |
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Uncertificated Securities Order |
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... |
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means the Companies (Uncertificated Securities) (Jersey) Order 1999; and |
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United Kingdom |
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... |
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means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. |
7
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(a) |
any reference to an uncertificated share, or to a share being held in uncertificated form, means a share title to which may be transferred by means of a relevant system, and any reference to a certificated share means any share other than an uncertificated share; |
|
(b) |
any other words or expressions defined in the Law or, if not defined in the Law, in any other of the Statutes (in each case as in force on the date of adoption of these Articles) have the same meaning in these Articles except that the word “company” includes any body corporate; |
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(c) |
any reference elsewhere in these Articles to any statute or statutory provision includes a reference to any modification or re-enactment of it for the time being in force; |
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(d) |
words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa, words importing one gender include the other gender and words importing persons include bodies corporate and unincorporated associations; |
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(e) |
any reference to writing includes a reference to any method of reproducing words in a legible form, whether sent or supplied in electronic form or otherwise; |
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(f) |
any reference to a signature or to something being signed or executed includes a signature printed or reproduced by mechanical or other means or any stamp or other distinctive marking made by or with the authority of the person required to sign the document to indicate it is approved by such person or, in respect of communications in electronic form only, any other means of verifying the authenticity of a communication in electronic form which the board may from time to time specify or, where no means has otherwise been specified by the board, an electronic signature, provided that the Company has no reason to doubt the authenticity of that electronic signature; |
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(g) |
any reference to a document being sealed or executed under seal or under the common seal of any body corporate (including the Company) or any similar expression includes a reference to its being executed in any other manner which has the same effect as if it were executed under seal; |
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(h) |
any reference to a meeting shall not be taken as requiring more than one person to be present in person if any quorum requirement can be satisfied by one person; |
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(i) |
any reference to a show of hands includes such other method of casting votes as the board may from time to time approve; |
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(j) |
any reference to the Company sending an item by post includes the Company, at the board’s discretion, sending that item by courier; |
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(k) |
where the Company has a power of sale or other right of disposal in relation to any share, any reference to the power of the Company or the board to authorise a person to transfer that share to or as directed by the person to whom the share has been sold or disposed of shall, in the case of an uncertificated share, be deemed to include a reference to such other action as may be necessary to enable that share to be registered in the name of that person or as directed by him; and |
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(l) |
any reference to: |
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(a) |
rights attaching to any share; |
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(b) |
members having a right to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company; |
8
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(c) |
dividends being paid, or any other distribution of the Company’s assets being made, to members; or |
|
(d) |
interests in a certain proportion or percentage of the issued share capital, or any class of share capital, |
shall, unless otherwise expressly provided by the Statutes, be construed as though any treasury shares held by the Company had been cancelled.
(c) |
Subject to the Statutes, a special resolution shall be effective for any purpose for which an ordinary resolution is expressed to be required under these Articles. |
(d) |
Headings to these Articles are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect construction. |
(e) |
The regulations constituting the Standard Table in the Companies (Standard Table) (Jersey) Order 1992 shall not apply to the Company. |
|
2. |
Amendments to the Articles of Association |
These Articles may be amended by special resolution, save that a total majority special resolution shall be required to amend any of the following Articles:
|
(a) |
Shareholder written consent (Article (29(b)); |
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(b) |
Board classification (Articles 52 and 57); |
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(c) |
Filling vacancies (Article 54); |
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(d) |
Director removal (Article 58); |
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(e) |
Indemnification (Article 133); and |
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(f) |
Unsuitability (Article 134). |
SHARE CAPITAL
|
3. |
Authorised share capital |
The authorised share capital of the Company is as specified in the Memorandum of Association.
|
4. |
Register of holders |
(a) |
The directors shall keep or cause to be kept at the Transfer Office (but in relation to the principal register not, for the avoidance of doubt, at a place outside Jersey), a register of holders of shares in the manner required by the Statutes. The directors may rely upon the information provided to them from time to time by the Operator for the purposes of keeping the register up to date in accordance with the Statutes. In each year the directors shall prepare or cause to be prepared and filed an annual return containing the particulars required by the Law. Except as provided by paragraph (b) below, no counterpart or branch of such register shall be maintained outside Jersey and no copy of such register, list, record or information in respect of the members of the Company kept or maintained outside Jersey shall constitute the register or any part of the register. Except as provided by paragraph (b) below, the Company shall not be bound to recognise any interest or right in respect of any share by virtue of it being contained or recorded in such copy of the register or that list, record or information (as the case may be). |
9
(b) |
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company may keep an overseas branch register in any country, territory or place. The board may make and vary such regulations as it may think fit in relation to the keeping of any such overseas branch register, including any regulations regarding the transfer of shares from such overseas branch register to the register, the transfer of shares from the register to such overseas branch register or the inspection of the overseas branch register. For so long as the shares of the Company are listed on the Stock Exchange, the Company shall maintain a US branch register. |
(c) |
For so long as the shares of the Company are listed on the Stock Exchange, all members shall have their shares registered on the US branch register unless the board otherwise resolves. The board may take such action as it deems necessary to transfer any shares from the principal register or any other register to the US branch register. Each director (acting alone) will be deemed to have been appointed as the agent of any holder with shares registered on any register other than the US branch register with full power to execute, complete and deliver, in the name of and on behalf of the holder, any transfer form or other documents necessary to transfer such shares from the relevant register to the US branch register. Such appointment is: |
|
(a) |
made with effect from the later of (i) the holder becoming the holder of such shares and (ii) any share in the Company being listed on the Stock Exchange; and |
|
(b) |
irrevocable for a period of one year thereafter. |
|
5. |
Rights attached to shares |
(a) |
Subject to the Statutes and to the rights conferred on the holders of any other shares, any share may be issued with or have attached to it such preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions as the Company may by special resolution decide or, if no such resolution is in effect or so far as the resolution does not make specific provision, as the board may decide. |
(b) |
The authority of the board with respect to each such series or class will include the determination of any or all of the following, which shall be set out in a statement of rights in respect of each series or class of preferred shares (“Statement of Rights”), all as may be determined from time to time by the board and as may be permitted by the Law: |
|
(a) |
the series or class to which each preferred share shall belong, such series or class to be designated with a series or class number and, if the board so determines, title; |
|
(b) |
details of any dividends payable in respect of the relevant series or class, if any, including whether such dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative, the dividend rate of such series or class, and the dates and preferences of dividends on such series or class; |
|
(c) |
details of rights attaching to shares of the relevant series or class to receive a return of capital on a winding up of the Company; |
|
(d) |
details of the voting rights attaching to shares of the relevant series or class (which may provide, without limitation, that each preferred share shall have more than one vote on a poll at any general meeting of the Company); |
|
(e) |
a statement as to whether shares of the relevant series or class are redeemable (either at the option of the holder and/or the Company) and, if so, on what terms such shares are redeemable (including, and only if so determined by the board, the amount for which such shares shall be redeemed (or a method or formula for determining the same) and the date on which they shall be redeemed); |
10
|
(f) |
a statement as to whether shares of the relevant series or class are convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of shares, or any other security, of the Company or any other person (in each case, either at the option of the holder and/or the Company) and, if so, on what rates or terms such shares are convertible or exchangeable; |
|
(g) |
the right, if any, to subscribe for or to purchase any securities of the Company or any other person; |
|
(h) |
any other designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, obligations and restrictions, if any, attaching to preferred shares of any class or series as the board may determine in its discretion; and/or |
|
(i) |
the price at which shares of the relevant series or class shall be issued. |
(c) |
Once a Statement of Rights has been adopted for a class or series of preferred shares: |
|
(a) |
it is binding on members and the board as if contained in these Articles; |
|
(b) |
it must be filed on behalf of the Company with the Registrar of Companies in Jersey in accordance with the Law; |
|
(c) |
the provisions of Article 14 apply to any variation or abrogation thereof that may be effected by the Company or the board; and |
|
(d) |
upon the redemption of a preferred share (if it is redeemable) pursuant to the Statement of Rights relating thereto, the holder thereof ceases to be entitled to any rights in respect thereof and accordingly such holder’s name must be removed from the register of members and the share must thereupon be cancelled. |
|
6. |
Unissued shares |
(1) |
Subject to the Statutes, these Articles and any resolution of the Company, the board may offer, allot (with or without conferring a right of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with or dispose of any unissued shares (whether forming part of the original or any increased capital) to such persons, at such times and generally on such terms as the board may decide. |
(2) |
The Company may issue fractions of shares in accordance with, and subject to the provisions of, the Law, provided that: |
|
(a) |
a fraction of a share shall be taken into account in determining the entitlement of a member as regards distributions or on a winding up; and |
|
(b) |
a fraction of a share shall not entitle a member to a vote in respect thereof. |
|
7. |
Power to pay commission and brokerage, and to issue shares at less than nominal value |
The Company may pay commissions and brokerage fees on any issue of shares on such terms as the directors think proper. The Company may issue shares fully paid at less than their nominal value.
|
8. |
Power to increase, consolidate, sub-divide and cancel shares |
(a) |
The Company may, by altering its Memorandum of Association by special resolution, alter its share capital in any manner permitted by the Law. |
11
(b) |
A special resolution by which any share is sub-divided may determine that, as between the holders of the shares resulting from the sub-division, one or more of the shares may have such preferred or other special rights, or may have such qualified or deferred rights or be subject to such restrictions, as compared with the other or others, as the Company has power to attach to new shares. |
(c) |
If as a result of any consolidation and division or sub-division of shares any members would become entitled to fractions of a share, the board may deal with the fractions as it thinks fit. In particular, the board may: |
|
(a) |
(on behalf of those members) aggregate and sell the shares representing the fractions to any person (including, subject to the Statutes, the Company) and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportion among those members (except that any proceeds in respect of any holding less than a sum fixed by the board may be retained for the benefit of the Company); or |
|
(b) |
subject to the Statutes, first, allot to a member credited as fully paid by way of capitalisation of any reserve account of the Company such number of shares as rounds up his holding to a number which, following consolidation and division or sub-division, leaves a whole number of shares. |
(d) |
For the purpose of a sale under paragraph (c)(a) above, the board may authorise a person to transfer the shares to, or as directed by, the purchaser, who shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money and the title of the new holder to the shares shall not be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings relating to the sale. |
|
9. |
Power to issue redeemable shares |
Subject to the Statutes, any share may be issued on terms that it is to be redeemed or is liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the holder. The terms, conditions and manner of redemption of such shares may be determined by the board before the shares are allotted.
|
10. |
Power to purchase own shares |
Subject to the Statutes, and to any rights conferred on the holders of any class of shares, the Company may purchase all or any of its shares of any class, including any redeemable shares. Subject to the Statutes, the Company may hold as treasury shares any shares purchased or redeemed by it.
|
11. |
Power to reduce capital |
Subject to the Statutes, the Company may reduce its share capital in any way including by special resolution (where such special resolution is required under the Statutes).
|
12. |
Trusts not recognised |
Except as required by law or these Articles, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon any trust and the Company shall not be bound by or required to recognise (even when having notice of it) any interest in or in respect of any share or (except only as by these Articles or by law otherwise provided) any fraction of a share, except the holder’s absolute right to the entirety of the share.
UNCERTIFICATED SHARES - GENERAL POWERS
|
13. |
Uncertificated shares - general powers |
(a) |
Subject to the Law, the Uncertificated Securities Order and the Listing Rules, the board may permit any class of shares to be held in uncertificated form and to be transferred by means of a relevant system and may revoke any such permission. |
12
(b) |
In relation to any share which is for the time being held in uncertificated form: |
|
(a) |
the Company may utilise the relevant system in which it is held to the fullest extent available from time to time in the exercise of any of its powers or functions under the Statutes or these Articles or otherwise in effecting any actions and the board may from time to time determine the manner in which such powers, functions and actions shall be so exercised or effected; |
|
(b) |
any provision in these Articles which is inconsistent with: |
|
(a) |
the holding of that share in uncertificated form or transfer of title to that share by means of a relevant system; |
|
(b) |
any other provision of the Statutes relating to shares held in uncertificated form; or |
|
(c) |
the exercise of any powers or functions by the Company or the effecting by the Company of any actions by means of a relevant system, |
shall not apply;
|
(c) |
subject to the Listing Rules, the Company may, by notice to the holder of that share, require the holder to change the form of such share to certificated form within such period as may be specified in the notice; |
|
(d) |
the Company may require that share to be converted into certificated form in accordance with the Statutes; |
|
(e) |
the Company shall not issue a certificate; and |
|
(f) |
where any share is held in uncertificated form and the Company is entitled under any provision of the Statutes or these Articles to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, forfeit, re-allot, accept the surrender of, or otherwise enforce a lien over, that share: |
|
(a) |
the Company may by notice to the holder of that share, require that the holder appoint any person to take any step, including, without limitation, the giving of any instructions by means of the relevant system, necessary to transfer that share within the period specified in the notice; and |
|
(b) |
the Company shall be entitled to take any action that the board considers appropriate to achieve the sale, transfer, disposal, forfeiture, re-allotment or surrender of that share, or otherwise to enforce a lien in respect of that share. |
(c) |
The Company may, by notice to the holder of any share in certificated form, direct that the form of such share may not be changed to uncertificated form for a period specified in such notice. |
(d) |
For the purpose of effecting any action by the Company, the board may determine that shares held by a person in uncertificated form shall be treated as a separate holding from shares held by that person in certificated form but shares of a class held by a person in uncertificated form shall not be treated as a separate class from shares of that class held by that person in certificated form. |
(e) |
Subject to the Statutes, the directors may lay down regulations not included in these Articles which (in addition to, or in substitution for, any provisions in these Articles): |
|
(a) |
apply to the issue, holding or transfer of shares in uncertificated form; |
13
|
(b) |
set out (where appropriate) the procedures for conversion and/or redemption of shares in uncertificated form; and/or |
|
(c) |
the directors consider necessary or appropriate to ensure that these Articles are consistent with the Uncertificated Securities Order and/or the Operator’s rules and practices. |
(f) |
Such regulations will apply instead of any relevant provisions in these Articles which relate to the transfer, conversion and redemption of shares in uncertificated form or which are not consistent with the Uncertificated Securities Order, in all cases to the extent (if any) stated in such regulations. If the directors make any such regulations, paragraph (g) of this Article will (for the avoidance of doubt) continue to apply, when read in conjunction with those regulations. |
(g) |
Any instruction given by means of a relevant system shall be a dematerialised instruction given in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Order, the facilities and requirements of a relevant system and the Operator’s rules and practices. |
VARIATION OF RIGHTS
|
14. |
Variation of rights |
(a) |
Whenever the capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the rights for the time being attached to any class of shares in issue may, subject to the Statutes, from time to time (whether or not the Company is being wound up) be varied in such manner as those rights may provide or (if no such provision is made) with the authority of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of those shares. |
(b) |
The provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company or to the proceedings at general meetings shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate general meeting, except that: |
|
(a) |
the quorum at any such meeting (other than an adjourned meeting) shall be two qualifying persons present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat representing at least one-third in number of the issued shares of the class; |
|
(b) |
at an adjourned meeting the quorum shall be one qualifying person entitled to vote thereat ; |
|
(c) |
every holder of shares of the class shall, on a poll, have one vote in respect of every share of the class held by him; and |
|
(d) |
a poll may be demanded by any one holder of shares of the class whether present in person or by proxy. |
(c) |
Unless otherwise expressly provided by the rights attached to any class of shares those rights shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with them or by the purchase or redemption by the Company of any of its own shares. |
TRANSFERS OF SHARES
|
15. |
Right to transfer shares |
Subject to the restrictions in these Articles, a member may transfer all or any of his shares in any manner which is permitted by the Statutes and is from time to time approved by the board.
14
|
16. |
Transfers of uncertificated shares |
(a) |
The Company shall register the transfer of any shares held in uncertificated form by means of a relevant system in accordance with the Statutes and the rules of the relevant system. |
(b) |
The board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register any transfer of an uncertificated share where permitted by these Articles, the Statutes or the Listing Rules. |
|
17. |
Transfers of certificated shares |
(a) |
An instrument of transfer of a certificated share may be in any usual form or in any other form which the board may approve and shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and (except in the case of a fully paid share) by or on behalf of the transferee. |
(b) |
The board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register any instrument of transfer of a certificated share: |
|
(a) |
which is not fully paid up but, in the case of a class of shares which has been admitted to a Stock Exchange, not so as to prevent dealings in those shares from taking place on an open and proper basis; |
|
(b) |
on which the Company has a lien; or |
|
(c) |
to which Article 23(i) applies. |
(c) |
The board may also refuse to register any instrument of transfer of a certificated share unless it is: |
|
(a) |
left at the Office, the Transfer Office or at such other place as the board may decide, for registration; |
|
(b) |
accompanied by the certificate for the shares to be transferred and such other evidence (if any) as the board may reasonably require to prove the title of the intending transferor or his right to transfer the shares; and |
|
(c) |
in respect of only one class of shares. |
(d) |
All instruments of transfer which are registered may be retained by the Company, but any instrument of transfer which the board refuses to register shall (except in any case where fraud or any other crime involving dishonesty is suspected in relation to such transfer) be returned to the person presenting it. |
|
18. |
Other provisions relating to transfers |
(a) |
No fee shall be charged for registration of a transfer or other document or instruction relating to or affecting the title to any share. |
(b) |
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 of the share. |
(c) |
Subject to the Statutes, the board may refuse to register any transfer unless it is in respect of only one class of shares. |
(d) |
Nothing in these Articles shall preclude the board from recognising a renunciation of the allotment of any share by the allottee in favour of some other person. |
15
(e) |
Subject to the Statutes, the registration of the transfer of any shares or of any class of shares may be suspended at such times and for such periods (not exceeding 30 days in any year) as the board may decide, except that the registration of the transfer of any shares or class of shares which are for the time being uncertificated shares may only be suspended as permitted by the Statutes. |
(f) |
Unless otherwise agreed by the board in any particular case, the maximum number of persons who may be entered on the register as joint holders of a share is four. |
|
19. |
Notice of refusal |
If the board refuses to register a transfer of a share it shall, as soon as practicable and in any event within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged or the Operator-instruction was received, give to the transferee notice of the refusal. The board shall provide the transferee with such further information about the reasons for the refusal as the transferee may reasonably request.
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
|
20. |
Transmission on death |
If a member dies, the survivor where the deceased was a joint holder, and his personal representatives where he was a sole or the only surviving holder, shall be the only person or persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his shares; but nothing in these Articles shall release the estate of a deceased holder from any liability in respect of any share held by him solely or jointly.
|
21. |
Election of person entitled by transmission |
(a) |
Any guardian of an infant member, any curator bonis or guardian or other legal representative of a member under legal disability and any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or of any other event giving rise to a transmission by operation of law may, on producing such evidence as the board may require and subject as provided in this Article, elect either to be registered himself as the holder of the share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder of the share. |
(b) |
If he elects to be registered himself, he shall give notice to the Company to that effect. If he elects to have another person registered, he shall execute a transfer of the share to that person or shall execute such other document or take such other action as the board may require to enable that person to be registered. |
(c) |
The provisions of these Articles relating to the transfer of shares shall apply to the notice or instrument of transfer or other document or action as if it were a transfer effected by the person from whom the title by transmission is derived and the event giving rise to such transmission had not occurred. |
|
22. |
Rights of person entitled by transmission |
(a) |
A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of a death or bankruptcy or of any other event giving rise to a transmission by operation of law shall have the right to receive and give a discharge for any distributions or other moneys payable in respect of the share and shall have the same rights in relation to the share as he would have if he were the holder except that, until he becomes the holder, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any general meeting of the Company. |
(b) |
The board may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the share and, if after 90 days the notice has not been complied with, the board may withhold payment of all distributions or other moneys payable in respect of the share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
16
DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS IN SHARES
|
23. |
Disclosure of interests in shares |
(a) |
The Company may give a disclosure notice to any person whom the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe: |
|
(a) |
to be interested in the Company’s shares, or |
|
(b) |
to have been so interested at any time during the three years immediately preceding the date on which the disclosure notice is issued. |
(b) |
The disclosure notice may require the person: |
|
(a) |
to confirm that fact or (as the case may be) to state whether or not it is the case, and |
|
(b) |
if he holds, or has during that time held, any such interest, to give such further information as may be required in accordance with the following provisions of this Article. |
(c) |
The notice may require the person to whom it is addressed to give particulars of his own present or past interest in the Company’s shares held by him at any time during the three year period mentioned in paragraph (a) above. |
(d) |
The notice may require the person to whom it is addressed, where: |
|
(a) |
his interest is a present interest and another interest in the shares subsists; or |
|
(b) |
another interest in the shares subsisted during that three year period at a time when his interest subsisted, |
to give, so far as lies within his knowledge, such particulars with respect to that other interest as may be required by the notice.
(e) |
The particulars referred to in paragraph (d) above include: |
|
(a) |
the identity of persons interested in the shares in question; and |
|
(b) |
whether persons interested in the same shares are or were parties to: |
|
(a) |
an agreement to acquire interests in a particular company; or |
|
(b) |
an agreement or arrangement relating to the exercise of any rights conferred by the holding of the shares. |
(f) |
The notice may require the person to whom it is addressed, where his interest is a past interest, to give (so far as lies within his knowledge) particulars of the identity of the person who held that interest immediately upon his ceasing to hold it. |
(g) |
The information required by the notice must be given within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice. |
(h) |
If a disclosure notice is given by the Company to a person appearing to be interested in any share, a copy shall at the same time be given to the holder of the relevant share, but the accidental omission to do so or the non-receipt of the copy by the holder of the relevant share shall not prejudice the operation of the following provisions of this Article. |
17
(i) |
If the holder of, or any person appearing to be interested in, any share has been served with a disclosure notice and, in respect of that share (a disclosure default share), has been in default for the relevant period in supplying to the Company the information required by the disclosure notice, the restrictions referred to below shall apply. Those restrictions shall continue until: |
|
(a) |
the date seven days after the date on which the board is satisfied that the default is remedied; or |
|
(b) |
the Company is notified that the default shares are the subject of an exempt transfer; or |
|
(c) |
the board decides to waive those restrictions, in whole or in part. |
(j) |
The restrictions referred to in paragraph (i) above are as follows: |
|
(a) |
if the default shares in which any one person is interested or appears to the Company to be interested represent less than 0.25 per cent. of the issued shares of the class, the holders of the default shares shall not be entitled, in respect of those shares, to attend or to vote, either personally or by proxy, at any general meeting or at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company, or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company; or |
|
(b) |
if the default shares in which any one person is interested or appears to the Company to be interested represent at least 0.25 per cent. of the issued shares of the class, the holders of the default shares shall not be entitled, in respect of those shares: |
|
(a) |
to attend or to vote, either personally or by proxy, at any general meeting or at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company, or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company; or |
|
(b) |
to receive any payment by way of dividend or other distribution and no share shall be allotted in lieu of payment of a dividend or other distribution; or |
|
(c) |
(subject to the Statutes) to transfer or agree to transfer any of those shares or any rights in them. |
The restrictions in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above shall not prejudice the right of either the member holding the disclosure default shares or, if different, any person having a power of sale over those shares to sell or agree to sell those shares under an exempt transfer.
(k) |
Any disclosure notice shall cease to have effect in relation to any shares transferred by the holder of such shares in accordance with the provisions in paragraph (j)(b)(c) above. |
(l) |
If any dividend or other distribution is withheld under paragraph (j)(b) above, the member shall be entitled to receive it as soon as practicable after the restrictions contained in paragraph (j)(b) cease to apply. |
(m) |
If, while any of the restrictions referred to above apply to a share, another share is allotted in right of it (or in right of any share to which this paragraph applies), the same restrictions shall apply to that other share as if it were a disclosure default share. For this purpose, shares which the Company allots, or procures to be offered, pro rata (disregarding fractional entitlements and shares not offered to certain members by reason of legal or practical problems associated with issuing or offering shares outside the United Kingdom) to holders of shares of the same class as the disclosure default share shall be treated as shares allotted in right of existing shares from the date on which the allotment is unconditional or, in the case of shares so offered, the date of the acceptance of the offer. |
18
(n) |
For the purposes of this Article: |
|
(a) |
an exempt transfer in relation to any share is a transfer pursuant to: |
|
(a) |
a sale of the share on a recognised investment exchange in the United Kingdom on which shares of that class are listed or normally traded; or |
|
(b) |
a sale of the whole beneficial interest in the share to a person whom the board is satisfied is unconnected with the existing holder or with any other person appearing to be interested in the share; or |
|
(c) |
acceptance of a takeover offer; |
|
(b) |
the relevant period shall be, in a case falling within paragraph (j)(a) above, 28 days and, in a case falling within paragraph (j)(b) above, 14 days after the date of service of the disclosure notice; |
|
(c) |
the percentage of the issued shares of a class represented by a particular holding shall be calculated by reference to the shares in issue at the time when the disclosure notice is given; and |
|
(d) |
a person shall be treated as appearing to be interested in any share if the Company has given to the member holding such share a disclosure notice and either: (i) the member has named the person as being interested in the share; or (ii) (after taking into account any response to any disclosure notice and any other relevant information) the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the person in question is or may be interested in the share. |
MEMBER RIGHTS PLAN
|
24. |
Member Rights Plan |
(a) |
The board is hereby authorised to establish a member rights plan including approving the execution of any document relating to the adoption and/or implementation of a rights plan. A rights plan may be in such form and may be subject to such terms and conditions as the board shall determine in its absolute discretion. |
|
(a) |
The board is hereby authorised to grant rights to subscribe for shares of the Company in accordance with a rights plan. |
|
(b) |
The board may, in accordance with a rights plan, exercise any power under such rights plan (including a power relating to the issuance, redemption or exchange of rights or shares) on a basis that excludes one or more members, including a member who has acquired or may acquire a significant interest in or control of the Company. |
|
(c) |
The board is authorised to exercise the powers under this Article 24 for any purpose that the board, in its discretion, deems reasonable and appropriate, including to ensure that: |
(1) any process which may result in an acquisition of a significant interest or change of control of the Company is conducted in an orderly manner;
(2) all holders of ordinary shares will be treated fairly and in a similar manner;
(3) any potential acquisition of a significant interest or change of control of the Company which would be unlikely to treat all members of the Company fairly and in a similar manner would be prevented;
19
(4) the use of abusive tactics by any person in connection with any potential acquisition of a significant interest or change of control of the Company would be prevented;
(5) an optimum price for shares would be received by or on behalf of all members of the Company;
(6) the success of the Company would be promoted for the benefit of its members as a whole;
(7) the long-term interests of the Company, its employees, its members and its business would be safeguarded;
(8) the Company would not suffer serious economic harm;
(9) the board has additional time to gather relevant information or pursue appropriate strategies; or
(10) all or any of the above.
GENERAL MEETINGS
|
25. |
Annual general meetings |
(a) |
The board shall convene and the Company shall hold annual general meetings in accordance with the Statutes. |
(b) |
The Company must hold an annual general meeting within six months of the end of each financial year of the Company, in addition to any other general meeting held during that period. |
|
26. |
Convening of general meetings other than annual general meetings |
(a) |
The board may convene a general meeting other than an annual general meeting whenever it thinks fit. |
(b) |
A general meeting may also be convened in accordance with Article 68. |
|
27. |
Members’ power to require circulation of resolutions for annual general meetings |
(a) |
The members may require the Company to give, to members of the Company entitled to receive notice of the next annual general meeting, notice of a resolution which may properly be moved and is intended to be moved at that meeting. |
(b) |
A resolution may properly be moved at an annual general meeting unless: |
|
(a) |
it would, if passed, be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with the Statutes or the Company’s constitution or otherwise); |
|
(b) |
in the opinion of the board it is defamatory of any person; |
|
(c) |
in the opinion of the board it is frivolous or vexatious; |
|
(d) |
the member has not provided Timely Notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary. |
20
(c) |
To be timely, a member’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Company not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual general meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Company’s first annual general meeting of members after the Closing, be deemed to have occurred on [●], 202[●]); provided, however, that if the date of the annual general meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual general meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the member to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual general meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual general meeting was first made (“Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual general meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described above. |
(d) |
To be in proper form for purposes, a resolution to the secretary shall set forth: |
|
(a) |
As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Company’s books and records); and (B) the number of shares of each class or series of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates (for purposes of these Articles, as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Company as to which such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “Member Information”); |
|
(b) |
As to each Proposing Person, (A) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (“Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of the Company; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence (including, without limitation, any derivative, swap, hedge, repurchase or so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, the purpose or effect of which is to, directly or indirectly (a) give a Person economic benefit and/or risk similar to ownership of shares of any class or series of the Company, in whole or in part, including due to the fact that such transaction, agreement or arrangement provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any increase or decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of the Company, (b) mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk of or manage the risk of share price changes for, any Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of the Company, (c) otherwise provide in any manner the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of the Company, or (d) increase or decrease the voting power of any Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of the Company) in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any performance-related fee (other than an asset-based fee) that such Proposing Person, directly or indirectly, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of any class or series of the Company or any Synthetic Equity Position, (C) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of the Company owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company, (D) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Company or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Company, (E) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the other hand, (F) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Company or any affiliate of the Company (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (G) any proxy, agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to, directly or indirectly, vote any shares of any class or series of the Company and (H) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person under applicable law (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (G) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the member directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Articles on behalf of a beneficial owner; |
21
|
(c) |
As to each item of business that the member proposes to bring before the annual general meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual general meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual general meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if such business includes a proposal to amend these Articles, the text of such proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other Person (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such member or in connection with acquiring, holding, disposing or voting of any shares of any class or series of the Company, (D) identification of the names and addresses of other members (including beneficial owners) known by any of the Proposing Persons to support such nominations or other business proposal(s), and to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such other member(s) or other beneficial owner(s) and (E) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting under applicable law; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this Article 27(c) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the member directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Articles on behalf of a beneficial owner; and |
22
|
(d) |
a statement whether or not the member giving the notice and/or the other Proposing Person(s), if any, will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of the Company required under applicable law to approve the business proposal. |
(e) |
For purposes of this Article 27, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (a) the member providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual general meeting or (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual general meeting is made. |
(f) |
A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Company of its intent to propose business at an annual general meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Article 27 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). |
(g) |
Notwithstanding anything in these Articles to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual general meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Article 27. The Board or a designated committee thereof shall have the power to determine whether business proposed to be brought before the annual general meeting was made in accordance with the provisions of these Articles. If neither the board nor such designated committee makes a determination as to whether any nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of these Articles, the presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Article 27, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting. If the board or a designated committee thereof or the presiding officer, as applicable, determines that any member proposal was not made in accordance with the provisions of Article 27, any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. |
(h) |
For purposes of these Articles, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. |
|
28. |
Members’ power to nominate board members |
(a) |
Nominations of any person for election to the board at an annual general meeting may be made at such meeting only (a) by or at the direction of the board, including by any committee or Persons authorized to do so by the board or these Articles or (b) by a member present in person who (1) was a record owner of shares of the Company both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Article 28 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Article 28 as to such notice and nomination. The foregoing clause (b) shall be the exclusive means for a member to make any nomination of a Person or Persons for election to the board at any general meeting of shareholders, whether annual or other. |
23
(b) |
For a member to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the board at an annual general meeting the member must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Article 27 of these Articles) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the Company, (b) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such member and its candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Article 28, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Article 28. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual general meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a member’s notice as described above. The number of nominees a Nominating Person may nominate for election at the annual general meeting pursuant to Article 28 of these Articles shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual general meeting. |
(c) |
To be in proper form for purposes of Article 28, a member’s notice to the secretary shall set forth: |
(a) As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Member Information (as defined in Article 27 of these Articles) except that for purposes of this Article 28, the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Article 27
(b) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Article 27, except that for purposes of this Article 28 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Article 27(d)(b) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Article 27(d)(c) shall be made with respect to nomination of each Person for election as a director at the meeting);
(i) As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such candidate for nomination that would be required to be set forth in a member’s notice pursuant to this Article 28 if such candidate for nomination were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made under applicable law, (C) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 7.B of Form 20-F if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (C) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Article 28.
(d) |
For purposes of this Article 28, the term “Nominating Person” shall mean (a) the member providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and (c) any other participant in such solicitation. |
24
(e) |
A member providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Article 28 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). |
(f) |
To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Company at an annual general meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in this Article 28 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the board or by a member of record, must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such candidate given by or on behalf of the board), to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company, (a) a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Company) with respect to the background, qualifications, share ownership and independence of such candidate for nomination and (b) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Company) that such candidate for nomination (A) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any Person other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director of the Company that has not been disclosed therein, (B) understands his or her duties as a director under applicable law and agrees to act in accordance with those duties while serving as a director, (C) is not or will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any Person as to how such nominee, if elected as a director, will act or vote as a director on any issue or question to be decided by the board, in any case, to the extent that such arrangement, understanding, commitment or assurance (a) could limit or interfere with his or her ability to comply, if elected as director of the Company, with his or her fiduciary duties under applicable law or with policies and guidelines of the Company applicable to all directors or (b) has not been disclosed to the Company prior to or concurrently with the Nominating Person’s submission of the nomination, and (D) if elected as a director of the Company, will comply with any applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, share ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Company applicable to all directors and in effect during such Person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the secretary of the Company shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect). |
(g) |
The Board may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a Director to furnish such other information as may reasonably be requested by the board in writing prior to the meeting of members at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon in order for the board to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Company in accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. |
|
(a) |
In addition to the requirements of this Article 28 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations. |
25
|
(b) |
No candidate shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Company unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidate’s name in nomination has complied with this Article 28, as applicable. The Board or a designated committee thereof shall have the power to determine whether a nomination before the annual general meeting of members was made in accordance with the provisions of these Articles. If neither the board nor such designated committee makes a determination as to whether any nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of these Articles, the presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with this Article 28, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting; provided, however, that nothing herein shall limit the power and authority of the board or such designated committee to make any such determination in advance of such meeting. If the board or a designated committee thereof or the presiding officer, as applicable, determines that any nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of Article 28, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots cast for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect. |
(h) |
The expenses of the Company in complying with this Article must be paid by the members who requested the circulation of the statement unless the Company resolves otherwise. |
|
29. |
Separate general meetings; actions by written consent |
(a) |
Subject to these Articles and to any rights for the time being attached to any class of shares in the Company, the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, provisions relating to the proceedings at general meetings or to the rights of any person to attend or vote or be represented at general meetings or to any restrictions on these rights) shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in relation to every separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company. |
(b) |
For the avoidance of doubt, any resolutions required to be passed by the members of the Company must be passed at a general meeting of the Company; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of shares conferring preferred rights, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may, subject to the Law, be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly provided by the Statement of the Rights relating to the series of shares conferring preferred rights. |
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
|
30. |
Length and form of notice |
(a) |
An annual general meeting shall be called by not less than 21 clear days’ notice. All other general meetings shall be called by not less than 14 clear days’ notice. |
(b) |
The notice (including any notice given by means of a website) shall specify the place, day and time of the meeting, whether the meeting will be an annual general meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. If the notice is made available by means of a website, it must be available until conclusion of the meeting. It shall also state in a reasonably prominent place that a member entitled to attend and vote can appoint one or more proxies (who need not be members) to attend, speak and vote instead of that member. |
(c) |
Notice of every general meeting shall be given to all members other than any who, under these Articles or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notices from the Company, and also to the auditors (or, if more than one, each of them) and to each director. |
|
31. |
Omission or non-receipt of notice |
The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non-receipt of notice by, any person entitled to receive the notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.
26
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
|
32. |
Quorum |
(a) |
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless the requisite quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business. |
(b) |
Except as otherwise provided by these Articles, two qualifying persons present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat shall be a quorum, unless each is a qualifying person only because he is appointed as proxy of a member in relation to the meeting, and they are proxies of the same member. |
(c) |
If within half an hour from the time fixed for holding a general meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of members, shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week (or, if that day is not a business day, to the next business day) and at the same time and place as the original meeting, or, subject to paragraph (d) below, to such other day, and at such other time and place, as the board may decide. |
(d) |
If at an adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time fixed for holding the meeting, the meeting shall be dissolved. |
|
33. |
Security |
The board may make any security arrangements which it considers appropriate relating to the holding of a general meeting of the Company including, without limitation, requiring any person attending a meeting to provide evidence of identity satisfactory to the board and arranging for such person to be searched and for items of personal property which may be taken into a meeting to be restricted. A director or the secretary may:
|
(a) |
refuse entry to a meeting to any person who refuses to comply with any such arrangements; and |
|
(b) |
eject from a meeting any person who causes the proceedings to become disorderly. |
|
34. |
Chairman |
At each general meeting, the chairman of the board (if any) or, if he is absent or unwilling, the deputy chairman (if any) of the board or (if more than one deputy chairman is present and willing) the deputy chairman who has been longest in such office shall preside as chairman of the meeting. If neither the chairman nor deputy chairman is present and willing, one of the other directors selected for the purpose by the directors present or, if only one director is present and willing, that director, shall preside as chairman of the meeting. If no director is present within 15 minutes after the time fixed for holding the meeting or if none of the directors present is willing to preside as chairman of the meeting, the members present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to preside as chairman of the meeting.
|
35. |
Right to attend and speak |
(a) |
A director shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company whether or not he is a member. |
(b) |
The chairman may invite any person to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company if he considers that such person has the appropriate knowledge or experience of the Company’s business to assist in the deliberations of the meeting. |
27
|
36. |
Resolutions and amendments |
(a) |
Subject to the Statutes, a resolution may only be put to the vote at a general meeting if the chairman of the meeting in his absolute discretion decides that the resolution may properly be regarded as within the scope of the meeting. |
(b) |
In the case of a resolution to be proposed as a special resolution no amendment may be made, at or before the time at which the resolution is put to the vote, to the form of the resolution as set out in the notice of meeting, except to correct a patent error or as may otherwise be permitted by law. |
(c) |
In the case of a resolution to be proposed as an ordinary resolution no amendment may be made, at or before the time at which the resolution is put to the vote, unless: |
|
(a) |
in the case of an amendment to the form of the resolution as set out in the notice of meeting, notice of the intention to move the amendment is received at the Office no later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the relevant meeting; or |
|
(b) |
in any case, the chairman of the meeting in his absolute discretion otherwise decides that the amendment or amended resolution may properly be put to the vote. |
The giving of notice under subparagraph (a) above shall not prejudice the power of the chairman of the meeting to rule the amendment out of order.
(d) |
With the consent of the chairman of the meeting, a person who proposes an amendment to a resolution may withdraw it before it is put to the vote. |
(e) |
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. |
|
37. |
Adjournment |
(a) |
With the consent of any general meeting at which a quorum is present the chairman of the meeting may (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place. |
(b) |
In addition, the chairman of the meeting may at any time without the consent of 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. |
(c) |
Nothing in this Article shall limit any other power vested in the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting. |
(d) |
Whenever a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more or sine die, at least 14 clear days’ notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in the same manner as in the case of the original meeting but otherwise no person shall be entitled to any notice of an adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting. |
(e) |
No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which might have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. |
28
|
38. |
Meeting at more than one place |
(a) |
A general meeting may be held at more than one place if: |
|
(a) |
the notice convening the meeting specifies that it shall be held at more than one place; or |
|
(b) |
the board resolves, after the notice convening the meeting has been given, that the meeting shall be held at more than one place; or |
|
(c) |
it appears to the chairman of the meeting that the place of the meeting specified in the notice convening the meeting is inadequate to accommodate all persons entitled and wishing to attend. |
(b) |
A general meeting held at more than one place is duly constituted and its proceedings are valid if (in addition to the other provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings being satisfied) the chairman of the meeting is satisfied that facilities (whether by electronic means or otherwise) are available to enable each person present at each place to participate in the business of the meeting. |
(c) |
Each person present at each place who would be entitled to count towards the quorum in accordance with the provisions of Article 32 shall be counted in the quorum for, and shall be entitled to vote at, the meeting. The meeting is deemed to take place at the place at which the chairman of the meeting is present. |
|
39. |
Method of voting and demand for poll |
(a) |
Except where a special resolution or another percentage is required under the Statutes, the Listing Rules or otherwise, questions arising at a general meeting must be decided by a majority of votes cast by the members present at the meeting. A decision made in this way is for all purposes, a decision of the members. |
(b) |
At a general meeting an ordinary resolution or any other resolution (other than a special resolution) put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless (before, or immediately after the declaration of the result of, the show of hands or on the withdrawal of any other demand for a poll) a poll is demanded by: |
|
(a) |
the chairman of the meeting; or |
|
(b) |
at least five members present in person or by proxy having the right to vote on the resolution; or |
|
(c) |
a member or members present in person or by proxy representing in aggregate not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote on the resolution (excluding any voting rights attached to any shares in the Company held as treasury shares); or |
|
(d) |
a member or members present in person or by proxy holding shares conferring the right to vote on the resolution on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right (excluding shares in the Company conferring a right to vote on the resolution which are held as treasury shares); |
and a demand for a poll by a person as proxy for a member shall be as valid as if the demand were made by the member himself.
(c) |
No poll may be demanded on the appointment of a chairman of the meeting. |
(d) |
A demand for a poll may, before the poll is taken, be withdrawn but only with the consent of the chairman of the meeting and the demand so withdrawn shall not be taken to have invalidated the result of a show of hands declared before the demand was made. If a poll is demanded before the declaration of the result of a show of hands and the demand is duly withdrawn, the meeting shall continue as if the demand had not been made. |
29
(e) |
Unless a poll is demanded (and the demand is not withdrawn), a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has been carried, or carried unanimously, or has been carried by a particular majority, or lost, or not carried by a particular majority, shall be conclusive, and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of that fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution. |
(f) |
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 a poll has been demanded. |
|
40. |
How poll is to be taken |
(a) |
If a poll is demanded (and the demand is not withdrawn), it shall be taken at such time (either at the meeting at which the poll is demanded or within thirty days after the meeting), at such place and in such manner (including electronically) as the chairman of the meeting shall direct and he may appoint scrutineers (who need not be members). |
(b) |
A poll demanded on a question of adjournment shall be taken at the meeting without adjournment. |
(c) |
It shall not be necessary (unless the chairman of the meeting otherwise directs) for notice to be given of a poll whether taken at or after the meeting at which it was demanded. |
(d) |
On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy and a member entitled to more than one vote need not use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way. |
(e) |
The result of the poll shall be deemed to be a resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
(f) |
The members of the Company may require the board to obtain an independent report on any poll taken, or to be taken, at a general meeting of the Company. |
(g) |
The board is required to obtain an independent report if it receives requests to do so from: |
|
(a) |
members representing not less than five per cent. of the total voting rights of all the members who have a right to vote on the matter to which the poll relates (excluding any voting rights attached to any shares in the Company held as treasury shares); or |
|
(b) |
not less than 100 members who have a right to vote on the matter to which the poll relates and who, on average, each hold at least 100 fully paid shares in the Company. |
(h) |
Where the requests relate to more than one poll, paragraph (g) above must be satisfied in relation to each of them. A request under paragraph (g) above: |
|
(a) |
may be in hard copy form or by way of electronic communication; |
|
(b) |
must identify the poll or polls to which it relates; |
|
(c) |
must be authenticated by the person or persons making it; and |
|
(d) |
must be received by the Company not later than one week after the date on which the poll is taken. |
30
(i) |
Where the board is required to obtain an independent report on a poll or polls under paragraph (g) above, the board must appoint an independent assessor to prepare a report for the Company on that poll or polls. The appointment of the independent assessor must be made within one week after the requirement to obtain the report has arisen. The independent assessor appointed by the board in accordance with this paragraph (i) must not have another role in relation to any poll on which he is to report (including, in particular, a role in connection with collecting or counting votes or with the appointment of proxies) and must otherwise be independent in relation to the poll, as determined by the board. |
(j) |
The report of the independent assessor appointed under paragraph (i) above must state the name of the independent assessor and his opinion (including reasons therefor) whether: |
|
(a) |
the procedures adopted in connection with the poll or polls were adequate; |
|
(b) |
the votes cast (including proxy votes) were fairly and accurately recorded and counted; |
|
(c) |
the validity of members’ appointments of proxies was fairly assessed; and |
|
(d) |
whether the relevant requirements of these Articles and the Statutes were complied with. |
(k) |
Where an independent assessor has been appointed to report on a poll in accordance with this Article, he is entitled to: |
|
(a) |
attend the meeting at which the poll may be taken and any subsequent proceedings in connection with the poll; |
|
(b) |
be provided by the Company with a copy of the notice of the relevant meeting and any other communication provided by the Company in connection with the meeting to persons who have a right to vote on the matter to which the poll relates; and |
|
(c) |
have access to the Company’s records relating to any poll on which he is to report and the meeting at which the poll or polls may be, or were, taken, and to require anyone who at any material time was a director, secretary, employee, member or agent of the Company, to provide him with information or explanations for the purpose of preparing his report. |
(l) |
Where an independent assessor has been appointed to report on a poll in accordance with this Article, the Company must ensure that the following information is made available on a website: |
|
(a) |
the fact of the independent assessor’s appointment; |
|
(b) |
his identity; |
|
(c) |
the text of the resolution or, as the case may be, a description of the subject matter of the poll to which his appointment relates; and |
|
(d) |
a copy of the independent assessor’s report prepared in accordance with paragraph (j) above. |
|
41. |
Chairman’s casting vote |
In the case of an equality of votes, either on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place, or at which the poll is demanded, as the case may be, shall be entitled to a further or casting vote in addition to any other vote or votes to which he may be entitled.
31
VOTES OF MEMBERS
|
42. |
Voting rights |
(a) |
Subject to these Articles and to any special rights or restrictions as to voting for the time being attached to any class of shares in the Company: |
|
(a) |
on a show of hands, every qualifying person present shall, subject to subparagraph (b), have one vote; |
|
(b) |
on a show of hands, every proxy who has been appointed by more than one member entitled to vote on the resolution shall have two votes, one vote for and one against the resolution if: |
|
(A) |
one or more of the members instructed him to vote for and one or more of the members instructed him to vote against the resolution; or |
|
(B) |
one or more of the members instructed him to vote for the resolution and one or more of the members gave him discretion as to how to vote and he exercises his discretion by voting against the resolution; or |
|
(C) |
one or more of the members instructed him to vote against the resolution and one or more of the members gave him discretion as to how to vote and he exercises his discretion by voting for the resolution; and |
|
(c) |
on a poll, every member who is present in person or by a duly appointed proxy shall have one vote for each share of which he is the holder. |
(b) |
For the purposes of determining which persons are entitled to attend or vote at any general meeting, and how many votes such persons may cast, the Company may specify in the notice of the meeting a time in accordance with the Statutes by which a person must be entered on the register in order to have the right to attend or vote at the meeting. Changes to entries on the register after the time so specified shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting, notwithstanding any provisions in the Statutes or these Articles to the contrary. |
|
43. |
Representation of bodies corporate |
(a) |
Any body corporate which is a member of the Company may, by resolution of its board or other governing body, authorise any person or persons to act as its representative or representatives at any general meeting of the Company. For the purposes of these Articles, a body corporate shall be deemed to be present in person at any general meeting of the Company if one or more of its representatives is present at that meeting. The board or any director or the secretary may (but shall not be bound to) require evidence of the authority of any such representatives. Any authorisation in writing purporting to be signed by an officer of, or other person duly authorised for the purpose by, the body corporate shall be conclusive evidence of the authority of the representatives to act on behalf of the body corporate. |
(b) |
Where more than one person is authorised to represent a body corporate and more than one person purports to exercise a power on behalf of that body corporate: |
|
(a) |
if each such person purports to exercise the power in the same way, the power is treated as exercised in that way; and |
|
(b) |
if each such person does not purport to exercise the power in the same way, the power is treated as not exercised. |
32
|
44. |
Voting rights of joint holders |
If more than one of the joint holders of a share tenders a vote on the same resolution, whether in person or by proxy, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote shall be accepted to the exclusion of the vote(s) of the other joint holder(s); and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register in respect of the relevant share.
|
45. |
Voting rights of members incapable of managing their affairs |
A member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in Jersey or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his attorney, receiver, curator bonis or other person in the nature of a receiver or curator bonis appointed by that court, and the attorney, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy. Evidence to the satisfaction of the board of the authority of the person claiming the right to vote must be received at the Office (or at such other address as may be specified for the receipt of proxy appointments) not later than the last time by which a proxy appointment must be received in order to be valid for use at the meeting or adjourned meeting or on the holding of the poll at or on which that person proposes to vote and, in default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable.
|
46. |
Voting rights suspended where sums overdue |
Unless the board otherwise decides, a member shall not be entitled to vote, either in person or by proxy, at any general meeting of the Company in respect of any share held by him unless all calls and other sums presently payable by him in respect of that share have been paid.
|
47. |
Objections to admissibility of votes |
No objection shall be raised as to the admissibility of any vote except at the meeting or adjourned meeting or poll at which the vote objected to is or may be given or tendered, and every vote not disallowed at such meeting or poll shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection made in due time shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting, whose decision shall be final and conclusive.
PROXIES
|
48. |
Proxies |
(a) |
A proxy need not be a member of the Company and a member may appoint more than one proxy in relation to a meeting, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by him. |
(b) |
The appointment of a proxy shall not preclude a member from attending and voting in person at the meeting or on the poll concerned. |
(c) |
The appointment of a proxy shall only be valid for the meeting mentioned in it and any adjournment of that meeting (including on any poll demanded at the meeting or any adjourned meeting). |
(4) |
A proxy is entitled to speak at general meetings. |
|
49. |
Appointment of proxy |
(a) |
The appointment of a proxy may be in such form as is usual or common or in such other form as the board may from time to time approve and shall be signed by the appointor, or his duly authorised agent, or, if the appointor is a body corporate, shall either be executed under its common seal or be signed by an agent or officer authorised for that purpose. The signature need not be witnessed. |
33
(b) |
Without limiting the provisions of these Articles, the board may from time to time in relation to uncertificated shares: (i) approve the appointment of a proxy by means of a communication sent in electronic form in the form of an “uncertificated proxy instruction” (a properly authenticated dematerialised instruction and/or other instruction or notification, which is sent by means of the relevant system and received by such participant in that system acting on behalf of the Company as the board may prescribe, in such form and subject to such terms and conditions as the board may from time to time prescribe (subject always to the facilities and requirements of the relevant system)); and (ii) approve supplements to, or amendments or revocations of, any such uncertificated proxy instruction by the same means. In addition, the board may prescribe the method of determining the time at which any such uncertificated proxy instruction is to be treated as received by the Company or such participant and may treat any such uncertificated proxy instruction which purports to be or is expressed to be sent on behalf of a holder of a share as sufficient evidence of the authority of the person sending that instruction to send it on behalf of that holder. |
|
50. |
Receipt of proxy |
(a) |
A proxy appointment: |
|
(a) |
must be received at a proxy notification address no later than the time specified in the notice calling the meeting at which the appointee proposes to vote (such time as determined by the board in accordance with the Statutes); or |
|
(b) |
in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after it is demanded or in the case of an adjourned meeting to be held more than 48 hours after the time fixed for holding the original meeting, must be received at a proxy notification address not less than 24 hours before the time fixed for the taking of the poll or, as the case may be, the time fixed for holding the adjourned meeting; or |
|
(c) |
in the case of a poll which is not taken at the meeting at which it is demanded but is taken 48 hours or less after it is demanded, or in the case of an adjourned meeting to be held 48 hours or less after the time fixed for holding the original meeting, must be received: |
|
(A) |
at a proxy notification address in accordance with (a) above; |
|
(B) |
by the chairman of the meeting or the secretary or any director at the meeting at which the poll is demanded or, as the case may be, at the original meeting; or |
|
(C) |
at a proxy notification address and by such time as the chairman of the meeting may direct at the meeting at which the poll is demanded. |
(b) |
In the case of a proxy appointment signed by an agent of a member who is not a body corporate, the authority under which the appointment is signed or a copy of it certified in such manner as shall be specified in the notice of the relevant meeting or in any other information issued by the Company in relation to the relevant meeting, or such other information as shall be so specified must also be received by the Company in the manner set out in paragraph (a) above. |
(c) |
In the case of a proxy appointment signed by an officer or other agent of a body corporate, the board may also require the receipt, in the manner set out in paragraph (a) above, of the authority under which the appointment is signed or a copy of it certified in such manner as shall be specified in the notice of the relevant meeting or in any other information issued by the Company in relation to the relevant meeting, or of such other authorities or information as shall be so specified. |
34
(d) |
Subject to the Statutes, the board may, but shall not be bound to, require such further evidence as it thinks fit of the authenticity or integrity of any signature on a proxy appointment and, if the signatory is an agent or, where the appointor is a body corporate, an officer, of his authority. |
(e) |
The board may decide, either generally or in any particular case, to treat a proxy appointment as valid notwithstanding that the appointment or any of the information required under paragraphs (b), (c) or (d) above has not been received in accordance with the requirements of this Article. |
(f) |
Subject to paragraph (e) above, if the proxy appointment and any of the information required under paragraphs (b), (c) or (d) above are not received in the manner required above, the appointee shall not be entitled to vote in respect of the shares in question. |
(g) |
If two or more valid but differing proxy appointments are received in respect of the same share for use at the same meeting or on the same poll, the one which is last received (regardless of its date or of the date of its execution) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the others as regards that share and if the Company is unable to determine which was last received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share. |
|
51. |
Notice of revocation of authority |
(a) |
A vote given or poll demanded by proxy or by a representative of a body corporate shall be valid notwithstanding the previous termination of the authority of the person voting or demanding a poll or (until entered in the register) the transfer of the share in respect of which the appointment of the relevant person was made unless notice of the termination was received at a proxy notification address not later than the last time at which an appointment of a proxy should have been received in order to be valid for use at the relevant meeting or adjourned meeting or, in the case of a poll not taken on the same day as the meeting or adjourned meeting, before the time fixed for taking the poll. |
(b) |
A vote given by a proxy or by a representative of a body corporate shall be valid notwithstanding that he has not voted in accordance with any instructions given by the member by whom he is appointed. The Company shall not be obliged to check whether the proxy or representative of a body corporate has in fact voted in accordance with any such member’s instructions. |
DIRECTORS
|
52. |
Number of directors; board classification |
(a) |
Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the number of directors shall be as the Board may determine from time to time, but shall not, unless otherwise determined by an ordinary resolution of the Company, be less than three in number. |
(b) |
Immediately following the date of adoption of these Articles, the board shall consist of seven members (the “Initial Directors”), who shall be appointed by resolution of the board. |
(c) |
Following the Closing, the Initial Directors shall be divided into three classes of directors, designated as “Class I”, “Class II” and “Class III”, respectively (each a “Class”). The board is authorized to assign members of the board already in office to such classes at the time the classification becomes effective. The board is also authorized to assign any persons who take office as directors after the date hereof to any such Class; provided, however, that the Classes are as close to equal size as possible. |
(d) |
In the event of any increase in the number of directors, the newly created directorships resulting from such increase shall be apportioned by the board among the Classes of directors so as to maintain such Classes as nearly equal as possible. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. |
35
(e) |
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, each director shall serve until their successor is duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. |
|
53. |
Directors need not be members |
A director need not be a member of the Company.
ELECTION, APPOINTMENT, RETIREMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
|
54. |
Election of directors by the Company |
(a) |
Except as otherwise expressly required by law, and subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of preferred shares to elect directors, any vacation and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the members. Any director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of the class to which the director shall have been appointed and until such director’s term expires or until his or her term otherwise ends in accordance with these Articles. |
(b) |
No person (other than a director retiring in accordance with these Articles) shall be elected or re-elected a director at any general meeting unless he is recommended by the board. |
|
55. |
Separate resolutions for election of each director |
Every resolution of a general meeting in accordance with Article 57 for the election of a director shall relate to one named person and a single resolution for the election of two or more persons shall be void, unless a resolution that it shall be so proposed has been first agreed to by the meeting without any vote being cast against it.
|
56. |
The board’s power to appoint directors |
The board may appoint any person who is willing to act to be a director, either to fill a vacancy or by way of addition to their number, but so that the total number of directors shall not exceed any maximum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles.
|
57. |
Retirement of directors |
(a) |
At the first annual general meeting of the Company following Closing, each director in Class I shall retire from office but shall be eligible for re-appointment by ordinary resolution of the Company at such annual general meeting and, in each case, where such director is so re-appointed, they shall be entitled to serve until the third annual general meeting of the Company falling after the first annual general meeting, at which stage the director shall retire from office but shall be eligible for further re-appointment. |
(b) |
At the second annual general meeting of the Company following Closing, each director in Class II shall retire from office but shall be eligible for re-appointment by ordinary resolution of the Company at such annual general meeting and, in each case, where such director is so re-appointed, they shall be entitled to serve until the third annual general meeting of the Company falling after the second annual general meeting, at which stage the director shall retire from office but shall be eligible for further re-appointment. |
(c) |
At the third annual general meeting of the Company following Closing, each director in Class III shall retire from office but shall be eligible for re-appointment by ordinary resolution of the Company at such annual general meeting and, in each case, where such director is so re-appointed, they shall be entitled to serve until the third annual general meeting of the Company falling after the third annual general meeting, at which stage the director shall retire from office but shall be eligible for further re-appointment. |
36
(d) |
At each succeeding annual general meeting of the Company following the third annual general meeting of the Company following Closing, directors shall be elected to serve for a term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such Annual General Meeting. |
(e) |
Subject to the provisions of these Articles, a Director shall remain a member of the class of directors to which he or she was assigned in accordance with Article 52. The initial terms of each class of directors shall expire as set forth in this Article 57, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. |
(f) |
A retiring director who is not re-elected shall retain office until the close of the meeting at which he retires. |
(g) |
If the Company, at any meeting at which a director retires in accordance with these Articles, does not fill the office vacated by such director, the retiring director, if willing to act, shall be deemed to be re-elected, unless at the meeting a resolution is passed not to fill the vacancy or to elect another person in his place or unless the resolution to re-elect him is put to the meeting and lost. |
|
58. |
Removal of directors |
(a) |
Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of shares conferring preferred rights to elect directors, any director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and by total majority special resolution. |
(b) |
Any removal of a director under this Article shall be without prejudice to any claim which such director may have for damages for breach of any agreement between him and the Company. |
|
59. |
Vacation of office of director |
(a) |
Without prejudice to the provisions of these Articles for retirement or removal the office of a director shall be vacated if: |
|
(a) |
he is prohibited by law or the Listing Rules from being a director; or |
|
(b) |
he becomes bankrupt or he makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or |
|
(c) |
a registered medical practitioner who has examined him gives a written opinion to the Company stating that he has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director and may remain so for more than three months; or by reason of his mental health a court makes an order which wholly or partly prevents him from personally exercising any powers or rights which he would otherwise have and, in either case, the board resolves that his office be vacated; or |
|
(d) |
for more than six months he is absent (whether or not an alternate director attends in his place), without special leave of absence from the board, from board meetings held during that period and the board resolves that his office be vacated; or |
|
(e) |
the conduct of the director (whether or not concerning the affairs of the Company) is the subject of an investigation by the Jersey Financial Services Commission or any successor body or equivalent body in any foreign jurisdiction and the directors resolve it is undesirable in the interest of the Company that he remains a director of the Company; or |
|
(f) |
he gives to the Company notice of his wish to resign, in which event he shall vacate that office on the receipt of that notice by the Company or at such later time as is specified in the notice. |
37
|
60. |
Executive directors |
(a) |
The board may appoint one or more directors to hold any executive office under the Company (including that of chairman, chief executive or managing director) for such period (subject to the Statutes) and on such terms as it may decide and may revoke or terminate any appointment so made without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service between the director and the Company. |
(b) |
The remuneration of a director appointed to any executive office shall be fixed by the board and may be by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise and either in addition to or inclusive of his remuneration as a director. |
(c) |
A director appointed as executive chairman, chief executive or managing director shall automatically cease to hold that office if he ceases to be a director but without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company. |
(d) |
The board may from time to time appoint any person to any office or employment having a descriptive designation or title including the word “director” or attach to any existing office or employment with the Company such a designation or title and may at any time determine any such appointment or the use of any such designation or title. The inclusion of the word “director” in the designation or title of any such office or employment with the Company shall not imply that the holder of the office is a director of the Company nor shall such holder thereby be empowered in any respect to act as a director of the Company or be deemed to be a director for any of the purposes of the Statutes or these Articles. |
ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
|
61. |
No power to appoint alternate directors |
(a) |
For the avoidance of doubt, no director shall have the power to appoint another director or any other person who is willing to act as his alternate. |
REMUNERATION, EXPENSES, PENSIONS AND OTHER BENEFITS
|
62. |
Directors’ fees |
(a) |
The directors shall be paid fees not exceeding in aggregate £1,000,000 per annum (or such larger sum as the Company may, by ordinary resolution, determine) as the board may decide to be divided among them in such proportion and manner as they may agree or, failing agreement, equally. Any fee payable under this Article shall be distinct from any remuneration or other amounts payable to a director under other provisions of these Articles and shall accrue from day to day. |
(b) |
The board (or any duly authorised committee of the board) may make arrangements for such proportion of the fees payable to any director under the provisions of this Article as the board or such committee may from time to time decide, to be provided in the form of fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of the Company by applying the relevant amount in the purchase or subscription of such shares on behalf of such director. In the case of a subscription of shares, for the purposes of this Article, the subscription price for such shares shall be determined by reference to the shares. |
|
63. |
Special remuneration |
(a) |
The board may grant special remuneration to any director who performs any special or extra services to or at the request of the Company. |
38
(b) |
Such special remuneration may be paid by way of lump sum, salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise as the board may decide in addition to any remuneration payable under or pursuant to any other of these Articles. |
|
64. |
Expenses |
A director shall be paid out of the funds of the Company all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by him in and about the discharge of his duties, including his expenses of travelling to and from board meetings, committee meetings, general meetings and separate general meetings of the holders of any class of shares in the Company. Subject to the Statutes and any guidelines and procedures established from time to time by the board, a director may also be paid out of the funds of the Company all expenses incurred by him in obtaining professional advice in connection with the affairs of the Company or the discharge of his duties as a director.
|
65. |
Pensions and other benefits |
The board may exercise all the powers of the Company to:
|
(a) |
pay, provide, arrange or procure the grant of pensions or other retirement benefits, death, disability or sickness benefits, health, accident and other insurances or other such benefits, allowances, gratuities or insurances, including in relation to the termination of employment, to or for the benefit of any person who is or has been at any time a director of the Company or in the employment or service of the Company or of any body corporate which is or was associated with the Company or of the predecessors in business of the Company or any such associated body corporate, or the relatives or dependants of any such person. For that purpose the board may procure the establishment and maintenance of, or participation in, or contribution to, any pension fund, scheme or arrangement and the payment of any insurance premiums; |
|
(b) |
establish, maintain, adopt and enable participation in any profit sharing or incentive scheme including shares, share options or cash or any similar schemes for the benefit of any director or employee of the Company or of any associated body corporate, and, subject to any restrictions under applicable legislation, to lend money to any such director or employee or to trustees on their behalf to enable any such schemes to be established, maintained or adopted; and |
|
(c) |
support and subscribe to any institution or association which may be for the benefit of the Company or of any associated body corporate or any directors or employees of the Company or associated body corporate or their relatives or dependants or connected with any town or place where the Company or an associated body corporate carries on business, and to support and subscribe to any charitable or public object whatsoever. |
|
66. |
Payment for loss of office |
(a) |
The Company shall not make a payment for loss of office to a director of the Company unless the payment has been approved by an ordinary resolution of the Company. |
(b) |
A resolution approving a payment for loss of office under this Article must not be passed unless a memorandum setting out particulars of the proposed payment (including its amount) is made available for inspection by the members of the Company at: |
|
(a) |
the Office for not less than 15 days ending with the date that the proposed resolution is put to the members; and |
|
(b) |
at the meeting at which the proposed resolution is put to the members. |
(c) |
For the purposes of this Article, payment for loss of office means a payment made to a director or past director of the Company: |
39
|
(a) |
by way of compensation for loss of office as director of the Company; |
|
(b) |
by way of compensation for loss, while director of the Company or in connection with his ceasing to be a director of it, of: |
|
(i) |
any other office or employment in connection with the management of the affairs of the Company; or |
|
(ii) |
any office (as director or otherwise) or employment in connection with the management of the affairs of any subsidiary of the Company; |
|
(c) |
as consideration for or in connection with his retirement from his office as director of the Company; or |
|
(d) |
as consideration for or in connection with his retirement, while director of the Company or in connection with his ceasing to be a director of it, from: |
|
(i) |
any other office or employment in connection with the management of the affairs of the Company; or |
|
(ii) |
any office (as director or otherwise) or employment in connection with the management of the affairs of any subsidiary of the Company, |
where, for the purposes of this definition of payment for loss of office, references to compensation and consideration include benefits otherwise than in cash and references to a payment to the director include payment to a person connected with a director, or payment to any person at the direction of, or for the benefit of, a director or a person connected with him.
POWERS OF THE BOARD
|
67. |
General powers of the board to manage the Company’s business |
(a) |
The business of the Company shall be managed by the board which may exercise all the powers of the Company, subject to the Statutes, these Articles and any ordinary resolution of the Company. No ordinary resolution or alteration of these Articles shall invalidate any prior act of the board which would have been valid if the resolution had not been passed or the alteration had not been made. |
(b) |
The powers given by this Article shall not be limited by any special authority or power given to the board by any other Article or any resolution of the Company. |
|
68. |
Power to act notwithstanding vacancy |
The continuing directors or the sole continuing director at any time may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their number; but, if the number of directors is less than the minimum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles, they or he may act for the purpose of filling up vacancies or calling a general meeting of the Company, but not for any other purpose. If no director is able or willing to act, then any two members may summon a general meeting for the purpose of appointing directors.
|
69. |
Provisions for employees |
The board may exercise any of the powers conferred by section 247 of the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom to make provision for the benefit of any persons employed or formerly employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the Company or any of its subsidiaries as if the Company were a company incorporated in England and Wales.
40
|
70. |
Power to borrow money |
The board may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of its undertaking, property and assets (both present and future) and uncalled capital and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
DELEGATION OF BOARD’S POWERS
|
71. |
Delegation to individual directors |
The board may entrust to and confer upon any director any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit and may revoke or vary all or any of them, but no person dealing in good faith shall be affected by any revocation or variation.
|
72. |
Committees |
(a) |
The board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) to any committee consisting of such person or persons (whether directors or not) as it thinks fit, provided that the majority of the members of the committee are directors and that no meeting of the committee shall be quorate for the purpose of exercising any of its powers, authorities or discretions unless a majority of those present are directors. The board may make any such delegation on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit and may revoke or vary any such delegation and discharge any committee wholly or in part, but no person dealing in good faith shall be affected by any revocation or variation. Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and discretions so delegated, conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the board. |
(b) |
The proceedings of a committee with two or more members shall be governed by any regulations imposed on it by the board and (subject to such regulations) by these Articles regulating the proceedings of the board so far as they are capable of applying. |
|
73. |
Powers of attorney |
The board may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such terms (including terms as to remuneration) as it may decide and may delegate to any person so appointed any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate). The board may remove any person appointed under this Article and may revoke or vary the delegation, but no person dealing in good faith shall be affected by the revocation or variation.
DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS
|
74. |
Directors’ interests other than in relation to transactions or arrangements with the Company |
(a) |
If a relevant situation arises the following provisions shall apply if the conflict of interest does not arise in relation to a transaction or arrangement with the Company: |
|
(a) |
if the relevant situation arises from the appointment or proposed appointment of a person as a director of the Company, the directors (other than the director in question, and any other director with a similar interest, who shall not be counted in the quorum at the meeting and shall not vote on the resolution) may resolve to authorise the appointment of the director and the relevant situation on such terms as they may determine; |
41
|
(b) |
if the relevant situation arises in circumstances other than in paragraph (a) above, the directors (other than the director and any other director with a similar interest who shall not be counted in the quorum at the meeting and shall not vote on the resolution) may resolve to authorise the relevant situation and the continuing performance by the director of his duties on such terms as they may determine. |
(b) |
Any reference in paragraph (a) above to a conflict of interest includes a conflict of interest and duty and a conflict of duties. |
(c) |
Any terms determined by directors under paragraphs (a)(a) or (a)(b) above may be imposed at the time of the authorisation or may be imposed or varied subsequently and may include (without limitation): |
|
(a) |
whether the interested directors may vote (or be counted in the quorum at a meeting) in relation to any resolution relating to the relevant situation; |
|
(b) |
the exclusion of the interested directors from all information and discussion by the Company of the relevant situation; and |
|
(c) |
(without prejudice to the general obligations of confidentiality) the application to the interested directors of a strict duty of confidentiality to the Company for any confidential information of the Company in relation to the relevant situation. |
(d) |
An interested director must act in accordance with any terms determined by the directors under paragraphs (a)(a) or (a)(b) above. |
(e) |
Except as specified in paragraph (a) above, any proposal made to the directors and any authorisation by the directors in relation to a relevant situation shall be dealt with in the same way as any other matter may be proposed to and resolved upon by the directors in accordance with the provisions of these Articles. |
(f) |
Any authorisation of a relevant situation given by the directors under paragraph (a) above may provide that, where the interested director obtains (other than through his position as a director of the Company) information that is confidential to a third party, he will not be obliged to disclose it to the Company or to use it in relation to the Company’s affairs in circumstances where to do so would amount to a breach of that confidence. |
|
75. |
Declaration of interests other than in relation to transactions or arrangements with the Company |
A director shall declare the nature and extent of his interest in a relevant situation within Article 74(a) to the other directors.
|
76. |
Declaration of interest in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the Company |
If a director is in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, he must declare the nature and extent of that interest to the other directors.
|
77. |
Declaration of interest in an existing transaction or arrangement with the Company |
Where a director is in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in a transaction or arrangement that has been entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, he must declare the nature and extent of his interest to the other directors, unless the interest has already been declared under Article 76.
|
78. |
Provisions applicable to declarations of interest |
(a) |
Subject at all times to the Statutes, the declaration of interest must (in the case of Article 77) and may, but need not (in the case of Article 75 or 76) be made: |
42
|
(a) |
at a meeting of the directors; or |
|
(b) |
by notice to the directors which is either: |
|
(a) |
notice of that director’s interest in relation to a specific matter or entity; or |
|
(b) |
general notice of that director’s interest, whereby the director is to be regarded as interested in that matter or entity from the date of the giving of the notice. |
(b) |
If a declaration of interest proves to be, or becomes, inaccurate or incomplete, a further declaration must be made. |
(c) |
Any declaration of interest required by Article 75 must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable. Failure to comply with this requirement does not affect the underlying duty to make the declaration of interest. |
(d) |
Any declaration of interest required by Article 76 must be made before the Company enters into the transaction or arrangement. |
(e) |
Any declaration of interest required by Article 77 must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable. Failure to comply with this requirement does not affect the underlying duty to make the declaration of interest. |
(f) |
A declaration in relation to an interest of which the director is not aware, or where the director is not aware of the transaction or arrangement in question, is not required. For this purpose, a director is treated as being aware of matters of which he ought reasonably to be aware. |
(g) |
Subject to the Statutes, a director need not declare an interest: |
|
(a) |
if it cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest; |
|
(b) |
if, or to the extent that, the other directors are already aware of it (and for this purpose the other directors are treated as aware of anything of which they ought reasonably to be aware) unless a declaration is required by the Law; or |
|
(c) |
if, or to the extent that, it concerns terms of his service contract that have been or are to be considered: |
|
(a) |
by a meeting of the directors; or |
|
(b) |
by a committee of the directors appointed for the purpose under the Articles. |
|
79. |
Directors’ interests and voting |
(a) |
Subject to the Law and to declaring his interest in accordance with Article 75, 76 or 77 (as the case may be) a director may: |
|
(a) |
enter into or be interested in any transaction or arrangement with the Company, either with regard to his tenure of any office or position in the management, administration or conduct of the business of the Company or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise; |
|
(b) |
hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of auditor) in conjunction with his office of director for such period (subject to the Statutes) and upon such terms as the board may decide and be paid such extra remuneration for so doing (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the board may decide, either in addition to or in lieu of any remuneration under any other provision of these Articles; |
43
|
(c) |
act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company (except as auditor) and be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a director; |
|
(d) |
be or become a member or director of, or hold any other office or place of profit under, or otherwise be interested in, a holding company or subsidiary of that holding company or any other company in which the Company may be interested. The board may cause the voting rights conferred by the shares in any other company held or owned by the Company or exercisable by them as directors of that other company to be exercised in such manner in all respects as it thinks fit (including the exercise of voting rights in favour of any resolution appointing the directors or any of them as directors or officers of the other company or voting or providing for the payment of any benefit to the directors or officers of the other company); and |
|
(e) |
be or become a director of any other company in which the Company does not have an interest if that cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest at the time of his appointment as a director of that other company. |
(b) |
A director shall not, by reason of his holding office as director (or of the fiduciary relationship established by holding that office), be liable to account to the Company for any remuneration, profit or other benefit resulting from: |
|
(a) |
any relevant situation authorised under Article 74(a); or |
|
(b) |
any interest permitted under paragraph (a) above, |
and no contract shall be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any director having any type of interest authorised under Article 74(a) or permitted under paragraph (a)(a) above.
(c) |
A director shall not vote (or be counted in the quorum at a meeting) in respect of any resolution concerning his own appointment (including fixing or varying its terms), or the termination of his own appointment, as the holder of any office or place of profit with the Company or any other company in which the Company is interested but, where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment (including fixing or varying its terms), or the termination of the appointment, of two or more directors to offices or places of profit with the Company or any other company in which the Company is interested, those proposals may be divided and a separate resolution may be put in relation to each director and in that case each of the directors concerned (if not otherwise debarred from voting under this Article) shall be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of each resolution unless it concerns his own appointment or the termination of his own appointment. |
(d) |
A director shall also not vote (or be counted in the quorum at a meeting) in relation to any resolution relating to any transaction or arrangement or other proposal in which he has an interest which (together with any interest of any connected person of his) is to his knowledge a direct or indirect interest and may reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest and, if he purports to do so, his vote shall not be counted, but this prohibition shall not apply and a director may vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any resolution concerning any one or more of the following matters: |
|
(a) |
any transaction or arrangement in which he is interested by virtue of an interest in shares, debentures or other securities of the Company or otherwise in or through the Company; |
|
(b) |
the giving of any guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of: |
|
(a) |
money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person at the request of, or for the benefit of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or |
44
|
(b) |
a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which he himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part (either alone or jointly with others) under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security; |
|
(c) |
(subject to the Statutes) indemnification (including loans made in connection with it) by the Company in relation to the performance of his duties on behalf of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries; |
|
(d) |
any issue or offer of shares, debentures or other securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in respect of which he is or may be entitled to participate in his capacity as a holder of any such securities or as an underwriter or sub-underwriter; |
|
(e) |
any transaction or arrangement concerning any other company in which he does not hold directly or indirectly as member, or through his direct or indirect holdings of financial instruments voting rights representing one per cent. or more of any class of shares in the capital of that company; |
|
(f) |
any arrangement for the benefit of employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which does not accord to him any privilege or benefit not generally accorded to the employees to whom the arrangement relates; and |
|
(g) |
the purchase or maintenance of insurance for the benefit of directors or for the benefit of persons including directors. |
(e) |
In the case of an alternate director, an interest of his appointor shall be treated as an interest of the alternate in addition to any interest which the alternate otherwise has. |
(f) |
If any question arises at any meeting as to whether an interest of a director (other than the chairman of the meeting) may reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest or as to the entitlement of any director (other than the chairman of the meeting) to vote in relation to a transaction or arrangement with the Company and the question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting, the question shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and his ruling in relation to the director concerned shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of the director concerned, so far as known to him, has not been fairly disclosed. If any question shall arise in respect of the chairman of the meeting and is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting, the question shall be decided by a resolution of the board (for which purpose the chairman shall be counted in the quorum but shall not vote on the matter) and the resolution shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of the chairman of the meeting, so far as known to him, has not been fairly disclosed. |
(g) |
Subject to the Statutes, the Company may by ordinary resolution suspend or relax the provisions of this Article to any extent or ratify any transaction or arrangement not duly authorised by reason of a contravention of this Article. |
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD
|
80. |
Board meetings |
The board may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it thinks fit. A director at any time may, and the secretary at the request of a director at any time shall, summon a board meeting.
|
81. |
Notice of board meetings |
Notice of a board meeting may be given to a director personally or by word of mouth or given in hard copy form or in electronic form to him at such address as he may from time to time specify for this purpose (or if he does not specify an address, at his last known address). A director may waive notice of any meeting either prospectively or retrospectively. A director will be treated as having waived his entitlement to notice unless he has supplied the Company with the information necessary to ensure that he receives notice of a meeting before it takes place.
45
|
82. |
Quorum |
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 three. Subject to these Articles, any director who ceases to be a director at a board meeting may continue to be present and to act as a director and be counted in the quorum until the end of the board meeting if no other director objects and if otherwise a quorum of directors would not be present.
|
83. |
Chairman or deputy chairman to preside |
(a) |
The board may appoint a chairman and one or more deputy chairman or chairmen and may at any time revoke any such appointment. |
(b) |
The chairman, or failing him any deputy chairman (the longest in office taking precedence, if more than one is present), shall, if present and willing, preside at all board meetings but, if no chairman or deputy chairman has been appointed, or if he is not present within fifteen minutes after the time fixed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman of the meeting, the directors present shall choose one of their number to act as chairman of the meeting. |
|
84. |
Competence of board meetings |
A board meeting 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.
|
85. |
Voting |
Questions arising at any board meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
|
86. |
Telephone/electronic board meeting |
(a) |
A board meeting may consist of a conference between directors some or all of whom are in different places provided that each director may participate in the business of the meeting whether directly, by telephone or by any other means (whether electronically or otherwise) which enables him: |
|
(a) |
to hear (or otherwise receive real time communications made by) each of the other participating directors addressing the meeting; and |
|
(b) |
if he so wishes, to address all of the other participating directors simultaneously (or otherwise communicate in real time with them). |
(b) |
A quorum is deemed to be present if at least the number of directors required to form a quorum, subject to the provisions of Article 68, may participate in the manner specified above in the business of the meeting. |
(c) |
A board meeting held in this way is deemed to take place at the place where the chairman of the meeting is physically present, unless the board otherwise determines. |
46
|
87. |
Resolutions without meetings |
A resolution which is signed or approved by all the directors entitled to vote on that resolution (and whose vote would have been counted) shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a board meeting duly called and
constituted. The resolution may be contained in one document or communication in electronic form or in several documents or communications in electronic form (in like form), each signed or approved by one or more of the directors concerned. For the purpose of this Article:
|
(a) |
the signature or approval of an alternate director (if any) shall suffice in place of the signature of the director appointing him; and |
|
(b) |
the approval of a director or alternate director shall be given in hard copy form or in electronic form. |
|
88. |
Validity of acts of directors in spite of formal defect |
All acts bona fide done by a meeting of the board, or of a committee, or by any person acting as a director or a member of a committee, shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any member of the board or committee or of the person so acting, or that they or any of them were disqualified or had vacated office or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and qualified to be a director and had continued to be a director or member of the committee and had been entitled to vote.
|
89. |
Minutes |
The board shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose in relation to the following matters (and such minutes shall be kept at the Office or, subject to the Law, some other place for a period of not less than ten years following the date of the relevant matter):
|
(a) |
of all appointments of officers made by the board; |
|
(b) |
of the names of all the directors present at each meeting of the board and of any committee; and |
|
(c) |
of all resolutions and proceedings of all meetings of the Company and of any class of members, and of the board and of any committee. |
SECRETARY
|
90. |
Secretary |
The secretary shall be appointed by the board for such term, at such remuneration and on such conditions as it thinks fit, and the board may remove from office any person so appointed (without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract between him and the Company). The board may appoint one or more deputy or assistant secretaries.
SHARE CERTIFICATES
|
91. |
Issue of certificates |
(a) |
A person whose name is entered in the register as the holder of any certificated shares shall be entitled (unless the conditions of issue otherwise provide) to receive one certificate for those shares, or one certificate for each class of those shares and, if he transfers part of the shares represented by a certificate in his name, or elects to hold part in uncertificated form, to receive a new certificate for the balance of those shares. |
47
(b) |
In the case of joint holders, the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for all the shares in any particular class registered in their joint names, and delivery of a certificate for a share to any one of the joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. |
(c) |
A share certificate may be issued under seal (by affixing the seal to, or printing the seal or a representation of it on, the certificate) or executed or authenticated in such manner as the board may from time to time determine, either generally or in any particular case (which may include any signature being applied mechanically or electronically or by any one director in the presence of a witness who attests the signature). A share certificate shall specify the number and class of the shares to which it relates and the amount or respective amounts (if any) unpaid up on the shares. Any certificate so issued shall, as against the Company, be prima facie evidence of the title of the person named in that certificate to the shares comprised in it. |
(4) |
A share certificate may be given to a member in accordance with the provisions of these Articles on notices. |
|
92. |
Charges for and replacement of certificates |
(a) |
Except as expressly provided to the contrary in these Articles, no fee shall be charged for the issue of a share certificate. |
(b) |
Any two or more certificates representing shares of any one class held by any member may at his request be cancelled and a single new certificate issued. |
(c) |
If any member surrenders for cancellation a certificate representing shares held by him and requests the Company to issue two or more certificates representing those shares in such proportions as he may specify, the board may, if it thinks fit, comply with the request on payment of such fee (if any) as the board may decide. |
(d) |
If a certificate is damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, a new certificate representing the same shares may be issued on compliance with such conditions as to evidence, indemnity and security for such indemnity as the board may think fit and on payment of any exceptional expenses of the Company incidental to its investigation of the evidence and preparation of the indemnity and security and, if damaged or defaced, on delivery up of the old certificate. |
(e) |
In the case of joint holders of a share a request for a new certificate under any of the preceding paragraphs of this Article may be made by any one of the joint holders unless the certificate is alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed. |
LIEN ON SHARES
|
93. |
Lien on partly paid shares |
(a) |
The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) for all amounts payable (whether or not due) in respect of that share. The lien shall extend to every amount payable in respect of that share. |
(b) |
The board may at any time either generally or in any particular case declare any share to be wholly or partly exempt from this Article. Unless otherwise agreed, the registration of a transfer of a share shall operate as a waiver of the Company’s lien (if any) on that share. |
|
94. |
Enforcement of lien |
(a) |
The Company may sell any share subject to a lien in such manner as the board may decide if an amount payable on the share is due and is not paid within 14 clear days after a notice has been given to the holder or any person entitled by transmission to the share demanding payment of that amount and giving notice of intention to sell in default. |
48
(b) |
To give effect to any sale under this Article, the board may authorise some person to transfer the share sold to, or as directed by, the purchaser. The purchaser shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall the title of the new holder to the share be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings relating to the sale. |
(c) |
The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in or towards satisfaction of the amount due and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for any amounts not presently due as existed on the share before the sale), on surrender of the certificate for the shares sold, be paid to the holder or person entitled by transmission to the share immediately before the sale. |
CALLS ON SHARES
|
95. |
Calls |
(a) |
Subject to the terms of allotment, the board may make calls on the members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether in respect of nominal amount or premium) and each member shall (subject to his receiving at least 14 clear days’ notice in writing specifying when and where payment is to be made) pay to the Company as required by the notice the amount called on his shares together with any interest pursuant to Article 96. A call may be revoked or postponed as the board may decide. |
(b) |
Any call may be made payable in one sum or by instalments and shall be deemed to be made at the time when the resolution of the board authorising that call is passed. |
(c) |
A person on whom a call is made shall remain liable for it notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the share in respect of which the call is made. |
(d) |
The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable for the payment of all calls in respect of that share. |
|
96. |
Interest on calls |
If a call is not paid before or on the due date for payment, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid, from the due date for payment to the date of actual payment, at such rate as the board may decide, but the board may waive payment of the interest, wholly or in part.
|
97. |
Sums treated as calls |
A sum which by the terms of allotment of a share is payable on allotment, or at a fixed time, or by instalments at fixed times, shall for all purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made and payable on the date or dates fixed for payment and, in case of non-payment, these Articles shall apply as if that sum had become payable by virtue of a call.
|
98. |
Power to differentiate |
On any issue of shares the board may make arrangements for a difference between the allottees or holders of the shares in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their shares.
|
99. |
Payment of calls in advance |
The board may, if it thinks fit, receive all or any part of the moneys payable on a share beyond the sum actually called up on it if the holder is willing to make payment in advance and, on any moneys so paid in advance, may (until they would otherwise be due) pay interest at such rate as may be agreed between the board and the member paying the sum in advance.
49
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
|
100. |
Notice of unpaid calls |
(a) |
If the whole or any part of any call or instalment remains unpaid on any share after the due date for payment, the board may serve a written notice on the holder requiring him to pay so much of the call or instalment as remains unpaid, together with any accrued interest. |
(b) |
The notice shall state a further day, being not less than 14 clear days from the date of the notice, on or before which, and the place where, payment is to be made and shall state that, in the event of non-payment on or before the day and at the place appointed, the share in respect of which the call was made or instalment is payable will be liable to be forfeited. |
(c) |
The board may accept a surrender of any share liable to be forfeited. |
|
101. |
Forfeiture on non-compliance with notice |
(a) |
If the requirements of a notice given under the preceding Article are not complied with, any share in respect of which it was given may (before the payment required by the notice is made) be forfeited by a resolution of the board. The forfeiture shall include all dividends and other distributions declared and other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited share and not actually paid before the forfeiture. |
(b) |
If a share is forfeited, notice of the forfeiture shall be given to the person who was the holder of the share or (as the case may be) the person entitled to the share by transmission, and an entry that notice of the forfeiture has been given, with the relevant date, shall be made in the register; but no forfeiture shall be invalidated by any omission to give such notice or to make such entry. |
|
102. |
Power to annul forfeiture or surrender |
The board may, at any time before the forfeited or surrendered share has been sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of, annul the forfeiture or surrender upon payment of all calls and interest due on or incurred in respect of the share and on such further conditions (if any) as it thinks fit.
|
103. |
Disposal of forfeited or surrendered shares |
(a) |
Every share which is forfeited or surrendered shall become the property of the Company and (subject to the Statutes) may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of, upon such terms and in such manner as the board shall decide either to the person who was before the forfeiture the holder of the share or to any other person and whether with or without all or any part of the amount previously paid up on the share being credited as so paid up. The board may for the purposes of a disposal authorise some person to transfer the forfeited or surrendered share to, or in accordance with the directions of, any person to whom the same has been disposed of. |
(b) |
A statutory declaration or an affidavit by a director or the secretary that a share has been forfeited or surrendered on a specified date shall, as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share, be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it and shall (subject to the execution of any necessary transfer) constitute a good title to the share. The person to whom the share has been disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration for the disposal (if any) nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings connected with the forfeiture, surrender, sale, re-allotment or disposal of the share. |
50
|
104. |
Arrears to be paid notwithstanding forfeiture or surrender |
A person any of whose shares have been forfeited or surrendered shall cease to be a member in respect of the forfeited or surrendered share and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation any certificate for the share forfeited or surrendered, but shall remain liable (unless payment is waived in whole or in part by the board) to pay to the Company all moneys payable by him on or in respect of that share at the time of forfeiture or surrender, together with interest from the time of forfeiture or surrender until payment at such rate as the board shall decide, in the same manner as if the share had not been forfeited or surrendered. He shall also be liable to satisfy all the claims and
demands (if any) which the Company might have enforced in respect of the share at the time of forfeiture or surrender. No deduction or allowance shall be made for the value of the share at the time of forfeiture or surrender or for any consideration received on its disposal.
SEAL
|
105. |
Seal |
(a) |
The Company may exercise the powers conferred by the Statutes with regard to having official seals and those powers shall be vested in the board. |
(b) |
The board shall provide for the safe custody of every seal of the Company. |
(c) |
A seal shall be used only by the authority of the board or a duly authorised committee but that authority may consist of an instruction or approval given in hard copy form or in electronic form by a majority of the directors or of the members of a duly authorised committee. |
(d) |
The board may determine who shall sign any instrument to which a seal is applied, either generally or in relation to a particular instrument or type of instrument, and may also determine, either generally or in any particular case, that such signatures shall be dispensed with or affixed by mechanical means. |
(e) |
Unless otherwise decided by the board: |
|
(a) |
certificates for shares, debentures or other securities of the Company issued under seal need not be signed; and |
|
(b) |
every other instrument to which a seal is applied shall be signed by at least one director and the secretary or by at least two directors or by one director in the presence of a witness who attests the signature. |
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
|
106. |
Distributions |
(a) |
The board may authorise and pay distributions at any time in accordance with the Statutes. |
(b) |
In addition to the powers conferred on the board by paragraph (1), subject to the provisions of the Statutes and these Articles, a distribution may be declared and paid as a dividend. A distribution declared and paid in accordance with the provisions of Articles 107 or 108 and identified as a dividend shall be a dividend. |
|
107. |
Declaration of dividends by the Company |
Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company may, by ordinary resolution, declare a dividend to be paid to the members, according to their respective rights and interests, and may fix the time for payment of such dividend, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the board.
51
|
108. |
Fixed and interim dividends |
Subject to the provisions of the Law, the board may pay such interim dividends as appear to the board to be justified by the financial position of the Company and may also pay any dividend payable at a fixed rate at intervals settled by the board whenever the financial position of the Company, in the opinion of the board, justifies its payment. If the board acts in good faith, none of the directors shall incur any liability to the holders of shares conferring preferred rights for any loss such holders may suffer in consequence of the lawful payment of an interim dividend on any shares having non-preferred or deferred rights.
|
109. |
Calculation and currency of distributions |
(a) |
Except insofar as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide: |
|
(a) |
all distributions shall be declared, apportioned and paid pro rata according to the number of shares held by each member save that, where a share is not fully paid, distributions shall be declared, apportioned and paid on that share in the same proportion as the amount paid up on that share bears to the aggregate issue price of that share during the portion or portions of the period in respect of which the distribution is paid (and for these purposes no amount paid up on a share in advance of a call shall be treated as paid up on that share); |
|
(b) |
any amount paid by the Company by way of distribution will be deemed to include any amount that the Company may be compelled by law to withhold or deduct; and |
|
(c) |
distributions may be declared or paid in any currency. |
(b) |
The board may agree with any member that distributions which may at any time or from time to time be declared or become due on his shares in one currency shall be paid or satisfied in another, and may agree the basis of conversion to be applied and how and when the amount to be paid in the other currency shall be calculated and paid and for the Company or any other person to bear any costs involved. |
|
110. |
Method of payment |
(a) |
The Company may pay any distribution or other sum payable in respect of a share: |
|
(a) |
by cheque or distribution warrant payable to the holder (or, in the case of joint holders, the holder whose name stands first in the register in respect of the relevant share) or to such other person as the holder (or, in the case of joint holders, all the joint holders) may notify to the Company for the purpose; or |
|
(b) |
by a bank or other funds transfer system or by such other electronic means (including, in the case of an uncertificated share, a relevant system) to such account as the holder (or, in the case of joint holders, all the joint holders) may notify to the Company for the purpose; or |
|
(c) |
in such other way as may be agreed between the Company and the holder (or, in the case of joint holders, all such holders). |
(b) |
Any such cheque or distribution warrant may be sent by post to the registered address of the holder (or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of that person whose name stands first in the register in respect of the relevant share) or to such other address as the holder (or, in the case of joint holders, all the joint holders) may notify to the Company for the purpose. |
52
(c) |
Every cheque or warrant is sent, and payment in any other way is made, at the risk of the person or persons entitled to it and the Company will not be responsible for any sum lost or delayed when it has sent or transmitted the sum in accordance with these Articles. Clearance of a cheque or warrant or transmission of funds through a bank or other funds transfer system or by such other electronic means as is permitted by these Articles shall be a good discharge to the Company. |
(d) |
Any joint holder or other person jointly entitled to any share may give an effective receipt for any distribution or other sum paid in respect of the share. |
(e) |
Any distribution or other sum payable in respect of any share may be paid to a person or persons entitled by transmission to that share as if he or they were the holder or joint holders of that share and his address (or the address of the first named of two or more persons jointly entitled) noted in the register were the registered address. |
|
111. |
Distributions not to bear interest |
No distribution or other moneys payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear interest as against the Company unless otherwise provided by the rights attached to the share.
|
112. |
Calls or debts or amounts required by law may be deducted from distributions |
The board may deduct from any distribution or other moneys payable to any person (either alone or jointly with another) on or in respect of a share all such sums as may be due from him (either alone or jointly with another) to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in relation to shares of the Company.
|
113. |
Unclaimed distributions etc |
All unclaimed distributions, interest or other sums payable may be invested or otherwise made use of by the board for the benefit of the Company until claimed. All distributions unclaimed for a period of 12 years after having become due for payment shall be forfeited and cease to remain owing by the Company. The payment of any unclaimed distribution, interest or other sum payable by the Company on or in respect of any share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect of it.
|
114. |
Uncashed distributions |
If:
|
(a) |
a payment for a distribution or other sum payable in respect of a share sent by the Company to the person entitled to it in accordance with these Articles is left uncashed or is returned to the Company and, after reasonable enquiries, the Company is unable to establish any new address or, with respect to a payment to be made by a funds transfer system, a new account, for that person; or |
|
(b) |
such a payment is left uncashed or returned to the Company on two consecutive occasions, |
the Company shall not be obliged to send any distributions or other sums payable in respect of that share to that person until he notifies the Company of an address or, where the payment is to be made by a funds transfer system, details of the account, to be used for the purpose.
|
115. |
Distributions in specie |
(a) |
With the authority of an ordinary resolution of the Company and on the recommendation of the board, payment of any distribution may be satisfied wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets and in particular of paid up shares or debentures of any other company. |
53
(b) |
Where any difficulty arises with the distribution, the board may settle the difficulty as it thinks fit and, in particular, may issue fractional certificates (or ignore fractions), fix the value for distribution of the specific assets or any part of them, determine that cash payments be made to any members on the basis of the value so fixed in order to secure equality of distribution and vest any of the specific assets in trustees on such trusts for the persons entitled to the dividend as the board may think fit. |
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES
|
116. |
Authority to capitalise |
(a) |
Subject to the Articles, the members may, on the recommendation of the directors, resolve to capitalise: |
|
(a) |
any profits of the Company which are not required for paying a preferential dividend or a dividend payable at a fixed rate; or |
|
(b) |
any sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account, capital redemption reserve or other reserve. |
(b) |
The resolution passed under paragraph 116(a) (the capitalisation resolution) may be passed as an ordinary resolution unless it proposes to capitalise any sum standing to the credit of the capital redemption reserve, in which case it must be passed as a special resolution. |
(c) |
The directors may appropriate any sum which the Company has resolved to capitalise (a capitalised sum) to the members who would have been entitled to it if it were applied in paying a dividend or distribution (the entitled members) and in the same proportions. |
|
117. |
Application of capitalised sums |
(a) |
A capitalised sum may be applied in paying up: |
|
(a) |
unissued shares at par or at such premium as the capitalisation resolution may provide; or |
|
(b) |
new debentures of the Company, |
which are then issued credited as fully paid to the entitled members.
(b) |
Any share premium account, capital redemption reserve or unrealised profits of the Company may not be applied in paying up any debentures of the Company. |
(c) |
Subject to the Articles, the directors may: |
|
(a) |
apply capitalised sums in accordance with paragraphs (a)(a) and (a)(b) above or partly in one way and partly in another; |
|
(b) |
make any arrangements as they think fit to deal with shares or debentures becoming distributable in fractions under this Article (including the issuing of fractional certificates or the making of cash payments); and |
|
(c) |
authorise any person to enter into an agreement with the Company on behalf of all the entitled members which is binding on them in respect of the allotment of shares and debentures to them under this Article. |
54
|
118. |
Capitalisation of reserves—employee share schemes |
(a) |
This Article (which is without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of Articles 7, 116 and 117) applies where, pursuant to an employee share scheme: |
|
(a) |
a person is granted a right to acquire shares in the Company for no payment or at a price less than their nominal value; or |
|
(b) |
the terms on which any person is entitled to acquire shares in the Company are adjusted so that the price payable to acquire them is less than their nominal value, |
and the relevant shares are to be subscribed.
(b) |
In any such case the board: |
|
(a) |
may, subject to the provisions of Articles 116 and 117, but without requiring any authority of the Company in general meeting, at any time transfer to a reserve account a sum (the reserve amount) which is equal to the amount required to pay up the nominal value of the shares in full, after taking into account the amount (if any) payable by the person from the profits or reserves of the Company which are available for distribution and not required for the payment of any preferential dividend; and |
|
(b) |
(subject to paragraph (d) below) will not apply the reserve amount for any purpose other than paying up the nominal value on the allotment of the relevant shares. |
(c) |
Whenever the Company allots shares to a person pursuant to such a right described in paragraph (a) above, the board may (subject to the Statutes) appropriate to capital the amount of the reserve amount necessary to pay up the nominal value of those shares in full, after taking into account the amount (if any) payable by the person, apply that amount in paying up the nominal value of those shares in full and allot those shares credited as fully paid to the person entitled to them. |
(d) |
If any person ceases to be entitled to acquire shares as described in paragraph (a) above, the restrictions on the reserve amount will cease to apply in relation to the part of that amount (if any) applicable to those shares. |
|
119. |
Capitalisation of reserves – shares allotted for less than nominal value |
(a) |
This Article (which is without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of Articles 7, 116, and 117) applies where the board allots a share as fully paid at a price less than its nominal value. |
(b) |
In any such case the board may, without requiring any authority of the Company in general meeting, at any time: |
|
(a) |
transfer to a reserve account a sum which is equal to the difference between the amount agreed to be paid up on that share and that share’s nominal value; |
|
(b) |
upon issue of that share, appropriate to the Company’s nominal capital account from such reserve account or any other account of the Company (other than an account prohibited by the Law to be used for such purposes) a sum equal to the difference between the amount agreed to be paid up on that share and that share’s nominal value; and/or |
|
(c) |
credit to the Company’s nominal capital account the amount paid up on such share without appropriating to the Company’s nominal capital account the difference between the amount agreed to be paid up on that share and that share’s nominal value. |
55
RECORD DATES
|
120. |
Fixing of record dates |
(a) |
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, but without prejudice to any rights attached to any shares, the Company or the board may fix a date as the record date by reference to which a dividend or other distribution will be declared or paid or a distribution, allotment or issue made, and that date may be before, on or after the date on which the dividend, distribution, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made. |
(b) |
In the absence of a record date being fixed, entitlement to any dividend, distribution, allotment or issue shall be determined by reference to the date on which the dividend is declared or the distribution, allotment or issue is made. |
ACCOUNTS
|
121. |
Accounting records |
(a) |
The board shall cause accounting records of the Company to be kept in accordance with the Statutes. |
(b) |
No member (as such) shall have any right of inspecting any account, book or document of the Company, except as conferred by law or authorised by the board or by any ordinary resolution of the Company. |
COMMUNICATIONS
|
122. |
Communications to the Company |
(a) |
Subject to the Statutes and except where otherwise expressly stated in these Articles, any document or information to be sent or supplied to the Company (whether or not such document or information is required or authorised under the Statutes) shall be in hard copy form or, subject to paragraph (b), be sent or supplied in electronic form or by means of a website. |
(b) |
Subject to the Statutes, a document or information may be given to the Company in electronic form only if it is given in such form and manner and to such address as may have been specified by the board from time to time for the receipt of documents in electronic form. The board may prescribe such procedures as it thinks fit for verifying the authenticity or integrity of any such document or information given to it in electronic form. |
(c) |
A communication sent to the Company by electronic means shall not be treated as received by the Company if it is rejected by computer virus protection arrangements. |
|
123. |
Communications by the Company |
(a) |
A document or information may be sent or supplied in hard copy form by the Company to any member either personally or by sending or supplying it by post addressed to the member at his registered address or by leaving it at that address. |
(b) |
Subject to the Statutes, a document or information may be sent or supplied by the Company in electronic form to any member who has agreed (generally or specifically and whether prior to or after the adoption of these Articles) that a document or information may be sent or supplied in electronic form and has not revoked that agreement. Where a document or information is sent or supplied by electronic means, it may only be sent or supplied to an address specified for that purpose by the member (which includes any address specified by a member prior to the adoption of these Articles). |
(c) |
A document or information may be sent or supplied by the Company to a member by being made available on a website if the member has agreed (generally or specifically), or pursuant to paragraph (g) below is deemed to have agreed, that documents or information can be sent or supplied to the member in that form and has not revoked such agreement. |
56
(d) |
A document or information sent or supplied by means of a website must be made available in a form, and by a means, that the Company reasonably considers will enable the recipient: (i) to read it, and (ii) to retain a copy of it. For this purpose, a document or information can be read only if: (i) it can be read with the naked eye, or (ii) to the extent that it consists of images (for example photographs) it can be seen with the naked eye. |
(e) |
If a document or information is sent or supplied by means of a website, the Company must notify the intended recipient of: (i) the presence of the document or information on the website, (ii) the address of the website, (iii) the place on the website where it may be accessed, and (iv) how to access the document or information. |
(f) |
Any document or information made available on a website will be maintained on the website for the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which notification is given under paragraph (e) above, or such shorter period as may be decided by the board. A failure to make a document or information available on a website throughout the period mentioned in this paragraph (f) shall be disregarded if: (i) it is made available on the website for part of that period, and (ii) the failure to make it available throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances that it would not be reasonable for the Company to prevent or avoid. |
(g) |
If a member has been asked individually by the Company to agree that the Company may send or supply documents or information generally or specific documents or information to the member by means of a website and the Company does not receive a response within a period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the Company’s request was sent (or such longer period as the board may specify), such member will be deemed to have agreed to receive such documents or information by means of a website in accordance with paragraph (c) above (save in respect of any documents or information as may be required to be sent in hard copy form pursuant to the Law). A member can revoke any such deemed election in accordance with paragraph (h) below. |
(h) |
Any amendment or revocation of a notification given to the Company or agreement (or deemed agreement) under this Article shall only take effect if in writing, signed (or authenticated by electronic means) by the member and on actual receipt by the Company thereof. |
(i) |
Where these Articles require or permit a document to be authenticated by a person by electronic means, to be valid it must incorporate the electronic signature or personal identification details of that person, in such form as the directors may approve, or be accompanied by such other evidence as the directors may require to satisfy themselves that the document is genuine. |
(j) |
In the case of joint holders of a share, any document or information sent or supplied by the Company in any manner permitted by these Articles to the joint holder who is named first in the register in respect of the joint holding shall be deemed to be given to all other holders of the share. |
(k) |
A member whose registered address is not within Jersey or the United Kingdom shall not be entitled to receive any notice from the Company unless: |
|
(a) |
the Company is able, in accordance with the Statutes, to send notice to him by electronic means; or |
|
(b) |
he gives to the Company a postal address within Jersey or the United Kingdom at which notices may be given to him. |
(l) |
If on two consecutive occasions any documents or information have been sent to any member at his registered address but, through no fault of the Company, have been undelivered, such member shall not from then on be entitled to receive documents or other information from the Company until he has notified to the Company in writing a new address within Jersey or the United Kingdom to be either his registered address or his address at which notices may be given to him. |
57
|
124. |
Communication by advertisement |
If at any time by reason of the suspension or curtailment of postal services within Jersey or the United Kingdom the Company is unable effectively to convene a general meeting, the Company may convene a general meeting by:
|
(a) |
a notice advertised on its website and in at least one newspaper with a national circulation in the United Kingdom; and |
|
(b) |
by giving notice by electronic means to those members to whom, in accordance with the Statutes, the Company is able to give notice by electronic means. |
In any such case the Company shall send confirmatory copies of the notice (or, as the case may be, the notification of the website notice) by post to those members to whom notice (or notification) cannot be given by electronic means if at least six clear days before the meeting the posting of notices (and notifications) to addresses throughout Jersey or the United Kingdom again becomes practicable.
|
125. |
When communication is deemed received |
(a) |
Any document or information: |
|
(a) |
if sent by first class post, shall be deemed to have been received on the day following that on which the envelope containing it is put into the post; |
|
(b) |
if sent by second class post, shall be deemed to have been received on the second day following that on which the envelope containing it is put into the post; or |
|
(c) |
if sent by courier, shall be deemed to have been received on the day following that on which the envelope containing it is delivered by the Company to the courier company, |
and in proving that a document or information has been received it shall be sufficient to prove that the letter, envelope or wrapper containing the document or information was properly addressed and, in the case of an item sent by post, prepaid and put into the post, and, in the case of an item sent by courier, delivered by the Company to the courier company.
(b) |
Any document or information not sent by post but left at a registered address or address at which a document or information may be received shall be deemed to have been received on the day it was so left. |
(c) |
Any document or information, if sent or supplied by electronic means shall be deemed to have been received on the day on which the document or information was sent or supplied by or on behalf of the Company. In the case of any document or information sent or supplied by the Company by means of a relevant system, that document or information shall be deemed to have been received when the Company or any sponsoring system-participant acting on its behalf sends the issuer’s instruction relating to the document or other information. |
(d) |
If the Company receives a delivery failure notification following a communication by electronic means in accordance with paragraph (c) above, the Company shall send or supply the document or information in hard copy or electronic form (but not by electronic means) to the member either personally or by post addressed to the member at his registered address or by leaving it at that address. This shall not affect when the document or information was deemed to be received in accordance with paragraph (c) above. |
58
(e) |
Where a document or information is sent or supplied by means of a website, it shall be deemed to have been received: |
|
(a) |
when the material was first made available on the website; or |
|
(b) |
if later, when the recipient was deemed to have received notice of the fact that the material was available on the website. |
(f) |
Where, in accordance with Article 123, notice is given by way of website notice and newspaper advertisement, such notice shall be deemed to have been given to each member or person entitled to so receive it at the later of: |
|
(a) |
the time the notice is available on the website; and |
|
(b) |
12 noon (United Kingdom time) on the day when the advertisement appears (or, if it appears on different days, at 12.00 noon (United Kingdom time) on the first of the days when it appears). |
(g) |
A member present, either in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company or class of members of the Company shall be deemed to have received notice of the meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which the meeting was convened. |
(h) |
Every person who becomes entitled to a share shall be bound by every notice (other than a notice in accordance with Article 23) in respect of that share which before his name is entered in the register was given to the person from whom he derives his title to the share. |
(i) |
Proof that a notice contained in an electronic communication was sent in accordance with guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given. |
(j) |
Any document or other information sent or supplied by the Company by any other means authorised in writing by the member concerned shall be deemed to have been received when the Company has carried out the action it has been authorised to take for that purpose. |
|
126. |
Record date for communications |
(a) |
For the purposes of giving notices of meetings, or of sending or supplying other documents or other information, whether under the Statutes, any other applicable law or regulation, a provision in these Articles or any other instrument, the Company may determine that persons entitled to receive such notices, documents or other information are those persons entered on the register at the close of business on a day determined by it. |
(b) |
The day determined by the Company under paragraph (1) above may not be more than 21 days before the day that the notice of the meeting, document or other information is given. |
|
127. |
Communication to person entitled by transmission |
Where a person is entitled by transmission to a share, any notice or other communication shall be given to him, as if he were the holder of that share and his address noted in the register were his registered address. In any other case, any notice or other communication given to any member pursuant to these Articles shall, notwithstanding that the member is then dead or bankrupt or that any other event giving rise to the transmission of the share by operation of law has occurred and whether or not the Company has notice of the death, bankruptcy or other event, be deemed to have been properly given in respect of any share registered in the name of that member as sole or joint holder.
59
UNTRACED MEMBERS
|
128. |
Sale of shares of untraced members |
(a) |
The Company may sell, in such manner as the board may decide and at the best price it considers to be reasonably obtainable at that time, any share of a member, or any share to which a person is entitled by transmission if: |
|
(a) |
during a period of 12 years at least three cash dividends or other distributions have become payable in respect of the share to be sold and have been sent by the Company in accordance with these Articles; |
|
(b) |
during that period of 12 years no cash dividend or distribution payable in respect of the share has been claimed, no cheque, warrant, order or other payment for a dividend or distribution has been cashed, no dividend or distribution sent by means of a funds transfer system has been paid and no communication has been received by the Company from the member or the person entitled by transmission to the share; |
|
(c) |
on or after the expiry of that period of 12 years the Company has published advertisements both in a national newspaper and in a newspaper circulating in the area in which the last known address of the member or person entitled by transmission to the share or the address at which notices may be given in accordance with these Articles is located, in each case giving notice of its intention to sell the share; and |
|
(d) |
during the period of three months following the publication of those advertisements and after that period until the exercise of the power to sell the share, the Company has not received any communication from the member or the person entitled by transmission to the share. |
(b) |
The Company’s power of sale shall extend to any further share which, on or before the date of publication of the first of any advertisement pursuant to subparagraph (a)(c) above, is issued in right of a share to which paragraph (a) applies (or in right of any share to which this paragraph applies) if the conditions set out in subparagraphs (a)(b) to (a)(d) are satisfied in relation to the further share (but as if the references to a period of 12 years were references to a period beginning on the date of allotment of the further share and ending on the date of publication of the first of the advertisements referred to above). |
(c) |
To give effect to any sale, the board may authorise some person to transfer the share to, or as directed by, the purchaser, who shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money; nor shall the title of the new holder to the share be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings relating to the sale. |
|
129. |
Application of proceeds of sale |
(a) |
The Company shall account to the person entitled to the share at the date of sale for a sum equal to the net proceeds of sale and shall be deemed to be his debtor, and not a trustee for him, in respect of them. |
(b) |
Pending payment of the net proceeds of sale to such person, the proceeds may either be employed in the business of the Company or invested in such investments (other than shares of the Company or its holding company, if any) as the board may from time to time decide. |
(c) |
No interest shall be payable in respect of the net proceeds and the Company shall not be required to account for any moneys earned on the net proceeds. |
60
DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
|
130. |
Destruction of documents |
(a) |
Subject to the Statutes and the provisions of Articles 89 and 121 the board may authorise or arrange the destruction of documents held by the Company as follows: |
|
(a) |
at any time after the expiration of ten years from the date of registration, all instruments of transfer of shares and all other documents transferring or purporting to transfer shares or representing or purporting to represent the right to be registered as the holder of shares on the faith of which entries have been made in the register; |
|
(b) |
at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of cancellation, all registered share certificates which have been cancelled; |
|
(c) |
at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of the relevant meeting, all proxy forms; |
|
(d) |
at any time after the expiration of two years from the date of recording them, all distribution mandates and notifications of change of address; and |
|
(e) |
at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of actual payment, all paid distribution warrants and cheques. |
(b) |
It shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that: |
|
(a) |
every entry in the register purporting to have been made on the basis of an instrument of transfer or other document so destroyed was duly and properly made; |
|
(b) |
every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered; |
|
(c) |
every share certificate so destroyed was a valid certificate duly and properly cancelled; |
|
(d) |
every other document mentioned in paragraph (a)(a) above so destroyed was a valid and effective document in accordance with the particulars of it recorded in the books and records of the Company; and |
|
(e) |
every paid distribution warrant and cheque so destroyed was duly paid. |
(c) |
The provisions of paragraph (b) above shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without notice of any claim (regardless of the parties to it) to which the document might be relevant. |
(d) |
Nothing in this Article shall be construed as imposing on the Company or the board any liability in respect of the destruction of any document earlier than as stated in paragraph (a) above or in any other circumstances in which liability would not attach to the Company or the board in the absence of this Article. |
(e) |
References in this Article to the destruction of any document include references to its disposal in any manner. |
WINDING UP
|
131. |
Winding up |
Subject to any particular rights or limitations for the time being attached to any shares, as may be specified in these Articles or upon which such shares may be issued, if the Company is wound up, the assets available for distribution among the members shall be distributed to the members pro rata to the number of shares held by each member at the time of the commencement of the winding up. If any share is not fully paid up, that share shall only carry the right to receive a distribution calculated on the basis of the proportion that the amount paid up on that share bears to the issue price of that share.
61
|
132. |
Powers to distribute in specie |
If the Company is in liquidation, the liquidator may, with the authority of a special resolution of the Company and any other authority required by the Statutes:
|
(a) |
divide among the members in specie the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes of members; or |
|
(b) |
vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of members as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit but no member shall be compelled to accept any assets upon which there is any liability. |
INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE, ETC
|
133. |
Directors’ indemnity, insurance and defence |
As far as the Statutes allow, the Company may:
|
(a) |
indemnify any director of the Company (or of an associated body corporate) against any liability; |
|
(b) |
indemnify a director of a company that is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme for employees (or former employees) of the Company (or of an associated body corporate) against liability incurred in connection with the company’s activities as trustee of the scheme; |
|
(c) |
purchase and maintain insurance against any liability for any director referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above; and |
|
(d) |
provide any director referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with funds (whether by loan or otherwise) to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him in defending any criminal, regulatory or civil proceedings or in connection with an application for relief (or to enable any such director to avoid incurring such expenditure). |
The powers given by this Article shall not limit any general powers of the Company to grant indemnities, purchase and maintain insurance or provide funds (whether by way of loan or otherwise) to any person in connection with any legal or regulatory proceedings or applications for relief.
UNSUITABILITY
|
134. |
For purposes of this Article 134, the following definitions apply. |
“Affiliate” (and derivatives of such term) with respect to any Person, has the meaning ascribed to such term under Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Affiliated Companies” means those partnerships, Companies, limited liability companies, trusts or other entities directly or indirectly Affiliated or under common Ownership or Control with the Company including, without limitation, any subsidiary of the Company, holding company or intermediary company (as those or similar terms are defined under the Gambling Laws of any applicable Gambling Jurisdictions), in each case that is registered or licensed under applicable Gambling Laws.
62
“Control” (and derivatives of such term) (i) with respect to any Person, shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (ii) with respect to any Interest, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, whether by agreement, contract, agency or otherwise, the voting rights or disposition of such Interest, and (iii) as applicable, the meaning ascribed to the term “control” (and derivatives of such term) under the Gambling Laws of any applicable Gambling Jurisdictions.
“Equity Interest” means any ordinary share or any other equity or voting securities of the Company, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for, or convertible into, such other equity or voting securities of the Company.
“Gambling” or “Gambling Activities” means the conduct of gaming and gambling activities, race books and sports pools, or the use of gaming devices, equipment and supplies in the operation of a casino, simulcasting facility, card club or other enterprise, including, without limitation, slot machines, gaming tables, cards, dice, gaming chips, player tracking systems, cashless wagering systems, mobile gaming systems, inter-casino linked systems and related and associated equipment, supplies and systems.
“Gambling Authorities” means all international, national, foreign, domestic, federal, state, provincial, regional, local, tribal, municipal and other regulatory and licensing bodies, instrumentalities, departments, commissions, authorities, boards, officials, tribunals and agencies with authority over or responsibility for the regulation of Gambling within any Gambling Jurisdiction.
“Gambling Jurisdictions” means all jurisdictions, domestic and foreign, and their political subdivisions, in which Gambling Activities are or may be lawfully conducted, including, without limitation, all Gambling Jurisdictions in which the Company or any of its Affiliated Companies currently conducts, or may in the future conduct Gambling Activities.
“Gambling Laws” means all laws, statutes and ordinances pursuant to which any Gambling Authority possesses regulatory, permit and licensing authority over the conduct of Gambling Activities, or the Ownership or Control of an Equity Interest in an entity which conducts Gambling Activities, in any Gambling Jurisdiction, all orders, decrees, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all written and unwritten policies of the Gambling Authorities and all written and unwritten interpretations by the Gambling Authorities of such laws, statutes, ordinances, orders, decrees, rules, regulations and policies.
“Gambling Licenses” shall mean all licenses, permits, certifications, approvals, orders, authorisations, registrations, findings of suitability, franchises, exemptions, waivers, concessions and entitlements issued by any Gambling Authority necessary for or relating to the conduct of Gambling Activities by any Person or the Ownership or Control by any Person of an Interest in an entity that conducts or may in the future conduct Gambling Activities.
“Interest” means the ordinary shares or other securities of an entity or any other interest or financial or other stake therein, including, without limitation, the Equity Interests.
“Own” or “Ownership” (and derivatives of such terms) shall mean (i) ownership of record, (ii) “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 or Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (but without regard to any requirement for a security or other Interest to be registered under Section 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and (iii) as applicable, the meaning ascribed to the terms “own” or “ownership” (and derivatives of such terms) under the Gambling Laws of the relevant Gambling Jurisdiction.
63
“Person” means an individual, Company, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or any other entity or organization, including, without limitation, a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Purchase Price” means the fair value of the applicable Equity Interests based on the per share value of such Equity Interests as determined by the board in good faith (it being agreed that in case of ordinary shares or shares conferring special or preferred rights of the Company that are listed on a national securities exchange, such fair value per share shall be the average of the Volume Weighted Average Share Price of such share for the twenty (20) consecutive trading days preceding the date on which the Transfer Notice in respect of such Equity Interests is delivered by the Company to the Unsuitable Person or Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable), if such information is available).
“Third-Party Transferees” shall mean one or more third parties designated by the Company (in its sole and absolute discretion) by written notice delivered to an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person (as applicable) to purchase some or all of the Equity Interests to be automatically sold and transferred in accordance with a Transfer Notice.
“Transfer” shall mean the sale and every other method, direct or indirect, of transferring or otherwise disposing of an Interest, or the Ownership, Control or possession thereof, or fixing a lien thereupon, whether absolutely or conditionally, voluntarily or involuntarily, by or without judicial proceedings, as a conveyance, sale, payment, pledge, mortgage, lien, encumbrance, gift, security, or otherwise (including by merger or consolidation).
“Transfer Date” means the date specified in the Transfer Notice as the date on which the Equity Interests Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person (as applicable) are to be automatically sold and transferred to the Company or one or more Third-Party Transferees in accordance with Article 134 or such other date determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion.
“Transfer Notice” means that notice of transfer delivered by the Company to an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person (as applicable) if a Gambling Authority so requires the Company, or if the board deems it necessary or advisable, to cause such Unsuitable Person’s or Affiliate’s (as applicable) Equity Interests to be automatically sold and transferred pursuant to this Article 133. Each Transfer Notice shall set forth (i) the Transfer Date, (ii) the number and class/series of Equity Interests to be automatically sold and transferred, (iii) the Purchase Price with respect to each class/series of such Equity Interests, (iv) the place where any certificates for such Equity Interests shall be surrendered, and (v) any other requirements of surrender of the Equity Interests, including how certificates representing such Equity Interests are to be endorsed, if at all.
“Unsuitable Person” means a Person who (i) fails or refuses to file any required application, or has withdrawn or requested the withdrawal of a pending required application, to be found suitable by any Gambling Authority or for any Gambling License, (ii) is denied or disqualified from eligibility for any Gambling License by any Gambling Authority, (iii) is determined by a Gambling Authority to be unsuitable or disqualified to Own or Control any Equity Interests, (iv) is determined by a Gambling Authority to be unsuitable to be Affiliated, associated or involved with a Person engaged in Gambling Activities in any Gambling Jurisdiction, (v) causes any Gambling License of the Company or any Affiliated Company to be lost, rejected, rescinded, suspended, revoked or not renewed by any Gambling Authority, or causes the Company or any Affiliated Company to be threatened by any Gambling Authority with the loss, rejection, rescission, suspension, revocation or non-renewal of any Gambling License (in each of (ii) through (v) above, regardless of whether such denial, disqualification or determination by a Gambling Authority is final and non-appealable), or (vi) is deemed likely, in the sole and absolute discretion of the board, to (A) preclude or materially delay, impede, impair, threaten or jeopardize any Gambling License held or desired in good faith to be held by the Company or any Affiliated Company or the Company’s or any Affiliated Company’s application for, right to the use of, entitlement to, or ability to obtain or retain, any Gambling License, (B) cause or otherwise result in, the disapproval, cancellation, termination, material adverse modification or non-renewal of any material contract to which the Company or any Affiliated Company is a party, or (C) cause or otherwise result in the imposition of any materially burdensome or unacceptable terms or conditions on any Gambling License of the Company or any Affiliated Company.
64
|
(a) |
Finding of Unsuitability |
(a) The Equity Interests Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person (as applicable) shall be subject to automatic sale and transfer to the Company or one or more Third-Party Transferees as and to the extent required by a Gambling Authority or deemed necessary or advisable by the board in its sole and absolute discretion. If a Gambling Authority requires the Company, or the board deems it necessary or advisable, to cause any such Equity Interests to be automatically sold and transferred, the Company shall deliver a Transfer Notice to the Unsuitable Person or its Affiliate(s) (as applicable) and shall purchase or cause one or more Third-Party Transferees to purchase the number, class and series of Equity Interests specified in the Transfer Notice on the Transfer Date and for the Purchase Price determined in accordance with this Article 134 and set forth in the Transfer Notice. From and after the Transfer Date, such Unsuitable Person or any Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person shall cease to be a member with respect to such Equity Interests, and all rights of such Unsuitable Person or any Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person therein, other than the right to receive the Purchase Price or any other amount pursuant to applicable law or the order of any Gambling Authority, shall cease.
(b) Commencing on the date that a Gambling Authority serves notice of a determination of unsuitability or disqualification of a holder of Equity Interests, or the board otherwise determines that a Person is an Unsuitable Person, and until the Equity Interests Owned or Controlled by such Person are Owned or Controlled by a Person who is not an Unsuitable Person, the Unsuitable Person and any Affiliates of such Unsuitable Person shall not be entitled: (i) to receive any dividend, payment, distribution or interest with regard to the Equity Interests, (ii) to exercise, directly or indirectly or through any proxy, trustee, or nominee, any voting or other right conferred by such Equity Interests, and such Equity Interests shall not for any purposes be included in the shares of Stock of the Company entitled to vote or (iii) to receive any remuneration that may be due to such Person, accruing after the date of such notice of determination of unsuitability or disqualification by a Gambling Authority, in any form from the Company or any Affiliated Company for services rendered or otherwise.
(c) The closing of the transactions contemplated by subsections (a) and (b) of this Article 133 (the “Closing”) shall take place at the principal office of the Company or via electronic exchange of documents on the Transfer Date. At the Closing: (i) each of the Company and any applicable Third-Party Transferee shall deliver the aggregate applicable Purchase Price for the Equity Interests being purchased by it (x) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified in writing by the Unsuitable Person or Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable), (y) by unsecured promissory note, or (z) by combination of both as required by the applicable Gambling Authority and, if not so required, as the Company may determine in its sole and absolute discretion and (ii) the Unsuitable Person or Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable) shall deliver to the Company and any applicable Third-Party Transferee such stock powers, assignment instruments and other agreement as are necessary in the judgment of the Company to fully convey all right, title and interest in and to the Equity Interests being purchased by each of the foregoing, free and clear of all liens and other encumbrances (other than restrictions on transfer under these Articles and applicable law and as set forth in any agreement between the Unsuitable Person or Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable) and the Company) and to evidence the subordination of any promissory note if required by the Company. Such stock powers, assignment instruments and other agreements shall be in a form acceptable to the Company and shall include such representations and warranties (including, without limitation, representations and warranties as to title and ownership of the Equity Interests being sold, authorisation, execution and delivery of relevant documents and the enforceability of such documents), covenants, releases (including, without limitation, a general release of claims and covenant not to sue in favor of the Company or any applicable Third-Party Transferee and each of their respective Affiliates, employees, directors, managers, officers, partners, members and the like with respect to the pre-Closing period) and indemnities as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion. Any promissory note shall contain such terms and conditions as the Company determines necessary or advisable, including without limitation, prepayment at the maker’s option at any time without premium or penalty or subordination provisions. Subject to the forgoing, the principal amount of any promissory note together with any unpaid interest shall be due and payable no earlier than the tenth (10th) anniversary of delivery of such promissory note and interest on the unpaid principal thereof shall be payable annually in arrears at no more than the minimum rate of interest at the time of delivery which can be used without causing additional interest to be imputed pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or corresponding provisions of subsequent superseding federal revenue laws. The sale and transfer of the applicable Equity Interests shall be effected automatically at the Closing upon delivery of the Purchase Price in accordance with this Article 134(a)(c) without regard to the provision by the Unsuitable Person or Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable) of the stock powers, assignment instruments and other agreements described above; provided, however, that the Unsuitable Person or Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable) shall continue to have the obligation to the Company and any applicable Third-Party Transferee to provide such stock powers, assignment instruments and other agreements.
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(b) |
Notices |
All notices given by the Company pursuant to this Article 134, including Transfer Notices, shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered by personal service, overnight courier, first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Person at such Person’s address as it appears on the books and records of the Company.
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(c) |
Indemnification |
Any Unsuitable Person and any Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person that Owns or Controls Equity Interests shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its Affiliated Companies for any and all losses, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred by the Company and its Affiliated Companies as a result of, or arising out of, such Person’s continuing Ownership or Control of Equity Interests, the neglect, refusal or other failure to comply with the provisions of this Article 134, or failure to promptly divest itself of any Equity Interests when and in the specific manner required by the Gambling Laws or this Article 134.
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(d) |
Injunctive Relief |
The Company is entitled to injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Article 134 and each holder of Equity Interests shall be deemed to have consented to injunctive or other equitable relief and acknowledged, by virtue of acquiring and holding the Equity Interests, that the failure to comply with this Article 134 will expose the Company to irreparable injury for which there is no adequate remedy at law and that the Company is entitled to injunctive or other equitable relief to enforce the provisions of this Article 134.
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(e) |
Non-Exclusivity of Rights |
The right of the Company to purchase or cause to be purchased Equity Interests pursuant to this Article 134 shall not be exclusive of any other rights the Company may have or hereafter acquire under any agreement, provision of these Articles or otherwise. To the extent permitted under applicable Gambling Laws, the Company shall have the right, exercisable in its sole and absolute discretion, to propose that the parties, immediately upon the delivery of the Transfer Notice, enter into an agreement or other arrangement, including, without limitation, a divestiture trust or divestiture plan, which will reduce or terminate an Unsuitable Person’s or its Affiliate’s Ownership or Control of all or a portion of its Equity Interests.
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(f) |
Further Actions |
Nothing contained in this Article 134 shall limit the authority of the Company to take such other action, to the extent permitted by law, as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Company or its Affiliated Companies from the denial or threatened denial, loss or threatened loss or material delayed issuance or threatened material delayed issuance of any Gambling License of the Company or any of its Affiliated Companies. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company may conform any provision of this Article 134 to the extent necessary to make such provisions consistent with Gambling Laws. In addition, the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind articles, regulations, and procedures of the Company not inconsistent with the express provisions of this Article 134 for the purpose of determining whether any Person is an Unsuitable Person and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Article 134. Such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Company, the secretary of its Affiliated Companies and with the transfer agent, if any, of the Company and any Affiliated Companies, and shall be made available for inspection and, upon reasonable request, mailed to any record holder of Equity Interests. The board shall have exclusive authority and power to administer this Article 134 and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the board or the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Article 134. All such actions which are done or made by the board shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Company and all other Persons; provided, however, the board may delegate all or any portion of its duties and powers under this Article 134 to a committee of the board as it deems necessary or advisable.
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(g) |
Severability |
If any provision or provisions of this Article 134 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any Person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article 134 (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article 134 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other Persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any Person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of Stock of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article 134.
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(h) |
Termination and Waivers |
Except as may be required by any applicable Gambling Law or Gambling Authority, the Company may waive any of its rights or any restrictions contained in this Article 134 in any instance in which and to the extent the Company determines that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Company. Except as required by a Gambling Authority, nothing in this Article 134 shall be deemed or construed to require the Company to purchase or caused to be purchased any Equity Interests Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person.
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(i) |
Legend |
The restrictions set forth in this Article 134 shall be noted conspicuously on any certificate evidencing Equity Interests in accordance with the requirements of the Statutes and any applicable Gambling Laws.
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(j) |
Compliance with Gambling Laws |
All Equity Interests shall be held subject to the restrictions and requirements of all applicable Gambling Laws. All Persons Owning or Controlling Equity Interests shall comply with all applicable Gambling Laws, including any provisions of such Gambling Laws that require such Person to file applications for Gambling Licenses with, and provide information to, the applicable Gambling Authorities. Any Transfer of Equity Interests may be subject to the
prior approval of the Gambling Authorities and/or the Company, and any purported Transfer thereof in violation of such requirements shall be void ab initio. These Articles shall be generally subject to the provisions of the applicable Gambling Laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the applicable Gambling Authorities in each applicable Gambling Jurisdiction.
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(k) |
Notification of Ownership |
Any Person who Owns or Controls five percent (5%) or more of any class or series of the Company’s Equity Interests shall promptly notify the Company of such fact. In addition, any Person who Owns or Controls any shares of any class or series of the Company’s Equity Interests may be required by Gambling Laws to (i) provide to the Gambling Authorities in each Gambling Jurisdiction in which the Company or any subsidiary thereof either conducts Gambling or has a pending application for a Gambling License all information regarding such Person as may be requested or required by such Gambling Authorities and (ii) respond to written or oral questions or inquiries from any such Gambling Authorities. Any Person who Owns or Controls any shares of any class or series of the Company’s Equity Interests, by virtue of such Ownership or Control, consents to the performance of any personal background investigation that may be required by any Gambling Authorities.
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Exhibit 2.1
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Gambling.com Group Limited (the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”) has the following series of securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Title of Each Class |
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Trading Symbol(s) |
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Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
Ordinary Shares (no par value) (the “Ordinary Shares”) |
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GAMB |
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Nasdaq Global Market |
The following descriptions of share capital and provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association are summaries and are qualified by reference to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the company to be effective upon the closing of this offering. A copy of this document will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to our registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part. The description of the ordinary shares reflects changes to our capital structure that will occur upon the closing of this offering.
General
We are a Jersey public company with limited liability. Our affairs are governed by the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the Jersey Companies Law. Our register of members is held at 22 Grenville Street, St Helier, Jersey JE4 8PX and our U.S. branch register is kept by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Our registered office is 22 Grenville Street, St Helier, Jersey JE4 8PX. Our secretary is Mourant Secretaries (Jersey) Limited.
Our authorized share capital is an unlimited number of shares of one class designated as ordinary shares, with no par value. As of March 17, 2021, there were 35,379, 858 ordinary shares issued and outstanding and no preferred shares have been issued.
Shares
General
Mourant Ozannes (Jersey) LLP, Jersey counsel to the Company, has confirmed that all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the outstanding ordinary shares of the Company are generally not issued (unless required to be issued pursuant to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) and legal title to the issued shares is recorded in registered form in the register of members. Holders of ordinary shares of the Company have no pre-emptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights.
Preferred Shares
The board of directors may provide for other classes of shares, including series of preferred shares, out of the authorized but unissued share capital, which could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise capital for corporate purposes or for use in employee benefit plans. Such additional classes of shares will have such voting powers (full or limited or without voting powers), designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as may be determined by the board of directors. If any preferred shares are issued, the rights, preferences and privileges of holders of ordinary shares will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of such preferred shares.
Dividends
The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by the board of directors of the Company, subject to the Jersey Companies Law and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Dividends and other distributions on issued and outstanding ordinary shares may be paid out of the funds of the Company lawfully available for such purpose, subject to any preference of any outstanding preferred shares. Dividends and other distributions that are declared will be distributed among the holders of ordinary shares on a pro rata basis.
Voting Rights
Each ordinary share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote. Voting at any shareholders’ meeting is by way of poll.
A quorum for a general meeting of shareholders requires the presence in person or by proxy of at least two qualifying persons (i.e., shareholders) entitled to vote, except at a separate general meeting, where the quorum is two qualifying persons (i.e., shareholders) present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote representing at least one-third in number of the issued shares of the class being varied (except for an adjourned general meeting for the variation of rights where the quorum is one qualifying person (i.e., shareholder) entitled to vote thereat).
A special resolution is required for important matters such as an alteration of capital, merger or consolidation of the Company, change of name or making changes to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or the voluntary winding up of the Company.
A total special majority resolution is required for the removal of directors for cause and the amendment of the provisions of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholder written consents, the classification of our board of directors, the filling of vacancies on our board of directors, the removal of members of our board of directors, the indemnification of directors and officers and the unsuitability of certain persons (as discussed below).
An ordinary resolution of the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast at a quorate general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast at a quorate general meeting and a total special majority resolution is the affirmative vote at a general meeting of the Company by the holders of two thirds of the total voting rights represented by the then total issued shares in the capital of the Company.
Variation of Rights
The rights attached to any class of shares (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of that class), such as voting, dividends and the like, may be varied only with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general or special meeting. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class shall not (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of that class) be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking in priority to or pari passu with such previously existing shares.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares
Any shareholder may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form prescribed by Nasdaq, as the designated stock exchange under the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or as otherwise approved by the board of directors.
Liquidation
On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of ordinary shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares of the Company shall be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares of the Company on a pro rata basis.
Directors
Appointment and Removal
The management of the Company is vested in its board of directors. The amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that there shall be a board of directors consisting of no fewer than three unless otherwise determined by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders in a general meeting. Currently, the board consists of six directors. So long as shares of the Company are listed on the Nasdaq, the board of directors of the Company shall include such number of “independent directors” as the relevant rules applicable to the listing of such shares on Nasdaq require (subject to any applicable exceptions for “controlled” companies).
The directors are divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively. At the first annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company (expected in 2022), the term of office of the Class I directors will expire and Class I directors will be elected for a full term of three years. At the second annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company (expected in 2023), the term of office of the Class II directors will expire and Class II directors will be elected for a full term of three years. At the third annual general meeting of
shareholders of the Company (expected in 2024), the term of office of the Class III directors will expire and Class III directors will be elected for a full term of three years. At each succeeding annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company, directors will be elected for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual general meeting.
Ordinary shareholders may nominate directors pursuant to the advance notice provisions of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (including the requirements for timely notice and other obligatory information regarding the nominating shareholder and the nominee). The directors of the Company shall ensure that
any individual nominated pursuant to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of associatio shall be nominated for election as a director at the next general meeting of the Company. In respect of any position on the board of directors that is not entitled to be nominated pursuant to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association the directors shall have the right to nominate an individual for election as a director at the next general meeting of the Company. In both cases, such individual shall be appointed if approved by ordinary resolution at such general meeting. If a vacancy arises on the board of directors, the vacancy may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and not by the vote of shareholders.
A director may be removed from office by the holders of ordinary shares by total majority special resolution only for cause.
The appointment and removal of directors is also subject to the applicable rules of Nasdaq.
The detailed procedures for the nomination of persons proposed to be elected as directors at any general meeting of the Company are set out in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that the directors and officers of the Company shall be indemnified from and against all liability which they incur in execution of their duty in their respective offices.
Other Jersey Law Considerations
Purchase of Own Ordinary Shares
As with declaring a dividend, we may not buy back or redeem our ordinary shares unless our directors who are to authorize the buyback or redemption have made a statutory solvency statement that, immediately following the date on which the buyback or redemption is proposed, the Company will be able to discharge its liabilities as they fall due and, having regard to prescribed factors, the Company will be able to continue to carry on business and discharge its liabilities as they fall due for the 12 months immediately following the date on which the buyback or redemption is proposed (or until the Company is dissolved on a solvent basis, if earlier).
If the above conditions are met, we may purchase ordinary shares in the manner described below.
We may purchase on a stock exchange our own fully paid ordinary shares pursuant to a special resolution of our shareholders specifying (a) the maximum number of ordinary shares to be purchased, (b) the maximum and minimum prices that may be paid and (c) a date, not being later than 5 years after the passing of the resolution, on which the authority to purchase is to expire.
We may purchase our own fully paid ordinary shares otherwise than on a stock exchange pursuant to a special resolution of our shareholders, but only if the purchase is made on the terms of a written purchase contract which has been approved in advance by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. The shareholder from whom we propose to purchase or redeem ordinary shares is not entitled to vote in respect of the ordinary shares to be purchased.
We may fund a redemption or purchase of our own ordinary shares from any source. We cannot purchase our ordinary shares if, as a result of such purchase, only redeemable ordinary shares would remain in issue.
If authorized by a resolution of our shareholders, any shares that we redeem or purchase may be held by us as treasury shares. Any shares held by us as treasury shares may be cancelled, sold, transferred for the purposes of or
under an employee share scheme or held without cancelling, selling or transferring them. Shares redeemed or purchased by us are cancelled where we have not been authorized to hold these as treasury shares.
Mandatory Purchases and Acquisitions
The Jersey Companies Law provides that where a person has made an offer to acquire a class or all of our outstanding ordinary shares not already held by the person and has as a result of such offer acquired or contractually agreed to acquire 90% or more in nominal value of such outstanding ordinary shares, that person is then entitled (and may be required) to acquire the remaining ordinary shares. In such circumstances, a holder of any such
remaining ordinary shares may apply to the Jersey court for an order that the person making such offer not be entitled to purchase the holder’s ordinary shares or that the person purchase the holder’s ordinary shares on terms different to those under which the person made such offer.
Other than as described above and below under “U.K. City Code on Takeovers and Mergers,” we are not subject to any regulations under which a shareholder that acquires a certain level of share ownership is then required to offer to purchase all of our remaining ordinary shares on the same terms as such shareholder’s prior purchase.
Compromises and Arrangements
Where we and our creditors or shareholders or a class of either of them propose a compromise or arrangement between us and our creditors or our shareholders or a class of either of them (as applicable), the Jersey court may order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors or of our shareholders or class of shareholders (as applicable) to be called in such a manner as the court directs. Any compromise or arrangement approved by a majority in number present and voting at the meeting representing 75% or more in value of the creditors or 75% or more of the voting rights of shareholders or class of either of them (as applicable) if sanctioned by the court, is binding upon us and all the creditors, shareholders or members of the specific class of either of them (as applicable).
Whether the capital of the Company is to be treated as being divided into a single or multiple class(es) of shares is a matter to be determined by the court. The court may in its discretion treat a single class of shares as multiple classes, or multiple classes of shares as a single class, for the purposes of the shareholder approval referred to above taking into account all relevant circumstances, which may include circumstances other than the rights attaching to the shares themselves.
U.K. City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
The U.K. City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, or the Takeover Code, applies, among other things, (i) to an offer for a public company whose registered office is in the Channel Islands and whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market or a multilateral trading facility in the U.K. or any stock exchange in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or (ii) if the company is a public company and is considered by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, or the Takeover Panel, to have its place of central management and control in the U.K. or the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (in each case, a Code Company). This is known as the “residency test.” Under the Takeover Code, the Takeover Panel will determine whether we have our place of central management and control in the U.K., the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man by looking at various factors, including the structure of our board of directors, the functions of the directors, and where they are resident.
If at the time of a takeover offer, the Takeover Panel determines that the residency test is satisfied and we have our place of central management and control in the U.K., we would be subject to the Takeover Code in full, which would result in certain restrictions and obligations including but not limited to the following: (i) our ability to enter into deal protection arrangements in favor of a bidder would be extremely limited; (ii) we might not be able to perform certain actions that could have the effect of frustrating an offer, such as issuing shares or carrying out acquisitions or disposals; and (iii) all due diligence information given to one bidder or potential bidders would be required to be provided to all other bidders or potential bona fide bidders. The Takeover Code also contains certain rules in respect of mandatory offers for Code Companies. Under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, if a person:
would in each case be required (except with the consent of the Takeover Panel) to make a cash offer (or provide a cash alternative) for the Code Company’s outstanding shares at a price not less than the highest price paid for any interests in the shares by the acquirer or its concert parties during the previous 12 months.
Upon completion of this offering, we expect a majority of our board of directors to reside outside of the U.K., the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Based upon our current and intended plans for our directors and management, for the purposes of the Takeover Code, we anticipate that the residency test will not be met and that we will be considered to have our place of central management and control outside the U.K., the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Therefore, the Takeover Code should not apply to us. It is possible that in the future changes in the board composition, changes in the Takeover Panel’s interpretation of the Takeover Code, or other events may cause the Takeover Code to apply to us.
Rights of Minority Shareholders
Under Article 141 of the Jersey Companies Law, a shareholder may apply to court for relief on the grounds that the conduct of our affairs, including a proposed or actual act or omission by us, is “unfairly prejudicial” to the interests of our shareholders generally or of some part of our shareholders, including at least the shareholder making the application. What amounts to unfair prejudice is not defined in the Jersey Companies Law. There may also be common law personal actions available to our shareholders.
Under Article 143 of the Jersey Companies Law (which sets out the types of relief a court may grant in relation to an action brought under Article 141 of the Jersey Companies Law), the court may make an order regulating our affairs, requiring us to refrain from doing or continuing to do an act complained of, authorizing civil proceedings and providing for the purchase of ordinary shares by us or by any of our other shareholders.
Jersey Regulatory Matters
The Jersey Financial Services Commission, or the JFSC, has given, and has not withdrawn, its consent under Article 2 of the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958 to the issue of our ordinary shares. The JFSC is protected by the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Law 1947 against any liability arising from the discharge of its functions under that law.
A copy of this prospectus has been delivered to the Jersey Registrar of Companies in accordance with Article 5 of the Companies (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2002 and the Jersey Registrar of Companies has given, and has not withdrawn, his consent to its circulation.
It must be distinctly understood that, in giving these consents, neither the Jersey Registrar of Companies nor the JFSC takes any responsibility for the financial soundness of the Company or for the correctness of any statements made, or opinions expressed, with regard to it. If you are in any doubt about the contents of this prospectus, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, or other financial adviser.
The price of securities and the income from them can go down as well as up. Nothing in this prospectus or anything communicated to holders or potential holders of any of our ordinary shares (or interests in them) by or on behalf of the Company is intended to constitute or should be construed as advice on the merits of the purchase of or subscription for any ordinary shares (or interests in them) for the purposes of the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998.
The directors of the Company have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the facts stated in this prospectus are true and accurate in all material respects, and that there are no other facts the omission of which would make misleading any statement in the prospectus, whether of facts or opinion. All the directors of the Company accept responsibility accordingly.
Differences in Corporate Law
The applicable provisions of the Jersey Companies Law differ from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain differences between the provisions of the Jersey Companies Law applicable to us and the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to shareholders’ rights and protections.
This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of the respective rights and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to Delaware law and Jersey law.
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CORPORATE LAW ISSUE |
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DELAWARE LAW |
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JERSEY LAW |
Special Meetings of Shareholders |
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Shareholders generally do not have the right to call meetings of shareholders unless that right is granted in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws.
However, if a corporation fails to hold its annual meeting within a period of 30 days after the date designated for the annual meeting, or if no date has been designated for a period of 13 months after its last annual meeting, the Delaware Court of Chancery may order a meeting to be held upon the application of a shareholder. |
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Shareholders holding 10% or more of the company’s voting rights and entitled to vote at the relevant meeting may legally require our directors to call a meeting of shareholders.
The JFSC may, at the request of any officer, secretary, or shareholder, call or direct the calling of an annual general meeting. Failure to call an annual general meeting in accordance with the requirements of the Jersey Companies Law is a criminal offense on the part of a Jersey company and its directors and secretary. |
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Interested Director Transactions |
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Interested director transactions are permissible and may not be legally voided if:
∎ either a majority of disinterested directors, or a majority in interest of holders of shares of the corporation’s capital stock entitled to vote upon the matter, approves the transaction upon disclosure of all material facts; or
∎ the transaction is determined to have been fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the board of directors, a committee thereof or the shareholders. |
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An interested director must disclose to the company the nature and extent of any interest in a transaction with the company, or one of its subsidiaries, which to a material extent conflicts or may conflict with the interests of the company and of which the director is aware. Failure to disclose an interest entitles the company or a shareholder to apply to the court for an order setting aside the transaction concerned and directing that the director account to the company for any profit.
A transaction is not voidable and a director is not accountable notwithstanding a failure to disclose an interest if the transaction is confirmed by special resolution and the nature and extent of the director’s interest in the transaction are disclosed in reasonable detail in the notice calling the meeting at which the resolution is passed. Although it may still order that a director account for any profit, a court will not set aside a transaction unless it is satisfied that the interests of third parties who have acted in good faith would not thereby be unfairly prejudiced and the transaction was not reasonable and fair in the interests of the company at the time it was entered into. |
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DELAWARE LAW |
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JERSEY LAW |
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Cumulative Voting |
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The certificate of incorporation of a Delaware corporation may provide that shareholders of any class or classes or of any series may vote cumulatively either at all elections or at elections under specified circumstances. |
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There are no provisions in the Jersey Companies Law relating to cumulative voting. |
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Approval of Corporate Matters by Written Consent |
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Unless otherwise specified in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, shareholders may take action permitted to be taken at an annual or special meeting, without a meeting, notice, or a vote, if consents, in writing, setting forth the action, are signed by shareholders with not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize the action at a meeting. All consents must be dated and are only effective if the requisite signatures are collected within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered. |
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If permitted by the articles of association of a company, a written consent signed and passed by the specified majority of members may affect any matter that otherwise may be brought before a shareholders’ meeting, except for the removal of a company’s auditors. Such consent shall be deemed effective when the instrument, or the last of several instruments, is signed by the specified majority of members or on such later date as is specified in the resolution. |
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Business Combinations |
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With certain exceptions, a merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all the assets of a Delaware corporation must be approved by the board of directors and a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. |
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A sale or disposal of all or substantially all the assets of a Jersey company must be approved by the board of directors and, only if the articles of association of the company require, by the shareholders in general meeting. A merger involving a Jersey company must be generally documented in a merger agreement which must be approved by special resolution of the shareholders of that company. |
Limitations on Director’s Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
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A Delaware corporation may include in its certificate of incorporation provisions limiting the personal liability of its directors to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for many types of breach of fiduciary duty. However, these provisions may not limit liability for any breach of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, the authorization of unlawful dividends, stock purchases, or redemptions, or any transaction from which a |
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The Jersey Companies Law does not contain any provision permitting Jersey companies to limit the liabilities of directors for breach of fiduciary duty.
However, a Jersey company may exempt from liability, and indemnify directors and officers for, liabilities:
∎ incurred in defending any civil or criminal legal proceedings where:
∎ the person is either acquitted or receives a judgment in their favor; |
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CORPORATE LAW ISSUE |
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DELAWARE LAW |
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JERSEY LAW |
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director derived an improper personal benefit. Moreover, these provisions would not be likely to bar claims arising under U.S. federal securities laws.
A Delaware corporation may indemnify a director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in defense of an action, suit, or proceeding by reason of his or her position if (i) the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the director or officer had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. |
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∎ where the proceedings are discontinued other than by reason of such person (or someone on their behalf) giving some benefit or suffering some detriment; or
∎ where the proceedings are settled on terms that such person (or someone on their behalf) gives some benefit or suffers some detriment but in the opinion of a majority of the disinterested directors, the person was substantially successful on the merits in the person’s resistance to the proceedings;
∎ incurred to anyone other than to the company if the person acted in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company;
∎ incurred in connection with an application made to the court for relief from liability for negligence, default, breach of duty, or breach of trust under Article 212 of the Jersey Companies Law in which relief is granted to the person by the court; or
∎ incurred in a case in which the company normally maintains insurance for persons other than directors. |
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Appraisal Rights |
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A shareholder of a Delaware corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights under which the shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair value of the shares held by that shareholder (as determined by a court) in lieu of the consideration the shareholder would otherwise receive in the transaction. |
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No appraisal rights. |
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Shareholder Suits |
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Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to the shareholders of a Delaware |
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Under Article 141 of the Jersey Companies Law, a shareholder may apply to court for relief on the |
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CORPORATE LAW ISSUE |
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DELAWARE LAW |
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JERSEY LAW |
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corporation for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste, and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In such actions, the court has discretion to permit the winning party to recover attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action. |
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ground that the conduct of a company’s affairs, including a proposed or actual act or omission by a company, is “unfairly prejudicial” to the interests of shareholders generally or of some part of shareholders, including at least the shareholder making the application.
Under Article 143 of the Jersey Companies Law (which sets out the types of relief a court may grant in relation to an action brought under Article 141 of the Jersey Companies Law), the court may make an order regulating the affairs of a company, requiring a company to refrain from doing or continuing to do an act complained of, authorizing civil proceedings and providing for the purchase of shares by a company or by any of its other shareholders. There may be customary personal law actions available to shareholders which would include certain derivate and other actions to bring proceedings against the directors of the company as well as the company. |
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Inspection of Books and Records |
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All shareholders of a Delaware corporation have the right, upon written demand, to inspect or obtain copies of the corporation’s shares ledger and its other books and records for any purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a shareholder. |
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The register of shareholders and books containing the minutes of general meetings or of meetings of any class of shareholders of a Jersey company must during business hours be open to the inspection of a shareholder of the company without charge. The register of directors and secretaries must during business hours (subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may by its articles of association or in general meeting impose, but so that not less than two hours in each business day be allowed for inspection) be open to the inspection of a shareholder or director of the company without charge. |
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Amendments to Charter |
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Amendments to the certificate of incorporation of a Delaware corporation require the affirmative |
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The memorandum of association and articles of association of a Jersey company may only be |
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CORPORATE LAW ISSUE |
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DELAWARE LAW |
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JERSEY LAW |
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vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon or such greater vote as is provided for in the certificate of incorporation. A provision in the certificate of incorporation requiring the vote of a greater number or proportion of the directors or of the holders of any class of shares than is required by Delaware corporate law may not be amended, altered or repealed except by such greater vote. |
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amended by special resolution of shareholders of that company. |
Redemption Rights and Transfer Restrictions with Respect to Shares Held by Unsuitable Persons and Their Affiliates
The amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that any Equity Interest of the Company (meaning any ordinary share or any other equity or voting securities of the Company, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for, or convertible into, such other equity or voting securities of the Company) owned or controlled by a person who (i) fails or refuses to file any required application, or has withdrawn or requested the withdrawal of a pending required application, to be found suitable by any gambling authority or for any gambling license, (ii) is denied or disqualified from eligibility for any gambling license by any gambling authority, (iii) is determined by a gambling authority to be unsuitable or disqualified to own or control any Equity Interests of the Company, (iv) is determined by a gambling authority to be unsuitable to be affiliated, associated or involved with a person engaged in gambling activities in any gambling jurisdiction, (v) causes any gambling license of the Company or any affiliated company to be lost, rejected, rescinded, suspended, revoked or not renewed by any gambling authority, or causes the Company or any affiliated company to be threatened by any gambling authority with the loss, rejection, rescission, suspension, revocation or non-renewal of any gambling license (in each of (ii) through (v) above, regardless of whether such denial, disqualification or determination by a gambling authority is final and non-appealable), or (vi) is deemed likely, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company’s board of directors, to (A) preclude or materially
delay, impede, impair, threaten or jeopardize any gambling license held or desired in good faith to be held by the Company or any affiliated company or the Company’s or any affiliated company’s application for, right to the use of, entitlement to, or ability to obtain or retain, any gambling license, (B) cause or otherwise result in, the disapproval, cancellation, termination, material adverse modification or non-renewal of any material contract to which the Company or any affiliated company is a party, or (C) cause or otherwise result in the imposition of any materially burdensome or unacceptable terms or conditions on any gambling license of the Company or any affiliated company (each of such persons, an “Unsuitable Person”) or an affiliate of such person shall be subject to automatic sale and transfer to the Company or one or more third-party transferees (as defined in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) as and to the extent required by a gambling authority or deemed necessary or advisable by the Company’s board of directors in its sole and absolute discretion.
If a gambling authority requires the Company, or the Company’s board of directors deems it necessary or advisable, to cause any such Equity Interests to be automatically sold and transferred, the Company shall deliver a transfer notice (as described in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) to the Unsuitable Person or its affiliate(s) (as applicable) and shall purchase or cause one or more third-party transferees to purchase the number, class and series of shares of the Equity Interests of the Company specified in the transfer notice on the transfer date and for the purchase price determined in accordance with the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and set forth in the transfer notice. From and after the transfer date, such Unsuitable Person or any affiliate of such Unsuitable Person shall cease to be a stockholder with respect to such Equity Interests of the Company and all rights of such Unsuitable Person or any affiliate of such Unsuitable Person therein, other than the right to receive the purchase price, shall cease.
Commencing on the date that a gambling authority serves notice of a determination of unsuitability or disqualification of a holder of Equity Interests of the Company, or the Company’s board of directors otherwise determines that a person is an Unsuitable Person, and until the Equity Interests of the Company owned or controlled by such person are owned or controlled by a person who is not an Unsuitable Person, the Unsuitable Person and any affiliates of such Unsuitable Person shall not be entitled: (i) to receive any dividend, payment, distribution or interest with regard to such Equity Interests of the Company, (ii) to exercise, directly or indirectly or through any proxy, trustee, or nominee, any voting or other right conferred by such Equity Interests of the Company, and such Equity Interests of the Company shall not for any purposes be included in the shares of the Company entitled to vote or (iii) to receive any remuneration that may be due to such person, accruing after the date of such notice of determination of unsuitability or disqualification by a gambling authority, in any form from the Company or any affiliated company for services rendered or otherwise.
At the closing of the transaction contemplated in the preceding paragraphs of this section: (i) each of the Company and any applicable third-party transferee shall deliver the aggregate applicable purchase price for the Equity Interests of the Company being purchased by it (x) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified in writing by the Unsuitable Person or affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable), (y) by unsecured promissory note, or (z) by combination of both as required by the applicable gambling authority and, if not so required, as the Company may determine in its sole and absolute discretion and (ii) the Unsuitable Person or affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable) shall deliver to the Company and any applicable third-party transferee such stock powers, assignment instruments and other agreement as are necessary in the judgment of the Company to fully convey all right, title and interest in and to the Equity Interests of the Company being purchased by each of the foregoing, free and clear of all liens and other encumbrances (other than restrictions on transfer under the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and applicable law and as set forth in any agreement between the Unsuitable Person or affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable) and the Company) and to evidence the subordination of any promissory note if required by the Company.
Such stock powers, assignment instruments and other agreements shall be in a form acceptable to the Company and shall include such representations and warranties (including, without limitation, representations and warranties as to title and ownership of the Equity Interests of the Company being sold, authorization, execution and delivery of relevant documents and the enforceability of such documents), covenants, releases (including, without limitation, a general release of claims and covenant not to sue in favor of the Company or any applicable third-party transferee and each of their respective affiliates, employees, directors, managers, officers, partners, members and the like with respect to the pre-closing period) and indemnities as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion. Any promissory note shall contain such terms and conditions as the Company determines necessary or advisable,
including without limitation, prepayment at the maker’s option at any time without premium or penalty or subordination provisions. Subject to the forgoing, the principal amount of any promissory note together with any unpaid interest shall be due and payable no earlier than the tenth anniversary of delivery of such promissory note and interest on the unpaid principal thereof shall be payable annually in arrears at no more than the minimum rate of interest at the time of delivery which can be used without causing additional interest to be imputed pursuant to the Code or corresponding provisions of subsequent superseding federal revenue laws.
The amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that the sale and transfer of the applicable Equity Interests of the Company shall be effected automatically at the Closing contemplated in the preceding paragraphs of this section upon delivery of the purchase price in accordance with the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association without regard to the provision by the Unsuitable Person or affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable) of the stock powers, assignment instruments and other agreements described above; provided, however, that the Unsuitable Person or affiliate of such Unsuitable Person (as applicable) shall continue to have the obligation to the Company and any applicable third-party transferee to provide such stock powers, assignment instruments and other agreements.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Its address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219, and its telephone number is (718) 921-8200.
Listing
Our ordinary shares are on Nasdaq under the symbol “GAMB.”
Exhibit 4.5
CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION (MARKED BY BRACKETS AS “[***]”) HAS BEEN
EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS BOTH (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) IS THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT KEEPS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.
Execution Version
Dated 12//2021
Stock Purchase Agreement
among
GDC America, Inc. |
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Peter Schoenke |
Purchaser |
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Seller 1 |
Gambling.com Group Limited Parent (solely for purposes of Section 2.02 to the extent related to issuance of Parent Shares, Section 3.06, Section 4.03, Section 4.04, Section 4.05, Section 4.09, Section 5.10, Section 5.11, Article VI, and Article VIII) |
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Herbert Ilk Seller 2
Jeffrey Erickson Seller 3
Timothy Schuler Seller 4 |
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Christopher Liss Seller 5 |
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Trustee Services Group, PLLC, as Trustee of The Ilk 2021 Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated November 22, 2021 Seller 2A |
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Trustee Services Group, PLLC, as Trustee of The Erickson 2021 Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated November 22, 2021 Seller 3A |
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Trustee Services Group, PLLC, as Trustee of The Schuler 2021 Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated November 22, 2021 Seller 4A |
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Table of Contents
Page
Article I Definitions |
1 |
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Section 1.01 |
Definitions |
1 |
Section 1.02 |
Additional Defined Terms |
8 |
Section 1.03 |
Construction |
9 |
Section 1.04 |
Annexes, Exhibits and the Seller Disclosure Letter |
9 |
Section 1.05 |
Knowledge |
9 |
Article II Sale of Shares |
10 |
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Section 2.01 |
Sale of Shares |
10 |
Section 2.02 |
Purchase Price; Delivery of Funds; Payment of Indebtedness and Company Transaction Expenses |
10 |
Section 2.03 |
Determination of Purchase Price Adjustment |
12 |
Section 2.04 |
Closing; Closing Deliverables |
14 |
Section 2.05 |
Tax Treatment of Payments |
16 |
Section 2.06 |
Relationships among Sellers and the Sellers’ Representative |
16 |
Section 2.07 |
Withholding Rights |
17 |
Article III Representations and Warranties of Sellers |
17 |
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Section 3.01 |
Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power of Seller |
17 |
Section 3.02 |
Authorization; Noncontravention |
17 |
Section 3.03 |
Ownership of Shares |
18 |
Section 3.04 |
Company and its Subsidiaries |
19 |
Section 3.05 |
Capitalization |
19 |
Section 3.06 |
Private Placement Matters |
19 |
Section 3.07 |
Consents and Approvals |
21 |
Section 3.08 |
Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities |
21 |
Section 3.09 |
Absence of Certain Changes |
22 |
Section 3.10 |
Compliance with Laws |
22 |
Section 3.11 |
Permits |
22 |
Section 3.12 |
Litigation |
23 |
Section 3.13 |
Employee Benefit Plans |
23 |
Section 3.14 |
Labor Matters |
25 |
Section 3.15 |
Tax Matters |
27 |
Section 3.16 |
Cybersecurity and Intellectual Property |
29 |
Section 3.17 |
Broker’s or Finder’s Fees |
32 |
Section 3.18 |
Material Contracts |
33 |
Section 3.19 |
Environmental Matters |
35 |
Section 3.20 |
Real Property |
36 |
Section 3.21 |
Interests in Clients, Suppliers, Etc.; Affiliate Transactions |
36 |
Section 3.22 |
Suppliers and Customers |
37 |
Section 3.23 |
Title to Personal Properties |
37 |
Section 3.24 |
No Additional Representations; No Reliance. |
37 |
Section 3.25 |
Exclusivity of Representations |
38 |
Article IV Representations and Warranties of Purchaser |
38 |
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Section 4.01 |
Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power of Purchaser and of Parent |
38 |
Section 4.02 |
Authorization; Noncontravention |
38 |
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(i) |
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Section 4.03 |
Parent Shares |
39 |
Section 4.04 |
No Shareholder Approval |
39 |
Section 4.05 |
Parent SEC Reports |
39 |
Section 4.06 |
Consents and Approvals |
40 |
Section 4.07 |
Financial Ability |
40 |
Section 4.08 |
Exclusivity of Representations |
40 |
Section 4.09 |
Broker’s or Finder’s Fees |
40 |
Article V Covenants |
40 |
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Section 5.01 |
Access to Information Concerning Properties and Records |
40 |
Section 5.02 |
Confidentiality |
40 |
Section 5.03 |
Conduct of the Business of the Company Pending the Closing Date |
41 |
Section 5.04 |
Exclusive Dealing |
44 |
Section 5.05 |
Reasonable Best Efforts; Consents |
45 |
Section 5.06 |
Public Announcements |
45 |
Section 5.07 |
Notification of Certain Matters |
45 |
Section 5.08 |
Non‑Competition; Non‑Interference |
46 |
Section 5.09 |
Non‑Solicitation of Employees |
47 |
Section 5.10 |
Lock-Up Agreements |
47 |
Section 5.11 |
Rule 144 and Restrictive Legends; Nasdaq Listing |
48 |
Section 5.12 |
Employment and Benefit Arrangements. |
48 |
Article VI Conditions Precedent |
49 |
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Section 6.01 |
Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party |
49 |
Section 6.02 |
Conditions to the Obligations of Purchaser |
50 |
Section 6.03 |
Conditions to the Obligations of Sellers |
51 |
Section 6.04 |
Frustration of Closing Conditions |
51 |
Article VII Tax Matters |
51 |
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Section 7.01 |
Returns and Payment of Taxes |
51 |
Section 7.02 |
Controversies |
53 |
Section 7.03 |
Notification |
54 |
Section 7.04 |
Indemnification for Taxes |
54 |
Section 7.05 |
Post‑Closing Retention, Access and Cooperation |
54 |
Article VIII Termination and Abandonment; Indemnification |
55 |
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Section 8.01 |
Termination |
55 |
Section 8.02 |
Effect of Termination |
56 |
Section 8.03 |
Survival of Representations and Warranties |
56 |
Section 8.04 |
Indemnification by Sellers |
56 |
Section 8.05 |
Indemnification by Purchaser |
57 |
Section 8.06 |
Limitation on Indemnification |
57 |
Section 8.07 |
Losses Net of Insurance, etc. |
57 |
Section 8.08 |
Indemnification Procedure |
58 |
Section 8.09 |
Third Party Claims |
59 |
Section 8.10 |
Sole Remedy/Waiver |
60 |
Section 8.11 |
Sellers’ Waiver |
60 |
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(ii) |
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Article IX Miscellaneous |
60 |
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Section 9.01 |
Fees and Expenses |
60 |
Section 9.02 |
Extension; Waiver |
60 |
Section 9.03 |
Notices |
61 |
Section 9.04 |
Entire Agreement |
62 |
Section 9.05 |
Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment |
62 |
Section 9.06 |
Amendment and Modification |
62 |
Section 9.07 |
Counterparts |
62 |
Section 9.08 |
Applicable Law; Arbitration |
62 |
Section 9.09 |
Severability |
64 |
Section 9.10 |
Specific Enforcement; Limitation on Damages |
64 |
Section 9.11 |
Waiver of Jury Trial |
64 |
Section 9.12 |
Rules of Construction |
64 |
Section 9.13 |
Headings |
64 |
Section 9.14 |
No Recourse |
64 |
Annex 1 |
Sellers |
68 |
Annex 2 |
Additional Defined Terms |
69 |
Exhibit 1.1 |
Form of Employment Agreement |
71 |
Exhibit 1.2 |
Form of Employment Agreement |
72 |
Exhibit 2 |
Form of Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (CIIAA) |
73 |
Exhibit 3 |
Form of Accredited Investor Questionnaire |
74 |
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(iii) |
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This STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated December 13, 2021 by and among GDC America, Inc (“Purchaser”), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Florida, and Peter Schoenke (“Seller 1” or “Sellers’ Representative”), a private individual residing in the State of Wisconsin, Herbert Ilk (“Seller 2”), a private individual residing in the State of Wisconsin, Jeffrey Erickson (“Seller 3”), a private individual residing in the State of California, Timothy Schuler (“Seller 4”), a private individual residing in the State of California, Christopher Liss (“Seller 5”), a private individual residing in Portugal (any and each of Seller 1, Seller 2, Seller 3, Seller 4, and Seller 5 individually an “Individual Seller” and collectively the “Individual Sellers”), Trustee Services Group, PLLC, as trustee of The Ilk 2021 Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated November 22, 2021 (“Seller 2A”), Trustee Services Group, PLLC, as trustee of The Erickson 2021 Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated November 22, 2021 (“Seller 3A”), Trustee Services Group, PLLC, as trustee of The Schuler 2021 Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated November 22, 2021 (“Seller 4A”) (any and each of Seller 2A, Seller 3A, and Seller 4A a “Trust Seller” and collectively the “Trust Sellers”, and any and each of any of the Individual Sellers or the Trust Sellers a “Seller” and, collectively, the “Sellers”), being the sole shareholders of Roto Sports, Inc. (the “Company”), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of California, and, solely for purposes of Section 2.02 to the extent related to issuance of Parent Shares, Section 3.06, Section 4.03, Section 4.04, Section 4.05, Section 4.09, Section 5.10, Section 5.11, Article VI, and Article VIII, Gambling.com Group Limited (“Parent”), a public limited company registered under the laws of the Channel Island of Jersey with company registration number 562225 listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol “GAMB”.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Sellers own 5,251 shares of common stock, par value of US$1.00 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) and 14,871 shares of preferred stock, par value of US$1.00 per share, of the Company (“Preferred Stock”, and together with Common Stock, the “Shares”), such Shares representing all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Sellers desire to sell, and the Purchaser desires to purchase, the Shares pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties hereto that, upon consummation of the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser shall own all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.01 Definitions. When used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings specified therefor below.
“409A Deferred Compensation Arrangement” shall mean (x) those certain Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans sponsored by the Company and disclosed on Schedule 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, and (y) any other “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that would be aggregated with the items in clause (x) pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A-1(c) and 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(B).
“Affiliate” of any Person shall mean any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person; provided, that, for the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise; provided, further, that an Affiliate of any Person shall also include (a) any Person that directly or indirectly owns, or in which such Person directly or indirectly owns more than five percent (5%) of any class of capital stock or other equity interest of such Person, (b) in the case of a corporation, any officer or director of such corporation, (c) in the case of a partnership, any general partner of such partnership, (d) in the case of a trust, any trustee or beneficiary of such trust, (e) any spouse, parent, sibling or child or lineal descendant of any individual described in clauses (a) through (d) above, and (f) any trust for the benefit of any individual described in clauses (a) through (e) above.
“Antitrust Authorities” shall mean the Federal Trade Commission, the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, the attorneys general of the several states of the United States and any other Governmental Entity having jurisdiction with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby pursuant to applicable Antitrust Laws.
“Antitrust Laws” shall mean the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1‑7, as amended; the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 12‑27, 29 U.S.C. §§ 52‑53, as amended; the HSR Act; the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 41‑58, as amended; and all other Laws and Orders that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization, restraint of trade, or lessening of competition through merger or acquisition.
“Bad Actor” shall mean an Individual Seller’s (i) conviction of, or entering a guilty plea or plea of no contest with respect to, a felony or a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude (excluding a first offense for DWI, DUI or the like which does not include a greater charge), (ii) willful misconduct that materially discredits the Company or is materially detrimental to the reputation of the Company, or (iii) breach of Section 5.08, 5.09, or any restrictive covenant contained in an Employment Agreement or CIIAA with such Individual Seller.
“Business Day” shall mean any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks are required or authorized to close in the State of New York.
“CARES Act” shall mean the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136), enacted March 27, 2020.
“Cash and Cash Equivalents” shall mean cash, checks, money orders, marketable securities, short‑term instruments and other cash equivalents, funds in time and demand deposits or similar accounts, cash security deposits and other cash collateral posted with vendors, landlords, and other parties, and any evidence of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by the United States government.
“Cash Consideration” shall have the meaning assigned to this term in Section 2.02(c).
“CIIAA” shall have the meaning assigned to this term in Section 6.02(e).
“Closing Cash” shall mean the aggregate book balance of Cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company calculated in accordance with the historical accounting practices of the Company, consistently applied, as of 11:59 P.M. on the Business Day immediately prior to the Closing Date.
“Closing Indebtedness” shall mean the aggregate outstanding amount of Indebtedness of the Company as of 11:59 P.M. on the Business Day immediately prior to the Closing Date.
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“Closing Working Capital” shall mean the current assets of the Company less the current liabilities of the Company (excluding all Closing Cash, Closing Indebtedness, Company Transaction Expenses (to the extent deducted from the Initial Purchase Price or the Final Purchase Price, as the case may be) and any Tax assets or Tax liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with the historical accounting practices of the Company, consistently applied, as of 11:59 P.M. on the Business Day immediately prior to the Closing Date.
“Code” shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.
“Company IT Assets” shall mean any and all IT Assets, in each case owned, licensed, leased, or outsourced by the Company and its Subsidiaries or necessary, used, or held for use to conduct the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted or contemplated to be conducted in the future.
“Company Transaction Expenses” shall mean all expenses of the Company incurred or to be incurred prior to and through the Closing Date in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Closing, including out‑of-pocket costs, fees and disbursements of financial advisors, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers, severance payments to directors, officers and employees, bonuses, retention payments and any other change‑of‑control or similar payments under agreements entered into or plans adopted by the Company prior to the Closing Date payable as a result of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the employer portion of any Taxes relating to such payments), including pursuant to termination of the 409A Deferred Compensation Arrangements, payable by the Company (prior to and through and including the Closing Date) pursuant to Section 9.01 and which have not been paid as of the Closing Date.
“Confidential Material” shall mean all information (written or oral) that is confidential or proprietary to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is not otherwise generally available to the public regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries. The term “Confidential Material” shall not include (a) information that is or becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of disclosure by Seller or its Representatives in violation of this Agreement or (b) becomes available to Purchaser or its Representatives from a Person other than the Sellers, the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries on a non‑confidential basis, provided that such Person was not known by Purchaser or its Representatives to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to the Sellers, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or its Representatives with respect to such materials.
“Confidentiality Agreement” shall mean that certain Confidentiality Agreement by and between the Paramax Corporation (as agent for the Company) and KAX Media America, Inc. dated October 15, 2019.
“Consideration” shall mean, collectively, any Cash Consideration together with any Share Consideration.
“Consideration Payment 1” shall have the meaning assigned to this term in Section 2.02(a)(i).
“Contract” shall mean any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, guarantee, license, franchise, permit, agreement, understanding, arrangement, contract, commitment, letter of intent, or other instrument or obligation (whether oral or written), and any amendments thereto.
“Deferred Consideration Payment 1” shall have the meaning assigned to this term in Section 2.02(a)(ii).
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“Deferred Consideration Payment 2” shall have the meaning assigned to this term in Section 2.02(a)(iii).
“Employment Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to this term in Section 6.02(e).
“Environmental Law” shall mean any Law, Order or other requirement of Law, including common law, relating to pollution, natural resources, the protection or restoration of the environment, the protection of human health (to the extent concerned with the exposure to Hazardous Materials), or Hazardous Materials.
“Estimated Working Capital Adjustment” shall mean any amount (which may be expressed as a negative number) equal to the amount of the Estimated Closing Working Capital less the Target Working Capital.
“Exchange Rule” shall mean the determination of the number of Parent Shares making up a value of any Share Consideration, which shall be determined using the volume weighted average price of such Parent Shares for the 10-day period prior to each of the Share Consideration payment dates; provided that, in the event the Closing Date occurs on a date other than the date hereof, such volume weighted average price of any Parent Shares provided as part of Consideration Payment 1 shall be determined based on the 10-day period prior to the date hereof.
“Final Purchase Price” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) $27,500,000.00, (b) plus the amount of the Working Capital Adjustment (which may be expressed as a positive or negative number), if any, (c) plus Closing Cash, (d) minus Closing Indebtedness, (e) minus Company Transaction Expenses, (f) minus any offset amount under Section 8.08(e) minus the Sales Tax Holdback.
“Foreign Corrupt Practices Act” shall mean the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the United States, 15 U.S.C. Sections 78a, 78m, 78dd‑1, 78dd‑2, 78dd‑3, and 78ff, as amended, if applicable, or any similar Law of any jurisdiction where one or more properties owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are located or where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries transacts business or any other jurisdiction, if applicable.
“Funded Indebtedness” shall mean all Indebtedness listed on Section 2.02(g) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.
“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.
“Government Contract” shall mean any bid, quotation, proposal, Contract, work authorization, lease, commitment or sale or purchase order of the Company with any Governmental Entity, including all Contracts and work authorizations to supply goods and services to any Governmental Entity.
“Governmental Entity” shall mean any United States or non‑United States federal, state, provincial or local court, arbitral tribunal, administrative agency or commission or other governmental or regulatory agency or authority or any securities exchange.
“Hazardous Material” shall mean any waste or other substance that is listed, defined, designated, or classified as, or otherwise determined to be, hazardous, radioactive, or toxic or a pollutant or a contaminant under or pursuant to any Environmental Law and specifically including petroleum and all derivatives thereof, asbestos or asbestos‑containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and any substances regulated under Environmental Law.
“HSR Act” shall mean the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, 15 U.S.C. § 18a et seq., as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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“IFRS” shall mean the international financial reporting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as in effect from time to time.
“Indebtedness” of any Person shall mean and include (a) indebtedness for borrowed money or indebtedness issued or incurred in substitution or exchange for indebtedness for borrowed money, (b) amounts owing as deferred purchase price for property or services, including all seller notes and “earn‑out” payments, whether or not matured, (c) indebtedness evidenced by any note, bond, debenture, mortgage or other debt instrument, debt security or other similar instrument, (d) indebtedness secured by a Lien on assets or properties of such Person, (e) obligations or commitments to repay deposits or other amounts advanced by and owing to third parties or to deliver goods or services to prepaying customers (except to the extent included in the calculation of Closing Working Capital as a current liability of the Company), (f) any liability of such Person in respect of banker’s acceptances or letters of credit (to the extent drawn), (g) obligations under any interest rate, currency or other hedging agreement, (h) all obligations of such Person as lessee under leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (i) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise acquire for value any capital stock of such Person or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such capital stock, valued, in the case of redeemable preferred stock, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends, (j) direct or indirect guarantees or other contingent liabilities with respect to any indebtedness, obligation, claim or liability of any other Person of a type described in clauses (a) through (i) above, (k) the amount of all accrued and unpaid income Taxes of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, with respect to the portion of the Pre-Closing Period ending on or before the Closing Date; or (l) any Taxes of the Company, or any of the Company Subsidiaries for the Pre-Closing Period deferred pursuant to the CARES Act and/or the Presidential Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster, signed on August 8, 2020 (or any similar non-U.S. Laws) which have not otherwise been paid as of the Closing Date or (m) with respect to any indebtedness, obligation, claim or liability of a type described in clauses (a) through (l) above, all accrued and unpaid interest, premiums, penalties, breakage costs, unwind costs, fees, termination costs, redemption costs, expenses and other charges with respect thereto. Indebtedness shall not, however, include (x) accounts payable to trade creditors, (y) accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business or (z) endorsements of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business.
“Initial Purchase Price” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) $20,000,000.00, (b) plus the amount of the Estimated Working Capital Adjustment (which may be expressed as a positive or negative number), if any, (c) plus Estimated Closing Cash, (d) minus Estimated Closing Indebtedness, (e) minus Estimated Company Transaction Expenses, (f) minus the Sales Tax Holdback.
“Intellectual Property” shall mean any and all intellectual property and all rights, title, and interests therein and thereto and all similar proprietary rights throughout the world, including any and all United States, international and/or foreign rights in, arising out of or associated with any of the following, whether registered or unregistered: (a) patents, patent applications, patent disclosures and inventions, including any continuations, divisions, continuations‑in‑part, renewals, divisionals, renewals, extensions, reissues or foreign counterparts of any of the foregoing; (b) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, brand names, logos, slogans, corporate names, registrations and applications for registration thereof, and other indicia of origin, together with all of the goodwill associated therewith, and Internet Domain Names; (c) copyrights, works of authorship, copyrightable works and registrations and applications for registration thereof, design rights, moral and economic rights of authors and inventors and rights of attribution, and similar rights; (d) mask works and registrations and applications for registration thereof; (e) rights in Software, websites, and related Technology; (f) trade secrets and other confidential or proprietary information (including ideas, formulas, compositions, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), know‑how, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, research and development information, drawings, specifications, designs, plans, proposals, technical data, copyrightable works, financial and marketing plans and customer and supplier lists and information)
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(collectively, “Trade Secrets”); (g) rights of publicity or privacy, including with respect to name, likeness or persona, and in social media usernames, handles, and accounts; (h) rights to sue or recover and retain damages and costs and attorneys’ fees for the past, present or future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, or other violation of any of the foregoing anywhere in the world; (i) other intellectual or industrial property rights; (j) registrations and applications for any of the foregoing; and (k) copies and tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium).
“Internet Domain Names” shall mean www.rotowire.com, www.coverwire.com, mockdraft.com, mockdraftcentral.com, egamernews.com, fantasyfootballadnetwork.com, fantasysportsadnetwork.com, rotodaily.com, rotonews.info, rotonews.com, rotonews.net, rotonews.org, rotosportsinc.com, rotowire.in, rotowire.biz, rotowire.co.uk, rotowire.info, rotowire.net, rotowire.org, rotowire.tv, rotowire.us, sportsrate.com, draftsheet.com, fantasybaseballcalculator.com, rotonews.mobi, and tryrotowire.com, tennis-reference.com, nhl-reference.com, nhlreference.com, databasebaseball.com, databasebasketball.com, databaseboxing.com, databasecricket.com, databasefootball.com, databasegolf.com, databasehockey.com, databaseolympics.com, databasepoker.com, databaseracing.com, databaserugby.com, databasesocer.com, databasesports.com, databasetennis.com, rotosyn.com, rotosynthesis.com, databaseolym.pics.
“IRS” shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“IT Assets” shall mean any and all computers, Software, Technology, systems, hardware, servers, networks, workstations, routers, hubs, switches, platforms, applications, data communications lines, websites (including the content thereon), operational technology, automated processes, and all other information technology equipment and assets owned, used or operated, including those procured via outsourced or cloud computing arrangements.
“Law” shall mean any statute, law, ordinance, policy, rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity and all judicial interpretations thereof.
“Liabilities” shall mean any and all Indebtedness, liabilities and obligations, whether accrued or fixed, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured or determined or determinable.
“Liens” shall mean any liens, security interests, options, rights of first refusal, claims, easements, mortgages, charges, indentures, deeds of trust, rights of way, restrictions on the use of real property, encroachments, licenses to third parties, leases to third parties, security agreements, or any other encumbrances and other restrictions or limitations on ownership or use of real or personal property or irregularities in title thereto.
“Loss” or “Losses” shall mean, without duplication, (a) any and all damages, losses, claims, actions, causes of action, judgments, Liabilities, or costs, including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors, whether involving a dispute solely between the parties hereto or otherwise, and (b) any losses or costs incurred in investigating, defending or settling any of claim, action or cause of action described in clause (a), whether or not the underlying claim, action or cause of action is actually asserted or is merely alleged or threatened.
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any event, circumstance, development, state of facts, occurrence, change or effect that is materially adverse to the business, assets, financial condition, or results of operations of the Company, taken as a whole; provided, however, that a Material Adverse Effect does not include a material adverse effect or impact on the Company’s business, assets, financial condition, or results of operations that is caused by (i) one or more downturns in the economy, the securities markets, the financing markets or the credit markets in general which does not disproportionately affect the Company relative to other industry participants of similar size and geographic location, (ii) one or more downturns in the industries in which the Company operates which does not disproportionately affect the Company
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relative to other industry participants of similar size and geographic location, (iii) geopolitical conditions, acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such conditions, acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism which does not disproportionately affect the Company relative to other industry participants of similar size and geographic location, (iv) changes in applicable Law which do not disproportionately affect the Company relative to other industry participants of similar size and geographic location, (v) the announcement or consummation of the Closing, (vi) the effect of any action or any failure to act taken by the Company or the Sellers as contemplated by and in accordance with this Agreement, or otherwise with the written consent of the Purchaser, or (vii) the effect of any action or any failure to act taken by the Purchaser.
“Order” shall mean any judgment, order, injunction, decree, writ, permit or license of any Governmental Entity or any arbitrator.
“Overlap Period” shall mean with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the portion of any taxable year or period beginning on or before and ending after the Closing Date.
“Owned IP” shall mean any and all Intellectual Property owned (or purported to be owned), in whole or in part, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and includes all Registered Intellectual Property and Proprietary Software.
“Parent Shares” shall mean ordinary shares issued by the Parent.
“Permitted Liens” shall mean (a) Liens expressly reflected on the balance sheet of the Company (or any related notes) on the Balance Sheet Date, (b) Liens consisting of zoning, building code or planning restrictions or regulations, easements, Permits, restrictive covenants, encroachments, rights‑of‑way and other restrictions or limitations on the use of real property or irregularities in, or exceptions to, title thereto which, individually or in the aggregate, do not materially detract from the value of, or impair the use of, such property by the Company or its Subsidiaries, (c) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or which may thereafter be paid without penalty, in each case for which adequate reserves have been made with respect thereto, (d) mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business securing amounts that are not past due, and (e) other imperfections of title or non monetary encumbrances, if any, which do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the continued use and operation of any real property or tangible personal property of the Company to which they relate as currently used or operated.
“Person” shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a limited partnership, a limited liability partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a trust, an unincorporated organization, a group, a Governmental Entity or other body corporate or analogous entity
“Pre‑Closing Period” shall mean all taxable years or other taxable periods that end on or before the Closing Date and, with respect to any Overlap Period, the portion of such Overlap Period ending on and including the Closing Date.
“Proprietary Software” shall mean any and all proprietary Software owned (or purported to be owned), in whole or in part, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Purchase Price” shall have the meaning assigned to this term in Section 2.02(a).
“Representatives” of any Person shall mean such Person’s directors, managers, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, consultants, advisors or other Persons acting on behalf of such Person.
“Sales Tax Holdback” shall mean Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000).
“SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
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“Software” shall mean any and all (a) software, firmware, middleware, computer programs, operating systems, applications, and other code, including APIs, tools, compilers, files, scripts, architecture, algorithms, heuristics, data, databases, data compilations, data files, databases, protocols, specifications, user interfaces, menus, buttons, icons, and other items, as well as foreign language versions, fixes, upgrades, updates, enhancements, and past and future versions and releases, in each case, including all source code, intermediate/byte code, executable code, interpreted code or object code form, (b) deep learning, machine learning, and other artificial intelligence or machine learning technologies (collectively, “AI/ML”), and (c) source code annotations, manuals, notes, comments, or documentation, including user and installation manuals and training software, for or related to any of the foregoing.
“Subsidiary”, with respect to any Person, shall mean (a) any corporation or body corporate more than fifty percent (50%) of the stock or shares of any class or classes of which having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock or shares of any class or classes of such corporation or body corporate shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is owned by such Person directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries of such Person and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture, limited liability company, body corporate or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries of such Person has more than a fifty percent (50%) equity interest.
“Target Working Capital” shall mean $824,000.
“Taxes” shall mean all taxes, assessments, charges, duties, fees, levies or other governmental charges including all United States federal, state, local, foreign and other income, franchise, profits, gross receipts, capital gains, capital stock, transfer, sales, use, value added, occupation, property, excise, severance, windfall profits, stamp, license, payroll, social security, withholding and other taxes, assessments, charges, duties, fees, levies or other governmental charges of any kind whatsoever (whether payable directly or by withholding and whether or not requiring the filing of a Return), all estimated taxes, deficiency assessments, additions to tax, penalties and interest and shall include any liability for such amounts as a result of (a) being a transferee or successor or member of a combined, consolidated, unitary or affiliated group, or (b) a contractual obligation to indemnify any Person.
“Technology” shall mean collectively, designs, formulae, algorithms, procedures, methods, techniques, ideas, know-how, results of research and development, Software, tools, data, inventions, apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship and other similar materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, analyses, and any other embodiments of the above, in any form whether or not specifically listed herein, and all related technology, that are used, incorporated or embodied in or displayed by any of the foregoing or used in the design, development, reproduction, sale, marketing, maintenance or modification of any of the foregoing.
“Treasury Regulations” shall mean the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code, as amended from time to time, including the corresponding provisions of any successor regulations.
“Working Capital Adjustment” shall mean any amount (which may be expressed as a negative number) equal to the amount of the Closing Working Capital less the Target Working Capital.
Section 1.02 Additional Defined Terms. In addition to the terms defined in Section 1.01, additional defined terms used herein shall have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Sections indicated on Annex 2.
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Section 1.03 Construction. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
Section 1.04 Annexes, Exhibits and the Seller Disclosure Letter. The Annexes, Exhibits, and the Seller Disclosure Letter are incorporated into and form an integral part of this Agreement.
Section 1.05 Knowledge. When any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement is expressly qualified by reference to the Sellers’ “Knowledge”, “Knowledge of the Sellers” or words of similar import, it shall mean the actual and constructive knowledge of the individuals set forth in Section 1.05 of the Seller Disclosure Letter after such inquiry as such individuals would normally conduct in the ordinary course of their duties to the Sellers.
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ARTICLE II
Sale of Shares
Section 2.01 Sale of Shares. On the terms, and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Sellers shall sell, assign, transfer, and deliver to the Purchaser at the Closing, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Sellers at the Closing, the Shares free and clear of all Liens and together with all accrued rights and benefits attached thereto. The Sellers shall take such action as is reasonably necessary and legally required to reflect the sale, assignment, transfer and delivery of the Shares on the books and records of the Company, free and clear of all Liens and together with all accrued rights and benefits attached thereto, and to provide the Purchaser with such evidence of the same as is legally required or as the Purchaser shall reasonably request. The Sellers shall cure any deficiencies identified by the Purchaser to the Sellers in writing within five (5) days of the Closing with respect to the endorsement of the certificates representing the Shares or with respect to the stock power accompanying any such certificates. At the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each Seller shall sell, transfer and deliver to Purchaser, and Purchaser shall purchase from each Seller, the Shares owned by such Seller as listed on Annex 1 for such Seller’s pro rata portion of the Purchase Price, payable in accordance with Section 2.02, free and clear of all Liens and together with all accrued rights and benefits attached thereto.
Section 2.02 Purchase Price; Delivery of Funds; Payment of Indebtedness and Company Transaction Expenses.
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Section 2.03 Determination of Purchase Price Adjustment.
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Section 2.04 Closing; Closing Deliverables.
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Section 2.05 Tax Treatment of Payments. Any payment made pursuant to Section 2.03, Section 7.04 or Article VIII hereof shall be deemed to be, and each of Seller and Purchaser shall treat such payments as an adjustment to the purchase price for all federal, state, local and foreign income Tax purposes; except for any imputed interest (as required by Sections 483 or 1274 of the Code)
Section 2.06 Relationships among Sellers and the Sellers’ Representative.
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Section 2.07 Withholding Rights. Purchaser and Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the amounts otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II or otherwise under this Agreement, such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of federal, state, local or foreign Tax Law. If Purchaser or Parent withholds any such amounts, the amounts so withheld shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person that otherwise would have received such amount but for such withholding.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties of Sellers
Except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by the Sellers to the Purchaser (the “Seller Disclosure Letter”) concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and except for representations and warranties in Section 3.01, Section 3.02, and Section 3.03, and Section 3.06, for which each of the Sellers represents and warrants solely with respect to itself, the Sellers hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Purchaser as follows as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except those representations and warranties which address matters as of or for a particular date or time period, which statements shall be true and correct only as of such date or for such time period):
Section 3.01 Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power of Seller. Each Individual Seller is a natural person, of legal age, and legal capacity (or the equivalent thereof) under the Laws governing such matters and has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each Trust Seller has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing (or the equivalent thereof) under the Laws of the jurisdiction(s) in which it was created and is administered, its Trustee has all requisite power and authority under applicable Law and such Trust Seller’s governing documents to own, operate, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted, and each Trust Seller is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in each of the jurisdictions in which the character or location of the properties and assets it owns, operates, occupies or leases or the nature of the business it conducts makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to have such qualification or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially impair or delay the ability of such Trust Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.02 Authorization; Noncontravention.
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Section 3.03 Ownership of Shares. Each Seller has good and valid title to those certain shares of the Shares owned by such Seller as set forth in Section 3.05 of the Seller Disclosure Letter free and clear of all Liens, and is the record and beneficial owner thereof. All of the Shares were acquired from third parties or the Company in compliance with applicable Law. There is no Contract with any Person to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of the capital stock of the Company. Upon payment of
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the Initial Purchase Price to the Sellers at the Closing, each Seller will convey good and valid title to those certain shares of the Shares owned by such Seller as set forth in Section 3.05 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, free and clear of all Liens, Orders, Contracts or other limitations whatsoever. The assignments, endorsements, stock powers and other instruments of transfer delivered by each Seller to the Purchaser at the Closing will be sufficient to transfer such Seller’s entire interest, record and beneficial, in such Seller’s certain shares of the Shares to the Purchaser.
Section 3.04 Company and its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.05 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 20,000 shares of common stock, par value of $1.00 per share and 20,000 shares of preferred stock, par value of $1.00 per share. Section 3.05 of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth the outstanding capital stock (or other equity interests) of the Company and the record owners of such outstanding capital stock (or other equity interests). The Shares constitute all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Company. The Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, were offered, issued, sold and delivered in compliance with all applicable Laws governing the issuance of securities, and are not subject to, and were not issued in violation of, any preemptive rights or other similar rights. Except for the Shares, no shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company are issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. The Company is not a party to any outstanding or authorized option, warrant, right (including any preemptive right), subscription, claim of any character, agreement, obligation, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other commitments contingent or otherwise, relating to the capital stock or other equity or voting interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, pursuant to which the Company is or may become obligated to issue, deliver or sell or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, shares of capital stock of or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of the capital stock of or other equity or voting interests in the Company. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or similar rights with respect to the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company. The Company does not have any authorized or outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into, exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for or acquire securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of the Company on any matter. There are no irrevocable proxies and no voting agreements with respect to any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company.
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Section 3.06 Private Placement Matters.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME UNLESS (I) THEY ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS OR (II) IN THE OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED
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OR OTHER LEGAL OPINION REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED SUCH DISPOSITION WILL NOT RESULT IN A VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OR (III) SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE ACT (PROVIDED THAT THE TRANSFEROR PROVIDES GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED WITH REASONABLE ASSURANCES (IN THE FORM OF A SELLER REPRESENTATION LETTER AND, IF APPLICABLE, A BROKER REPRESENTATION LETTER) THAT THE SECURITIES MAY BE SOLD PURSUANT TO SUCH RULE).
Section 3.07 Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth in Section 3.02(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, no consent of or filing with any Governmental Entity or any other Person, must be obtained or made in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by any Seller or the consummation by the Sellers and the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for any consents, approvals, authorizations or filings which have been obtained or made or, if not made or obtained, would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company.
Section 3.08 Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.
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Section 3.09 Absence of Certain Changes. Since the Balance Sheet Date, except as set forth in Section 3.09 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, (a) there has not been any event, circumstance, development, state of facts, occurrence, change or effect which has had a Material Adverse Effect, and no event, circumstance, development, state of facts, occurrence, change or effect exists or has occurred which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (b) the Company has not taken any action that, if taken subsequent to the execution of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date, would constitute a breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 5.03(b).
Section 3.10 Compliance with Laws. Except as set forth on Section 3.10 of the Seller Disclosure Letter:
Section 3.11 Permits. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all material federal, state, local and foreign permits, approvals, licenses, authorizations, certificates, rights, exemptions and orders from Governmental Entities (collectively, the “Permits”) that are necessary for the operation of the business of the Company as presently conducted, or that are necessary for the lawful ownership of its respective properties and assets. The Sellers have delivered or made available to the Purchaser for inspection a true
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and correct copy of each Permit obtained or possessed by the Company. All such Permits are valid and have not lapsed, been cancelled, terminated or withdrawn. The Company is in compliance with all such Permits in all material respects. No proceeding to modify, suspend, revoke, withdraw, terminate or otherwise limit any such Permit is pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, threatened, and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, there is no valid basis for such proceeding, including the transactions contemplated hereby. No administrative or governmental action or proceeding has been taken, or, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, threatened, in connection with the expiration, continuance or renewal of any such Permit and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, there is no valid basis for any such proceeding.
Section 3.12 Litigation. There is no investigation, action, suit, proceeding at law or in equity, or any arbitration or any administrative or other proceeding by, before or against any Governmental Entity or any other Person, pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, threatened, against or affecting the Company, or any of its respective properties, assets or rights, which is or would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company. To the Knowledge of the Sellers, there is no valid basis for any such action, proceeding or investigation. The Company is not subject to any Order that materially restricts the operation of the business of the Company or which is or would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company.
Section 3.13 Employee Benefit Plans.
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Section 3.14 Labor Matters.
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Section 3.15 Tax Matters.
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Section 3.16 Cybersecurity and Intellectual Property.
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Section 3.17 Broker’s or Finder’s Fees.
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Section 3.18 Material Contracts.
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Section 3.19 Environmental Matters.
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Section 3.20 Real Property.
Section 3.21 Interests in Clients, Suppliers, Etc.; Affiliate Transactions. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Seller Disclosure Letter: (a) there are no Contracts or Liabilities between the Company, on the one hand, and any Seller or any of their Affiliates (other than the Company), on the other hand and (b) the Sellers, its Affiliates (other than the Company) and the directors and officers of the Company do not possess, directly or indirectly, any financial interest in, or hold a position as a director, officer or employee of, any Person which is a client, supplier, customer, lessor, lessee, or competitor or potential competitor of the Company. Ownership of securities of a company whose securities are registered under the Securities
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Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of one percent (1%) or less of any class of such securities shall not be deemed to be a financial interest for purposes of this Section 3.21.
Section 3.22 Suppliers and Customers. Section 3.22 of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth an accurate and complete list of each supplier and customer accounting for more than five percent (5%) of the consolidated purchases and sales, as the case may be, of the Company for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 and the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020. No such supplier or customer has canceled or otherwise terminated, or threatened in writing to cancel or otherwise terminate, its relationship with the Company. None of the Sellers or the Company has received any written notice that any such supplier or customer may cancel or otherwise materially and adversely modify its relationship with the Company or limit its services, supplies or materials to the Company, or its usage or purchase of the services and products of the Company either as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise.
Section 3.23 Title to Personal Properties. The Company has good and valid title or, in the case of leased assets, a valid leasehold interest, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens, to all of the material tangible and intangible personal property and assets reflected in the Financial Statements or thereafter acquired, except for properties and assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, since the Balance Sheet Date. Except as set forth in Section 3.23 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, the Company owns or has the right to use all of the tangible personal properties and assets necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted. Except as has not been or would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company, all of the tangible personal property used in the business of the Company is in good operating condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and is adequate and suitable for the purposes for which it is presently being used. Neither the Sellers nor any of their Affiliates (other than the Company) possesses, or has the right to use, any tangible or intangible personal property owned or leased by the Company. The tangible and intangible personal property owned or leased by the Company, together with all leased real property of the Company, all owned, leased or licensed Intellectual Property of the Company, and all other assets and rights (including rights under Contracts) of the Company, are sufficient for the operation of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted.
Section 3.24 No Additional Representations; No Reliance.
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Section 3.25 Exclusivity of Representations. The representations and warranties made by the Sellers in this Article III are the exclusive representations and warranties made by the Sellers. The Sellers hereby disclaim any other express or implied representations or warranties with respect to themselves or any other Person.
ARTICLE IV
Representations and Warranties of Purchaser
Except as set forth in any report, schedule, form, statement, prospectus, registration statement or other document filed or furnished, as applicable, by the Parent with or to the SEC, Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Sellers as follows:
Section 4.01 Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power of Purchaser and of Parent. The Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or the equivalent thereof) under the Laws of the State of Florida and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Parent is a publicly listed corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or the equivalent thereof) under the Laws of the Channel Island of Jersey and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
Section 4.02 Authorization; Noncontravention.
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Section 4.03 Parent Shares. Upon issuance (whether as part of Consideration Payment 1 or hereafter as part of Deferred Consideration Payment 1 or Deferred Consideration Payment 2), the Purchaser Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not be subject to any option, call, preemptive, subscription or similar rights or Liens, other than restrictions on transfer imposed by state and federal securities laws or as otherwise disclosed in Parent’s filings with the SEC.
Section 4.04 No Shareholder Approval. The issuance and delivery by Purchaser of the Parent Shares to the Sellers does not require any vote or other approval or authorization of any holder of any capital stock of Purchaser or Parent.
Section 4.05 Parent SEC Reports.
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Section 4.06 Consents and Approvals. No consent of or filing with any Governmental Entity or any other Person, must be obtained or made in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser or the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for any consents, approvals, authorizations or filings, which have been obtained or made or, if not made or obtained, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.07 Financial Ability. At the Closing, the Purchaser and its Affiliates’ available cash and cash equivalents and immediately available internal organization funds and committed capital will be sufficient for Purchaser to satisfy all of its payment obligations under this Agreement.
Section 4.08 Exclusivity of Representations. The representations and warranties made by the Purchaser in this Article IV are the exclusive representations and warranties made by the Purchaser. Purchaser hereby disclaims any other express or implied representations or warranties with respect to itself or such other Person.
Section 4.09 Broker’s or Finder’s Fees. No agent, broker, Person or firm acting on behalf of either the Purchaser or the Parent is, or shall be, entitled to any broker’s fees, finder’s fees or commissions from the Purchaser or the Parent or any of the other parties hereto, or from any of their Affiliates, in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE V
Covenants
Section 5.01 Access to Information Concerning Properties and Records. The Sellers shall, and shall cause the Company to, upon reasonable prior notice and during regular business hours, afford the Purchaser, its financing sources and each of their respective Representatives reasonable access to the Representatives, properties, books and records of the Company to the extent the Purchaser reasonably believes necessary or advisable to familiarize itself with such properties and other matters and, during such period, the Sellers shall furnish promptly to the Purchaser all financial and operating data and other information concerning the Company’s businesses, properties and personnel as the Purchaser may reasonably request; provided, that such access shall not unreasonably disrupt the operations of the Company.
Section 5.02 Confidentiality.
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Section 5.03 Conduct of the Business of the Company Pending the Closing Date.
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Section 5.04 Exclusive Dealing.
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Section 5.05 Reasonable Best Efforts; Consents.
Section 5.06 Public Announcements. The Sellers and Purchaser each shall (a) consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statement with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) in the event any public statement is required by applicable Law or regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market, use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to the other party for review a copy of any such press release or public statement and (c) not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation and review and, except as required by applicable Law or regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market, the receipt of the prior consent of the other party to this Agreement.
Section 5.07 Notification of Certain Matters. During the Interim Period, the Sellers and the Company shall promptly notify the Purchaser of (a) any material actions, suits, claims or proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement that, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, are commenced or threatened against any of the Sellers, the Company, or the Purchaser, as the case may be, (b) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any fact or event which would be reasonably likely to cause any condition set forth in Article VI not to be satisfied, (c) any notice of, or other communication relating to, a default or event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default under any Material Contract, (d) the occurrence or existence of any fact, circumstance or event which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in any representation or warranty made by the Sellers in this Agreement or in any schedule, exhibit or certificate or delivered herewith, to be untrue or inaccurate, (e) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (f) the occurrence of any event, circumstance, development, state of facts, occurrence, change or effect which has had a Material Adverse Effect or the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event, circumstance, development, state of facts, change or effect which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a
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Material Adverse Effect; provided, that no such notification, nor the obligation to make such notification, shall affect the representations, warranties or covenants, or the conditions to the obligations of, the Sellers.
Section 5.08 Non‑Competition; Non‑Interference.
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Section 5.09 Non‑Solicitation of Employees.
Section 5.10 Lock-Up Agreements.
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Section 5.11 Rule 144 and Restrictive Legends; Nasdaq Listing. With a view to making available to Sellers the benefits of SEC Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit Sellers to sell Parent Shares to the public without registration, the Purchaser, for a period of three (3) years from Closing Date, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) make and keep available adequate current public information, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times, and (b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Purchaser under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. The Purchaser agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts, including furnishing any opinions of counsel necessary, to remove any restrictive legends pertaining to restrictions on transfer imposed by the Securities Act (but not legends related to other contractual obligations, as applicable) on the Parent Shares received hereunder, for any Seller who is not an Affiliate of the Purchaser at the time and has not been an Affiliate in the 90 days preceding such date, at any time after the date that is six (6) months after the Closing Date upon request in anticipation of a sale, and in any event on (or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter) the first Business Day after the date that is one year after the Closing Date.
Section 5.12 Employment and Benefit Arrangements.
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ARTICLE VI
Conditions Precedent
Section 6.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The respective obligations of the Sellers and Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing by the Sellers’ Representative and Purchaser, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
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Section 6.02 Conditions to the Obligations of Purchaser. The obligations of the Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date of the following further conditions:
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Section 6.03 Conditions to the Obligations of Sellers. The obligations of the Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Sellers’ Representative, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following further conditions:
Section 6.04 Frustration of Closing Conditions. Neither the Purchaser nor any of the Sellers may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VI to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such party’s failure to act in good faith or such party’s failure to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Closing to occur, as required by Section 5.05.
ARTICLE VII
Tax Matters
Section 7.01 Returns and Payment of Taxes.
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Section 7.02 Controversies.
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Section 7.03 Notification. Except with respect to matters relating to the Sales Tax Indemnity, the Purchaser, the Company, and their respective Affiliates shall promptly forward to the Sellers’ Representative all written notifications and other communications from any Tax authority received by the Company relating to any Tax Matters relating to the federal and consolidated income Tax liability of the Company with respect to a Pre‑Closing Period.
Section 7.04 Indemnification for Taxes. Except with respect to indemnification for the Sales Tax Indemnity which are exclusively covered under Section 8.04, the Sellers shall indemnify, defend and hold the Purchaser and its Affiliates (including the Company) and their respective stockholders, Representatives, partners, members, managers, officers and directors harmless on an after‑tax basis from and against: (i) all Taxes, losses, claims and expenses resulting from, arising out of, or incurred with respect to, any claims that may be asserted by any party based on, attributable to, or resulting from the failure of any representation or warranty made pursuant to Section 3.15 to be true and correct in all respects on and as of the Closing Date (without giving effect to any “material”, “materially”, “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or similar qualification contained therein); (ii) all Taxes imposed on, asserted against or attributable to the properties, income or operations of the Company or any Taxes for which the Company are otherwise liable, for all Pre‑Closing Periods (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any sales (or similar) Taxes); (iii) all Taxes imposed on the Company as a result of the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502‑6 or the analogous provisions of any state, local or foreign Law; and (iv) all Taxes imposed on the Company, or for which the Company may be liable, as a result of any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, except to the extent such amounts mentioned herein under this Section 7.04 were taken into account in calculating Closing Working Capital or Indebtedness. The Sellers’ indemnification obligations pursuant to this Section 7.04 shall survive until 60 days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (giving effect to any extensions and waivers thereof).
Section 7.05 Post‑Closing Retention, Access and Cooperation.
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ARTICLE VIII
Termination and Abandonment; Indemnification
Section 8.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned, at any time prior to the Closing:
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Section 8.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01 by the Purchaser, on the one hand, or the Sellers’ Representative, on the other hand, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other party specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement shall be terminated and become void and have no effect and there shall be no liability hereunder on the part of the Sellers, Purchaser or the Company, except that Section 8.01 (Termination), this Section 8.02, and Article IX shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
Section 8.03 Survival of Representations and Warranties. The respective representations and warranties of the Sellers and Purchaser contained in this Agreement or the Seller Disclosure Letter shall survive the Closing until the date that is 24 months from the Closing Date, except that (i) the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.02(a) (Authorization), Section 3.03 (Ownership of Shares), Section 3.05 (Capitalization), Section 3.17 (Broker’s or Finder’s Fees), and Section 4.02(a) (Authorization) shall survive indefinitely; and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.13 (Employee Benefit Matters), Section 3.15 (Tax Matters), shall survive until 60 days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (giving effect to any extensions and waivers thereof). Each covenant and other agreement of the Purchaser or Sellers hereunder shall survive in accordance with its terms. No Person shall be liable for any claim for indemnification under Article VIII unless a Claim Certificate is delivered by the Person seeking indemnification to the Person from whom indemnification is sought prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period, in which case the representation, warranty, covenant or agreement which is the subject of such claim shall survive, to the extent of the claims described in such Claim Certificate only, until such claim is resolved, whether or not the amount of the Losses resulting from such breach has been finally determined at the time the notice is given.
Section 8.04 Indemnification by Sellers. Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, from and after the Closing, the Individual Sellers shall jointly and severally, and the Trust Sellers shall severally but not jointly, indemnify the Parent, the Purchaser, the Company and each of their respective Subsidiaries, including, for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media Limited (“GDC Media”), a private limited company registered under the laws of Ireland, (the “Purchaser Indemnitees”) and save and hold each of them harmless against any Losses suffered, incurred or paid, directly or indirectly, by them as a result of, arising out of or related to: (a) any failure of any representation or warranty made by the Sellers in this Agreement (whether or not contained in Article III) (other than (i) the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.15 (Tax Matters), which are addressed in Section 7.04 and (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Section 3.03, and Section 3.06, for which each of the Sellers’ obligations to indemnify the Purchaser Indemnitees shall be several and not joint) to be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on such date (other than those made on a specified date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of such specified date); (b) any breach of any covenant or agreement by the Sellers contained in this Agreement (c) any Company Transaction Expenses to the extent not paid by the Sellers prior to the Closing Date, paid by the Purchaser at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.02(h), or included in the calculation of the Working Capital Adjustment pursuant to Section 2.02; and (d) the Company’s historical practices with respect to the collection and remittance of sales and use Taxes to relevant state Governmental Entities relating to transactions that could be deemed taxable sales of “software as a service”, online subscriptions, or similar offerings for any Pre-Closing Period
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(this subsection (d) referred to herein as the “Sales Tax Indemnity”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Sellers’ obligations to indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser Indemnitees pursuant to clause (b) of the immediately preceding sentence shall not terminate until the full performance of the relevant covenants in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of the Sellers hereunder to indemnify the Purchaser Indemnities with respect to the Sales Tax Indemnity shall be exclusive to clause (d), above, and for the sake of clarity shall not be governed by clause (a), above.
Section 8.05 Indemnification by Purchaser. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Article VIII, from and after the Closing, the Purchaser agrees to and shall indemnify the Sellers (the “Seller Indemnitees”) and save and hold each of them harmless against any Losses suffered, incurred or paid, directly or indirectly, by them as a result of, arising out of, or related to: (a) any failure of any representation or warranty made by the Purchaser in this Agreement (whether or not contained in Article IV) or in any schedule, exhibit or certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement to be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of Closing Date as if made on such date (other than those made on a specified date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of such specified date); and (b) any breach of any covenant or agreement by the Purchaser contained in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Purchaser’s obligations to indemnify and hold harmless the Seller Indemnitees pursuant to clause (b) of the immediately preceding sentence shall not terminate until the full performance of the relevant covenants in accordance with their terms.
Section 8.06 Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (a) neither the Purchaser and the Parent nor the Sellers, as the case may be, shall be liable for any claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 8.04(a) or Section 8.05(a), as the case may be, unless and until the aggregate amount of Losses which may be recovered from the Sellers or the Purchaser, as the case may be, equals or exceeds $150,000 (the “Basket”), in which case the Sellers or the Purchaser, as the case may be, shall be liable for the aggregate amount of Losses including the amount of the Basket; provided, that the maximum aggregate amount of indemnifiable Losses which may be recovered for indemnification pursuant to Section 8.04(a) or Section 8.05(a), as the case may be, shall be, as of the date of any Claim Certificate evidencing any such Losses, an amount equal to $12,000,000 for Losses incurred prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, and, thereafter, an amount equal to $10,000,000, in each case, subject to Section 8.03; and (b) the maximum aggregate amount of indemnifiable Losses which may be recovered with respect to the Sales Tax Indemnity shall be an amount equal to the Sales Tax Holdback and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Basket limitation set forth under (a) above shall not apply with respect to the Sales Tax Indemnity. The foregoing limitations shall not apply to Losses incurred by any Purchaser Indemnitee in connection with or arising from any breach of any representation or warranty of the Sellers in Section 3.01 (Due Organization, Good Standing, etc.), Section 3.02 (Authorization), Section 3.03 (Ownership of Shares), Section 3.05 (Capitalization), Section 3.15 (Tax Matters) (other than Losses relating to the Sales Tax Indemnity), Section 3.16 (Cybersecurity and Intellectual Property) and Section 3.17 (Broker’s or Finder’s Fee), but the maximum aggregate amount of indemnifiable Losses which may be recovered for indemnification pursuant to Section 8.04(a) or Section 8.05(a), as the case may be, in connection with or arising from any breach of the foregoing representations or warranties of the Sellers shall be an amount equal to $27,500,000. With respect to any and all indemnification payments required to be made to the Purchaser Indemnitees hereunder that are a result of, relate to or arise from a claim for indemnification pursuant to the Sales Tax Indemnity, the Purchaser Indemnitees’ sole recourse shall be to recover amounts from and to the extent of the Sales Tax Holdback.
Section 8.07 Losses Net of Insurance, etc. The amount of any Loss for which indemnification is provided under Section 8.04 or Section 8.05 shall be net of (a) any specific accruals or reserves on the Financial Statements referenced in Section 3.08, (b) any amount for which a reserve or accrual is included in final Closing Working Capital or which has been taken into account as a current liability for purposes of the calculation of the Final Purchase Price, (c) any amounts recovered by the Indemnified Party (net of any
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costs of investigation of the underlying claim and of collection) pursuant to any indemnification by or indemnification agreement with any Person (other than this Agreement), (d) any insurance proceeds (net of any costs of investigation of the underlying claim and of collection and net of any Taxes arising as a result of the receipt of such insurance proceeds) received as an offset against such Loss, and (e) any Tax benefit available to the Company or the Purchaser or any Affiliate thereof as a result of such Loss in or prior to the year in which the Loss is claimed (each such source of recovery referred to in clauses (c), (d) and (e), a “Collateral Source”). In computing the amount of any such Tax benefit, the indemnified party shall be deemed to recognize all other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit before recognizing any item arising from the incurrence or payment of any indemnified Loss. If the amount to be netted hereunder in connection with a Collateral Source from any payment required under Section 8.04 or Section 8.05 is received after payment by the Indemnifying Party of any amount otherwise required to be paid to an Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article VIII, the Indemnified Party shall repay to the Indemnifying Party, promptly after such receipt, any amount that the Indemnifying Party would not have had to pay pursuant to this Article VIII had such receipt occurred at the time of such payment. Each Indemnified Party shall take commercially reasonable steps to mitigate any Losses as soon as reasonably practicable after such Indemnified Party becomes aware of any event which does, or could reasonably be expected to, give rise to any such Losses, and shall take commercially reasonable steps to recover such Losses from any Collateral Source.
Section 8.08 Indemnification Procedure.
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Section 8.09 Third Party Claims.
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Section 8.10 Sole Remedy/Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, or in the case of fraud, criminal activity or willful misconduct, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, in the event that the Closing occurs, the remedies provided for in Section 7.04 and this Article VIII shall be the parties’ sole and exclusive remedies for any breach of the representations and warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement or any claims relating to this Agreement, other documents, certificates or agreements delivered in connection with this Agreement, the Company or any Law or otherwise. The parties hereto expressly intend that the remedies provided for in Section 7.04 and this Article VIII shall apply to direct claims between the parties hereto (whether or not involving a third party).
Section 8.11 Sellers’ Waiver. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Sellers hereby waive and acknowledge that they shall not exercise or assert, any right of contribution or right to indemnity or any other right or remedy against the Company in connection with any indemnification obligation or any other Liability to which the Sellers may become subject under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with any of the transactions contemplated herein.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
Section 9.01 Fees and Expenses. Except as set forth herein, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses; provided, that the Sellers shall pay all such costs and expenses incurred by the Company and not included within Company Transaction Expenses.
Section 9.02 Extension; Waiver. Subject to the express limitations herein, at any time prior to the Closing, the parties hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other party hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein by the other party or in any document, certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto by such other party or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of any party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by or on behalf of such party. No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in the exercise of any right hereunder shall impair such right or be construed as a waiver of, or acquiescence in, any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement herein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right.
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Section 9.03 Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by email transmission to the respective parties as follows (or, in each case, as otherwise notified by any of the parties hereto) and shall be effective and deemed to have been given (a) immediately when sent by email before 6:00 P.M. (New York City time) on any Business Day (and when after such time), on the next Business Day), and (b) when received if delivered by hand or overnight courier service on any Business Day:
Peter Schoenke
[***]
Email: [***]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice or service of process) to:
Husch Blackwell, LLP
33 East Main Street, Suite 300
Madison, WI 53703
Attention: Tom O’Day
Email: [***];
c/o Gambling.com Group Limited
GDC America Inc.
514 North Franklin St, Suite 201
Tampa, FL 33602, United States
Attention: Michael J. Stein
Email: [***];
with copies (which shall not constitute notice or service of process) to:
White & Case LLP
Bockenheimer Landstraße 20
Frankfurt am Main, Germany 60323
Attention: Darragh Byrne
Email: [***]
and
White & Case LLP
609 Main Street, Suite 2900
Houston, TX 77002-4403
Attention: Morgan Hollins
Email: [***]
Notices sent by multiple means, each of which is in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed to have been received at the earliest time provided for by this Agreement.
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Section 9.04 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Exhibits hereto and the Seller Disclosure Letter, contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral and written, with respect thereto, other than the Confidentiality Agreement. This Section 9.04 shall not be deemed to be an admission or acknowledgement by any of the parties hereto that any prior agreements or understandings, oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof exist, other than the Confidentiality Agreement.
Section 9.05 Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto. Except with respect to Article VIII of this Agreement, which shall inure to the benefit of each Purchaser Indemnitee and Seller Indemnitee, all of whom are intended as express third‑party beneficiaries thereof, no Person, other than GDC Media Limited, who is not party to this Agreement shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other party including, without limitation, to any beneficiary of a Seller if such Seller is a trust (except as expressly set forth herein); provided, that the Purchaser may assign its rights, interests and obligations hereunder (a) to any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Parent or to any Affiliate of which the Purchaser is a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary, (b) in connection with the transfer by the Purchaser of all or substantially all of the capital stock and/or assets of the Company and or its Subsidiaries and (c) for the purpose of securing any financing of the transactions contemplated hereby. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 9.05 will be void. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties hereto and are for the sole benefit of the parties hereto. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the parties hereto in accordance with Section 9.02 without notice or liability to any other person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the parties hereto of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the parties hereto. Consequently, persons other than the parties hereto may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.
Section 9.06 Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may not be amended except by a written instrument executed by all parties to this Agreement.
Section 9.07 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. Signed counterparts of this Agreement may be delivered by facsimile and by scanned .pdf image.
Section 9.08 Applicable Law; Arbitration.
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Section 9.09 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any applicable Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nonetheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible; provided, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the parties hereto intend that the remedies and limitations thereon (including Article VIII, Section 9.05, Section 9.08, Section 9.10, and Section 9.11) to each be construed as an integral provision of this Agreement and that such remedies and limitations shall not be severable in any manner that increases any party’s liability or obligations hereunder and no party hereto shall be required to take any action that would increase any such obligations or liabilities of any such Person.
Section 9.10 Specific Enforcement; Limitation on Damages. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached or threatened to be breached and that an award of money damages would be inadequate in such event. Accordingly, it is acknowledged that the parties shall be entitled to seek equitable relief, without proof of actual damages, including an Order for specific performance to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity as a remedy for any such breach or threatened breach. Each party further agrees that neither the other party nor any other Person shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section 9.10, and each party hereto irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument. Each party further agrees that the only permitted objection that it may raise in response to any action for equitable relief is that it contests the existence of a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement.
Section 9.11 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND SHALL CAUSE ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES TO WAIVE, ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 9.12 Rules of Construction. The parties hereto agree that they have been represented by counsel during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and have participated jointly in the drafting of this Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any Law, holding or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document.
Section 9.13 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 9.14 No Recourse. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto and no other Person that is not a party hereto shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim (whether (to the extent valid under applicable Law) in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions
64
contemplated hereby or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith. In no event shall the Company or any of its Affiliates, and the Company agrees not to and to cause its Affiliates not to, seek to enforce this Agreement against, make any claims for breach of this Agreement against, or seek to recover monetary damages from, any Person not a party to this Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Sellers, Purchaser, and Parent (solely for purposes of agreeing to the provisions listed below) have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first above written.
PETER SCHOENKE |
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Seller 2A |
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By: /s/ Peter Schoenke |
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Ilk 2021 Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated November 22, 2021 |
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By: |
Trustee Services Group, PLLC, Trustee |
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HERBERT ILK |
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By: |
/s/ Steven S. Marken |
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Steven S. Marken |
By: /s/ Herbert Ilk |
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Managing Principal |
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Seller 3A |
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Erickson 2021 Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated November 22, 2021 |
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JEFFREY ERICKSON |
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By: |
Trustee Services Group, PLLC, Trustee |
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By: /s/ Jeffrey Erickson |
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By: |
/s/ Steven S. Marken |
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Steven S. Marken |
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Managing Principal |
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TIMOTHY SCHULER |
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Seller 4A |
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By: /s/ Timothy Schuler |
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Schuler 2021 Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated November 22, 2021 |
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By: |
Trustee Services Group, PLLC, Trustee |
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CHRISTOPHER LISS |
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By: |
/s/ Steven S. Marken |
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Steven S. Marken |
By: /s/ Christopher Liss |
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Managing Principal |
[Signature page to Stock Purchase Agreement]
GDC AMERICA, INC. |
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By: |
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/s/ William Hanson |
Name: |
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William Hanson |
Title: |
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President |
Joined solely for purposes of agreeing to the provisions of Section 2.02 to the extent related to issuance of Parent Shares, Section 3.06, Section 4.03, Section 4.04, Section 4.05, Section 4.09, Section 5.10, Section 5.11, Article VI, and Article VIII:
GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED |
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By: |
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/s/ Charles Gillespie |
Name: |
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Charles Gillespie |
Title: |
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Chief Executive Officer |
Seller |
Number of Common Shares |
Number of Preferred Shares |
Total Number of Shares |
% of Shares |
Seller 1 |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
Seller 2 |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
Seller 3 |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
Seller 4 |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
Seller 5 |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
Seller 2A |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
Seller 3A |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
Seller 4A |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
[***] |
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Defined Term |
Section |
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Agreed Claim |
Section 8.08(c) |
Agreement |
Preamble |
Alternate Transaction |
Section 5.04(a) |
Applicable Sales/Use Taxes |
Section 7.05(d) |
Arbitrator |
Section 2.03(c)(i) |
Balance Sheet Date |
Section 3.08(a) |
Basket |
Section 8.06 |
Claim Certificate |
Section 8.08(a) |
Closing |
Section 2.04(a) |
Closing Date |
Section 2.04(a) |
Closing Statement |
Section 2.03(a) |
COBRA |
Section 3.13(k) |
Collateral Source |
Section 8.07 |
Common Stock |
First Recital |
Company |
Preamble |
Company Plan |
Section 3.13(a) |
Competing Business |
Section 5.08(a)(i) |
Continuing Employee |
Section 5.12(a) |
Copyleft Terms |
Section 3.16(k) |
Disputed Amounts |
Section 2.03(c) |
DOL |
Section 3.13(b) |
End Date |
Section 8.01(b)(ii) |
ERISA |
Section 3.13(a) |
ERISA Affiliate |
Section 3.13(a) |
Estimated Closing Cash |
Section 2.02(e) |
Estimated Closing Indebtedness |
Section 2.02(e) |
Estimated Closing Statement |
Section 2.02(e) |
Estimated Closing Working Capital |
Section 2.02(e) |
Estimated Company Transaction Expenses |
Section 2.02(e) |
Exchange Act |
Section 3.21 |
Financial Statements |
Section 3.08(a) |
HIPAA |
Section 3.13(h) |
ICC Rules |
Section 9.08(b) |
Indemnified Party |
Section 8.08(a) |
Indemnifying Party |
Section 8.08(a) |
Individual Seller |
Preamble |
Interim Financial Statements |
Section 3.08(a) |
Interim Period |
Section 5.03(a) |
IP Licenses |
Section 3.18(a)(xv) |
Knowledge of the Sellers |
Section 1.05 |
Lock-Up Period |
Section 5.10(b) |
Lock-Up Shares |
Section 5.10(a) |
Material Contract |
Section 3.18(a) |
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Multiemployer Plan |
Section 3.13(c) |
Notice of Objection |
Section 2.03(b) |
Open Source Materials |
Section 3.16(k) |
Purchaser |
Preamble |
Parent Financial Statements |
Section 4.05(b) |
Permits |
Section 3.11 |
Preferred Stock |
First Recital |
Purchase Price Adjustment |
Section 2.03(d) |
Purchaser |
Preamble |
Purchaser Indemnitees |
Section 8.04 |
Real Property Leases |
Section 3.20(b) |
Registered Intellectual Property |
Section 3.16(a) |
Return |
Section 3.15(a) |
Sales Tax Indemnity |
Section 8.04(d) |
SEC Filings |
Section 4.05(a) |
Securities Act |
Section 2.02(b) |
Seller |
Preamble |
Seller 1 |
Preamble |
Seller 2 |
Preamble |
Seller 2A |
Preamble |
Seller 3 |
Preamble |
Seller 3A |
Preamble |
Seller 4 |
Preamble |
Seller 4A |
Preamble |
Seller 5 |
Preamble |
Seller Disclosure Letter |
Article III |
Seller Indemnitees |
Section 8.05 |
Sellers’ Representative |
Preamble |
Shares |
First Recital |
Tax Matter |
Section 7.02(a) |
Tax Refund |
Section 7.01(e) |
Third Party Claim |
Section 8.09(a) |
Trade Secrets |
Article I |
Transfer |
Section 5.10(b) |
Transfer Taxes |
Section 7.01(g) |
Trust Seller |
Preamble |
Trustee |
Section 2.04(b)(vi) |
USPTO |
Section 3.16(b) |
USCO |
Section 3.16(b) |
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Exhibit 1.1
Form of Employment Agreement
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Exhibit 1.2
Form of Employment Agreement
72
Exhibit 2
Form of Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (CIIAA)
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Exhibit 4.6
Execution Version
CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION (MARKED BY BRACKETS AS “[***]”) HAS BEEN
EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS BOTH (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) IS THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT KEEPS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.
Dated 31 January 2022
Share Purchase Agreement
relating to NDC Holding Limited
between
the Sellers
as defined herein
and
the Buyer
as defined herein
White & Case LLP
Bockenheimer Landstrasse 20
60323 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
1. |
Interpretation and Related Matters |
5 |
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2. |
Sale and Purchase and Related Matters |
7 |
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3. |
Purchase Price |
8 |
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4. |
Earn Out Period |
13 |
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5. |
Closing and Post-Closing |
14 |
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6. |
Representations and Warranties of the Sellers and the Warrantors |
18 |
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7. |
Guarantee |
19 |
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8. |
Specific Indemnities of the Warrantors |
20 |
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9. |
Lock-Up Agreements |
20 |
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10. |
Rule 144 and Restrictive Legends; Nasdaq Listing |
21 |
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11. |
Tax |
21 |
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12. |
Representations and Warranties of the Buyer |
25 |
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13. |
Offset Amount |
26 |
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14. |
Restrictions |
27 |
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15. |
Liability and Related Matters |
28 |
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16. |
Amendment and Waiver |
32 |
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17. |
Sellers’ Representatives |
33 |
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18. |
General Provisions |
34 |
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Definitions Schedule A |
General Terms |
48 |
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Definitions Schedule B |
Financial Terms |
64 |
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Schedule 1 |
Group Companies |
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Schedule 2 |
Warranties |
68 |
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Schedule 3 |
Specific Accounting Policies |
86 |
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Schedule 4 |
Key Employees |
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Schedule 5 |
Accounts |
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Schedule 6 |
Intellectual Property |
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Schedule 7 |
Disclosure Letter |
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Schedule 8 |
Exit Bonus Agreement Template |
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Schedule 9 |
Real Property |
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Schedule 10 |
List of Assets |
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Schedule 11 |
Earn-Out Calculations |
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Schedule 12 |
Business Plan |
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This Share Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) is executed on 31 January, 2022 between the following parties:
(“Seller 1”);
(“Seller 2”);
(“Seller 3”);
(“Seller 4”);
(“Seller 5”);
(“Seller 6”);
(“Seller 7”);
(“Seller 8”);
(“Seller 9”);
(“Seller 10”);
(“Seller 11”);
(“Seller 12”),
(Sellers 1 to 12 are collectively referred to as the “Sellers” and individually as the “Seller”);
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(parties 13 to 18 are collectively referred to as the “Indirect Sellers” and individually as the “Indirect Seller”);
(For the avoidance of any doubt, Finder Media shall be the party to this Agreement solely for the purpose of the provision of certain assurances to Buyer in relation to the FMH Asset Transfer);
Each of the Sellers, Indirect Sellers, the Buyer and GAMB are hereinafter individually referred to as a “Party” and jointly the “Parties”.
RECITALS:
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1. Interpretation and Related Matters
1.1 Definitions
Unless the context of this Agreement provides otherwise, the entities defined in the heading and preamble of this Agreement shall retain such definitions and the following additional terms shall have the meanings set out below in Definitions Schedule A.
1.2 Whenever any statement is made “to the Warrantors’ Knowledge” or is qualified by any similar expression, reference is made to the actual knowledge of the Warrantors having made reasonable and prudent enquiries of the directors and officers of the Target Group Companies and each of the Key Employees.
1.3 Other Terms
Other terms may be defined elsewhere in this Agreement (including in any Schedule hereto) and, unless otherwise indicated, shall have the respective meanings there ascribed to such terms.
1.4 Interpretation
1.4.1 The titles and headings included in this Agreement are for convenience only and do not express in any way the intended understanding of the Parties. They shall not be taken into account in the interpretation of the provisions of this Agreement.
1.4.2 The Schedules (including the Definition Schedules) to this Agreement form an integral part thereof and any reference to this Agreement includes the Schedules (including the Definition Schedules) and vice versa.
1.4.3 The original version of this Agreement has been drafted in English. Should this Agreement be translated into any other language, the English version shall prevail.
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1.4.4 The words “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder”, “hereby”, “hereto”, “herewith” and words of similar import shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular clause, paragraph or other subdivision.
1.4.5 The words “include”, “includes”, “including” and all forms and derivations thereof shall mean including but not limited to.
1.4.6 All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the same meaning regardless of whether they are used in the singular or plural number.
1.4.7 If any period is referred to in this Agreement by way of reference to a number of days, the days shall be reckoned exclusively of the first and inclusively of the last day unless the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the location of performance, in which case the last day shall be the next succeeding day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in such location.
1.4.8 Unless otherwise provided herein, all references to a fixed time of a day shall mean the time in Ireland being Greenwich Mean Time (“GMT”) or Irish Standard Time (“IST"), whichever is applicable.
1.4.9 A reference to a statute or statutory provision shall be construed as a reference to the Laws of Ireland unless otherwise specified and includes:
in each case, prior to the Signing Date. For the avoidance of doubt, any reference to applicable Law shall refer to the Laws of the relevant jurisdictions concerned.
1.4.10 Any reference to an Irish legal term for any action, remedy, method of judicial proceedings, legal document, legal status, court, official or any legal concept or thing shall, in respect of any jurisdiction other than Ireland, be deemed to include a reference to what most nearly approximates to the Irish legal term in that jurisdiction.
1.4.11 Save where expressly specified in this Agreement to be a joint and several liability or an obligation of the Sellers, any action or duty to be taken or performed by the Sellers or Indirect Sellers (or any of them) or any agreement, warranty, representation, indemnity, covenant, undertaking or liability of the Sellers or the Indirect Sellers (or any of them) arising under this Agreement are given or entered into by the Sellers and/or the Indirect Sellers (as the case may be) on a several basis (and not jointly or jointly and severally) and each Seller’s or Indirect Seller’s (as the case may be) several liability shall, in the case of the Sellers be equal to the percentage of such Seller’s shareholding in the Company.
1.4.12 The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favouring or disfavouring a Party by the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
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2. Sale and Purchase and Related Matters
2.1 Sale and Purchase of Shares
2.1.1 Each Seller agrees to sell as legal and beneficial owner and the Buyer agrees to purchase, free from all Encumbrances and together with all rights of any nature whatsoever attaching or accruing to them now or in the future, the number of Shares listed opposite the name of each Seller in Schedule 1 and, as a result of such, indirectly NDC Media, on the date hereof pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
2.2 Title
Subject to the Sellers and the Buyer having performed all obligations to be performed by them pursuant to Clause 5.2.1 and Clause 5.2.2 respectively, beneficial and legal title of ownership to the Shares and, as a result of which, indirectly NDC Media shall transfer at Closing.
2.3 Waiver of Pre-emption Rights and Liquidation Preference
Each Seller waives any and all (i) liquidation preferences and (ii) pre-emption rights or other rights or restrictions on transfer in respect of Shares or interests in the Shares conferred on such Seller by the Companies Act, the memorandum and articles of association of the Company, any previous memorandum and articles of association of the Company (to the extent applicable), the Shareholders Agreement, any other agreement or applicable Law.
2.4 No Dealing in Shares of GAMB
The Parties acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Agreement shall constitute, or be construed to constitute, the Buyer dealing, directly or indirectly, in shares of GAMB.
2.5 Affirmation of Marital Status
Each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers who are natural persons, with the exception of Seller 10, Seller 11, Indirect Seller 13, Indirect Seller 14 and Indirect Seller 15, hereby declare, represent and warrant to the Buyer that such Seller or Indirect Seller, as the case may be, is not married and there is no community property, community of acquests or similar interest under any applicable Law (including acts of administration between spouses) which applies to or attaches to their legal or beneficial interest in the Shares.
3. Purchase Price
3.1 Purchase Price
3.1.1 The purchase price for the Shares (the “Purchase Price”) shall be paid in 3 (three) instalments as follows:
(a) an amount equal to EUR 12,500,000, of which EUR 10,000,000 shall be paid in cash, and EUR 2,500,000 shall be paid in Parent Shares, with the exact number of shares being determined on the Closing Date, (the “Consideration Payment 1”);
(b) an amount between EUR zero and EUR 19,000,000, the exact amount of which shall be determined as forth in Clause 3.1.2, payable on 30 April 2023 (the “Consideration Payment 2”);
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(c) an amount between EUR 0 (zero Euro) and EUR 28,500,000, the exact amount of which shall be determined as forth in Clause 3.1.3, payable on 30 April 2024 (the “Consideration Payment 3”),
it being understood and agreed that up to 50% of each of the Consideration Payment 2 and Consideration Payment 3 (if any) shall be paid in Parent Shares, with the exact number of Parent Shares being determined as set forth in Clause 3.1.4, and the balance in cash (the amount of cash payable as part of the Consideration Payment 1, Consideration Payment 2 and Consideration Payment 3 (if any) shall be referred to as the “Cash Consideration”. The amount of Parent Shares payable as part of the Consideration Payment 1, Consideration Payment 2 and Consideration Payment 3, if any, shall be referred to as the “Share Consideration”).
3.1.2 The amount of the Consideration Payment 2 shall be determined as follows:
(a) by firstly selecting the lesser of the following 3 figures (“2022 Performance Amount”):
(i) [***];
(ii) EBITDA for calendar year 2022 multiplied by the Blended Multiple for calendar year 2022; or
(iii) the total amount calculated as follows:
(A) Total Revenue for calendar year 2022;
multiplied by
(B) the Blended Multiple for calendar year 2022;
multiplied by
(C) [***].
(b) to the extent the 2022 Performance Amount is greater than [***], Consideration Payment 2 shall then be equal to:
(i) the 2022 Performance Amount minus [***], and shall, where the total sum derived is positive, be paid subject to Clause 3.2.1; and
(c) to the extent the 2022 Performance Amount is equal to or less than [***], Consideration Payment 2 shall then be EUR zero and shall not be paid, with the amount equal to:
(i) [***];
minus
(ii) the 2022 Performance Amount,
being the “Remaining Offset Amount”.
(d) Part 1 of Schedule 11 sets out the Financial Model of the calculation of Consideration Payment 2. Part 2 of Schedule 11 sets out illustrative examples of the calculation of Consideration Payment 2.
(e) In the event of any inconsistency between the Financial Model and the provisions of this Clause 3.1.2, the terms of this Clause 3.1.2 shall prevail over the Financial Model. In the
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event of any inconsistency between the illustrative examples and the wording in Clause 3.1.2, the illustrative examples shall prevail over the wording in this Clause 3.1.2.
3.1.3 The amount of the Consideration Payment 3 shall be determined as follows:
(a) by firstly selecting the lesser of the following 3 figures (“2023 Performance Amount”):
(i) [***];
(ii) 2023 Incremental EBITDA multiplied by the Blended Multiple for 2023; and
(iii) the total sum of:
(A) 2023 Incremental Regulated Revenue multiplied by [***];
plus
(B) 2023 Incremental Unregulated Revenue multiplied by [***];
(b) Consideration Payment 3 shall then be equal to:
(i) the 2023 Performance Amount;
minus
(ii) any Remaining Offset Amount,
and shall:
(iii) where the sum derived is positive, be paid subject to Clause 3.2.2; and
(iv) where the sum derived is zero or negative, then Consideration Payment 3 shall be EUR zero but not negative and shall not be paid;
(c) Part 1 of Schedule 11 sets out the Financial Model of the calculation of Consideration Payment 3. Part 2 of Schedule 11 sets out illustrative examples of the calculation of Consideration Payment 3.
(d) In the event of any inconsistency between the Financial Model and the provisions of this Clause 3.1.3, the terms of this Clause 3.1.3 shall prevail over the Financial Model. In the event of any inconsistency between the illustrative examples and the wording in Clause 3.1.3, the illustrative examples shall prevail over the wording in this Clause 3.1.3.
3.1.4 The determination of the ratio of Parent Shares and cash in each of Consideration Payment 2 and Consideration Payment 3 shall be in the sole discretion of GAMB, subject to the maximum amounts set forth above. For the avoidance of doubt, GAMB may choose not to issue any Parent Shares and pay each of Consideration Payment 2 and Consideration Payment 3 solely in cash. The number of shares making up any Share Consideration shall be determined using the volume weighted average (“VWAP”) of such shares for the [***] day period prior to each of the payment dates and any Share Consideration shall be issued pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) within [***] days from the payment date (subject to the availability of an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and the receipt of an accredited investor questionnaire with respect thereto). In the event that any Parent Shares are issued and there is a follow-on offering of the shares of GAMB, if so requested by GAMB’s underwriters acting at their discretion, each Seller shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with GAMB to enter into a lock up agreement,
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substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A to the underwriting agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement on Form F-1 filed by Parent with the SEC on 12 July 2021 (except the duration of which will most likely be no longer than 90 (ninety) calendar days) or any other similar agreement as required by the underwriters or applicable Law.
3.1.5 The Purchase Price shall be allocated among the Sellers in proportion to the respective number of Shares sold by each of them hereunder. The Buyer shall only be liable for the payment of the Purchase Price in respect of the Shares in accordance with this Agreement, and shall have no liability for the actual distribution of such portion of the Purchase Price among the Sellers.
3.1.6 Any Share Consideration shall be subject to the Lock-Up Period.
3.1.7 If a Seller or, where relevant, Indirect Seller, is a Bad Actor at the point in time when the Consideration Payment 2 or Consideration Payment 3 or any portion thereof is due, respectively, the amount equal to the pro rata portion of the Cash Consideration or Share Consideration remaining due to such Seller or Indirect Seller, who is a Bad Actor shall no longer be due and payable to such Seller or Indirect Seller.
3.2 Consideration Payment 2 and Consideration Payment 3 Adjustment Procedure for Exit Bonus Program Participants
3.2.1 Where Consideration Payment 2 is payable pursuant to Clause 3.1.2(b) and therefore the 2022 Exit Bonus Payment Amounts are then also payable, Consideration Payment 2 shall be reduced by the 2022 Exit Bonus Amount.
3.2.2 Where Consideration Payment 3 is payable pursuant to Clause 3.1.3(b) and therefore the 2023 Exit Bonus Payment Amounts are then also payable, Consideration Payment 3 shall be reduced by the 2023 Exit Bonus Amount from it.
3.3 Post-Closing Payment Adjustment Procedure
3.3.1 Promptly after the Closing Date, and in any event no later than 31 March 2022, the Sellers will procure the completion of the audit of the financial statements of each Target Group Company (as applicable to the extent prepared), as well as the audited financial statements for the consolidated Target Group Companies, prepared in accordance with IFRS for the financial year ended 31 December 2021 (the “2021 Statutory Accounts”), based on which the Buyer shall cause the Company, to, on the basis of the 2021 Statutory Accounts and no sooner than 10 (ten) Business Days following receipt by the Buyer of the finalized 2021 Statutory Accounts, prepare and deliver to the Sellers’ Representatives a statement (the “Post-Closing Statement”) setting forth the Buyer’s good faith calculations of (i) the amount of the Closing Borrowings, (ii) the amount of the Closing Cash, (iii) the Company Transaction Expenses (iv) the Closing Working Capital, (v) the Tax liabilities of the Target Group Companies, (vi) the outstanding audit and Tax compliance fees incurred that relate to the financial year ended 31 December 2021 or any earlier financial year not included in the Closing Working Capital and (vii) a calculation of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment based on the amounts set forth in the Post-Closing Statement. The Post-Closing Statement shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the policies and principles used by the Company in connection with the preparation of the 2021 Statutory Accounts, consistently applied, including, without limitation, the Specific Accounting Policies.
3.3.2 Determination of the Post-Closing Statement
(a) Within 60 (sixty) Business Days of receipt from the Buyer of the Post-Closing Statement, the Sellers’ Representatives shall either:
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(i) confirm to the Buyer in writing the acceptance of the Post-Closing Statement; or
(ii) notify the Buyer in writing of the non-acceptance of the Post-Closing Statement (the “Non-Acceptance Notice”), together with written details of each matter disputed and of their proposed modifications.
(b) If the Sellers’ Representatives serve a Non-Acceptance Notice pursuant to Clause 3.3.2(a)(ii), the Buyer and the Sellers’ Representatives shall use reasonable endeavours to meet and discuss the objections of the Sellers’ Representatives and to agree on the adjustments (if any) required to be made to the Post-Closing Statement within 20 (twenty) Business Days upon receipt by the Buyer of the Non-Acceptance Notice.
(c) If the Sellers’ Representatives confirm the acceptance of the Post-Closing Statement (either as originally submitted to him or with such modifications as the Sellers’ Representatives and the Buyer agree) or fails to notify the Buyer of the non-acceptance in accordance with Clause 3.3.2(a)(ii), the Post-Closing Statement (incorporating any modifications agreed in writing) shall constitute to be the final and binding on the Parties in the absence of manifest error or fraud.
(d) If the Sellers’ Representatives and the Buyer are unable to agree on the Post-Closing Statement within 20 (twenty) Business Days after the Buyer’s receipt of the Non-Acceptance Notice, either the Buyer or the Sellers’ Representatives may request that the dispute be submitted for a final and binding determination to a jointly nominated independent internationally-represented firm of chartered accountants (the “Neutral Auditor”). In the event that the Buyer and the Sellers’ Representatives cannot agree to jointly nominate a Neutral Auditor within 20 (twenty) Business Days after such request by either Party, a Neutral Auditor shall be appointed by the President of Chartered Accountants Ireland by referral.
(e) The following provisions shall apply in relation to the Neutral Auditor:
(i) in giving its determination, the Neutral Auditor shall state what adjustments (if any) are necessary to the Post-Closing Statement in relation to the disputed matters for the purposes of this Agreement;
(ii) the Neutral Auditor shall be requested to notify the Buyer and the Sellers of its decision within 20 (twenty) Business Days of its appointment, or such longer reasonable period as it may determine;
(iii) the Neutral Auditor shall act as an expert (and not as an arbitrator) in making its determination;
(iv) the Neutral Auditor’s determination shall not be beyond the position of the Buyer as reflected in the Post-Closing Statement or the position of the Sellers as reflected in the Non-Acceptance Notice; and
(v) the Neutral Auditor’s determination shall be final and binding on the Parties in the absence of manifest error or fraud and shall be applied to the Post-Closing Statement which, as adjusted in the manner which the Neutral Auditor has determined is necessary, shall constitute the final and binding for the purposes of this Agreement.
(f) All fees and expenses of the Neutral Auditor shall be borne by the Buyer and the Sellers in the inverse proportion to the extent to which the Neutral Auditor decides in favour of either
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the Buyer or the Sellers. By way of example, where the Neutral Auditor renders a decision allocating 25% (twenty-five percent) of the disputed amount to the Sellers, then the Sellers shall pay 75% (seventy-five percent) of the fees and expenses.
3.3.3 Access to Books and Records; Cooperation
(a) In connection with the review of the Post-Closing Statement, the Buyer shall (i) give the Sellers’ Representatives, their professional advisors and the Neutral Auditor, as the case may be, reasonable access to the 2021 Statutory Accounts, the work papers and other materials and documents used and produced by the Buyer and/or Target Group Companies in connection with the preparation of the Post-Closing Statement, and (ii) generally cooperate with the Neutral Auditor for purposes of achieving the determination.
(b) In connection with the review of the Post-Closing Statement and the Non-Acceptance Notice, if any, the Sellers’ Representatives shall (i) give the Buyer, its professional advisors and the Neutral Auditor, as the case may be, reasonable access to the 2021 Statutory Accounts, the work papers and other materials and documents used and produced by the Sellers’ Representatives in connection with the preparation of the Non-Acceptance Notice, and (ii) generally cooperate with the Neutral Auditor for purposes of achieving the determination.
3.4 Payment of Cash Consideration of Consideration Payment 1
On the Closing Date, the Buyer shall pay, or cause to be paid, the Cash Consideration component of Consideration Payment 1 to the Sellers by electronic transfer in immediately available funds (value date the Closing Date) to the Sellers’ Bank Account.
3.5 Payment of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment
3.5.1 Upon the determination, in accordance with Clause 3.3 hereof, of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment, the Sellers or the Buyer, as the case may be, shall make the payment required by Clauses 3.5.1(a) and 3.5.1(b). The Post-Closing Adjustment Payment payable by the Sellers or the Buyer pursuant to this Clause 3.5.1 shall be treated as an adjustment to the purchase price:
(a) If the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment is greater than zero, then the Buyer shall pay each of the Sellers their respective pro rata shares of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment within 3 (three) Business Days of the determination of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment to be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Sellers’ Bank Account promptly after the final determination of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment.
(b) If the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment is less than zero, then within 5 (five) Business Days after the determination of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment each Seller shall pay or cause to be paid to the Buyer their respective pro rata shares of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment, with such Post-Closing Adjustment Payment to be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account designated by the Buyer in writing to the Sellers’ Representatives promptly after the final determination of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment.
4. Earn Out Period
4.1 From 1 January 2022 until 31 December 2023 (the “Earn Out Period”), the Sellers and the Buyer shall procure that the Target Group Companies are managed substantially in the same manner as it has been conducted heretofore subject to any regulatory obligations that GAMB Group has to
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operate the GAMB Business in a prudent manner in the ordinary course in accordance with applicable Law and in accordance with this Clause 4 to the extent permitted by any applicable Law.
4.2 Subject always to the Buyer carrying on the Business in the ordinary and usual course, during the Earn Out Period and the Buyer, acting reasonably, shall be entitled to take decisions and do things commercially reasonably required of it in order to protect the GAMB Business from any material adverse effect. However, the Buyer shall not, without the prior written consent of the Sellers’ Representatives (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), do anything which would result in a deviation from the Business Plan and/or which could have a material and adverse effect on the Target Group Company’s ability to generate profit, or which could be reasonably foreseeable and likely to materially negatively affect the financial performance of the Target Group Companies and so result in the reduction of the unpaid balance of the Purchase Price or any Consideration Payment 2 and 3, including:
(a) making any material change to the nature or scope of any Target Group Companies’ business or trading activities;
(b) doing any act or thing which materially and adversely affects the relationship of any of the Target Group Companies with its customers, suppliers or distributors or any other person who ordinarily does business with the Target Group Companies;
(c) presenting a petition for its liquidation or passing of any resolution for its winding up unless in the reasonable opinion of the directors of the Target Group Companies, any of the Target Group Companies is insolvent and such action is necessary or desirable to ensure that all directors of the relevant Target Group Company comply with their obligations;
(d) changing the accounting reference date of the Target Group Companies; and
(e) selling, transferring or otherwise disposing of, or granting any Encumbrance over, any of the shares in any of the Target Group Companies (or enter into any agreement to do so);
(f) it shall procure that none of the Target Group Companies shall sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or a material part of its business, assets or undertaking (or enter into an agreement to do so); and
(g) it shall not cause or permit any of the Target Group Companies to cease to carry on all or a material part of its business.
4.3 The Buyer shall also procure that, other than where, upon reasonable request by the Sellers’ Representatives, the Buyer has provided prior written consent, the Target Group Companies shall:
(a) not enter into any transactions other than in the ordinary course of the business, at arm’s length and on reasonable commercial terms;
(b) maintain sufficient working capital;
(c) not materially increase or decrease the levels of remuneration and/or compensation received by any of its employees, independent contractors or consultants from time to time;
(d) not acquire any shares or other membership interest in another entity, save for shares constituting no more than 5% (five percent) of the aggregate issued share capital of a company acquired for investment purposes only, or all of the assets or undertaking of another entity; or
(e) not relocate its business operations.
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4.4 The provisions of Clauses 4.2 and 4.3 above do not apply to the extent that:
(a) the Company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due or is in winding-up, administration or administrative receivership or is insolvent within the meaning of section 8 of the Insolvency Act; and
(b) the act or omission concerned is required by Law or by the fiduciary duties of the directors of the Company.
4.5 Where any matter set out in Clause 4.2 above requires the prior written consent of the Sellers’ Representatives and the Sellers’ Representatives have not responded in writing to the Buyer (whether it gives or withholds its consent or otherwise) within 10 (ten) Business Days of receiving written notice from the Buyer of the proposed matter, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Sellers’ Representatives’ consent shall be deemed to be given in respect of such proposed matter.
5. Closing and Post-Closing
5.1 Date and Place
The Closing shall take place at a time and location to be agreed in writing by the Parties, immediately after signing this Agreement on the Closing Date.
5.2 Closing Obligations
5.2.1 Obligations of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers
At the Closing, the Sellers shall take (and the Indirect Sellers shall, procure that the Sellers shall take) each of the following actions (together, the “Sellers’ Closing Actions”):
(a) deliver to the Buyer:
(i) in respect of the Shares, duly executed instruments of transfer signed by each of the Sellers in respect of their Shares in favour of the Buyer or its nominee(s) (together with the share certificates (if any have been issued) in respect of the Shares or, if the share certificates are found to be missing, an express indemnity, in a form satisfactory to the Buyer);
(ii) the complete, correct and up to date corporate books for each of the Target Group Companies (i.e. all registers, minute books, and other statutory books required to be kept pursuant to applicable Law in the jurisdiction of the Target Group Companies, all certificates of incorporation and certificates of incorporation on change of name, memorandum and articles of association Provided that, any documents of the Company held by the registered agent in the British Virgin Islands shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Buyer at Closing;
(iii) a signed resignation letter from each existing director or officer of the Company;
(iv) all credit cards in the name of or for the account of each Target Group Company in the possession of any director, officer or employee of each Target Group Company resigning from the Business as at the Closing Date;
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(v) a signed and dated letter of instruction to the Company’s registered agent from its client of record in the agreed form and countersigned by the Company's registered agent;
(vi) each Seller and Indirect Seller shall deliver any asset whatsoever (including bank balances, agencies or appointments) in his name or in the name of a company or companies controlled by him which is related to the business of each Target Group Company carried on at Closing or a deed of assignment in favour of each Target Group Company in respect of such asset;
(vii) a certificate of good standing for the Company dated no earlier than 5 (five) Business Days before the Closing Date;
(viii) a registered agent’s certificate for the Company dated no earlier than 2 (two) Business Days before the Closing Date;
(ix) a certified copy resolution of the members of the Company:
(A) approving the Transaction (per sub-regulation 10.11 of the Company’s articles of association);
(B) waiving certain rights under the Company’s articles of association in connection with the Transaction (including the restriction contained in sub-regulation 4.1 of the Company’s articles of association);
(x) a certified copy of the minutes of board meetings or resolutions of the directors passed in writing (or memorandum or resolutions of the sole director, as the case may be) of each Target Group Company, certified by the secretary of the board, in which the directors:
(A) approve the Transaction (including approval per sub-regulation 10.11 of the memorandum and articles of association of the Company) as well as, in the case of the Company, vote in favour of the transfer of the Shares to the Buyer (or its nominee(s)) and vote in favour of the registration of the Buyer (or its nominee(s)) as member(s) of the Company in respect of the Shares;
(B) cancel each existing share certificate for the Shares and authorize the issue of a new share certificate to the Buyer;
(C) revoke all existing mandates for the operation of any bank accounts and issue new mandates giving authority to Persons nominated by the Buyer;
(D) appoint
(1) two Persons as the Buyer may nominate; and
(2) one Person as the Sellers’ Representatives, may nominate, who shall be Fintan Costello,
as directors of the Company with immediate effect (subject to such persons having previously provided written consents to the Company, consenting to their appointment as directors of the Company); and
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(E) approve the resignations of all such other Persons as directors of the Company; and
(F) appoint such Persons as secretary and statutory auditors as may be required by the Buyer and approve the resignations of any such Persons as secretary and statutory auditors as may be required by the Buyer;
(xi) duly executed resolutions of Sellers 3, Seller 6, Seller 7, Seller 8, Seller 9, and Seller 12 approving the Transaction, entry into this Agreement and the sale and transfer of the relevant Shares owned by such Seller to the Buyer;
(xii) the duly executed Disclosure Letter; and
(xiii) spousal consents for Seller 10, Seller 11, Indirect Seller 13, Indirect Seller 14 and Indirect Seller 15, who are natural persons to whom the community of acquests and acts of administration between spouses applies;
(b) complete the transfer of the legal interest in all intellectual property assets in relation to the FMH Asset Transfer and take all other required actions to effectuate such transfer including, without limitation, updating the relevant registrations for the same (provided that the Sellers' obligation with regard to transferring legal interest in the EU trademark "018121164, Bonus Finder" is considered satisfied by filing of the recordal application of process number 25987720 with the European Union Intellectual Property Office on 27 January 2022);
(c) execution of
(d) a termination agreement in relation to the Shareholders Agreement, dated 11 June 2020 between the Company and the Sellers (the “Shareholders Agreement”) which agreement shall incorporate a waiver and release of all claims of the Sellers thereunder; and
(i) the Non-US Affiliate Agreement
(e) termination of existing and entry by each Seller, each Indirect Seller (where relevant), and each of the Key Employees (other than Key Employee 5), including the Exit Bonus Program Participants (other than Key Employee 5), into a new employment or consulting agreement with NDC Media for a term equal to at least the Earn Out Period and with current base salaries to remain unchanged, and standard benefit packages to be provided commensurate with their respective responsibilities, with such agreements to be in a form acceptable to the Buyer acting reasonably; and
(f) discharge or procure the discharge of all monies owing to the Company (whether then due for payment or not) by the Sellers or by the Indirect Sellers or the directors or by any of them or by any Affiliates or otherwise Connected Persons of any of them, if any.
5.2.2 Obligations of the Buyer and GAMB
At the Closing,
(a) the Buyer shall (or shall cause its Affiliates to)
(i) pay the Cash Consideration component of Consideration Payment 1 in accordance with Clause 3.4;
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(ii) deliver to Sellers a certified copy of applicable resolutions of the Buyer duly certified by the Vice President, General Counsel in which the Transaction is approved, (the “Buyer’s Closing Actions”); and
(b) GAMB shall (or shall cause its Affiliates to),
(i) provided that GAMB has received a properly completed original issuance spreadsheet (the “Share Issuance Spreadsheet”) prior to the Closing Date, issue a letter of instruction to American Stock transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“AST”), the Buyer’s transfer agent to request that AST issue the Parent Shares to the Sellers in accordance with the Share Issuance Spreadsheet,
(ii) subject to the Sellers completing the accredited investor questionnaire, ensure compliance with any applicable securities Laws or regulations in relation to the issuance of the Share Consideration; and
(iii) deliver to Sellers a certified copy of applicable resolutions of GAMB duly certified by the Vice President, General Counsel in which the Transaction is approved and the issuance of Parent Shares to the Sellers as part of the Consideration Payments are duly authorized (the “GAMB’s Closing Actions”).
5.3 Breach of Closing Deliverables
5.3.1 The effectiveness of each of the Sellers’ Closing Actions is conditional upon the occurrence of all of the Buyer’s Closing Actions and GAMB’s Closing Actions and vice-versa, it being understood that: (i) each Sellers’ Closing Action is solely for the benefit of the Buyer and may be waived by the Buyer in its sole discretion without notice, liability or obligation to any Person; and (ii) the Buyer’s Closing Actions and the GAMB’s Closing Actions are solely for the benefit of Sellers and may be waived by the Sellers’ Representatives in their sole discretion without notice, liability or obligation to any Person.
5.4 Post-Closing Matters
5.4.1 At the request of the Buyer, the Sellers and, as applicable, the Indirect Sellers shall use their reasonable efforts to cause employees of the Target Group Companies other than those referred to in Clause 5.2.1(d) to enter into a new employment and/or independent contractor agreements with the Buyer or one of its Affiliates, in a form acceptable to the Buyer, acting reasonably.
5.4.2 US Licensing and Operator arrangements
The Buyer and the GAMB Group shall be responsible for making any required notifications to regulatory or Governmental Authority together with all the relevant forms and applications with regard to the US licensing and operator arrangements after Closing with all reasonable assistance from the Sellers and Indirect Sellers.
6. Representations and Warranties of the Sellers and the Warrantors
6.1 General Principles
6.1.1 Each of the Sellers hereby represent and warrants on a several and individual basis to the Buyer that each of the Fundamental Warranties (in so far as each of such Fundamental Warranties relates to such Seller and such that no Seller gives any such Fundamental Warranties in relation to any other Seller) is true and accurate at the Signing Date.
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6.1.2 The Warrantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Buyer and to GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media for the purposes of IP Warranties only, that each of the General Warranties is true and accurate at the Signing Date.
6.1.3 The General Warranties are qualified only by the disclosures in this Agreement and the disclosures in the Disclosure Letter. Accordingly, the Warrantors shall be deemed not to be in breach of the General Warranties to the extent a fact or matter which would otherwise constitute or result in a breach of any of the General Warranties is included in this Agreement or the Disclosure Letter, provided that such disclosure has been fair and accurate so as to enable a buyer to assess the potential breach of such warranty resulting from such matter or fact.
6.1.4 Each of the Warranties shall be separate and independent and shall not be limited by reference to any other provision of Schedule 2 or by anything in this Agreement (other than the provisions of this Clause 6.1 and Clause 15).
6.1.5 The Sellers and Indirect Sellers hereby agree to waive with effect from the Signing Date any rights, remedies or claims which they may have against any inaccuracy or omission in any information or advice supplied or given by the Target Group Companies and/or any of their respective employees, directors or officers in connection with assisting the Sellers in the making of any of the General Warranties or the preparation of the Disclosure Letter.
6.1.6 The Sellers acknowledge that the Buyer entered into this Agreement in reliance, among other matters, upon the Warranties.
6.1.7 The liability of the Sellers and/or the Warrantors for a breach of the Warranties shall be limited to the extent the Loss occasioned by the breach has been recovered in full under Clause 8 or Clause 11.
7. Guarantee
7.1 Each of the Guarantors (in relation to their respective Guaranteed Entity) unconditionally, absolutely and irrevocably guarantees to the Buyer, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, the full, prompt and complete payment, as and when due and payable of all monetary obligations and the due and punctual performance, as and when due, of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of the respective Guaranteed Entity due to the Buyer, whether owed jointly or severally and whether owed as principal or surety or in any other capacity, in each case arising under and in accordance with or in respect of any provisions of this Agreement, as if such Guarantor was party thereto now or hereafter existing or arising, whether for any payment obligations, reimbursal obligations, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise and whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent. As a further separate and independent obligation, each Guarantor (in relation to its respective Guaranteed Entity) hereby agrees fully at all times to indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer against all claims, demands, actions, suits, settlements, proceedings, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, interest and expenses directly or indirectly suffered or incurred by reason of the failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement by respective Guaranteed Entity.
7.1.1 The obligations of the Guarantors (in relation to their respective Guaranteed Entity) hereunder shall be an absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment and performance to be performed or made strictly in accordance with the terms hereof. The Guarantors further agree that this guarantee, to the extent it requires payment of monies, constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection and is in no way conditional or contingent upon any attempt to collect from the respective Guaranteed Entities.
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7.1.2 The obligations of the Guarantors (in relation to their respective Guaranteed Entity) shall not be affected by any act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this provision, might operate to release or otherwise exonerate the Guarantors from their obligations and whether or not known to the Guarantors, including, but not limited to:
(a) any time, indulgence, waiver or consent at any time given to the Buyer or any other Person;
(b) any compromise or release of or abstention from perfecting or enforcing any right or remedies against the Buyer or any other Person;
(c) any legal limitation, disability, incapacity or other circumstances relating to the Buyer or any amendment to or variation of the terms of this Agreement or any other document referred to in this Agreement; or
(d) any irregularity, unenforceability or invalidity of any obligations of the Buyer under this Agreement, or the dissolution, amalgamation, reconstruction or insolvency of the Buyer.
7.1.3 Each of the Guarantors (in relation to their respective Guaranteed Entity) hereby unconditionally waive any requirement that the Buyer proceeds or makes a demand first against the respective Guaranteed Entity or otherwise exhausts any right, power or remedy under this Agreement, before requiring payment or performance by the Guarantors hereunder or that the Buyer protects, secures, perfects or insures any security interest or lien or any property subject thereto or exhausts any other right to take any action against the respective guaranteed entity.
7.1.4 Until all obligations of the respective Guaranteed Entity have been irrevocably discharged in full and unless the Buyer otherwise consents, each Guarantor will not exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement: (i) to be indemnified by the respective Guaranteed Entity; (ii) to claim any contribution from any guarantor of or provider of security for respective Guaranteed Entity obligations under this Agreement; and/or (iii) to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Buyer or any Target Group Company under this Agreement or any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, this Agreement by the Buyer and, until all obligations of the respective Guaranteed Entity have been irrevocably discharged in full each of the Guarantors irrevocably undertakes and covenants to the Buyer not to take, or fail to take, any action that would directly or indirectly likely result in the solvent or insolvent reorganisation, liquidation, examination or receivership of the respective Guaranteed Entity.
8. Specific Indemnities of the Warrantors
8.1 The Warrantors jointly and severally undertake towards the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, to indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer from and against any and all liabilities, losses, costs, charges, damages, expenses, fines, penalties, interest, Taxes, awards, claims, actions, proceedings and any judgments, decrees, directions or orders of any court or tribunal whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any reasonable legal and other professional fees, charges or expenses, together with any Taxes thereon if applicable), which are suffered or incurred by the Buyer or the Company arising out of or in connection with any of the matters described below which has not been cured within 20 (twenty) Business Days of notice of same to the Warrantors (such matters being the “Specific Indemnities”);
(a) the FMH Asset Transfer;
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(b) any claims by any employee of an Excluded Entity for future employment by the Buyer or any Target Group Company (i.e. on the theory of transfer of undertaking); and
(c) any amounts paid prior to the Closing Date which are owed by any Target Group Company relating to the Company Transaction Expenses.
8.2 The Buyer’s knowledge regarding the Specific Indemnities and the underlying facts shall not limit the Warrantors’ liability under the Specific Indemnities.
8.3 Save for the limitations in Clause 15.1.3 and 15.4.1, none of the limitations set forth in Clause 15 shall apply to any claims relating to this Clause 8.
8.4 The Buyer will not be entitled to a double recovery for a claim under Clause 8.1.The Warrantors shall not be liable to the extent that a claim under the Specific Indemnities relates to any matter provided for in the Closing Statement or reflected in Closing Cash, Closing Borrowings, or Closing Working Capital provided such provision is specifically agreed upon by the Buyer.
9. Lock-Up Agreements
9.1 Each Seller and Indirect Seller agrees that the Share Consideration consisting of any Parent Shares whether acquired as part of Consideration Payment 1 or hereafter acquired by any of the Sellers as part of the Consideration Payment 2 or Consideration Payment 3 (collectively, the “Lock-Up Shares”) shall be subject to the restrictions and obligations as set forth in this Clause 9.
9.2 The Sellers and Indirect Sellers shall not, without the prior written consent of GAMB, directly or indirectly, during the Lock-Up Period:
9.2.1 offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of or lend, directly or indirectly, Lock-Up Shares;
9.2.2 enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Parent Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or
9.2.3 publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing (each of the foregoing a “Transfer”).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Lock-Up Period, any Seller and any Indirect Seller may convey or otherwise Transfer Lock-Up Shares (i) to a trust for the direct or indirect benefit of such Seller or Indirect Seller or such Seller’s or Indirect Seller’s immediate family; or (ii) by will or intestacy to legal representatives, heirs, or legatees upon a Seller’s or Indirect Seller’s death; provided that such transfers are in compliance with securities Laws and in the case of (i) and (ii) if the recipient also agrees to abide by the Lock-Up in this Agreement for the remainder of the Lock-Up Period and executes an agreement to that effect.
9.3 Each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers agrees that, subject to the terms of Clause 10, GAMB may place an appropriate restrictive legend on any stock certificate representing the Lock-Up Shares, or if the applicable Lock-Up Shares are evidenced by a book entry notification, state that such
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restrictions apply to such Lock-Up Shares on the books and records of the transfer agent issued to such Seller to indicate that such shares are subject to the terms of this Agreement.
10. Rule 144 and Restrictive Legends; Nasdaq Listing
10.1 With a view to making available to Sellers the benefits of SEC Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit Sellers to sell Parent Shares to the public without registration, the Buyer, for a period of 3 (three) years from Closing Date, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) make and keep available adequate current public information, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times, and (b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Buyer under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. The Buyer agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts, including furnishing any opinions of counsel necessary, to remove any restrictive legends pertaining to restrictions on transfer imposed by the Securities Act (but not legends related to other contractual obligations, as applicable) on the Parent Shares received hereunder, for any Seller who is not an Affiliate of the Buyer at the time and has not been an Affiliate in the 90 (ninety) days preceding such date, at any time after the date that is 6 (six) months after the Closing Date upon request in anticipation of a sale, and in any event on (or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter) the first Business Day after the date that is one year after the Closing Date.
11. Tax
11.1 Tax Indemnity
The Warrantors jointly and severally undertake towards the Buyer to indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer from and against any and all Taxes whatsoever (including, but not limited to, all vouched disbursements, reasonable legal and other professional fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred together with any Taxes thereon if applicable, which are suffered or incurred arising out of or in connection with any Tax liability for which any Target Group Company is liable under any applicable Law as described below (such matters being collectively the “Tax Indemnity”)):
(a) which have arisen, arise or are increased as a result of or in connection with any act, omission, event, transaction or series of transactions occurring or deemed to have occurred during the Tax Period and/or by reference to income, profits or gains earned, accrued or received during the Relevant Tax Period for and on behalf of or by or with reference to any Target Group Company or Excluded Entity;
(b) which arise from or are increased as a result of any act, omission, event or transaction which occurs after Closing pursuant to a legally binding obligation entered into by any Target Group Company or Excluded Entity on or before Closing (including but not limited to pursuant to any indemnity, covenant, guarantee or charge entered into by any Target Group Company or Excluded Entity on or before the Closing); and
(c) which arise from or are increased by reference to an act, omission, event or transaction occurring during the Relevant Tax Period which any Tax authority has declared to be payable out of or charged or secured on any of the assets or shares of any Target Group Company.
11.2 Tax Claims
11.2.1 As from the Closing Date, the Buyer shall at the latest within 10 (ten) Business Days after obtaining knowledge as to the commencement of any Tax audit or administration or judicial proceeding or
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other claim of Tax authorities or issuance of a Tax assessment that relates to any Target Group Company and the Relevant Tax Period, notify the Sellers’ Representatives thereof. Such notice shall be in writing and shall include copies of any notice or other document received from any Tax authority in respect of any such asserted Tax liability.
11.2.2 The Sellers’ Representatives shall respond in writing to any claims made by the Buyer against the Sellers under this Clause 11 within 10 (ten) Business Days.
11.2.3 The Buyer shall further without undue delay, however at the latest within 10 (ten) Business Days, notify the Sellers’ Representatives in writing of the receipt of any Tax Refund realized or received by the Buyer (or any of its Affiliates) or any Target Group Company.
11.3 Tax Contest
11.3.1 In relation to actions including legal remedies or appeals with respect to any audit, claim for refund or administrative or judicial proceeding involving any asserted liability with respect to the Relevant Tax Period or any Tax Refund (any such action, audit, claim for refund or other proceeding, a “Contest”), the Parties agree as follows:
(a) The Sellers’s Representatives may elect, at any time, to direct, through counsel of his own choice and at his own expense, any Contest.
(b) If the Sellers’ Representatives in writing elect to direct a Contest, then (i) the Sellers’ Representatives shall notify the Buyer of his intent to do so within 10 (ten) Business Days of becoming aware of the Contest and (ii) the Buyer shall cooperate and follow the Sellers’ Representatives’ instructions and shall cause the relevant Target Group Company or its respective successors to cooperate and follow the Sellers’ Representatives’ instructions in each phase of such Contest insofar as the Contest involves a potential Tax liability relating to the Relevant Tax Period or any Tax Refund.
11.4 Tax Refunds
From and after the Closing Date, the Buyer undertakes to pay to the Sellers any Tax refund (“Tax Refund”) realized or received by the Buyer after the Closing Date for the Relevant Tax Period or attributable to an amount paid (and not yet reimbursed) by the Sellers unless and to the extent reflected as a receivable in the Post-Closing Statement. The payment is due within 10 (ten) Business Days after the Tax Refund or portion thereof has been realized or received by the relevant Target Group Company.
11.5 Tax Returns
The Sellers’ Representatives shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed by the relevant Target Group Company) all Tax Returns that relate to the Relevant Tax Period due to be filed on or prior to the Closing Date. The Buyer shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all other Tax Returns relating to the Relevant Tax Period on a basis consistent with those prepared for prior taxable periods and in accordance with the instructions of the Sellers’ Representatives. The same applies to the amendment of filed Tax Returns. With respect to any Tax Return required to be filed by any Target Group Company after the Closing Date, and as to which an amount of Tax is allocable to the Relevant Tax Period, the Buyer shall provide the Sellers’ Representatives with a copy of such draft Tax Return for review and comments by the Sellers’ Representatives, at least 20 (twenty) Business Days, or in case of Tax Returns to be filed on a monthly basis at least 5 (five) Business Days, prior to the due date for the filing of such return. Such Tax Return shall only be filed or amended after the Sellers’ Representatives has approved it towards Buyer in writing, the approval is not to be unreasonably withheld.
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11.6 Cooperation
As from the Closing Date:
(a) the Sellers’ Representatives and the Buyer shall cooperate with each other and shall provide information to each other as either of them reasonably requests (and the Buyer shall cause the relevant Target Group Company to cooperate and provide information as set forth above) in filing any Tax Return, amended return or claim for refund, determining any liability for Taxes or a right to a Tax Refund or participating in or conducting any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes relating to any Target Group Company, or preparing of any financial statements including annual reports and related accounting matters. Such cooperation and information shall include the provision of copies of relevant Tax Returns, together with accompanying schedules and related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other assessments by Tax authorities. The Sellers’ Representatives and the Buyer shall make their respective employees available (and the Buyer shall cause the employees of the relevant Target Group Company to be available) on a mutually convenient basis to provide explanations of any documents or information provided hereunder; and
(b) the Buyer shall ensure that the Target Group Companies keep all returns, schedules and work papers and all material records and other documents and relating to Tax matters of the Target Group Companies for the Relevant Tax Period at least until the expiration of the relevant statutory keeping periods, provided, however, that the relevant keeping period shall in any case not end prior to the expiration of 6 (six) months after the Tax assessment, to which such returns and other documents relate, becomes final and binding.
11.7 General Limitations on Tax Indemnity; Miscellaneous
11.7.1 The liability of the Warrantors pursuant to Clause 11.1 shall be limited to the extent:
(a) the Tax has been paid on or prior to the Closing Date;
(b) the Tax arises as a result of the retrospective imposition of Tax directly due to a change in applicable Law enacted after the Closing Date unless such Tax relates to matters described in Clause 11.1(b), or Clause 11.2;
(c) specific provision, Relief or reserve in respect of the exact liability for the same matter giving rise to the liability was made or reflected in the Post-Closing Statement;
(d) the liability would not have arisen but for a voluntary act of the Buyer (including mergers or other reorganization measures) or by any Target Group Company after the Closing Date which the Buyer knew would or could reasonably be expected to give rise to a Tax unless such act was carried out:
(i) in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) pursuant to an obligation of any Target Group Company incurred prior to the Closing Date (including this Agreement);
(iii) in compliance with any Law, regulation or request (whether or not having the force of Law) of any Tax authority; or
(iv) with the written agreement or at the prior written request of the Sellers;
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(e) the tax is attributable to elections (including any change in the accounting or taxation policies or practices unless required by Law) made or initiated on or after the Closing Date by any Target Group Company, the Buyer or any Buyer Affiliate; or
(f) the Buyer or any Target Group Company has actually received cash reimbursement from any third party (net of Taxes, reasonable costs and expenses).
11.7.2 The liability of the Warrantors under this Clause 11 shall be time-barred on the end of the relevant statutory period of limitation for the respective Tax assessment, unless a claim, describing in reasonable detail the nature of the claim and the calculation of the amount claimed, has been raised against the Buyer or any Target Group Company within 30 (thirty) Business Days before the end of the relevant statutory period of limitation for the respective Tax assessment, in which case the relevant statutory period of limitation shall be deemed extended for 30 (thirty) Business Days.
11.7.3 If any liability for Tax in respect of which a claim could have been made against the Warrantors (or any of them) under Clause 11.1 has been discharged or satisfied by payment by the Buyer or any Target Group Company (whether before or after the date hereof) the covenants and indemnities given under Clause 11.1 shall take effect as a covenant by the Warrantors to reimburse (or pay if reimbursed by any Target Group Company) to the Buyer for any amount so paid.
11.7.4 None of the limitations contained in this Clause 11 shall apply to any claim which arises as a consequence of, or is delayed as a result of fraud, negligence, misrepresentation, dishonesty, wilful misconduct or wilful concealment by the Sellers (or any of them), or any shareholder, or officer of the Sellers (or any of them) or any of the directors or other officer of any of the Target Group Companies or relates to any statutory and/or criminal fine or penalty or any other circumstance which enables any Tax authority to raise, withdraw or modify an assessment or to levy a Tax at any other time.
11.7.5 To the extent permitted by Law, the Warrantors and Buyer agree that all payments made pursuant to this Clause 11 shall constitute a decrease or increase of the Purchase Price (as the case may be).
11.7.6 Save for the limitation in Clause 15.1.3, none of the limitations set forth in Clause 17 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall apply to this Clause 11.
12. Representations and Warranties of the Buyer
The Buyer represents and warrants to each of the Sellers that the following statements are true and correct:
12.1 Organization
The Buyer is a private company limited by shares, duly organized and validly existing under the Laws of Malta and has the requisite corporate powers and authorities to own its properties and to carry on its business as presently being conducted.
12.2 Authority and Validity
The Buyer has the requisite corporate powers and authorities to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Buyer and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Buyer. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Buyer and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Sellers, this
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Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Buyer enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
12.3 Parent Shares
Upon issuance (whether as part of the Consideration Payment 1 or hereafter as part of the Consideration Payment 2 or the Consideration Payment 3), the Parent Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not be subject to any option, call, preemptive, subscription or similar rights or Liens, other than restrictions on transfer imposed by state and federal securities Laws or as otherwise disclosed in GAMB’s filings with the SEC.
12.4 Acting in Own Name
The Buyer is acting in its own name and is acting as principal on its sole account with the intention of owning the business of the Company, and not as agent on behalf of any other person (whether jointly with any such person or otherwise).
12.5 Solvency
The Buyer is solvent and the payment to the Sellers of the Purchase Price will not render it insolvent or unable to pay its debts as they fall due at the Signing Date or for a period of 12 (twelve) months thereafter.
12.6 Timing of Warranties
12.6.1 The Buyer Warranties are given on the Signing Date.
12.6.2 Each of the Buyer Warranties shall be separate and independent and shall not be limited by reference to any other provision of the Buyer Warranties or by anything in this Agreement.
12.6.3 The Buyer acknowledges that the Sellers entered into this Agreement in reliance upon, amongst other matters, the Buyer Warranties.
12.7 Screening of foreign direct investments
The Buyer warrants that the acquisition of the Shares by Buyer and the matters contemplated in this Agreement do not fall within the scope of the National Foreign Direct Investment Screening Office Act and hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Sellers harmless from any penalties that may be prescribed in the event of any breach of the National Foreign Direct Investment Screening Office Act.
12.8 GAMB Warranties
GAMB represents and warrants to each of the Sellers that the following statements are true and correct:
12.8.1 GAMB has the requisite corporate powers and authorities to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by GAMB and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of GAMB. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by GAMB and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Sellers, this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of GAMB enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
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12.8.2 Upon issuance (whether as part of the Consideration Payment 1 or hereafter as part of the Consideration Payment 2 or the Consideration Payment 3), the Parent Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not be subject to any option, call, preemptive, subscription or similar rights or Liens, other than restrictions on transfer imposed by state and federal securities Laws or as otherwise disclosed in GAMB’s filings with the SEC.
12.8.3 The issuance and delivery by GAMB of the Parent Shares to the Sellers does not require any vote or other approval or authorization of any holder of any capital stock of GAMB.
The provisions of Clause 12.6 and Clause 12.7 shall apply to this Clause 12.8 mutatis mutandis.
13. Offset Amount
13.1 The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that, any amounts Finally Determined as due by any of the Sellers to the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, may be offset against any unpaid balance of the Purchase Price due to that relevant Seller under this Agreement.
13.2 To the extent that the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, is Finally Determined to be owed by any of the Sellers amounts in excess of the unpaid balance of the Purchase Price, the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, may seek payment for such amounts in excess of such unpaid balance of the Purchase Price from the relevant Sellers, subject always to the limitations set out in Clause 15 hereto.
13.3 The Buyer shall be entitled to retain from any unpaid balance of the Purchase Price due to a Seller such an amount as is equal to any Estimated Loss subject to the actual amount of the Loss, if any, being Finally Determined in accordance with the provisions of Clause 15 hereto.
13.4 The right to offset against any unpaid balance of the Purchase Price as set forth in Clause 13.1 above shall be separate and independent from (i) the forfeiture of the Consideration Payment 2 and the Consideration Payment 3 as set forth in Clause 3.1.7; and (ii) reduction of Consideration Payment 2 and Consideration Payment 3 for the Exit Bonus Program Participants as set forth in Clause 3.2 but shall at all times be subject always to the limitations set out in Clause 15 hereto.
14. Restrictions
In further consideration of the Buyer entering into this Agreement and for the purpose of assuring to the Buyer the full benefit of the Business and goodwill of the Target Group, each of the Covenantors covenants with and undertakes to the Buyer (as trustee for itself and the Target Group) that it and its Affiliates will not (whether alone or jointly with any other Person and whether directly or indirectly, and whether as shareholder, partner, promoter, director, officer, agent, manager, employee or consultant of, in or to any other Person or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the Buyer:
(a) at any time during the Restricted Period, within the territories in which any of the Target Group Companies operates the Business, carry on or be engaged, employed, concerned or interested in carrying on any business in competition with the Business;
(b) at any time during the Restricted Period, canvass, solicit, approach or entice away from any Target Group Company any Person who was a customer of any Target Group Company within 24 (twenty-four) months before Closing, or make or publish any derogatory,
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unfavourable, negative, disparaging, false, damaging or deleterious statements regarding any Target Group Company which would cause any Person to cease or refuse to do business with any Target Group Company;
(c) at any time during the Restricted Period, in competition with the Business, canvass, solicit, approach or entice away from any Target Group Company any Person who supplied goods or services to any Group Company within 24 (twenty-four) months before Closing, or interfere or seek to interfere or take steps which may interfere with supplies to any Target Group Company or the terms of business relating to such supplies;
(d) at any time during the Restricted Period
(i) solicit or entice away, or endeavour to solicit or entice away, from any Target Group Company; or
(ii) employ or engage, or endeavour to employ or engage, any Person who is or was during the Restricted Period,
an employee (save as a result of general bona fide recruitment advertisements in the ordinary course of business) or Key Employee (with no exceptions) of any of the Target Group Companies whether or not such Person would commit a breach of his employment contract by reason of leaving service;
(e) at any time after Closing, directly or indirectly use or attempt to use in the course of any business or otherwise on its own account or in connection with or on behalf of any Person:
(i) any Intellectual Property Rights owned by any Target Group Company; or
(ii) any name, combination of words or abbreviation used or owned by any Target Group Company including the Trade Names or any other name, combination of words or abbreviation which is likely to be confused with any Trade Name or any such name, combination of words or abbreviation (whether or not such Trade Name, name, combination of words or abbreviation is used in conjunction with any other name, place or description);
(f) save in the course of employment by any Target Group Company, the Buyer or any Buyer’s Affiliates, at any time after Closing in the course of carrying on any trade or business or for the purpose of obtaining or retaining any business or custom, claim, represent or otherwise indicate any present association with any Target Group Company or assert any rights whatsoever in respect of any goodwill of any Target Group Company.
14.2 Modification
14.2.1 Whilst the restrictions in Clause 14 are considered by the Buyer and the Covenantors to be reasonable and indispensable in all the circumstances as at the date of this Agreement, it is acknowledged that restrictions of that nature may be or become void or unenforceable because of changed circumstances or other unforeseen reasons; therefore, if any such restrictions are held to be or are reasonably likely to be held (in the opinion of Buyer) void or unenforceable by any court or regulatory authority but would be valid if part of the wording were amended or the relevant period or scope reduced, those restrictions will apply with the modifications necessary to make them valid and effective, and those modifications will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other restriction in or provisions of this Agreement.
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14.2.2 During the Restricted Period, each of the Covenantors who is not an employee of the Buyer, a Buyer’s Affiliate or any of the Target Group Companies at such time, covenants to refer any enquiries about the Business they receive after Closing to the Buyer as soon as practicable.
15. Liability and Related Matters
15.1 Certain Limitations
15.1.1 Thresholds
No claim, or recovery in respect thereof, for breach by the Warrantors of any of the General Warranties shall be allowed unless (i) the amount recoverable in respect of all such qualifying claims or the Loss arising in connection with such claim exceeds EUR 50,000 (“a De minimis Claim”) and (ii) an aggregate liability in respect of all De minimis Claims exceeds EUR 200,000), in which case the Warrantors, subject to the other limitations and exclusions set forth in this Clause 15, shall be liable for the full amount of all such qualifying claims (and not merely the excess thereof).
15.1.2 Contingent Obligations
(a) The Sellers shall not be liable under this Agreement in respect of any liability which is contingent unless and until such contingent liability becomes an actual liability and is due and payable.
(b) This Clause 15.1.2 shall not operate to exclude liability in relation to a claim made for a contingent liability within the general time limit specified in Clause 15.4.
(c) Any claim for breach of the General Warranties in respect of which notice shall have been given in accordance with Clause 15.4.1, shall if it has not been previously satisfied, settled or withdrawn, be deemed to have been irrevocably withdrawn and lapsed unless proceedings in respect of such claim have been issued and served on the Sellers’ Representatives not later than the expiry of the period of 9 (nine) months from and including the date of such notice.
(d) Each of the Buyer and the Sellers’ Representatives shall act promptly and in good faith to resolve any breach of the General Warranties.
15.1.3 Individual and Aggregate Caps
(a) In the event of a breach of the Fundamental Warranties by a Seller, the individual maximum aggregate liability of such Seller shall be limited to an amount equal to such proportion of the Purchase Price which corresponds to the relevant Seller’s pro-rata shareholding in the Company as of Closing.
(b) In respect of a breach of the General Warranties, the Specific Indemnities and/or the Tax Indemnity the maximum aggregate liability of the Warrantors for all such claims shall be limited to an amount equal to such proportion of the Purchase Price which corresponds to the relevant Warrantor’s pro-rata shareholding in the Company as of Closing.
15.1.4 Following Recovery from Sellers or Warrantors
(a) Any amount for which the Sellers and/or Warrantors would otherwise have been liable under this Agreement in respect of any Losses suffered by the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, or any
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Target Group Company shall be reduced by the net amount of any recovery actually received by such Target Group Company from any third party (including insurance proceeds) in respect of such Losses.
(b) The net amount of such recovery shall be equal to the amount received by such Target Group Company or the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, less: (i) any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by such Target Group Company or the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, in respect of such indemnification or other recovery; (ii) when the recovery consists of insurance proceeds, the aggregate amount, if any, by which an independent insurance broker, jointly appointed by the Buyer and the Sellers’ Representatives, estimates that the Company’s (or the Buyer’s, GAMB’s and the other members’ of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media’s, or any Target Group Company’s, as applicable) insurance premiums are likely to be increased during the 2 (two) years following the making of the insurance claim; and (iii) any Taxes less any Taxes attributable to the recovery.
15.2 Third Party Claims
15.2.1 If a claim by a third party is made against any or all of the Sellers or the Indirect Sellers (a “Third Party Claim”), and if such party intends to bring a claim with respect thereto under this Clause 15, such Seller or Indirect Seller or Sellers or Indirect Sellers shall promptly notify the Buyer of such Third Party Claim.
15.2.2 The Buyer shall have 30 (thirty) days after receipt of such notice to assume the conduct and control, through Buyer’s counsel, of the settlement or defense of such Third Party Claim and such Seller or Indirect Seller or Sellers or Indirect Sellers shall cooperate with it in connection therewith.
15.2.3 If the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, does not notify such Seller or Indirect Seller or Sellers or Indirect Sellers within 30 (thirty) days after the receipt of such Seller’s or Indirect Seller’s or Sellers’ or Indirect Sellers’ notice of a Third Party Claim hereunder that it elects to undertake the defense thereof, such Seller or Indirect Seller or Sellers or Indirect Sellers shall have the right to contest, settle or compromise the Third Party Claim but shall not thereby waive any right to indemnity therefor pursuant to this Agreement.
15.2.4 The Sellers or, as applicable, the Indirect Sellers and the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third Party Claim, including making available records relating to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense to the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, and/or its counsel, such Seller or Indirect Seller or Sellers or Indirect Sellers or such employees of such Seller or Indirect Seller or Sellers or Indirect Sellers as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of any such Third Party Claim or for testimony as witnesses in any proceeding relating to such Third Party Claim.]
15.3 Adjustment to Purchase Price
All amounts paid by the Sellers or the Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, as the case may be, under this Clause 15 or under any other provision in this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be treated as adjustments to the Purchase Price for all purposes.
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15.4 Time Bars
15.4.1 Warranty and Indemnity Claims
(a) No action or claim may be brought in respect of any breach of any of the Warranties, unless the claim, describing in reasonable detail the nature of the claim and the calculation of the amount claimed, is made in writing to the Sellers within 20 (twenty) Business Days of the end of the Earn Out Period; provided that actions or claims for any breach of any of the Fundamental Warranties shall be time-barred after a period of 6 (six) years.
(b) No action or claim may be brought in respect of any breach by the Sellers of the Specific Indemnities, unless the claim, describing in reasonable detail the nature of the claim and the calculation of the amount claimed, is made in writing to the Sellers within 28 (twenty-eight) months of the Closing Date.
15.4.2 Other Claims
Without prejudice of the foregoing, no action or claim may be brought under this Agreement unless the claim, describing in reasonable detail the nature of the claim and the calculation of the amount claimed, is made in writing to the Warrantors and/or Sellers (as applicable).
15.5 Exclusive Remedies
15.5.1 Each Party acknowledges and agrees that its sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims relating to a breach of the Agreement shall be pursuant to the provisions set forth in this Clause 15 or elsewhere in this Agreement and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, any and all other remedies (including but not limited to any right to rescind this Agreement) it may have against the other Parties in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Nothing in this Clause shall limit the right, if any, of such Party to obtain specific performance of this Agreement in the event of another Party’s breach of its obligations hereunder.
15.5.2 Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing and unless otherwise set out in the Agreement, each Party waives any right it may have to seek termination of the Agreement for breach of the covenants or other obligations at any time under the Agreement (before or after the Closing Date).
15.5.3 None of the limitations contained in Clause 15.5 shall apply to any claim which arises or is increased, or to the extent to which it arises or is increased, as a consequence of fraud or wilful misconduct by the Sellers (or any of them).
15.5.4 Nothing in this Agreement will be deemed to relieve the Buyer from its duty to mitigate any loss or damage incurred by it.
15.6 Tax on payments
If a Tax is imposed on any amount paid by the Sellers (or any of the Indirect Sellers) to the Buyer under this Agreement, then the amount so payable shall be free and clear of all deductions or withholdings whatsoever, save only as may be required by applicable Law and shall be grossed up by such amount as will ensure that after payment of such Tax there shall be left a sum equal to the initial amount which would otherwise be payable under this Agreement.
15.7 Save as expressly provided in Clause 15.1.3, the provisions of this Clause 15 shall not apply to Clause 11.
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15.8 Other Limitations
15.8.1 None of the Warrantors will be liable for a claim under the General Warranties to the extent that the claim:
(a) is disclosed in the Agreement or Disclosure Letter; or
(b) relates to any matter specifically provided for in the Closing Statement and reflected in Closing Cash, Closing Borrowings, or Closing Working Capital, provided such provision has not been subsequently reversed (in whole or in part).
15.8.2 None of the Warrantors shall be liable for any claim under the General Warranties to the extent that it arises or is increased or extended as a result of any of the following:
(i) a change in the Law or in any regulation, requirement or code of conduct of any relevant agency or administrative or other regulatory body, a change in any generally accepted interpretation or application of any legislation or any decision of any administrative or other regulatory body (including the withdrawal of any extra statutory concession of a Tax Authority); or
(ii) any parliamentary statement or statement by any regulatory or government authority concerning any change in the practice adopted by any regulatory or government authority.
15.8.3 The Buyer, GAMB and the other members of the GAMB Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, GDC Media, shall not be entitled to recover twice under the Warranties, the Specific Indemnities and/or under the Tax Indemnity in respect of the same subject matter or to recover more than once in respect of the same subject matter under two or more separate Warranties.
15.8.4 Events following Closing
(a) None of the Warrantors shall be liable for any claim under the Warranties to the extent that such claim arises or is increased or extended as a result of:
(i) any change in the accounting policies or practices of, or applicable to, the Target Group Companies introduced or having effect on or after the Closing (except for the Warranties under Paragraph 4 of Schedule 2);
(ii) any winding-up or cessation of, or any material change in, the nature or conduct of any business carried on by the Buyer or any Group Company, occurring after Closing, unless such change is required by applicable Law;
(iii) any Target Group Companies is insolvent and such action is necessary or desirable to ensure that all directors of the relevant Target Group Company comply with their obligations; and/or
(iv) any failure by the Buyer or any member of the GAMB Group to comply with, or failure to procure the compliance of the group with any of their respective obligations under this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents unless such action or omission by GAMB is required by applicable Law.
15.8.5 General Voluntary Act or Directions of the Buyer or any member of the GAMB Group
None of the Warrantors shall have any liability under the Warranties to the extent that the liability is wholly or partly attributable to any voluntary act, omission, transaction or arrangement of or at
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the direction at any time, of the Buyer or any member of the GAMB Group, or at the direction after the date of this Agreement, except for (i) when such voluntary act, omission, transaction or arrangement was required under the applicable Law or stock exchange regulations which was in full force and effect as of the Closing Date; (ii) actions taken at the request of or with the agreement with the Warrantors or Sellers’ Representative; (iii) actions taken in connection with this Agreement; or (iv) actions taken pursuant to the arrangements between the Warrantors in relation to the Earn-Out Period.
16. Amendment and Waiver
16.1 Amendments and Waivers
16.1.1 Amendments
This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties hereto by their duly authorized Representatives.
16.1.2 Waivers
(a) No delay or failure on the part of any Party to exercise any right, power or remedy in respect of this Agreement shall constitute a waiver thereof (other than a failure to provide a notice or take any action which is subject to a time limit as specified in this Agreement).
(b) Except as provided otherwise herein, no waiver shall be effective unless given in writing and signed by a duly authorized Representatives of the Party giving the waiver.
17. Sellers’ Representatives
17.1.1 The Sellers and Indirect Sellers irrevocably agree with the Buyer that:
(a) the Sellers’ Representatives shall, on behalf of each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers have full and irrevocable power and authority;
(i) to take any action, give any consent and to do or omit to do anything in connection with any claim under the General Warranties, the Tax Indemnity and Specific Indemnities as he shall in his absolute discretion decide;
(ii) to take any action, give any consent and to do or omit to do anything in connection or pursuant to or contemplated by Clause 3.2;
and the Buyer may liaise and agree matters exclusively with the Sellers’ Representatives in respect of any such specific matter, (and all notices to be served by the Buyer to any of the Warrantors in respect of a claim under the General Warranties, Tax Indemnity and/or the Specific Indemnities will be deemed to be duly served on all or any of the Warrantors if served on the Sellers’ Representatives);
(b) a written decision, consent or instruction of the Sellers’ Representatives in relation to the matters referred to above in this Clause 17.1.1 shall constitute a decision of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Sellers and Indirect Sellers.
17.1.2 Solely in respect of any of the matters referred to above in this Clause 17.1.2, the Sellers’ Representatives shall, on behalf of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers, have full and irrevocable power
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and authority to take any action, give any consent and to do or omit to do anything pursuant to the authorities vested in them or contemplated by this Agreement as he shall in his absolute discretion decide and the Buyer may liaise and agree matters exclusively with the Sellers’ Representatives in respect of all such matters referred to above in this Clause 17.1.2 relating to the Sellers and Indirect Sellers.
17.1.3 For the purpose of giving further effect to this Clause 17.1.3, each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers hereby irrevocably by way of security duly appoints the Sellers’ Representatives, as his attorney with full power to execute, complete and deliver in the name of that Seller and Indirect Seller all documents necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Clause 17.1.3 and the appointments in this Clause 17.1.3 are irrevocable and are given to secure the performance of the obligations of each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers under this Agreement.
17.1.4 In the event of (i) the death or inability to act of the Sellers’ Representatives or (ii) the decision of the persons holding the beneficial interest in at least 51% of the Shares immediately prior to Closing, to replace the Sellers’ Representatives; each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers hereby irrevocably undertakes to appoint a replacement Sellers’ Representatives (the “Replacement Sellers’ Representatives”), being one of the Sellers approved by the decision in (ii) above. In the event that a Replacement Sellers’ Representatives is appointed, the provisions of the Transaction Documents relating to the Sellers and Indirect Sellers and the Sellers’ and Indirect Sellers’ Representatives shall apply mutatis mutandis.
17.1.5 For the avoidance of doubt, the Sellers’ Representatives shall have no power or entitlement to settle any claim against any of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers (other than himself) in relation to the Fundamental Warranties.
18. General Provisions
18.1 No Announcement
Each Party hereto agrees to keep the existence and content of this Agreement confidential and to make no announcement or other disclosure with respect thereto other than as agreed with the other Parties. Such public announcement shall be in agreed form between the Buyer and the Sellers’ Representatives. This Clause 18.1 shall not apply if applicable Law or stock exchange regulations require otherwise.
18.2 Business Secrets
The Sellers and the Indirect Sellers shall maintain, and shall cause their Affiliates to maintain in strict confidence all non-public information relating to the operations or business of the Target Group Companies. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Sellers and the Indirect Sellers undertake not to disclose, and shall cause their Affiliates not to disclose, to a third party any confidential information concerning any Target Group Company except when required to disclose such information by applicable Law, by the regulations of any relevant stock exchange, by any court or other judicial authority or pursuant to any enquiry or investigation by any Governmental Authority which is lawfully entitled to require any such disclosure, and only for the limited portion of information so required to be disclosed.
18.3 Confidentiality
18.3.1 None of the Parties hereto shall, and each Party hereto shall ensure that none of its Affiliates will, disclose any information of a confidential nature relating to the Business or the Buyer or to the
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Sellers or the Indirect Sellers (in the case of the Buyer) to any third Person. The obligation of the Parties under this Clause 18.3 shall not apply to any of the following:
(a) disclosure of such confidential information required by applicable Law, applicable stock exchange rules or any Tax authority;
(b) disclosure of such confidential information to such Party’s professional advisors or statutory auditors who have been made aware of the confidential nature of such information;
(c) disclosure of such confidential information for the purpose of defending any claim against the other Parties under this Agreement or enforcing its rights hereunder (including making any claims or counterclaims against third parties pursuant to Clause 15.2); or
(d) disclosure of such confidential information which is or comes into the public domain other than as a result of the breach by such Party of this Clause 18.3.
18.3.2 The Sellers shall have the right to retain copies of all documents delivered or made available to the Buyer in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby for the purpose of defending any claim against the Sellers under this Agreement or enforcing its rights hereunder (including making any claims or counterclaims against third parties pursuant to Clause 15.2).
18.4 Cooperation
Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, whenever any of the Parties are required to cooperate for any particular purpose hereunder, no Party, nor any of its Affiliates, shall be required to make any material monetary expenditure, commence or be a plaintiff in any litigation or offer or grant any material accommodation or concession (financial or otherwise) to any Person.
18.5 Entire Agreement and Variation
18.5.1 This Agreement, including its Exhibits and Schedules, constitutes the whole and only understanding of the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein and supersedes and extinguishes any Pre-contractual Statements.
18.5.2 Each Party acknowledges and represents that it has not relied on or been induced to enter into this Agreement by any Pre-contractual Statement given by the other Party or any document referred to in this Agreement and that no such Pre-contractual Statement is to be implied in it whether by virtue or any usage or course of dealing or otherwise, in each case except as expressly set out in this Agreement.
18.5.3 Neither Party will have any right of action against the other Party, nor will it have any liability to the other Party (whether in equity, contract or tort (including negligence)), arising out of or in connection with any Pre-contractual Statement, breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentation or under Section 45 of the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 or for a representation, warranty or undertaking that is not set out in this Agreement or a document referred to in this Agreement.
18.5.4 Each Party acknowledges that the exclusions set out in this Clause 18.5 are fair and reasonable for all lawful purposes (including Section 46 of the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980).
18.5.5 This Agreement may only be varied in writing signed by each of the Parties.
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18.6 Severability
If at any time any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable under applicable Law of any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction shall not be affected, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the whole Agreement in any other jurisdiction shall not be affected. In the event any provision is held in any proceeding pursuant to Clause 18.10 to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the Parties shall replace that provision with a new provision permitted by Law and having an economic effect as close as possible to the deficient provision.
18.7 Assignment
None of the Parties may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Person without the prior written consent of the other Parties, save that the Buyer may at any time assign all or any part of its rights and benefits under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates provided that:
(i) if such assignee subsequently ceases to be an Affiliate of the Buyer, the Buyer shall procure that prior to its ceasing to be an Affiliate of the Buyer, such assignee reassigns so much of the rights and benefits and obligations under this Agreement as have been assigned to it to the Buyer or (upon giving further written notice to the Sellers’ Representatives) to another Affiliate of the Buyer;
(ii) the Buyer shall remain liable to the Sellers in the event that the assignee fails to perform any of the assigned obligations;
(iii) the Sellers’ respective liability to the assignee under this Agreement (including but not limited to any liability to Tax) shall be no greater than it would have been to the Buyer; and
(iv) if there is an assignment or encumbrance under this Clause 7, the amount of loss or damage recoverable by the permitted assignee will be calculated as if that person had been originally named as a party to this Agreement.
18.8 Notices
18.8.1 All notices and other communications that are required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing, in the English language and hand delivered or sent by registered mail (return receipt requested) or by e-mail with signed PDF attachment to the following addresses (which may be changed in writing by notice to the appropriate address):
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If to the Sellers’s representatives |
Name: |
Fintan Costello |
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Address: |
[***] |
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E-mail: |
[***] |
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with a copy to: |
Name: |
Ilkka Heikkilä |
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Address: |
[***] |
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E-mail: |
[***] |
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If to the Buyer: |
Name: |
GDC Malta Limited |
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Address: |
85 John St, Valletta VLT 1165, Malta |
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Attention: |
John O’Shea |
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E-mail: |
[***] |
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with a copy to: |
Name: |
White & Case LLP |
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Address: |
Bockenheimer Landstrasse 20 60323 Frankfurt am Main Germany |
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Attention: |
Darragh Byrne |
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E-mail: |
[***] |
The communications will be considered as having reached the addressee:
(a) if sent by courier, upon delivery;
(b) if sent by registered mail, within 2 (two) Business Days after the date the communication was mailed; or
(c) if sent by e-mail, within four hours from delivery of such email provided no delivery failure message was received.
18.8.2 A Party must notify the other Parties of a change to its notice details. That notification shall only be effective on:
(a) any effective date specified in the notification; or
(b) if no effective date is specified or the effective date specified is less than five (5) clear Business Days after the date when notice is received, the date falling five (5) clear Business Days after the notification has been received.
18.8.3 For the avoidance of doubt, if a change of notice details is not served in the manner required in this Agreement (or at all), then the notice details contained in this Agreement for the relevant Party
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shall apply and any such Party agrees that he or it shall not be entitled to plead as a defence to any claim made or action taken under this Agreement that notice was not properly served on that Party.
18.9 Governing Law
This Agreement and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter, formation, existence, negotiation, validity, termination or enforceability (including non-contractual, disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of Ireland.
18.10 Dispute Resolution
(a) The Parties will use their reasonable efforts to resolve amicably any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, or the breach or invalidity thereof.
(b) Thereafter each of the Parties hereto agrees that the Courts of Ireland shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine and settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement or its performance and accordingly that any suit, action or proceedings so arising, including any proceedings relating to any non-contractual obligations, may be brought in such courts and for such purposes the Parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction of such courts
18.11 Costs and Expenses
Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and implementation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne by the Party incurring such costs and expenses.
18.12 Further Assurances
After the Closing Date, each of the Sellers and the Indirect Sellers shall execute such other documents or take, or cause to be taken, such other actions as may be reasonably required to transfer the Shares to the Buyer in accordance with this Agreement and to give the Buyer the full benefit of this Agreement.
18.13 Partnership
This Agreement shall not operate so as to create a partnership or joint venture of any kind between the Parties hereto or constitute any Party hereto as the agent to the others.
18.14 Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by PDF (portable document format), JPEG or other agreed format), each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement, and all of which, when taken together, shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart signature page of this Agreement by e-mail (by PDF, JPEG or other agreed format) or facsimile shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. In relation to each counterpart, upon confirmation by or on behalf of the signatory that the signatory authorises the attachment of such counterpart signature page to the final text of this Agreement, such counterpart signature page shall take effect together with such final text as a complete authoritative counterpart.
Each of the Parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as a deed on the date first set forth above.
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(Signature pages to this Agreement follow)
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Ilkka Elias Heikkilä as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Ilkka Elias Heikkilä |
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Ilkka Elias Heikkilä |
/s/ Maria Jarvinen |
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Witness – Maria Jarvinen |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Miikka Samuli Mustonen as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Miika Samuli Mustonen |
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Miika Samuli Mustonen |
/s/ Fintan Costello |
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Witness – Fintan Costello |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED as a Deed for and on behalf of Siurcom Oy By Aku-Mikko Haljoki |
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/s/ Aku-Mikko Haljoki |
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Director |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Riku-Matti Juhani Vihreäsaari as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Riku-Matti Juhani Vihreäsaari |
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Riku-Matti Juhani Vihreäsaari |
/s/ Henri Ojala |
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Witness – Henri Ojala |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Antti Mikael Kareinen as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Antti Mikael Kareinen |
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Antti Mikael Kareinen |
/s/ Henna Rinnekangas |
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Witness – Henna Rinnekangas |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED as a Deed for and on behalf of Rastas Investing Oy By Mikko Tapio Valdemar Lang |
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/s/ Mikko Tapio Valdemar Lang |
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Director |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED as a Deed for and on behalf of Caracara Oy By Sauli Petteri Konttila |
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/s/ Sauli Petteri Konttila |
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Director |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED as a Deed for and on behalf of IT & Web Consulting TK Oy
By Tero Petteri Kilkanen |
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/s/ Tero Petteri Kilkanen |
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Director |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED as a Deed for and on behalf of Sipsikissa Oy
By Erkka Ilari Tohmo |
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/s/ Erkka Ilari Tohmo |
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Director |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Milan Nikolic as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Milan Nikolic |
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Milan Nikolic |
/s/ Lila Nikolic |
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Witness – Lila Nikolic |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Ory Weihs as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Ory Weihs |
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Ory Weihs |
/s/ Anna Meissner |
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Witness – Anna Meissner |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED as a Deed for and on behalf of Contender Media Holdings B.V.
by Fintan Costello |
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/s/ Fintan Costello |
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Director |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Fintan Costello as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Fintan Costello |
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Fintan Costello |
/s/ Miikka Samuli Mustonen |
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Witness – Miikka Samuli Mustonen |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Aku-Mikko Haljoki as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Aku-Mikko Haljoki |
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Aku-Mikko Haljoki |
/s/ Riku Vihreasaari |
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Witness – Riku Vihreasaari |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Mikko Tapio Valdemar Lang as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Mikko Tapio Valdemar Lang |
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Mikko Tapio Valdemar Lang |
/s/ Henri Ojala |
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Witness – Henri Ojala |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Sauli Petteri Konttila as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Sauli Petteri Konttila |
/s/ Markus Nykänen |
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Sauli Petteri Konttila |
Witness – Markus Nykänen |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Tero Petteri Kilkanen as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Tero Petteri Kilkanen |
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Tero Petteri Kilkanen |
/s/ Riku Vihreasaari |
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Witness – Riku Vihreasaari |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED by Erkka Ilari Tohmo as a Deed in the presence of: |
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/s/ Erkka Ilari Tohmo |
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Erkka Ilari Tohmo |
/s/ Riku Vihreasaari |
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Witness – Riku Vihreasaari |
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[***] |
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Address |
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[***] |
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Occupation |
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SIGNED AND DELIVERED as a Deed for and on behalf of Finder Media B.V.
By Fintan Costello |
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/s/ Fintan Costello |
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Director |
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GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED |
By: _/s/ Charles Gillespie_____________________ Name: Charles Gillespie Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Page 45 of 86
GDC Malta Limited |
By: ____/s/ Ekaterina Smolinova_______________ Name: Ekaterina Smolinova Title: Director |
(Signature page to Share Purchase Agreement)
Page 46 of 86
List of Schedules
Definitions Schedule A |
General Terms |
Definitions Schedule B |
Financial Terms |
Schedule 1 |
Group Companies |
Schedule 2 |
Warranties |
Schedule 3 |
Specific Accounting Policies |
Schedule 4 |
Key Employees |
Schedule 5 |
Accounts |
Schedule 6 |
Intellectual Property |
Schedule 7 |
Disclosure Letter |
Schedule 8 |
Exit Bonus Agreement Template |
Schedule 9 |
Real Property |
Schedule 10 |
List of Assets |
Schedule 11 |
Earn-Out Calculations |
Schedule 12 |
Business Plan |
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Definitions Schedule A General Terms
Definitions
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following defined terms, which are identified by capitalization, shall always have the meaning as set forth in this Definitions Schedule A (General Terms), it being understood that these definitions are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.
Defined Term |
Meaning |
“Accounts Date” |
means 31 December 2021. |
“Affiliate” |
Means in relation to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person; provided, that, for the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise; provided, further, that an Affiliate of any Person shall also include (a) any Person that directly or indirectly owns, or in which such Person directly or indirectly owns more than five percent (5%) of any class of capital stock or other equity interest of such Person, (b) in the case of a corporation, any officer or director of such corporation, (c) in the case of a partnership, any general partner of such partnership, (d) in the case of a trust, any trustee or beneficiary of such trust, (e) any spouse, parent, sibling or child or lineal descendant of any individual described in clauses (a) through (d) above, and (f) any trust for the benefit of any individual described in clauses (a) through (e) above. |
“Agreement” |
has the meaning given in the caption, as supplemented by Clause 1.4.2. |
“Allowed Jurisdictions” |
means: (a) any jurisdiction in which NDC Media and its Affiliates currently operates as of the Closing Date, being: [***]
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“Allowed Operators” |
any Operators who: [***];
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“AST” |
has the meaning given in Clause 5.2.2(a). |
“Bad Actor” |
[***]. |
“Blended Multiple” |
means [***]. |
“Borrowings” |
has the meaning given in Part 2 of Definitions Schedule B. |
“Business” |
has the meaning given in Recital (B). |
“Business Day” |
means a day other than a Saturday or Sunday or public holiday in Ireland on which banks are open in Ireland. |
“Business Domain Names” |
means all rights in all World Wide Web addresses, Internet identifiers and domain names and applications and registrations owned, registered or applied for by or on behalf of any Target Group Company, including, but not limited to, the domain name registrations set out in Part 1 of the Schedule 6 to this Agreement. |
“Business Intellectual Property Rights” |
means all Intellectual Property Rights that are owned, used, held for use or licensed by any Target Group Company. |
“Business Plan” |
means the business plan, strategy and budget to be agreed between the Sellers and the Buyer in substantially the form set out in Schedule 13. |
“Buyer” |
has the meaning given in the caption. |
“Buyer’s Affiliates” |
means all Affiliates of the Buyer. |
“Buyer’s Closing Actions” |
has the meaning given in Clause 5.2.2. |
“Buyer’s Solicitors” |
means White & Case LLP. |
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“Buyer Warranties” |
means the warranties of the Buyer provided in Clause 12.1, Clause 12.2, Clause 12.3, Clause 12.4 and Clause 12.5. |
“BVI” |
means the British Virgin Islands. |
“BVI Companies Act” |
means the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (as amended). |
“Cash and Cash Equivalents” |
has the meaning given in Part 1 of Definitions Schedule B. |
“Cash Consideration” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.1.1. |
“CET” |
means Central European Time. |
“Closing” |
means the completion (or waiving, as the case may be) of the matters set forth in Clause 5. |
“Closing Borrowings” |
means the aggregate outstanding amount of Borrowings of the Target Group Companies calculated in accordance with IFRS as of 11:59 P.M. on the Business Day immediately prior to the Accounts Date. |
“Closing Cash” |
means the aggregate book balance of Cash and Cash Equivalents of the Target Group Companies calculated in accordance with IFRS, as of 11:59 P.M. on the Business Day immediately prior to the Accounts Date. |
“Closing Date” |
means the date of this Agreement. |
“Closing Working Capital” |
has the meaning given in Schedule 1 Part 4 of Definitions Schedule B. |
“Code” |
means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
“Company” |
has the meaning given in Recital (A). |
“Companies Act” |
means the Companies Act 2014 and all other statutes and statutory instruments or parts thereof which are to be read as one with, or construed or read together as one with, the Companies Act 2014 and every statutory modification and re-enactment thereof for the time being in force. |
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“Company Transaction Expenses” |
means all expenses of the Company incurred or to be incurred prior to and through to the Closing Date, in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Closing, including out of-pocket costs, fees and disbursements of financial advisors, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers, severance payments to directors, officers and employees, bonuses, retention payments and any other change of control or similar payments under agreements entered into or plans adopted by the Company prior to the Closing, payable as a result of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the employer portion of any Taxes relating to such payments), payable by the Company (prior to and through and including the Closing Date) and which have not been paid as of the Closing Date. |
“Computer Systems” |
means all computer hardware and peripherals, telecommunications hardware, Software, servers, routers, hubs, networks, and other information technology and communications rights, assets, equipment, and systems, in each case, owned, used, held for use, or required to be used by, or used by any third party for the benefit of, any Target Group Company including all arrangements relating to the provision of maintenance and support, security, disaster recovery, facilities management, bureau and on-line services to any Target Group Company and all associated documentation. |
“Conditions Precedent” |
has the meaning given in Clause 4.1.1. |
“Connected Person” |
means a Person who would be connected with another Person for the purposes of Section 220 of the Companies Act if that other Person was a director of a company. |
“Consideration Payment 1” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.1.1(a). |
“Consideration Payment 2” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.1.1(b). |
“Consideration Payment 3” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.1.1(c). |
“Contest” |
has the meaning given in Clause 11.3.1. |
“Control”, “Controlling” or “Controlled” |
(including the terms “Controlling”, “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to appoint, direct or cause the direction of the board of directors, management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. |
“Covenantors” |
means each of the Indirect Sellers and each of the Sellers except for the Seller 11. |
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“Disclosure Letter” |
means the letter prepared by the Warrantors as at the Signing Date attached hereto as Schedule 7 to this Agreement, in which disclosures in relation to the General Warranties have been made by the Warrantors. |
“DP Laws” |
means any and all data protection legislation applicable to the Business and/or in any jurisdiction in which the Target Group operates, including, but not limited to, the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679. |
“Earn Out Period” |
has the meaning given in Clause 4.1. |
“EBITDA” |
has the meaning given in Part 3 of Definitions Schedule B. |
“Economic Substance Act” |
means the BVI Economic Substance (Companies and Limited Partnerships) Act, 2018, as amended. |
“Encumbrance” |
means a pledge, charge, mortgage, lien, license, option, retention of title, right of pre-emption, right of first refusal or other security right or interest option, usufruct, claim, restriction or encumbrance of any kind. |
“Environmental Law” |
means all Laws and or other requirement having legal effect relating to the environment (including emission or discharge of any substance into air, water, or soil, as well as emission of noise and causation of oscillations and/or vibrations) which are or have been applicable to any of the Target Group Companies. |
“Equity Interests” |
means ordinary shares, convertible shares, common stock, share capital, membership interests, equity units and any other interests conferring voting rights, including the Shares. |
“Estimated Loss” |
means such amount not exceeding such sum reasonably required to satisfy an bona fide anticipated Loss, as determined by the Buyer acting reasonably and in good faith. |
“EUR” or “Euro” |
means Euro, the lawful currency of the participating member states of the European Economic and Monetary Union. |
“Excluded Entity” and “Excluded Entities” |
means: [***] |
“Exit Bonus Agreement” |
means each exit bonus agreement setting out the terms and conditions of the Exit Bonus Program entered into by the Company with each of Key Employees 1 to 4 inclusive in advance of the Closing Date. |
“Exit Bonus Arrangement” |
means the oral arrangement on the basis of the same terms and conditions set out in each Exit Bonus Agreement agreed to by the Company and the Key Employee 5 in advance of the Closing Date pursuant to which Key Employee 5 shall be deemed to be an Exit Bonus Program Participant, which oral arrangement shall be formalised during the Earn Out Period. |
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“Exit Bonus Program” |
means the extraordinary bonus payment granted to the Exit Bonus Program Participants pursuant to a exit bonus program established by the Company pursuant to each Exit Bonus Agreement and the Exit Bonus Arrangement in advance of the Closing Date. |
“Exit Bonus Program Participant” or “Exit Bonus Program Participants” |
means: [***]. |
“Finally Determined” |
means as (i) so determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) as ruled upon by an appointed arbitrator, or (iii) as the Sellers’ Representative and the Buyer so agree in writing. |
“Financial Measure” |
means any financial measure as defined in this Agreement whose calculation and presentation is ultimately approved by any registered public accounting firm appointed by the Buyer. |
“Financial Model” |
means the financial model using the applicable formulae agreed between the Parties for the purposes of providing further illustrative examples for calculating Consideration Payment 2 and Consideration Payment 3 as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 14. |
“Finder Media” |
has the meaning given in caption. |
“Finder Media Holdings” |
has the meaning given in Recital (E). |
“FMH Assets” |
has the meaning given in Schedule 3. |
“FMH Asset Transfer” |
means the transfer of the beneficial interest in all intellectual property assets of Finder Media (as set forth in Schedule 11) to NDC Media pursuant to the Domain Name Purchase and Asset Transfer Agreement. |
“Fundamental Warranties” |
means the warranties set out in Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3 of Schedule 2. |
“GAMB” |
has the meaning given in caption. |
“GAMB Group” |
has the meaning given in Recital (F). |
“GAMB’s Closing Actions” |
has the meaning given in Clause 5.2.2(b)(iii). |
“GDC Media” |
has the meaning given in Clause 7.1.1. |
“General Warranties” |
means the warranties set out in Paragraph 2, and Paragraphs 4 to 18 of Schedule 2. |
“Governmental Authority” |
means any supranational, national, federal, regional, state, local or other court, legislature, administrative agency or commission or other governmental, administrative or regulatory body, authority, agency, tribunal or instrumentality. |
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“Guaranteed Entity” |
means [***]. |
“Guarantor” |
means [***].
|
“IFRS” |
means international financial reporting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as in effect from time to time. |
“Indirect Sellers” |
has the meaning given in caption. |
“Intellectual Property Rights” |
means (a) patents (including any patent families), utility models, and invention disclosures; (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, slogans, logotypes, trade dress, and other indicia of source, and all goodwill arising from any of the foregoing; (c) copyrights, moral rights, rights of attribution, and neighbouring rights, (c) database rights, domain names, mask work rights, semi-conductor topography rights, design rights, registered designs, (d) rights of publicity and in social media usernames and accounts, (e) rights in inventions, works of authorship, content, technology, Software, trade secrets, confidential information and know-how and (f) other similar intellectual property or industrial property or proprietary rights which may subsist in any part of the world, whether registered or unregistered, including where such rights are obtained or enhanced by registration, any registrations of such rights and applications and rights to apply for such registrations. |
“IP Contracts” |
means any agreement related to Intellectual Property Rights to which any Target Group Company is a party, except for: (a) licenses for non-customized, “off the shelf” Software that is generally commercially available on standard terms for a one-time or annual license fee of less than EUR 40,000 (forty thousand Euro); and (b) licenses for the Open Source Software listed in Part 2 of Schedule 6. |
“IP Warranties” |
means the warranties set out in paragraph 8, 13 and 18 of the Schedule 2. |
“Ireland” |
means Ireland excluding Northern Ireland. |
“Insolvency Act” |
Means the BVI Insolvency Act, 2003, as amended. |
“Key Employee” |
means each of the employees listed in Schedule 4 (together, the “Key Employees”). |
“Law” |
means any statute, law, common law, ordinance, regulation, directive or rule of any Governmental Authority or any legally binding (in each case) administrative or judicial interpretations, guidelines, decisions, rulings, orders and decrees thereof. |
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has the meaning given in Schedule 9. |
|
“Liens” |
means any liens, security interests, options, rights of first refusal, claims, easements, mortgages, charges, indentures, deeds of trust, rights of way, restrictions on the use of real property, encroachments, licenses to third parties, leases to third parties, security agreements, or any other encumbrances and other restrictions or limitations on ownership or use of real or personal property or irregularities in title thereto. |
“LRJ” |
means the locally regulated jurisdictions that include any jurisdiction, whether now or in the future, which has regulated the provision of one or more online gambling products to individuals present in their jurisdictions and has established a local licensing regime to control access to their local market. |
“Lock-Up Period” |
means the period commencing on the date of issuance of the applicable tranche of the Share Consideration and continuing until and including the date that is 6 (six) months after the date of issuance of the applicable tranche of the Share Considerations, at which time the Lock-Up Period shall automatically terminate without any action by any party, unless otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by GAMB and such Seller. |
“Lock-Up Shares” |
has the meaning given in Clause 9.1. |
“Loss” or “Losses” |
means any and all direct and reasonably foreseeable (as at the time of Closing) losses, damages, liabilities, charges, costs and expenses but shall exclude all indirect and /or consequential loss. |
“Material Contracts” |
means an agreement entered into by any of the Target Group Companies which: (i) has an annual contract value of at least EUR [***] ; (ii) is with any sole or single source supplier; (ii) has a fixed term of more than one (1) year; or (iii) is with any third-party concerning provision of Computer Systems services to or on behalf of any Target Group Company. |
“N-DEV” |
means N-DEV DOO Subotica, a limited liability company registered under the laws of Serbia with company number 21615447 whose 100% shareholder is Seller 10. |
“NDC Media” |
has the meaning given in Recital(D). |
“Neutral Auditor” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.3.2(d). |
“Non-Acceptance Notice” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.3.2(a)(ii). |
“Non-US Affiliate Assignment” |
means the assignment of the beneficial interest all of the existing non-US affiliate accounts of Finder Media with operators to the NDC Media in the agreed form. |
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“Open Source Software” |
means any Software that allows access to its supporting source code (and may include supporting documentation) that: (e) contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any Software that is available as free software, open source Software or copy left licensed Software (e.g., but without limitation, Linux, supporting libraries or applications); (f) requires as a condition of its use, modification or distribution that it, or other Software incorporated, distributed with, or derived from it, be disclosed or distributed in source code form or made available at no charge; (g) is licensed formally or informally without royalties; or (h) can be downloaded from the web (even if such Software is only available in executable or other binary form, without the supporting source code) which may include, without limitation, freeware, shareware, commercially licensed Software available at no cost, open standards, specifications or published sample code. |
“Operator” |
has the meaning given in Recital (G). |
“Overlap Period” |
means with respect to the Target Group Company, the portion of any taxable year or period beginning on or before and ending after the Closing Date. |
“Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights” |
means all Intellectual Property Rights owned by any Target Group Company. |
“Owned Business Software” |
means all Software that is the subject-matter of Intellectual Property Rights owned by any Target Group Company. |
“Parent Shares” |
means ordinary shares issued by GAMB. |
“Party” or “Parties” |
has the meaning given in the caption. |
“Person” or “Persons” |
means any individual, company, partnership, trust, special fund under public Law, or other entity of any kind or Governmental Authority. |
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“Post-Closing Adjustment Payment” |
means (i) Closing Cash; (ii) less Closing Borrowings; (iii) plus the amount difference between Target Working Capital and Closing Working Capital where the amount of the Closing Working Capital is the higher of the two amounts (provided that no downward adjustment shall take place where the amount of the Closing Working Capital is the lower of the two amounts); (iv) less Company Transaction Expenses; (v) less the Tax liabilities of the Target Group Companies for the period prior to the Accounts Date; and (vi) less the outstanding audit and Tax compliance fees incurred by the Target Group Companies that relate to the financial year ended 31 December 2021 or any earlier financial year not included in the Closing Working Capital. |
“Post-Closing Statement” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.3.1. |
“Pre-Closing Period” |
means all taxable years or other taxable periods that end on or before the Closing Date and, with respect to any Overlap Period, the portion of such Overlap Period ending on and including the Closing Date. |
“Pre-contractual Statement” |
means any agreement (including unexecuted drafts of this Agreement or any other agreement entered into in connection with this Agreement), undertaking, understanding, representation, misrepresentation, warranty, promise, assurance or arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether or not in writing, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement or any other agreement entered into in connection with this Agreement made or given by a Party or any other Person at any time prior to the execution of this Agreement. |
“Purchase Price” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.1.1. |
“Purchase Price Adjustment” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.5.1. |
“Real Property Leases” |
has the meaning set out in Paragraph 10(a) of Schedule 2. |
“Registered Business Intellectual Property Rights” |
means all registered Intellectual Property Rights and applications for registration of Intellectual Property Rights owned, used or held for use or licensed by any Target Group Company. |
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“Regulated Revenue” |
means Revenue which derives from player activity occurring within the LRJ by a business licensed to operate online gambling in the LRJ by the relevant gaming regulator of the same LRJ. |
“Regulated Revenue Percentage” |
shall be calculated by dividing the Regulated Revenue amount for a specified calendar year by the Total Revenue amount for the same calendar year. |
“Relevant Tax Period” |
means any taxable period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the Accounts Date. |
“Relief” |
means any reliefs, loss, allowance, credit, deduction or set-off relevant to the computation of profits or Tax or any right to repayment of taxation. |
“Remaining Offset Amount” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.1.2(c). |
“Replacement Sellers’ Representatives” |
has the meaning given in Clause 17.1.4. |
“Representatives” |
shall mean, in relation to any Person, any of its directors, officers, employees, advisers or consultants. |
“Restricted Period” |
means as and from the Closing Date and for a period of 2 (two) years thereafter. |
“Revenue” |
means all revenue generated from the exploitation, use and maintenance of all of the Intellectual Property Rights which are used for the conduct of the business activities of the Target Group Companies and Finder Media, as the case may be. |
“Securities Act” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.1.4. |
“Seller” or “Sellers” |
has the meaning given in the caption. |
“Sellers’ Bank Account” |
means the following nominated bank account [***]: |
“Sellers’ Closing Actions” |
has the meaning given in Clause 6.2.1. |
“Sellers’ Representatives” |
Means the following representatives of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers: 1. Ilkka Elias Heikkilä [***]; and 2. Fintan Costello [***]. |
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“Sellers’ Solicitors” |
Eugene F. Collins. |
“Shareholders Agreement” |
has the meaning given in Clause 4.1.1(b). |
“Shares” |
has the meaning given in Recital (A). |
“Share Consideration” |
has the meaning given in Clause 3.1.1. |
“Share Issuance Spreadsheet” |
has the meaning given in Clause 5.2.2(a). |
“Signing Date” |
means the date of this Agreement. |
“Software” |
means any and all: (i) computer code, applications and programs, whether in source code or object code; (ii) descriptions, flow-charts and other work product used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing, and (iii) source code annotations, documentation, including user and installation manuals and training software, relating to any of the foregoing. |
“Specific Accounting Policies” |
has the meaning given in Schedule 3. |
“Specific Indemnities” |
has the meaning given in Clause 8.1. |
“Statutory Accounts” |
means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2020, which are referred to in Part 1 of Schedule 5. |
“Subsidiary” and “Subsidiaries” |
has the meaning given pursuant to Section 7 of the Companies Act. |
“Target Group Company”, “Target Group Companies” and “Target Group” |
means the Company and NDC Media. |
“Target Working Capital” |
means EUR [***]. |
“Tax” or “Taxes” |
means any and all forms of taxes, fees, imposts, duties and similar government charges (including any interest, fines, assessments, penalties or additions to tax imposed in connection therewith or with respect thereto) imposed by any taxing, fiscal or other Governmental Authority of any country, including, without limitation, withholding taxes, taxes on gross or net income, wage taxes, payroll taxes, taxes on profits or gains and taxes on receipts, sales, use, turnover, occupation, franchise, value added and personal property, payroll taxes, social security contributions (including employer national insurance contributions, PAYE or similar), capital gains taxes, stamp taxes, transfer taxes, registration duties, customs duties and charges, and capital duties, in each case including any such payments and liabilities whether chargeable directly or primarily to any Target Group Company or any other Person (secondary liabilities), without limitation, arising in connection with the Excluded Entities. |
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Definitions Schedule B Financial Terms
Part 1 Cash and Cash Equivalents
shall mean:
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Part 2 Borrowings
Borrowings of any Person shall mean and include;
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Part 3 EBITDA
EBITDA means a non-IFRS Financial Measure defined as, with respect to the Target Group Companies and all Revenue and costs attributable to the exploitation, use and maintenance of all of the Intellectual Property Rights which are used for the conduct of the business activities of the Target Group Companies, the earnings excluding net finance costs, income tax charges, depreciation, and amortization.
EBITDA shall be determined using a reconciliation from the IFRS financial measure “net income”.
EBITDA shall be adjusted to exclude means an amount equal to the greater of [***].
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Part 4 Closing Working Capital
means the current assets of the Target Group less the current liabilities of the Target Group (excluding all Closing Cash, Closing Borrowings, and any Tax assets or Tax liabilities of the Target Group) as determined in accordance IFRS as of the Accounts Date.
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Schedule 2 Warranties
1. Authorization and Non-Contravention
(a) Each Seller and Indirect Seller has the full power, legal capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other document or instrument delivered in connection herewith as well as to perform his obligations and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution of this Agreement and the performance by the Seller and the Indirect Seller of his obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary actions by or on behalf of such Seller and Indirect Seller.
(b) There are no restrictions on the Guarantor of respective guaranteed entity that would restrict such guaranteed entity from entering into, and such Guarantor is duly authorized on behalf of respective guaranteed entity to enter into, this Agreement and all other instruments and agreements to be delivered by such guaranteed entity as contemplated hereby.
(c) The Guarantor of respective guaranteed entity is a shareholder and a duly appointed and presently acting director or corporate officer of such guaranteed entity. The governing documents of each guaranteed entity are currently in full force and effect, pursuant to its respective terms.
(d) In respect of each Seller and Indirect Seller, the execution of this Agreement by him, the consummation by him of the transactions provided for herein and the fulfilment of the terms hereof will not result in a breach by such Seller or Indirect Seller of any judgment, decree or order from any court or government body, applicable Law or the constitution (or similar document) of any Target Group Company, or any agreement executed or commitment undertaken by such Seller or Indirect Seller, subject to the conditions precedent set out in Clause 4. In respect of each Seller, their Shares are free from all Encumbrances or agreements, arrangements or obligations to create or give an Encumbrance on, over or affecting the Shares, and no claim has been made by any Person to be entitled to any such Encumbrance. In respect of each Seller, their Shares have never been subject to any claims, demands or litigation and there are no actions outstanding or pending or, to the knowledge of each Seller with respect to himself, threatened against or affecting the Seller which would prevent such Seller from: (i) executing and delivering this Agreement; or (ii) performing such Seller's obligations pursuant to, or observing any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement
(e) All authorisations from, and notices or filings with, any Governmental Authority that are necessary to enable each Seller and Indirect Seller to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Agreement have been obtained or made by such Seller and Indirect Seller (as the case may be) on the Closing Date and are in full force and effect on the Closing Date and all conditions of each such authorization have been complied with by such Seller and Indirect Seller.
(f) This Agreement constitutes, and the documents to which each Seller and Indirect Seller is party which are referred to in this Agreement, which are to be executed by such Seller and Indirect Seller, when executed will constitute, valid and binding agreements of such Seller and Indirect Seller enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.
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(g) Each Seller and Indirect Seller is not insolvent or unable to pay its debts under applicable insolvency Law nor has stopped paying debts as they fall due. No administrator, receiver, manager or equivalent officer has been appointed by any Person in respect of the Seller and Indirect Seller or all or any of its assets, no steps have been taken to initiate any such appointment and no voluntary arrangement has been proposed relating to the Seller and Indirect Seller.
(h) Each Seller and Indirect Seller warrants that he/she/it:
(i) is able to pay its debts as they fall due;
(ii) is not subject to any circumstance that would render it capable of being deemed to be insolvent or unable to pay its debts as they fall due pursuant to any applicable Law;
(iii) has not had repayment of any debt demanded before its stated maturity, unless same has been discharged in full;
(iv) has not sought protection from enforcement action by its creditors, or take steps preparatory to so doing pursuant to any applicable Law;
(v) is not subject to any unsatisfied judgement for debt;
(vi) has not had a receiver appointed or invited the appointment of a receiver, over any part of its property or undertaking;
(A) being an individual, has not:
(B) being a body corporate, has not,
(vii) has not entered or proposed to enter into any composition or arrangement with or for its creditors (including an individual voluntary arrangement); or
(viii) has not been the subject of any other event analogous to any of the foregoing in any jurisdiction.
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2. Corporate
(a) The contents of Recitals (A), (C) and (D) are true and accurate in all respects. The Shares comprise the whole of the allotted and issued shares of the Company.
(b) The total issued and paid-in Equity Interests of each Target Group Company is set out in Schedule 1. The shares of NDC Media: (i) are fully paid up (to the extent applicable); (ii) are free from all Encumbrances; (iii) are freely transferable and have never been the subject of any litigation, claim or demand; (iv) constitute the entire issued share capital of NDC Media and 100% of the voting rights. No Person has the right, due to options, warrants, convertibles or otherwise, to call for the allotment, issue, sale or transfer of any Equity Interests of any of the Target Group Companies, nor are the Equity Interests of any of the Target Group Companies subject to any existing option rights (under any employee incentive plan or arrangement or otherwise), pre-emptive rights, trust agreements, shareholder agreements, sub-participations or other agreements. The Target Group Companies do not, directly or indirectly, own any share or other security (including, without limitation, silent participations and sub-participations) in any other legal entity. Other than as set forth in the Agreement there is no agreement or arrangement relating to the transfer of ownership of all or part of the Shares or other securities that will survive Closing.
(c) The Shares are properly issued and fully paid and comprise all of the issued shares of the Company.
(d) The share certificates for the Shares to be delivered to the Buyer at Closing are the only documents of title for the Shares.
(e) Except for the Company’s memorandum and articles of association and the Shareholders Agreement, there are no documents or arrangements in force governing the relationship between the shareholders of the Company, the management of the Company or the subscription for, or issue, purchase, transfer or ownership of shares in the Company.
(f) The Shares are not subject to any restriction or prohibition on transfer which would restrict or prohibit any transfer of the Shares to or by the Buyer (or its nominee).
(g) There is no agreement, arrangement or obligation
(i) which calls for the present or future allotment, issue or transfer of, or the grant to any Person of the right (whether conditional or otherwise) to call for the allotment, issue or transfer of any share or loan capital of the Company (including, without limitation, any option or right of pre-emption or conversion in the Company);
(ii) to create, allot, issue, redeem, acquire, or repay any of the Equity Interests in any Target Group Company.
(h) All corporate documents of the Target Group Companies including, but not limited to, share and other registers, minutes of the board of directors’ meetings and shareholders’ meetings, and stock transfer forms or similar documents transferring Equity Interests in any Target Group Company exist and are safely kept and comply with all applicable Laws, are in all material respects correct and complete and all registrations and applications related thereto have been filed with the relevant Governmental Authority and all applicable fees, stamp duties or other similar fees or charges have been paid and no notice or allegation has been received by any of the Target Group Companies that any of them is incorrect or should be rectified.
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(i) The constitution (and similar documents) of each Target Group Company, as well as the share (or member) registers of the Target Group Companies, comply with all applicable Laws and are correct and up to date. Any transfer of the Equity Interests of the Target Group Companies has been carried out in accordance with all applicable Laws (including stamp obligations) and has not violated any obligation of the Target Group Companies.
(j) The Target Group Companies were properly incorporated, are duly organized and validly existing under the respective Laws of the country of their incorporation, are in good standing and have full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate their assets and properties and conduct the Business to the extent performed by such Target Group Company. Each Target Group Company complies and operates in accordance with: (i) all applicable Laws; and (ii) its constitution, by-laws or operating agreement as the case may be.
(k) None of the Target Group Companies has issued any preference shares (save as noted in Schedule 1), non-voting preference shares, any loan stock convertible into shares, exchangeable against shares or with a right to subscribe for Equity Interests, and, more generally, they have never issued any securities giving the right, either by way of conversion, exchange, reimbursement, presentation of warrants or otherwise to the attribution at any time or at a fixed date of securities which are or would be issued for this purpose and would represent a certain portion of the Equity Interests in any Target Group Company. No limitation has been imposed upon the voting rights in any Target Group Company.
3. Private Placement Matters
(a) Each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers understands that any Parent Shares to be acquired by Sellers and Indirect Sellers as Share Consideration pursuant to this Agreement have not been registered under the Securities Act or qualified under any state securities Laws and that such Parent Shares are being offered and transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration and qualification based in part upon the representations contained herein. Each of the Sellers is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act.
(b) Each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such Seller or Indirect Seller is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment contemplated by this Agreement, and each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers is able to bear the economic risk of this investment in the Parent Shares that may be delivered to such Seller or Indirect Seller pursuant to this Agreement (including a complete loss of such Seller’s or Indirect Seller’s investment or a reduction in the price of Parent Shares, whether at the time it is held by such Seller or Indirect Seller).
(c) Each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers is acquiring any Parent Shares pursuant to this Agreement solely for such Seller’s or Indirect Seller’s own account for investment and not with a view toward the resale or distribution thereof, nor with any present intention of transferring or distributing such Seller’s or Indirect Seller’s interest in such Parent Shares, in each case in a manner that would require registration of such Parent Shares prior to such registration. None of the Sellers or Indirect Sellers has contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person to sell, transfer, assign or pledge to such person or anyone else all or any part of any Parent Shares being issued under this Agreement, and none of the Sellers or Indirect Sellers has current plans or intentions to enter into any such contract,
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undertaking or arrangement, in each case in a manner that would require registration of such Parent Shares prior to such registration.
(d) Each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers acknowledges that any Parent Shares that such Seller or Indirect Seller may acquire pursuant to this Agreement (i) have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities statutes of any state or other jurisdiction, (ii) have the status of securities acquired in a transaction under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, and (iii) are “restricted securities” (as that term is defined in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act), and, therefore, each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers further acknowledges that any Parent Shares that such Seller or Indirect Seller is acquiring pursuant to this Agreement cannot be resold unless they are registered under applicable federal and state securities Laws (including the Securities Act) or unless exemptions from all such applicable registration requirements are available, and consequently, each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers must bear the economic risk of investment for an indefinite period of time. None of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers will sell or otherwise transfer any Parent Shares that such Seller or Indirect Seller may acquire pursuant to this Agreement without either the prior registration thereof under the Securities Act and all other applicable statutes, or applicable exemptions from the registration requirements of each of those statutes.
(e) Each of the Sellers and Indirect Sellers understands that certificates or book entries representing any Parent Shares being issued hereunder will bear the following legend reflecting the foregoing restrictions on transfer:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME UNLESS (I) THEY ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS OR (II) IN THE OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED OR OTHER LEGAL OPINION REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED SUCH DISPOSITION WILL NOT RESULT IN A VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OR (III) SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE ACT (PROVIDED THAT THE TRANSFEROR PROVIDES GAMBLING.COM GROUP LIMITED WITH REASONABLE ASSURANCES (IN THE FORM OF A SELLER REPRESENTATION LETTER AND, IF APPLICABLE, A BROKER REPRESENTATION LETTER) THAT THE SECURITIES MAY BE SOLD PURSUANT TO SUCH RULE).
4. Insolvency and Bankruptcy
(a) No resolution has been passed for the winding up of any of the Target Group Companies, Finder Media or Finder Media Holdings or for a liquidator to be appointed in respect of any of the Target Group Companies, Finder Media or Finder Media Holdings.
(b) The Company is not insolvent within the meaning of section 8 of the Insolvency Act and (to the best of its knowledge and belief) no steps have been taken, or resolutions passed, to appoint a liquidator of the Company or a receiver in respect of the Company or any of its assets.
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(c) No Target Group Company, Finder Media or Finder Media Holdings has, and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, no other Person has initiated or applied under applicable Law for bankruptcy, insolvency, or winding-up proceedings under applicable Law against any of the Target Group Companies, Finder Media or Finder Media Holdings. No enforcement measures (including, but not limited to, pursuant to the appointment of a receiver, administrative receiver or similar under the applicable Law) been served on any Target Group Company, Finder Media or Finder Media Holdings with respect to any property or other assets of any Target Group Company or to the FMH Assets of the Finder Media.
(d) None of the Target Group Companies is insolvent (as determined under applicable Law), unable to pay its debts, or has stopped paying its debts as they fall due, nor to the Warrantors’ Knowledge are any of the aforementioned situations imminent.
5. Financial – Management of the Target Group Companies
(a) The Statutory Accounts, unless stated in the explanatory notes, have been prepared in accordance with IFRS and with the policies and principles consistently used and applied in all material respects since 1 January 2018 by that Target Group Company. The Statutory Accounts present a true and fair view of the financial position, assets and liabilities of the Target Group Companies as per the applicable reference date. In addition, the group and parent company audited financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2018, 31 December 2019, and 31 December 2020 present a true a fair view of the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Target Group at such financial year-end dates.
(b) Except for changes which are immaterial, there has been no change in the methods, accounting principles and policies within the accounting records of the Target Group Companies during the 3 (three) years preceding the Accounts Date and during the period from the Accounts Date until the Signing Date.
(c) The Statutory Accounts reflect all liabilities and contingent liabilities of the Target Group Companies to the extent required by Law.
(d) Except for deviations that are immaterial, since 1 January 2018, the Target Group Companies have kept their accounting records in accordance with the applicable statutory requirements. The administration and bookkeeping of the Target Group Companies is in all material aspects accurate and complete, has been maintained properly and is capable of providing adequate information as to the Target Group Companies’ financial position in all material aspects.
(e) None of the Target Group Companies have any liability to any broker, investment banker or other Person for any broker’s, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Transaction.
(f) The Target Group Companies own or lease all movable tangible assets that are necessary to conduct their Business. The movable fixed tangible assets owned, leased, or otherwise used by the Target Group Companies, are in good working order (except for ordinary wear and tear) and have been properly and regularly repaired and maintained.
(g) (i) There is no charge or pledge over the assets of any Target Group Company; (ii) the Target Group Companies have not agreed to create any security interests on any of their assets or to give any other right to any third party in respect of such assets; and (iii) none of the assets used by the Target Group Companies in their respective Businesses is subject
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to a contractual clause that reserves the ownership of such assets for the benefit of any third party.
(h) (i) None of the Target Group Companies has entered into any agreements with any providers of borrowed money (whether or not contingent and whether or not a member of the Target Group), including without limitation any loans, credit facilities and advances, letters of credit or any similar instrument, and (ii) there is no outstanding guarantee or security given in respect of any obligation of any Target Group Company other than those listed in the Disclosure Letter.
(i) The Target Group Companies have not:
(i) given or agreed to give any guarantee securing any liability of any third party;
(ii) issued or agreed to issue any comfort letter (whether binding or not) in respect of any liability of any third party; or
(iii) received any grant or subsidy from any public authority, and they have not applied for any such grant or subsidy.
6. Certain Restrictions
(a) Since the Accounts Date: (i) there has not occurred any change, event or condition (whether or not covered by insurance) that, individually or in the aggregate with any other changes, events or conditions, has resulted in a material adverse effect on any Target Group Company; and (ii) no Target Group Company has experienced any material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance).
(b) Since the Accounts Date, the Target Group Companies: (i) have been operated only in the ordinary course of business (ii) have not incurred any Borrowings, (iii) have not incurred any liabilities or made any payments outside of the ordinary course of business including to the Sellers, the Indirect Sellers, or any Affiliate of the Sellers or Indirect Sellers, (iv) have not acquired any assets outside of the ordinary course of business; and (v) have not made any distribution of equity capital.
7. Material Contracts
(a) All Material Contracts have been disclosed in the Disclosure Letter in the form of true and complete copies. All Material Contracts entered into by the Target Group Companies with suppliers and third parties with whom the Target Group Companies co-operate have been entered into at arm’s length. All contracts entered into by the Target Group Companies with their customers have been entered into in all material respects in accordance with the Target Group Companies’ standard terms and conditions disclosed in the Disclosure Letter (except as stated otherwise in the Disclosure Letter) and in each case at arm’s length terms and conditions.
(b) Each of the Target Group Companies has, and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, the other parties to such Material Contracts have, complied with and performed all their obligations under these contracts. To the Warrantors’ Knowledge, there exists no event that is expected to bring about the nullification or termination of any of the Material Contracts or that is expected to create a liability of a Target Group Company arising from a breach of such Material Contract. No claim for any consequential, incidental, indirect or punitive damages of any kind or character, including loss of profit, loss of revenue, loss of product or loss or production has been served on any of the Target Group Companies, under such Material
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Contracts and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, there are no grounds for any such liability claim.
(c) The Target Group Companies: (i) do not have any obligations or liabilities owed to any agents; (ii) have not paid any commissions to any agents during the last 5 (five) years; and (iii) have not entered into or terminated any agency relationships in the last 5 (five) years prior to Closing.
(d) The transfer of the Shares will neither increase the contractual obligations of each of the Target Group Companies nor restrict its contractual rights. Save for the agreements listed in Schedule 8, neither the execution nor the performance of the transactions pursuant to this Agreement will result in a breach or change of, or require the consent of a Person under, or enable a Person to terminate, or relieve a Person from an obligation under, an agreement or other arrangement to which any Target Group Company is a party.
(e) To the Warrantors’ Knowledge, each Material Contract entered into by each of the Target Group Companies is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms and is not unduly burdensome or onerous on the relevant Target Group Company.
(f) Except for any guarantee or warranty implied by Law and for those warranties contained in the standard terms of business and/or in the Material Contracts, no Target Group Company has given any indemnity, guarantee or warranty, or made any representation, in respect of goods or services supplied or to be supplied.
8. Licenses, Permits and Environment
(a) The Target Group Companies have all the necessary licenses, permits and authorizations, including workplace opening and operation permits and environmental licenses, for the ownership and use of their assets and to carry on their respective Businesses as conducted and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, there is no pending action, investigation or other proceeding which seeks the revocation or suspension of any such existing licenses, permits or authorizations. All such licenses, permits and authorizations have been obtained by the Target Group Companies to enable them to carry on their Businesses in the places and in the manner in which such Businesses are now carried on and all such licenses, consents, permits and authorizations are valid and subsisting and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge there is no reason why any of them should be suspended, cancelled or revoked.
(b) Each Target Group Company is in compliance with all its licenses, permits, authorizations and registrations.
(c) The transfer of ownership of the Shares to the Buyer will not bring about the revocation or suspension of any licenses, permits, authorizations or registrations necessary for the conduct of the Business of any of the Target Group Companies.
(d) Except as per subsection above (c), to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, no consent, approval, waiver or authorisation is required to be obtained, and no notice or filing is required to be given to, any regulatory or Governmental Authority in connection with the execution and performance of this Agreement or otherwise.
(e) To the Warrantors’ Knowledge, the Leased Property is not polluted by any substances present on or under such real property.
(f) The Target Group Companies have procedures to avoid any violation of any Environmental Law.
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(g) None of the Target Group Companies has over the last 5 (five) years violated any provision of any Environmental Law or has received any complaint or notification from any Person with respect to potential breach of any Environmental Laws and there is to the Warrantors’ Knowledge no reason, facts or circumstances which could give rise to any such complaint or notification.
(h) To the Warrantors’ Knowledge, there are no circumstances which may result in the relevant authorities cancelling or revising or amending any terms of any permit.
(i) No Target Group Company possesses and has not in the last 3 (three) years commissioned any, reports, surveys, investigations, assessments, audits, assessments of hazardous substances, relating to the application of Environmental Law to the Target Group Companies, their Businesses or Leased Properties or to the impact on the environment of any aspect of the Target Group Companies’ activities or proposed future activities.
(j) The Company has never carried on any financial services business (as defined in the BVI Financial Services Commission Act 2001).
9. Owned Property by Target Group Companies
No Target Group Company owns any type of real property or has an interest in any land located in the British Virgin Islands, or shares, debt obligations or other securities of any body corporate, which has an interest in any land in the British Virgin Islands.
10. Real Property Leased by Target Group Companies
(a) A correct and complete list of all leases of all real property leased by the Target Group Companies, including all amendments, assignments, extensions, renewals, guarantees, or other agreements with respect thereto (the “Real Property Leases”), true and correct copies of which are disclosed in the Disclosure Letter, are as set out in Schedule 10 (together the “Leased Properties”). None of the Target Group Companies has received any notice of termination for any Real Property Lease. Each of the Target Group Companies (i) comply with all applicable Laws, and (ii) has, and the counterparties to the Real Property Leases have to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, complied with and performed all of their obligations under the Real Property Leases and, in each case, to the Warrantors’ Knowledge are not in breach of any of their obligations, including without limitation, insurance obligations, thereunder in respect of the Leased Properties. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Letter, none of the Target Group Companies is a party to any other lease, any sale and lease back agreement or any other rights of occupancy relating to any real property (including any lease or occupancy agreement pursuant to which any Target Group Company subleases or grants, as sublessor or grantor, any third party the right of use or occupancy of any portion of any of the Leased Properties) which will survive the Transaction.
(b) In the past 3 (three) years, the Target Group Companies have not received any notice from a Governmental Authority, including any expropriation procedure or other administrative measure, requesting the implementation of any repair, construction or renovation works in relation to any of the Leased Properties. To the Warrantors’ Knowledge, no such expropriation procedure or other administrative measure is pending or threatened by any Governmental Authority on any Target Group Company in respect of any of the Leased Properties. To the Warrantors’ Knowledge, there are no notices, disputes, complaints, liabilities, claims or demands relating to or in respect of any Target Group Company’s use or occupation of the Leased Properties.
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(c) The Target Group Companies have obtained all requisite licenses and authorizations for their use of the Leased Properties as required by Law from all applicable Governmental Authorities, and to Warrantors’ Knowledge there are no notices, disputes, complaints, liabilities, claims or demands in relation to any such licenses or authorizations.
(d) To the Warrantor’s Knowledge, all of the buildings, structures and appurtenances situated on the Leased Properties are in good and substantial condition and repair, and fit for the purposes for which they are presently used.
11. Information Technology
(a) The Computer Systems are owned by the Target Group Companies or are licensed, leased or supplied under third party contracts to the Target Group Companies. None of the Target Group Companies or, to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, other parties to such third party contracts is in default of the terms of any such contracts and there are no existing disputes under any such contracts. Each Target Group Company is the owner of, or legally entitled to use, all of the Computer Systems necessary to conduct the Business, and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge none of the foregoing will be adversely impacted by (nor require the payment or grant of additional amounts or consideration as a result of) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transaction.
(b) The Computer Systems are in working order and are functioning properly; are sufficient; are fit for the purposes of, carrying on the Business of the Target Group Companies; have sufficient scalability, capacity, functionality and performance to meet the present level requirements (business volume and number of users) of the Business; and, to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, are free from defects in design, material and workmanship.
(c) There has been no disruption to the commercial or operational activities of the Target Group Companies or of any customer of any Target Group Company which has had any material adverse effect on the business of such customer or such Target Group Companies or the Business in the last 12 (twelve) months and which has been caused by any failures or breakdowns of the Computer Systems used or held for use by the Target Group Companies.
(d) In the last 12 (twelve) months, to the Warrantor’s Knowledge, no Person has gained unauthorized access to the Computer Systems used by each of the Target Group Companies, nor to any data stored on them.
(e) The Target Group Companies have data storage and disaster recovery plans in the event of a failure or breakdown of the Computer Systems, copies of which have been disclosed in the Disclosure Letter.
12. Litigation
(a) None of the Target Group Companies is engaged, or has in the past 3 (three) years been engaged in any litigation or arbitration, administrative or criminal proceedings, whether as a claimant, defendant or otherwise, and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge there are no facts or circumstances (such as a threat of lawsuit from customers, distributors, suppliers, or any other third parties) which would result in any material judicial, criminal, administrative or arbitral proceedings which could involve or concern any of the Target Group Companies or any one of their directors, employees, or former directors or employees for which any of the Target Group Companies could be liable.
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(b) No notice has been received by any of the Target Group Companies from any Governmental Authority within the last 3 (three) years that any investigation or review by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Target Group Companies, their Business or assets is pending or threatened, and no such Governmental Authority has notified any Target Group Company within the last 3 (three) years of an intention to conduct any such investigation or review.
(c) Neither the Target Group Companies nor to the Warrantors’ Knowledge any of their directors and employees are subject to any continuing court or administrative order, judgment, injunction or decree or private settlement agreement, relating to the Business or assets of the Target Group Companies.
13. Intellectual Property Rights
(a) A true and complete list of all Intellectual Property Rights which are used for the conduct of the business activities of the Target Group Companies are set out in Schedule 6. Each Target Group Company is the legal and beneficial owner of all Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights. Each Target Company has the valid right to use as used in the Business (free from all charges, Encumbrances, licenses or other rights and claims whatsoever), all other Business Intellectual Property Rights. To the Warrantor’s Knowledge, none of the Business Intellectual Property Rights will be adversely impacted by (including requiring the payment or grant of additional amounts or consideration as a result of) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transaction.
(b) Schedule 6 contains a true and complete list and particulars (including where applicable, each renewal fee due date) of all Registered Business Intellectual Property Rights and all Business Domain Names. All Registered Business Intellectual Property Rights have been maintained and no Registered Business Intellectual Property Right has lapsed, been revoked, cancelled, abandoned or terminated in the 4 (four) years prior to Closing. Each Target Group Company is the sole and exclusive, unrestricted legal and beneficial owner of all right, title, and interest in and to, all items of the Registered Business Intellectual Property Rights and all Business Domain Names. Each Target Group Company is the registered proprietor of, or applicant in respect of, each item of the Registered Business Intellectual Property Rights and each of the Business Domain Names.
(c) Schedule 10 contains a true and complete list of the FMH Assets. Finder Media was, on or before the date of the FMH Asset Transfer, the sole legal and beneficial owner of all rights, title and interest in the FMH Assets.
(d) To the Warrantor’s Knowledge, the Target Group Companies, the conduct and operation of their businesses (including their products and services) and their use of the Business Intellectual Property Rights do not in any way infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate, and have not infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, the Intellectual Property Rights of any Person. No claim, legal proceeding, or action against any Target Group Company contesting the rights of such Target Group Company to any Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights or the validity or enforceability of the Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights, or alleging the infringement, misappropriation or other violation by any Target Group Company of any Intellectual Property Rights of any Person, is pending or threatened or has been received in writing and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, no circumstances exist which are reasonably likely to give rise to such claim or action and no such claims or actions have been made.
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(e) None of the Target Group Companies nor, to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, any of their licensees has sent a written notice or issued any claims, legal proceedings, or actions (directly or through a third party) alleging that a third party is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any of the Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights, and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, no Person is infringing, misappropriating, or otherwise violating in any material manner any of the Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights.
(f) No Target Group Company has entered into any license, sublicense or other agreement or arrangement with any third party pursuant to which any such third party is or will be granted, licensed, otherwise authorized to use, or provided any Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights.
(g) No Target Group Company has entered into any contracts, agreements or documents under which any third party transfers or grants to any Target Group Company any Intellectual Property rights, immunities, or rights to use under Intellectual Property Rights, other than: (i) licenses for non-customized, “off the shelf” Software that is generally commercially available on standard terms for a one-time or annual license fee; and (b) licenses for the Open Source Software.
(h) There is no Third Party Business Software and no Owned Business Software.
(i) No Governmental Authority, university, college, other educational institution or research centre has any rights in, under or to any Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights.
(j) No current or former employee, consultant, freelancer, shareholder or founder of any Target Group Company has made or threatened to make any claim relating to any rights that they may have in any Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights developed by any of them in the course of their employment by or service to any Target Group Company, and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, there are no grounds for any such claim.
(k) No employee or former employee or consultant or contractor of any Target Group Company has any right to payment with respect to the use of, or any interest in, any Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights. All Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights have been developed by employees or former employees of a Target Group Company acting in the scope and course of their employment or by external consultants or contractors, and all such employees, former employees, or consultants and/or contractors who have developed or who have contributed to the development of any Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights have assigned to a Target Group Company any right, title, and interest in such Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights which did not automatically vest in a Target Group Company by virtue of any relevant Law.
(l) The Target Group Companies have taken all commercially reasonable steps that are required to protect the confidentiality of all confidential information and trade secrets of the Target Group Companies or of any third party that has provided any confidential information or trade secrets to any Target Group Company, including, without limitation, requiring each employee and former employee of any Target Group Company and consultant and any other Person with access to confidential information or trade secrets of any Target Group Company or of any such third party to execute a binding confidentiality agreement. No confidential information, trade secrets or other confidential Owned Business Intellectual Property Rights have been disclosed by any Target Group Company to any Person except pursuant to binding confidentiality agreements.
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14. Insurance
(a) The Target Group Companies have not taken out any insurance policies.
15. Employment
(a) Details of the employees of the Target Group, Vultur and N-DEV have been recorded in the appropriate books of the Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV as the case may be, together with the remuneration payable to each of them, in accordance with applicable Laws.
(b) Bonuses and payments in kind with respect to all Key Employees are contained in Schedule 4 as at 31 December 2021. No Target Group Company has been notified by any such Key Employee of an intent to resign his or her employment.
(c) The Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV are, and have been since 1 January 2015 (or since their incorporation whichever is later), in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws respecting labor, employment, fair employment practices (including equal employment opportunity Laws), terms and conditions of employment, classification of employees and contractors, workers’ compensation, occupational safety and health, immigration, affirmative action, employee and data privacy, plant closings, and wages and hours. There is no pending or, to Warrantors’ Knowledge, threatened charge, complaint, arbitration, audit or investigation brought by or on behalf of, or otherwise involving, any current or former employee, any person alleged to be a current or former employee, any applicant for employment, or any class of the foregoing, or any Governmental Authority, that involve the labor or employment relations and practices of the Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV.
(d) There is no negotiation of any agreement of whatever nature with the existing staff of any of the Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV, whether in relation to any collective bargaining, works council, or similar agreement or the terms applicable to the individual employees.
(e) No promise to hire any Person as an employee or consultant for an annual gross salary in excess of EUR [***] in any of the Target Group Companies has been made.
(f) There are no profit sharing, bonus or severance pay arrangements in force with respect to any current or former employee, consultant or director of the Target Group Companies other than the Exit Bonus Program.
(g) The Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV have not incurred any obligation of any kind toward former employees, including unfulfilled obligations resulting from the breach of any labour or service contract or for dismissal or unjustified dismissal. All claims in relation to termination of employment contracts of former employees have been duly and completely settled.
(h) Provisions have been made in the Statutory Accounts in accordance with Law for the amount of all liabilities in respect of present pension and all other benefit undertakings to be paid to current or former directors, officers, consultants or other employees of the Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV.
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(i) The Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV have complied:
(i) with all social security, payroll withholding and similar regulations. They are up-to-date in the payment of their contributions relating to social security, payroll withholding, family allowances and the various retirement and unemployment mandatory schemes and, more generally, in the payment of all other contributions in respect of their employees; and
(ii) with binding and mandatory obligations imposed by the competent authorities by labour Law, social security Law, health and safety Law and all other applicable employment Laws.
(j) None of the Target Group Companies has agreed to pay any transaction related fee or bonus, incentive or other benefit or commission to any of the directors, consultants, officers, managers or employees of any of the Target Group Companies in relation to the Transaction.
(k) There is no collective bargaining, works council or similar agreement entered into by, or applicable to, the Target Group Companies, Vultur or N-DEV or the employees, and there is no bargaining or negotiation in relation thereto. There have been no labor disputes between the Target Group Companies, Vultur or N-DEV and any trade union and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, no circumstances exist that may lead to a collective labor dispute.
(l) None of the Target Group Companies, Vultur or N-DEV engage any consultants, independent contractors or subcontractors that are employees of that Target Group Company, Vultur or N-DEV under applicable Law.
(m) The Target Group Companies have not made any loan or advance, or provided any financial assistance to any employee or former or prospective employee of the Target Group Companies which is outstanding.
(n) No employee of the Target Group Companies, Vultur or N-DEV has been involved in any criminal proceedings relating to the Business as conducted by the Target Group Companies, Vultur or N-DEV.
(o) There have not occurred within the last five years, nor has the Target Group Companies, Vultur or N-DEV received any notice of, any strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or other similar labour actions by any group of employees of the Target Group Companies, Vultur or N-DEV.
(p) There is no term of employment for any employee or consultant of any Target Group Company, Vultur and N-DEV which provides that a change of control of the Target Group Companies shall entitle such employee or consultant to treat the change of control as amounting to a breach of the contract. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, shareholder or other approval of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, either alone or in combination with another event (i) entitles any employee, director, officer, consultant or independent contractor of a Target Group Company, Vultur and N-DEV to severance pay or any material increase in severance pay, (ii) accelerates the time of payment or vesting, or materially increase the amount of compensation due to any such employee, director, officer, consultant or independent contractor, (iii) requires a “gross-up,” indemnification for, or payment to any individual for any Tax, or (iv) results in the payment of any amount that could, individually
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or in combination with any other such payment, give rise to any Taxes or penalties being owed by any Target Group Company.
(q) To the Warrantors’ Knowledge, none of Target Group Companies,’ Vultur’s or N-DEV’s employees, consultants, and officers are bound by any non-compete agreements with third parties that impact their role with the Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV.
(r) The Disclosure Letter contains a true, correct and complete list of the retention bonuses, special bonuses, termination severance agreement, retirement severance agreement and any other indemnification or severance between the Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV and their directors, officers, employees and consultants.
(s) The Target Group Companies, Vultur and N-DEV are not or have not within the last five years been subject to any audit or inspection regarding its compliance with applicable labour Laws.
16. Benefit Plans
None of (i) the Target Group Companies, (ii) Vultur or (iii) N-DEV has any employee or compensation benefit plan or agreement, including, without limitation, any share purchase, share issuance, stock option, equity-based, phantom equity, cash incentive, severance, retention, change in control, fringe benefit, welfare benefit (including death benefits or sickness, permanent health, disability or related benefits), deferred compensation, savings, pension or retirement plan, or any employment, severance, retention or similar agreement maintained sponsored, required to be contributed to by any Target Group Company, Vultur or N-DEV including without limitation any plan maintained or sponsored by a professional service organization which provides services to any Target Group Company, Vultur or N-DEV.
17. Taxes
With respect to Taxes:
(a) In the 5 (five) years prior to the Signing Date, all necessary Tax and other returns and reports required to be filed by the Target Group Companies have been duly filed within the prescribed periods with the appropriate authorities. Such returns, reports and declarations were complete and correct in accordance with applicable Law and to Warrantors’ Knowledge, there is no basis for the assessment of additional amounts of Taxes or interest or penalties thereon;
(b) all Taxes assessed or due by the Target Group Companies for the period up to and including the Accounts Date have, where applicable, been fully paid within the prescribed periods, or specific provisions therefore have been made in the Statutory Accounts to the extent required by Laws;
(c) no assessment of Taxes in respect of the period up to and including the Accounts Date has been claimed or made, nor to the Warrantors’ Knowledge will be claimed or made, by any Tax authority for any year or part thereof in respect of the Target Group Companies which has not been provided for in the Statutory Accounts. In the last 5 (five) years or in the years still open to Tax assessment by any Tax authority, no dispute with any Governmental Authority or administration concerning Taxes has occurred and there is to the Warrantors’ Knowledge no reason, facts or circumstances which could give rise to any such dispute;
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(d) all amounts required to be deducted from monies paid to employees for the purposes of wage tax, social security, PAYE, insurance, pensions and the like have been deducted and have been properly operated and accounted for to the appropriate authority or Person;
(e) all records that the Target Group Companies are required by Law or Tax practice to keep for Tax purposes have, in all material respects, been duly kept and duly notarized where applicable and are available for inspection at the premises of the Target Group Companies;
(f) the Target Group Companies are not involved in any dispute with any Tax authority which may have an adverse effect on the Target Group Companies. The Target Group Companies have not been subject to or are not currently subject to any investigation, audit or visit by any Tax authority, and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge no investigation, audit or visit is planned which may have an adverse effect on the Target Group Companies;
(g) the Target Group Companies have made all deductions and withholdings in respect within the prescribed periods, or on account, of any Tax from any payments made by them which they are obliged by Law to make and have accounted in full to the appropriate authority for all amounts so deducted or withheld;
(h) the Target Group Companies have complied in all respects with all statutory provisions, rules, regulations, orders and directions concerning VAT, including the making on time of accurate returns and payments and the maintenance of records and to Warrantors’ Knowledge, there is no issue with regards to such compliance obligation which may have an adverse effect on the Target Group Companies;
(i) the Target Group Companies have not made any exempt supplies in the current or preceding VAT year applicable to it or if the Target Group Companies have made any exempt supplies in the current or preceding VAT year applicable to it, the Target Group Companies complied with the applicable Law;
(j) each Target Group Company has complied with and has no liability for any stamp Tax, transfer Tax and similar Taxes or duties (including registration duties);
(k) the Target Group Companies have not participated in any transaction, scheme or arrangement of which the main purpose (or one of the main purposes) is the avoidance or evasion of a Tax liability;
(l) all of the agreements to which the Target Group Companies are a party have been made at arm’s length. The taxable profits of the Target Group Companies have been determined in each entity’s own interest and in accordance with Law or arm’s length principles.
(m) there is no Encumbrance for Taxes against any Leased Properties of the Target Group Companies;
(n) to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, no Target Group Company has a permanent establishment in a jurisdiction different than where such Target Group Company is registered for Tax; and
(o) to the Warrantors’ Knowledge, there are no circumstances which may result in the relevant authorities cancelling, revising or amending any terms of any applicable Tax exemptions.
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18. Compliance with Laws
(a) Neither the Sellers nor the Target Group Companies, nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, Affiliates and Representatives have, directly or indirectly, made, offered or authorised the use of, or used any corporate funds or provided anything of value: (i) for unlawful payments, contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to political activity; (ii) to foreign or domestic government officials or employees in violation of anti-corruption or anti bribery Laws; or (iii) for a bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other similar payment that would cause them to be in violation of the Bribery Act 2010 (UK), the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or any other similar or equivalent anti-bribery or anti-corruption legislation applicable in any other jurisdiction. Neither the Target Group Companies, nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents are and have been subject to any action or investigation pursuant to such legislation; and to the Warrantors’ Knowledge there are no ongoing, pending or threatened inquiries, investigations or other proceedings by any Governmental Authority in respect of any matters relating to such legislation.
(b) None of the Target Group Companies transacts or has transacted business: (i) directly with any parties located in, or conducting business directly with Iran, North Korea, Somalia or Sudan; or (ii) directly or indirectly with parties located in or connected with any country, organisation or individual which, at the time of such transacted business, were subject to trade embargoes or economic sanctions.
(c) To the Warrantors’ knowledge, the Target Group Companies have not been party to agreement, arrangement or practice which contravenes any anti-trust, fair trading, dumping, state aid, consumer protection Laws, or similar legislation in any relevant jurisdiction. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Target Group Companies have not from the date of their incorporation been or are bound by any agreement, arrangement or concerted practice or carrying on any practice of any relevant jurisdiction, or in respect of which any filing, registration or notification is required pursuant to the legislation referred to in Paragraph 18(a) above.
(d) The Target Group Companies are conducting and have conducted their business in compliance with all applicable Laws and regulations and have not breached any such Laws and regulations (including, without limitation, requirements imposed by the relevant social security administration) through regulations or code of practice which breach has not been subsequently remedied or cured.
(e) The Target Group Companies have complied with in all material respects with all applicable DP Laws, including, without limitation:
(i) the Target Group Companies have, to the extent required by any applicable DP Law, filed and maintained a current entry in each relevant register maintained by all applicable authorities established pursuant to DP Laws and/or maintained suitable internal processing records;
(ii) the Target Group Companies have processed personal data only in accordance with applicable DP Laws; and
(iii) in each instance in which the Target Group Companies have engaged any third party to process personal data on their behalf, they have appointed such third party under a binding agreement which includes all necessary and appropriate data processing language in accordance with applicable DP Laws.
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(f) The Company has complied with the requirements of the Economic Substance Act, has completed such filings which the Company is required by the Economic Substance Act and the BVI Beneficial Ownership Secure Search System Act, 2017, as amended, to file with any authority in the BVI and all such filings have been correctly made and duly filed and were correct when filed.
19. Relationship with the Sellers
(a) Except for any contracts of employment and for any agreements entered into in connection with the Transaction, there are no agreements or arrangements between the Sellers or any of their Affiliates, on the one hand, and any of the Target Group Companies, on the other hand, which will survive the Closing.
(b) There are no guarantees or similar commitments issued by any of the Target Group Companies for the obligations of the directors of any Target Group Company, any Seller or Seller Affiliate or any Connected Person to any of the foregoing.
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Schedule 3 Specific Accounting Policies
The Specific Accounting Policies include the following:
1. there shall be no closing statement on the Closing Date;
2. the Post-Closing Statement shall be drawn up within 10 (ten) Business Days following the completion of the audit of the financial statements of each Target Group Company (as applicable to the extent prepared), as well as the 2021 Statutory Accounts ( and in any event no later than 31 March 2022);
3. the Post-Closing Statement shall take into account information as of the Accounts Date based on the 2021 Statutory Accounts; and
4. the various elements required for the calculation of and the actual calculation of the Post-Closing Adjustment Payment.
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Exhibit 8.1
List of Subsidiaries of Gambling.com Group Limited
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Name of Subsidiary (1) |
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Jurisdiction of Incorporation |
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NDC Holding Limited |
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British Virgin Islands |
GDC Media Limited |
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Ireland |
GDC Malta Limited (continued from GDC Trading Limited in October 2016) |
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Malta |
NDC Malta Limited |
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Malta |
GDC America, Inc. |
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United States |
Roto Sports, Inc. (f/k/a GDC DE I, Inc.) |
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United States |
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(1) The names of particular subsidiaries have, in certain instances, been omitted because, considered in the aggregate, they would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” as that term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exhibit 12.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Charles Gillespie, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Gambling.com Group Limited;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(c) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: March 24, 2022 |
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By: |
/s/ Charles Gillespie |
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Charles Gillespie |
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Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 12.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Elias Mark, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Gambling.com Group Limited;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(c) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: March 24, 2022 |
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By: |
/s/ Elias Mark |
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Elias Mark |
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|
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Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 13.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF [EXECUTIVE/FINANCIAL] OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Charles Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer of Gambling.com Group Limited (the “Company”), do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
(a) The Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(b) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: March 24, 2022 |
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By: |
/s/ Charles Gillespie |
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Charles Gillespie |
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|
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Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 13.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF [EXECUTIVE/FINANCIAL] OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Elias Mark, Chief Financial Officer of Gambling.com Group Limited (the “Company”), do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
(a) The Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(b) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: March 24, 2022 |
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By: |
/s/ Elias Mark |
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Elias Mark |
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Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 15.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Gambling.com Group Limited
St. Helier, Channel Island of Jersey
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-258412 and No. 333-262539) of our report dated March 24, 2022 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Gambling.com Group Limited, which appears in the Annual Report on Form 20-F.
/s/ BDO LLP
BDO LLP
London, United Kingdom
March 24, 2022