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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2023

No. 333-263800

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Post Effective Amendment No. 1

to

FORM F-1 on

FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Super Group (SGHC) Limited

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Not Applicable

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

 

Island of Guernsey     Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

   

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Super Group (SGHC) Limited

Bordeaux Court, Les Echelons

St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1AR

Telephone: +44 (0) 14 8182-2939

(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Donald J. Puglisi

Puglisi & Associates

850 Library Avenue #204

Newark, Delaware 19711

Telephone: (302) 738-6680

(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Justin Stock

David Boles

Brian Leaf

Cooley (UK) LLP

22 Bishopsgate

London, EC2N 4BQ, UK

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7583-4055

 

Martine Nathan

General Counsel

Super Group (SGHC) Limited

Bordeaux Court, Les Echelons

St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1AR

Telephone: +44 (0) 14 8182-2939

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box:  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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EXPLANATORY NOTE

On March 23, 2022, the registrant filed a Registration Statement on Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-263800), as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on June 7, 2022 and Amendment No. 2 filed on July 7, 2022, which was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 14, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”).

The registrant is filing this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to: (i) to convert the Registration Statement on Form F-1 into a registration statement on Form F-3; and (ii) to remove from the Registration Statement: (a) all ordinary shares, no par value, issuable upon the exercise of public warrants that were listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SGHC WS”; and (b) all ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of private placement warrants that were previously outstanding. On December 12, 2022, the registrant completed a registered exchange offer relating to the public warrants and private placement warrants and subsequently mandatorily exchanged any public warrants and private placement warrants that remained outstanding for ordinary shares. As a result of these transactions, there are no longer any public warrants or private placement warrants outstanding. The information included in this filing updates and supplements the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained therein.

No additional securities are being registered under this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1. All applicable registration fees were previously paid in connection with the initial filing of the Registration Statement.


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The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling shareholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and neither we nor the selling shareholders are soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 17, 2023

Up to 467,983,032 Ordinary Shares

 

LOGO

Super Group (SGHC) Limited

(a non-cellular company limited by shares incorporated and registered under the laws of the Island of Guernsey)

 

 

This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time by the selling shareholders named in this prospectus or their permitted transferees (collectively, the “selling shareholders”) of up to 467,983,032 ordinary shares, no par value. This prospectus also covers any additional securities that may become issuable by reason of share splits, share dividends or other similar transactions.

The selling shareholders may offer all or part of the securities for resale from time to time through public or private transactions, at either prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. Our ordinary shares are currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “SGHC.” The last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on May 16, 2023 was $3.70 per share.

These securities are being registered to permit the selling shareholders to sell securities from time to time, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. The selling shareholders may sell these securities through ordinary brokerage transactions, directly to market makers of our shares or through any other means described in the section titled “Plan of Distribution.” In connection with any sales of ordinary shares offered hereunder, the selling shareholders, any underwriters, agents, brokers or dealers participating in such sales may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

All of the securities offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the selling shareholders for their respective accounts. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales. We will pay certain expenses associated with the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, as described in the section titled “Plan of Distribution.”

We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time by filing amendments or supplements as required. You should read this entire prospectus and any amendments or supplements carefully before you make your investment decision.

We are a “foreign private issuer” as defined under the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, rules and are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer” for additional information.

 

 

Our business and an investment in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in any amendments or supplements to this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

Prospectus dated             , 2023


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     3  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     4  

THE OFFERING

     7  

RISK FACTORS

     8  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     9  

CAPITALIZATION

     10  

SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

     11  

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

     15  

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL JUDGMENTS

     23  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     25  

LEGAL MATTERS

     28  

EXPERTS

     28  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     28  

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     29  


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the selling shareholders may, at any time and from time to time, offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for further information about us and our securities. Copies of the registration statement and its exhibits are on file with the SEC. Statements contained in this prospectus concerning the documents we have filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive, and in each instance we refer you to a copy of the actual document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC.

When the selling shareholders sell securities using this prospectus, to the extent necessary, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the number of shares being offered, the manner of distribution, the identity of any underwriters or other counterparties and other specific terms related to the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To the extent that any statement made in an accompanying prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in this prospectus, the statements made in this prospectus will be deemed modified or superseded by those made in the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with any additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference” before deciding to invest in any of the securities being offered. The information contained in this prospectus and any supplement to this prospectus, or incorporated by reference herein, is accurate only as of the respective dates thereof, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Island of Guernsey. Under the rules of the SEC, we are currently eligible for treatment as a “foreign private issuer.” As a foreign private issuer, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as domestic registrants whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

You should rely only on this prospectus, the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. Neither we nor the selling shareholders have authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we may have referred you. Neither we nor the selling shareholders take any responsibility for, or provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. Neither we nor the selling shareholders are making an offer to sell the ordinary shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

For investors outside the United States: neither we nor the selling shareholders have done anything that would permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction, other than the United States, where action for that purpose is required. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the ordinary shares and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

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TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES AND SERVICE MARKS

We and our subsidiaries own or have rights to trademarks, trade names and service marks that they use in connection with the operation of their businesses. In addition, their names, logos and website names and addresses are their trademarks or service marks. Other trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, in some cases, the trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus are listed without the applicable ®, and SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we or the owners thereof will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our or their rights to these trademarks, trade names and service marks.

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

In this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, we present industry data, information and statistics regarding the markets in which we compete, as well as statistics, data and other information provided by third parties relating to markets, market sizes, market shares, market positions and other industry data. Such information is supplemented where necessary with our internal estimates, taking into account publicly available information about other industry participants and the judgment of our management where information is not publicly available.

Industry publications, research, studies and forecasts generally state that the information they contain has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. Forecasts and other forward-looking information obtained from these sources are subject to the same qualifications and uncertainties as the other forward-looking statements in this prospectus. These forecasts and forward-looking information are subject to uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described under “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in any forecasts or estimates.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains certain statements that are or may be forward-looking statements with respect to us, our industry and our business that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical factors contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future financial condition, results of operations and/or business achievements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “intend” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Such forward-looking statements involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to those described in the section of this prospectus titled “Risk Factors” and under similar headings in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

You should refer to the section of this prospectus titled “Risk Factors” and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame or at all. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and other similar statements reflect our belief and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherent uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

You should read this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary highlights selected information contained or incorporated by reference elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our common shares, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, and any prospectus supplement, if any, including our financial statements and the related notes and other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as the information under the caption “Risk Factors” herein and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “Super Group,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” or similar terms refer to Super Group (SGHC) Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Overview of Our Business

We are a leading global online sports betting and gaming operator. Our mission is to responsibly provide first-class entertainment to the worldwide online betting and gaming community. Our strategy for achieving this is built around three key pillars:

 

  1.

Expanding its global footprint into as many commercially feasible regulated markets as possible in order to engage with as many customers as it can possibly reach;

 

  2.

Increasing awareness of its brands through strategic partnerships and coordinated sponsorship and marketing campaigns; and

 

  3.

Utilizing enhanced proprietary data to optimize the confluence of ethical corporate culture, responsible gaming values, value-for-money product offerings and customer-centric service delivery.

Our subsidiaries are licensed in over 24 jurisdictions and collectively we manage approximately 3,900 employees. During 2022, on average, over 2.8 million customers per month yielded in excess of €2.6 billion in wagers per month. During 2022, total wagers amounted to €30.8 billion. Our business generated €1.3 billion of net gaming revenue during 2022 in different geographic regions, including the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and the rest of the world, such regions accounting for approximately 45%, 12%, 21% and 22%, respectively, during the year.

Our global online sports betting and casino gaming services are delivered to customers by way of two primary product offerings:

 

   

Betway, a single-brand premier online sports betting offering, and

 

   

Spin, a multi-brand online casino offering.

Betway is our single-brand online sports betting offering with a global footprint derived from licenses to operate throughout Europe, the Americas and Africa. The brand is sports-led but also offers casino games. Betway seeks to continue to grow brand awareness, including through an expanding portfolio of partnerships and collaborations with sports teams and leagues worldwide. Betway has more than 60 such arrangements and is actively negotiating for further expansion.

Spin is our multi-brand online casino offering. Spin’s diverse portfolio of 16 casino brands is designed to be culturally relevant across the globe while aiming to offer a wide range of casino products. Spin seeks to achieve growth through a broad range of targeted marketing channels in which we believe an expansive brand portfolio will be a significant asset. On September 1, 2022, we expanded the Spin portfolio by acquiring a majority stake in Jumpman Gaming Limited. Jumpman is a multi-brand B2C casino operator which runs off proprietary

 

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technology and also supplies a number of white label brand partners, with a focus on a more recreational segment of the market than Betway and Spin. Across its entire business, Jumpman operates approximately 200 brands and generates almost all of its revenue from the UK.

As part of our efforts to further expand our global footprint, in January 2023, we acquired Digital Gaming Corporation Limited (“DGC”), which is the parent of Digital Gaming Corporation USA (“DGC USA”), which holds the exclusive license to use the Betway brand in the United States. DGC USA has already secured market access in an initial 13 regulated or expected-to-be regulated states in the United States, and its acquisition will enable us to penetrate and leverage our capabilities in these new markets.

Following Betway’s global expansion, we have, in certain circumstances, licensed the brand to third parties in certain jurisdictions where licensees are in a better position to capture market opportunity while taking advantage of the global brand, in consideration for a license fee.

Business Combination and Reorganization

On April 23, 2021, we entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation, SGHC Merger Sub, Inc., and Sports Entertainment Acquisition Holdings LLC (the “Business Combination”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions therein, prior to the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), our predecessor entity and current subsidiary SGHC Limited underwent a pre-closing reorganization wherein all existing shares of SGHC Limited were exchanged for newly issued ordinary shares of Super Group (SGHC) Limited. SGHC Limited was deemed the accounting predecessor and Super Group (SGHC) Limited has become the successor registrant with the SEC, meaning that SGHC Limited’s financial statement periods preceding the Business Combination are now disclosed in our periodic reports filed with the SEC following the Closing on January 27, 2022.

Warrant Exchange and Consent Solicitation

On December 14, 2022, we closed an exchange offer (the “Offer”) and consent solicitation (the “Consent Solicitation”) relating to our outstanding (i) public warrants to purchase ordinary shares, no par value, and (ii) private placement warrants to purchase ordinary shares (the “private placement warrants” and, together with the public warrants, the “warrants”). The Consent Solicitation solicited consents from holders of the warrants to amend the warrant agreement that governed the warrants (such amendment, the “Warrant Amendment”). We issued 5,595,748 ordinary shares in exchange for the public warrants tendered in the Offer. We also exercised our rights, in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Amendment, to (i) to exchange all remaining untendered public warrants for ordinary shares at a ratio of 0.225 ordinary shares per public warrant and (ii) to cancel any remaining private placement warrants for no consideration, following which no public or private warrants remained outstanding (such exchange and cancellation together, the “Post-Offer Exchange”). The last day of trading for the warrants was December 23, 2022.

Under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, certain shareholders of Super Group (SGHC) Limited (the “Pre-Closing Holders,” as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) had contingent rights to receive ordinary shares (the “Earnout Shares”), subject to our attainment of certain share prices over a five-year period from the closing date of the Business Combination. Conditional upon the completion of the Offer and Consent Solicitation, the Pre-Closing Holders waived their respective rights to receive any Earnout Shares arising from the earnout obligation under the Business Combination Agreement. Upon the completion of the Offer and Consent Solicitation, no further ordinary shares are issuable under the Business Combination Agreement.

 

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Share Repurchase Program

On January 11, 2023, our board of directors (“Board”) authorized the repurchase of up to $25 million of our ordinary shares through December 31, 2023, following the approval by our shareholders of such potential repurchases on September 21, 2022. This time frame can also be extended or shortened by the Board, and we are not obligated to repurchase any shares. Repurchases, if any, will be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing prices or in negotiated transactions off the market. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not made material repurchases under this authorization.

Corporate Information

Our legal name is Super Group (SGHC) Limited. We were incorporated under the laws of the Island of Guernsey as a non-cellular company limited by shares on March 29, 2021. Our registered office in Guernsey is Kingsway House, Havilland Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2QE. The address of our principal executive office is Super Group (SGHC) Limited, Bordeaux Court, Les Echelons, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1AR, and our telephone number is +44 (0) 14 8182 2939.

Our company website is https://www.sghc.com. The information contained on, or accessible from, or hyperlinked to, our website is not a part of this prospectus and you should not consider information on our website in deciding whether to purchase our ordinary shares.

Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer

Foreign Private Issuer

We report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. As long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act we will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including, but not limited to:

 

   

the rules under the Exchange Act requiring domestic filers to issue financial statements prepared under U.S. GAAP;

 

   

the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;

 

   

the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and

 

   

the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specific information, or current reports on Form 8-K, upon the occurrence of specified significant events.

In addition, we are also not required to comply with Regulation FD, which addresses certain restrictions on the selective disclosure of material information.

We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We would cease to be a foreign private issuer at such time as (i) more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and (ii) any of the following three circumstances applies: (A) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents, (B) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States or (C) our business is administered principally in the United States.

Foreign private issuers are also exempt from certain more stringent executive compensation disclosure rules. Thus, we are exempt from the more stringent compensation disclosures required of companies that are not foreign private issuers and will continue to be permitted to follow our home country practice on such matters.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Ordinary shares that may be offered and sold from time to time by the selling shareholders

Up to 467,983,032 ordinary shares.

 

Ordinary shares outstanding prior to the offering

498,511,643 ordinary shares.

 

Use of proceeds

All of the securities offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the selling shareholders for their respective accounts. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales. We will pay certain expenses associated with the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, as described in the section titled “Plan of Distribution”.

 

  See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

NYSE listing symbol

Our ordinary shares are currently listed on the NYSE under the symbol “SGHC.”

 

Risk factors

See “Risk Factors” and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider before deciding to invest in our ordinary shares.

Unless we specifically state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, the share information in this prospectus is as of March 31, 2023, and excludes:

 

   

6,219,828 ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units awarded under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2023;

 

   

34,224,368 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2023; and

 

   

4,812,460 ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of March 31, 2023.

 

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RISK FACTORS

We operate in a market environment that is difficult to predict and that involves significant risks, many of which are beyond our control. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on April 27, 2023, as updated or superseded by the risks and uncertainties described under similar headings in the other documents that are filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus and incorporated by reference herein, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, before making an investment in our ordinary shares.

Some of these factors relate principally to our business and the industry in which we operate. Other factors relate principally to your investment in our securities. The risks and uncertainties described therein are not the only risks facing us. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if any of these risks occurs, and as a result, the market price of our ordinary shares could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we do not currently believe are important to an investor, if they materialize, also may adversely affect us. See the sections of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference” for additional information.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

All of the securities offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the selling shareholders for their respective accounts. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales. We will pay certain expenses associated with the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, as described in the section titled “Plan of Distribution.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and capitalization as of December 31, 2022, (i) on an actual basis and (ii) on an “as adjusted” basis giving effect to the consummation of the Digital Gaming Corporation acquisition, including the assumption of interest-bearing loans of $149.9 million as if such acquisition occurred on December 31, 2022. It does not reflect the cash and cash equivalents adjustment that results from the consummation, as such amounts are deemed immaterial by management.

The information in this table should be read in conjunction with and is qualified by reference to the financial statements and other financial information incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

     (in thousands of Euros)  
     Actual      As
adjusted(1)
 
            (unaudited)  

Cash and cash equivalents

     254,778        254,778  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restricted cash

     148,240        148,240  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt, including current portion

     

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

     1,203        140,865  

Lease liabilities

     17,259        17,259  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

     18,462        158,124  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity

     

Issued capital

     289,753        289,753  

Foreign exchange reserve

     (6,009      (6,009

Retained profit

     234,333        234,333  

Non-controlling interest

     16,569        16,569  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity

     534,646        534,646  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization

     553,108        692,770  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Adjusted to reflect the interest bearing-loans and borrowings assumed through the acquisition of Digital Gaming Corporation Limited in January 2023. As of the date of this prospectus, the Company has assumed $149.9 million in interest-bearing loans and borrowings in relation to the acquisition of Digital Gaming Corporation Limited, which have been translated using the December 31, 2022 exchange rate of €1.00 to $1.073.

 

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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

The selling shareholders may from time to time offer and sell any or all of the ordinary shares as identified below pursuant to this prospectus. When we refer to the “selling shareholders” in this prospectus, we mean the persons listed in the tables below, and their permitted transferees, lenders and others who later come to hold any of the selling shareholders’ interest in the ordinary shares other than through a public sale.

The table below sets forth, as of the date of this prospectus, the name of the selling shareholders for which we are registering ordinary shares for potential resale to the public and the aggregate principal amount that the selling shareholders may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The individuals and entities listed below have beneficial ownership over their respective securities.

Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.

The beneficial ownership is based on 498,511,643 ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023.

We cannot advise you as to whether the selling shareholders will in fact sell any or all of such securities. In addition, the selling shareholders may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time and from time to time, the ordinary shares in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act after the date of this prospectus, subject to applicable law. Because each selling shareholder may dispose of all, none or some portion of their ordinary shares, no estimate can be given as to the number of securities that will be beneficially owned by a selling shareholder upon termination of this offering. For purposes of the table below, however, we have assumed that after termination of this offering none of the securities covered by this prospectus will be beneficially owned by the selling shareholders and further assumed that the selling shareholders will not acquire beneficial ownership of any additional securities during the offering.

Selling shareholder information for each additional selling securityholder, if any, will be set forth by prospectus supplement to the extent required prior to the time of any offer or sale of such selling securityholder’s securities pursuant to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may add, update, substitute, or change the information contained in this prospectus, including the identity of each selling shareholder and the number of ordinary shares registered on its behalf. A selling shareholder may sell all, some or none of such securities in this offering. See the section titled “Plan of Distribution.

 

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    Before the Offering     After the Offering  

Name of Selling Shareholder

  Number of
Ordinary
Shares
    Number of
Ordinary
Shares Being
Offered
    Number of
Ordinary
Shares
    Percentage
of
Ordinary
Shares
 

Bellerive Trust Limited as the Trustees of the Agape Trust(1)(2)

    1,561,513       1,561,513       —         —    

Bellerive Trust Limited as the Trustees of the Hamilton Trust(1)(3)

    3,019,210       3,019,210       —         —    

Bellerive Trust Limited as the Trustees of the Tiger Trust(1)(4)

    1,995,552       1,995,552       —         —    

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustees of the Ace of Clubs Trust(1)(5)

    617,512       617,512       —         —    

Bruce Watermayer

    1,092,372       1,092,372       —         —    

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustees of the Cheetah Trust(1)(6)

    3,372,409       3,372,409       —         —    

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustees of the Darrock Trust(1)(7)

    577,183       577,183       —         —    

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustees of the Dolphin Trust(1)(8)

    4,070,780       4,070,780       —         —    

Kevin Kovarsky

    615,554       615,554       —         —    

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustees of the Panther Trust(1)(9)

    4,198,803       4,198,803       —         —    

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustees of the Quattro Trust(1)(10)

    1,188,971       1,188,971       —         —    

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustee of the SGHC Shares Trust(1)(11)

    7,191,657       7,191,657       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the Aquaman Trust(12)

    12,749,156       12,749,156       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the Avion Trust(12)

    6,319,857       6,319,857       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the Baroque Trust(12)

    5,301,016       5,301,016       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the Castle Trust(12)

    2,265,427       2,265,427       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the Chase Trust(12)

    11,977,452       11,977,452       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the Gold Trust(12)

    12,647,289       12,647,289       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the Great Park Trust(12)

    562,812       562,812       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the Leopard Trust(12)

    7,945,366       7,945,366       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the New Laurel Road Trust(12)

    21,364,557       21,364,557       —         —    

Earl Fiduciary AG as trustee of the Turtle Trust(12)

    12,749,156       12,749,156       —         —    

Chivers Limited(13)

    98,401,158       98,401,158       —         —    

Knutsson Limited(14)

    229,515,092       229,515,092       —         —    

Fatima Dodds

    1,951,874       1,951,874       —         —    

Timothy Whyles

    2,809,707       2,809,707       —         —    

Natara Holloway Branch

    25,000       25,000       —         —    

Timothy Goodell

    25,000       25,000       —         —    

Eric Grubman(15)

    1,729,134       1,729,134       —         —    

EKC2012 Trust (16)

    848,903       848,903       —         —    

EPG2012 Trust(17)

    848,903       848,903       —         —    

John Collins

    3,349,212       3,349,212       —         —    

SC SEAH LLC(18)

    3,340,857       3,340,857       —         —    

PJT Partners Holdings LP(19)

    588,714       588,714       —         —    

JAK II LLC(20)

    1,165,874       1,165,874       —         —    

 

*

Less than one percent.

 

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(1)

The address of Bellerive Trust Limited is Kingsway House, Havilland Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2QE. David Gavey, Christopher Spencer, Merrick Wolman, Iryna Scanlan and Wayne Bertrand are the directors of Bellerive Trust Limited, which acts as trustee of the selling securityholder. Messrs. Gavey, Spencer, Wolman and Bertrand and Ms. Scanlan may, as such, be deemed to be the beneficial owners of the Registrable Securities; however, they disclaim any beneficial ownership of such Registrable Securities.

(2)

Bellerive Trust Limited is the Trustee of the Agape Trust, a discretionary trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on January 27, 2020. The settlor and a named discretionary beneficiary of the Agape Trust is Ms. Alinda Van Wyk.

(3)

Bellerive Trust Limited is the Trustee of the Hamilton Trust, a discretionary trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on January 15, 2020. The settlor of the Hamilton Trust is Mr. Richard Hasson. The named discretionary beneficiaries of the Hamilton Trust are Richard Samy Hasson, Loren Hasson, Mark Phillip Hasson, Jamie Grace Hasson and Jessica Kate Hasson.

(4)

Bellerive Trust Limited is the Trustee of the Tiger Trust, a discretionary trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on July 1,2007. The settlor of the Tiger Trust is Mr. Brian Jonathan Susskind. The named beneficiaries of the Tiger Trust are Brian Jonathan Susskind and Gaby Joan Susskind.

(5)

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustee of the Ace of Clubs Trust, a grantor trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on February 23, 2021. The Grantor of the Ace of Clubs Trust is Mrs Lorraine Stella Kramer. The named beneficiary of the Ace of Clubs Trust is Jason Bradley Kramer.

(6)

Bellerive Trust Limited is the Trustee of the Cheetah Trust, a discretionary trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on July 11, 2007. The settlor of the Cheetah Trust is Mr. Gary David Millner. The named beneficiary of the Cheetah Trust is Gary David Millner.

(7)

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustee of the Darrock Trust, a discretionary trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on March 5, 2020. The settlor of the Darrock Trust is Mr. Chad Anthony Bates. The named beneficiaries of the Darrock Trust are Chad Anthony Bates and Rosmay Bates.

(8)

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustee of the Dolphin Trust, a discretionary trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on November 7, 2007. The settlor of the Panther Trust is Mr. Gavin Menashe. The named beneficiary of the Dolphin Trust is Gavin Menashe.

(9)

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustee of the Panther Trust, a discretionary trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on November 7, 2007. The settlor of the Panther Trust is Mr. Neal Menashe. The named discretionary beneficiary of the Panther Trust is Neal Menashe.

(10)

Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustee of the Quattro Trust, a discretionary trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on January 28, 2021. The settlor of the Quattro Trust is Mr. Anthony David Prissman. The named beneficiaries of the Quattro Trust are Anthony David Prissman and Leanne Prissman.

(11)

Bellerive Trust Limited is the Trustee of the SGHC Shares Trust, a discretionary trust registered under the laws of Guernsey on April 6, 2023. The shares held by Bellerive Trust Limited as Trustee of the SGHC Shares Trust were received from Knutsson Limited though a transfer for no consideration.

(12)

The Selling Securityholder is an irrevocable discretionary foreign trust, governed by the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands with a fully discretionary class of beneficiaries. Christopher Spencer is the managing director of Earl Fiduciary AG, which acts as trustee of the Selling Securityholder. Mr. Spencer may, as such, be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such Selling Securities; however, he disclaims any beneficial ownership of the Selling Securities held. The business address of Earl Fiduciary AG is c/o Earl Fiduciary AG, General Wille-Strasse 10, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland.

(13)

Chivers Limited is beneficially owned by Waddle Limited as Trustee of the Chivers Trust. Waddle Limited is a professional trustee company whose professional directors change from time to time. None of the directors of Waddle Limited, nor Waddle Limited itself, have an economic interest in the Chivers Trust or in Chivers Limited. The business address of Chivers Limited is Burleigh Manor, Peel Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 5EP.

(14)

Knutsson Limited is beneficially owned by Ridgeway Associates Limited as trustees for the Alea Trust. Ridgeway Associates Limited is a professional trustee company whose professional directors change from time to time. None of the directors of Ridgeway Associates Limited, nor Ridgeway Associates Limited itself, have an economic interest in the Alea Trust or in Knutsson Limited. The business address of the above entity is 2nd Floor, St Mary’s Court, 20 Hill Street, Douglas, IM1 1EU, Isle of Man.

 

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(15)

Does not include shares held by the EKC2012 Trust or the EPG2012 Trust, as they are listed as separate selling securityholders. Eric Grubman is the holder of record of 1,729,134 ordinary shares. Eric Grubman is also the trustee of the EKC2012 Trust, which is the holder of record of 848,903 ordinary shares, and has sole voting and investment control over the securities held by the EKC2012 Trust. As such, Mr. Grubman may be deemed to beneficially own the securities held by the EKC2012 Trust. Elizabeth Compton, Eric Grubman’s wife, is the trustee and a beneficiary of the EPG2012 Trust, which is the holder of record of 848,903 ordinary shares, and has sole voting and investment control over the securities held by the EPG2012 Trust. As such, Elizabeth Compton and Eric Grubman may be deemed to beneficially own the securities held by the EPG2012Trust.

(16)

Eric Grubman is the trustee of the EKC2012 Trust and has sole voting and investment control over the securities held by the EKC2012 Trust. As such, Mr. Grubman may be deemed to beneficially own the securities held by the EKC2012 Trust.

(17)

Elizabeth Compton, Eric Grubman’s wife, is the trustee and a beneficiary of the EPG2012 Trust and has sole voting and investment control over the securities held by the EPG2012 Trust.

(18)

Chris Shumway has voting and investment control of the shares held by SC SEAH LLC and may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned directly by SC SEAH LLC. The business address of SC SEAH LLC is 225 NE Mizner Blvd, Suite 700, Boca Raton, FL 33432.

(19)

PJT Partners Holdings LP is the record and beneficial holder of 588,714 ordinary shares. PJT Partners Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE:PJT), is the general partner of PJT Partners Holdings LP, and as such, manages all of the activities of PJT Partners Holdings LP. PJT Partners Inc. is controlled by a board of directors comprised of Paul J. Taubman, James Costos, Emily K. Rafferty, Thomas M. Ryan, Grace Reksten Skaugen, and Kenneth C. Whitney. Messrs. Taubman, Costos, Ryan and Whitney and Misses. Rafferty and Skaugen disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities held by PJT Partners Holdings LP. The business address of PJT Partners Holdings LP is 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

(20)

Jonathan A. Kraft has voting and investment control of the shares held by JAK II LLC and may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned directly by JAK II LLC. The business address of JAK II LLC is C/O The Kraft Group, One Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA 02035.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

The following description of the material terms of our share capital includes a summary of specified provisions of our Amended and Restated Memorandum of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, which we refer to collectively as our Governing Documents. This description is qualified by reference to the Governing Documents, copies of which of are incorporated into this prospectus by reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Overview

We are a non-cellular company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Island of Guernsey. Our affairs are governed by our Governing Documents and the Guernsey Companies Law. We keep a register of shareholders at our principal executive office at Bordeaux Court, Les Echelons, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1AR. Our Board is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of any class, with or without a par value.

Our ordinary shares have no par value. As of March 31, 2023, there were 498,511,643 ordinary shares issued and outstanding.

Shares

General

We are generally not required to issue certificates representing our issued ordinary shares of which are listed on the NYSE (unless required to be issued pursuant to our Governing Documents or the rules and regulations of the NYSE). Each shareholder whose shares are not listed on the NYSE is entitled to one certificate for all of the shares of each class of our capital held by that shareholder. Legal title to the issued shares is recorded in registered form in the register of our shareholders. Subject to certain exceptions described elsewhere in this prospectus, our holders of ordinary shares of have no pre-emptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. Our Board may create and issue additional classes of shares 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 our Board.

Dividends

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our Board, subject to the Guernsey Companies Law and our Governing Documents. Dividends and other distributions authorized by our Board in respect of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares shall be paid in accordance with our Governing Documents and shall be distributed among the holders of ordinary shares on a pro rata basis.

Voting rights

Ordinary shares entitle the holder (i) on a show of hands, to one vote and (ii) on a poll, to one vote for each ordinary share registered in the name of the holder on all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote (whether in person or by proxy). Voting at any shareholders’ meeting is by way of poll, unless otherwise determined by our Board or our shareholders in accordance with the Guernsey Companies Law.

In determining the number of votes cast at a general meeting of shareholders for or against a proposal, holders of ordinary shares who abstain from voting on any resolution will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum but not for the purposes of determining the number of votes cast. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of shareholders is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Two or more shareholders present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote and who hold in aggregate not less than fifty percent plus one ordinary share of all voting share capital in issue shall be a quorum.

 

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An Ordinary Resolution requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes of shareholders entitled to vote and voting in person or by attorney or proxy at a quorate general meeting or a simple majority of the total voting rights of eligible shareholders (being the shareholders entitled to vote on the circulation date of a written resolution) (“eligible shareholders”) by written resolution, while a Special Resolution requires the affirmative vote of not less than seventy five percent of the votes of the shareholders entitled to vote and voting in person or by attorney or proxy at a quorate general meeting or seventy five percent of the total voting rights of eligible shareholders by written resolution. A Special Resolution is required for important matters such as (without limitation) the merger or consolidation of our company or making changes to our Governing Documents or the voluntary winding up of our 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 consent in writing of the holders of three fourths of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than three fourths of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. 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.

The rights attached to any class of shares may, however, be varied without the consent of the holders of the issued shares of that class where such variation is considered by our Board not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights.

Transfer of ordinary shares

Where ordinary shares have been admitted to settlement by means of the uncertificated system operated by DTC (or any other uncertificated system to which the ordinary shares are admitted to settlement) (an “uncertificated system”), any shareholder may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares in accordance with and subject to the rules issued by DTC (or such other operator as may operate the relevant uncertificated system) (the “Rules”) and no written instrument of transfer shall, subject to the Rules, be required.

Where any ordinary shares are not admitted to an uncertificated system, a shareholder may transfer his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual form or any other form approved by our Board.

In addition, our Governing Documents provide (without limitation) that our Board may, subject to the Rules, decline to recognize any transfer of ordinary shares which are admitted to settlement on an uncertificated system if (i) the transfer is in breach of the Rules or (ii) the transfer would prevent dealings in the share from taking place on an open and proper basis on the NYSE. The transfer of our ordinary shares is also subject to any relevant securities laws (including the Exchange Act).

Liquidation

On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or repurchase by us of ordinary shares and subject to any agreement between the relevant shareholders and us in respect of the ordinary shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of our ordinary shares shall be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares on a pro rata basis.

Share repurchases and redemptions

We may purchase our own ordinary shares on a stock exchange if the acquisition is approved in advance by an Ordinary Resolution which complies with the requirements of the Guernsey Companies Law (which may be general or limited to shares of a particular class or description). We may also purchase our own ordinary shares in privately negotiated transactions if the terms of the contract to acquire such shares are approved in advance by an Ordinary Resolution (again, which complies with the requirements of the Guernsey Companies Law).

 

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Our Governing Documents provide that our ordinary shares are redeemable by agreement between us and the relevant shareholder. However, any such redemption would need to be effected on a pro rata basis unless all other shareholders entitled to participate waive their participation rights.

We may not buy back or redeem any ordinary share unless our Board has made a statutory solvency determination that it is satisfied on reasonable grounds that we will, immediately after the buy back or redemption, satisfy the solvency test set out in the Guernsey Companies Law (meaning that we are able to pay our debts as they become due and that the value of our assets is greater than the value of our liabilities).

Conversion

There are no automatic conversion rights which attach to our ordinary shares. Our Governing Documents do, however, provide that (i) the whole or any particular class or part of a class of shares may be re-designated as shares of another class and (ii) shares the nominal amount of which is expressed in a particular currency may be converted into shares of a nominal amount of a different currency, in each case where shareholders approve such action by Ordinary Resolution.

Lien, forfeiture and surrender

We shall have a first and paramount lien and charge on all shares (not being fully paid) for all moneys, whether presently payable or not, called or payable at a fixed time in respect of those shares. Such lien or charge shall extend to all dividends and distributions from time to time declared in respect of such shares. Unless otherwise agreed, the registration of a transfer of shares shall operate as a waiver of our lien and charge (if any) on such shares.

Our directors may at any time make calls upon the shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the nominal value or by way of premium) and each shareholder shall pay to us at the time and place appointed the amount called.

If a shareholder fails to pay any call or installment on the day appointed, our directors may serve notice requiring payment of so much of the call or installment as is unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses which may have been incurred by us by reason of non-payment. If the requirements of any such notice are not complied with, any share in respect of which the notice has been given may, at any time before payment has been made and subject to the Guernsey Companies Law, be forfeited by a resolution of our directors to that effect. Such forfeiture shall include all dividends or other distributions declared in respect of the forfeited share and not actually paid before the forfeiture. A forfeited share shall be deemed to be our property and, subject to the provisions of the Guernsey Companies Law and our Governing Documents, may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms as our directors shall think fit. A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a shareholder in respect of those shares but shall remain liable to pay to us all moneys which, at the date of forfeiture, were payable by him to us in respect of the shares together with interest from the date of forfeiture until payment at such rate as our directors may determine.

Our directors may accept from any shareholder on such terms as shall be agreed a surrender of any shares in respect of which there is a liability for calls. Any surrendered share may be disposed of in the same manner as a forfeited share.

Directors

Appointment and removal

Our management is vested in its board of directors. Our Governing Documents provide that there shall be a board of directors consisting of no fewer than two and no greater than 14 directors, unless increased or decreased from time to time by the board of directors or by shareholders in a general meeting by Ordinary Resolution. So long as our shares are listed on the NYSE, our Board shall include such number of “independent directors” as the relevant rules applicable to the listing of such shares on the NYSE require.

 

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Our Board shall, subject to applicable law and the listing rules of the NYSE (or any other stock exchange on which our shares are listed) ensure that any individual nominated in writing by our shareholders holding a majority of the issued shares from time to time are nominated for election as a director at the next annual meeting or extraordinary general meeting called for that purpose. The directors shall have the right to nominate an individual for election as a director at the next annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting called for that purpose. In both cases, such individual shall be appointed if approved by Ordinary Resolution at such general meeting. The directors shall have power at any time to appoint any person to be a director in accordance with the terms of our Governing Documents, applicable law and the listing rules of the NYSE (or any other stock exchange on which our shares are listed).

A director may be removed from office by the holders of ordinary shares by Ordinary Resolution at any time before the expiration of his term. The appointment and removal of directors is subject to the Guernsey Companies Law, our Governing Documents, and applicable rules of the NYSE (or any other stock exchange on which our shares are listed). The detailed procedures for the nomination of persons proposed to be elected as directors at any of our general meetings are set out in our Governing Documents.

Alternate directors

Any director (other than an alternate director) may appoint any other person (whether one of our shareholders or otherwise and including another one of our directors) to act in his or her place as an alternate director. No appointment of an alternate director shall take effect until the appointing director has lodged the notice appointing his alternate at our registered office. A director may revoke his or her appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the appointing director has lodged the notice revoking the appointment at our registered office.

An appointed and acting alternate director may (a) attend and vote at any board meeting or, where his or her appointor would be entitled to attend, meeting of a committee of the directors at which the appointing director is not personally present; (b) sign any written resolution of the directors or a committee of the directors circulated for written consent; and (c) generally perform all the functions of the appointing director in his or her absence. An alternate director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from us for services rendered as an alternate director but shall be entitled to be paid all reasonable expenses incurred in exercise of his duties.

A director who is also an alternate director shall be entitled to vote for such other director as well as on his or her own account but no director shall at any meeting be entitled to act as alternate director for more than one other director.

Shareholder power to requisition general meetings

Our directors are required to call a general meeting if requisitioned to do so in writing, given by one or more shareholders who together hold more than 10% of such of our capital as carries the right to vote at such general meeting (excluding any capital held as treasury shares). The requisition must specify the general nature of the business to be dealt with at the meeting; be signed by or on behalf of the requisitioners and must be deposited at our registered office.

Should our directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 days from the date of deposit of a requisition to be held within 28 days of the date of the notice convening the meeting, the requisitioners or any of them representing more than one half of the total voting rights of the members who requested the meeting, may call a general meeting to be held within three months from the date on which our directors became subject to the requirement to call a meeting.

Shareholder Proposals

In addition to the above ability for a shareholder to requisition a general meeting for a specific purpose, a proposal may be properly brought before an annual general meeting by any of our shareholders who is a

 

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shareholder of record on both the date of the giving of the notice by such shareholder provided for in our Governing Documents and the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at such annual general meeting, and who complies with the notice and other procedures set forth in our Governing Documents, which are summarized below. Please see our Governing Documents for the full procedures.

Shareholder proposals other than director nominations

Our Governing Documents set forth requirements for shareholders wishing to propose business other than the nomination of directors at an annual general meeting.

In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be brought properly before an annual general meeting by a shareholder, such shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to our Secretary.

For matters other than for the nomination for election of a director to be made by a shareholder, to be timely such shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to us at our principal executive offices not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual general meeting. However, if our annual general meeting occurs on a date more than thirty (30) days earlier or later than our prior year’s annual general meeting, then the directors will determine a date a reasonable period prior to our annual general meeting by which date the shareholder’s notice must be delivered and publicize such date in a filing pursuant to the Exchange Act, or via press release. Such publication shall occur at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date set by the directors.

To be in proper written form, a shareholder’s notice to us must set forth as to such matter such shareholder proposes to bring before the annual general meeting:

 

   

a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual general meeting, including the text of the proposal or business, and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual general meeting;

 

   

the name and address, as they appear on our register of shareholders, of the shareholder proposing such business and any Shareholder Associated Person (as defined below);

 

   

the class or series and number of our ordinary shares that are held of record or are beneficially owned by such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person and any derivative positions held or beneficially held by the shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person;

 

   

whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person with respect to any of our Securities, and a description of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person with respect to any of our Securities;

 

   

any material interest of the shareholder or a Shareholder Associated Person in such business, including a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among any of such shareholders or between or among any proposing shareholders and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such shareholder; and

 

   

a statement as to whether such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of our voting shares required under applicable law and the rules of the NYSE to carry the proposal.

A Shareholder Associated Person of any shareholder includes:

 

   

any affiliate (as defined in our Governing Documents) of, or person acting in concert with, such shareholder;

 

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any beneficial owner of our ordinary shares owned of record or beneficially by such shareholder and on whose behalf the proposal or nomination, as the case may be, is being made; and

 

   

any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with a person referred to in the preceding two bullets.

Shareholder’s nomination of a director

Our Governing Documents also set forth requirements for shareholders wishing to nominate directors. An eligible shareholder who follows these procedures is entitled to have their nomination included in our Proxy Statement and therefore would not be required to solicit their own proxies in accordance with any applicable laws and rules.

For a nomination for election of a director to be made by a shareholder, such shareholder must:

 

   

be a shareholder of record on both the date of the giving of the notice by such shareholder provided for in our Governing Documents and the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at such annual general meeting;

 

   

on each such date beneficially own more than 15% of the issued ordinary shares (unless otherwise provided in the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC); and

 

   

have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to our Secretary.

If a shareholder is entitled to vote only for a specific class or category of directors at a meeting of the shareholders, such shareholder’s right to nominate one or more persons for election as a director at the meeting shall be limited to such class or category of directors.

To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at our registered offices not less than 45 nor more than 120 days prior to the meeting.

To be in proper written form, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth:

 

   

as to each nominating shareholder:

 

   

the information about the shareholder and its Shareholder Associated Persons specified above under “ —Shareholder proposals other than director nominations”; and

 

   

any other information relating to such shareholder that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law and rules of the SEC or of the NYSE; and

 

   

as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director:

 

   

all information that would be required if such nominee was a nominating shareholder, as described above, except such information shall also include the business address of the person;

 

   

the principal occupation or employment of the person;

 

   

all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for appointment of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act or any successor provisions thereto, and any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law and rules of the SEC or of the NYSE; and

 

   

a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationship, between or among any nominating shareholder and its affiliates, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his respective affiliates, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be

 

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disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act if such nominating shareholder were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant.

Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected. We may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by us to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director for us in accordance with the rules of the NYSE.

Transfer Agent

Our transfer agent for our ordinary shares is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

Notices

We will give notice of each of our general meetings by publication on our website and in any other manner that we may be required to follow in order to comply with our Governing Documents, the Guernsey Companies Law and applicable stock exchange and SEC requirements. Each shareholder is deemed to have agreed to accept communication from us by electronic means (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by means of a website) in accordance with the Guernsey Companies Law unless the shareholder notifies us otherwise. Holders of registered shares may further be provided notice of the meeting in writing at their addresses as stated in our register of shareholders.

Subject to any restrictions imposed on any shares, notice of each general meeting shall be given to our shareholders, persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a shareholder, our directors, our auditor (if any) and persons entitled to vote in respect of a share in consequence of the incapacity of a shareholder.

Other Guernsey Law Considerations

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 Royal Court of Guernsey (the “Court”) may order a meeting of the creditors or class or creditors or of our shareholders or class of shareholders (as applicable) to be called in such manner as the Court directs. Any compromise or arrangement approved by a majority in number representing 75% in value of the members or class of members (excluding any shares held as treasury shares) or creditors or class of creditors (as the case may be), present and voting either in person or by proxy at the meeting, if sanctioned by the Court, is binding on us and all the creditors, shareholders or members of the specific class of either of them (as applicable) and any of our liquidators or administrators and contributories (where relevant) .

Our Disclosure Obligations

We are subject to certain disclosure obligations under Guernsey and U.S. law and the rules of the NYSE. The following is a description of the general disclosure obligations of public companies under Guernsey and U.S. law and the rules of the NYSE as such laws and rules exist as of the date of this document, and should not be viewed as legal advice for specific circumstances.

Periodic Reporting under Guernsey Law

Under the Guernsey Companies Law, we are required to submit to the Guernsey Registry between January 1 and the last day of February in each year an annual validation containing information current on December 31 of the previous year. We are also required to file with the Guernsey Registry details of any change of its directors, or their details, within 14 days of the relevant change and details of any change of its registered office. Certain

 

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shareholder resolutions must also be filed with the Guernsey Registry within certain timeframes. For example, a copy of every Special Resolution must be filed with the Guernsey Registry within 30 days of it being passed.

Periodic Reporting under U.S. Securities Law

We are a “foreign private issuer” under SEC rules and, as a result, are subject to different disclosure requirements than U.S. registrants. We intend to take all actions necessary to maintain compliance as a foreign private issuer under the applicable corporate governance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules adopted by the SEC and NYSE’s listing standards.

Listing of Super Group Securities

Our ordinary shares are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “SGHC”.

History of Share Capital

Our authorized share capital is an unlimited number of shares of any class, with or without par value. Our ordinary shares have no par value. As of March 31, 2023, there were 498,511,643 ordinary shares issued and outstanding.

A description of our ordinary shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-41253), filed with the SEC on January 26, 2022, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, including the description of the securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act in Exhibit 2.1 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, is incorporated by reference herein.

A discussion of the changes in our share capital as of December 31, 2022 is contained in notes 16, 17 and 18 to our historical annual consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 27, 2023 (File No. 001-41253) and is incorporated by reference herein.

Share Repurchase Program

On January 11, 2023, our Board authorized the repurchase of up to $25 million of our ordinary shares through December 31, 2023, following the approval by our shareholders of such potential repurchases on September 21, 2022. This time frame can also be extended or shortened by the Board, and we are not obligated to repurchase any shares. Repurchases, if any, will be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing prices or in negotiated transactions off the market. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not made material repurchases under this authorization.

 

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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL JUDGMENTS

In Guernsey, foreign judgments can be recognized by the Royal Court of Guernsey (the “Guernsey Court”) either under the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) (Guernsey) Law, 1957, as amended (the “1957 Law”), which provides a statutory framework for the enforcement of judgments made in a reciprocating country and of a kind to which the 1957 Law applies, or under the principles of common law. Save for very exceptional and limited circumstances, if the 1957 Law does not apply then the common law prevails.

For jurisdictions not included in the 1957 Law, including the U.S., a judgment obtained in a court in the U.S. against the Company (or its directors or officers) cannot be registered or enforced in Guernsey, pursuant to the 1957 Law, but may be enforceable by separate action on the judgment in accordance with Guernsey common law rules.

To enforce the judgment of a court of the U.S. in Guernsey, the claimant would be required to bring fresh proceedings before the Guernsey Court, suing on the foreign judgment itself and applying for summary judgment if the case is placed on the pleadings list (essentially, where the case is defended). In such an action, the Guernsey Court is unlikely to re-examine the merits of the original case decided by a U.S. court.

According to current practice, the Guernsey Court will (subject to the following matters) enforce the judgment of a court in the United States in in personam proceedings provided that the following conditions inter alia are satisfied:

(a) the judgment is for a debt or fixed or ascertainable sum of money (provided that the judgment does not relate to U.S. penal, revenue or other public laws);

(b) the judgment is final and conclusive; and

(c) the court in the U.S. had, at the time when proceedings were served, jurisdiction over the judgment debtor in accordance with the Guernsey rules of private international law.

The Guernsey Court will not, however, enforce that judgment if the judgment debtor satisfies the Guernsey Court that:

(a) the judgment was given in proceedings that were in breach of principles of natural or substantial justice;

(b) enforcement of the judgment would be contrary to Guernsey public policy;

(c) the foreign court did not have jurisdiction to give that judgment according to Guernsey rules on the conflict of laws;

(d) there was fraud on the part of the U.S. court pronouncing judgment;

(e) there was fraud on the part of the party in whose favor the judgment was given;

(f) enforcement proceedings are time barred under the Guernsey laws on prescription/limitation;

(g) the foreign judgment is not for a definite sum of money (which is not a sum in respect of taxes or penalties) or is not final and conclusive;

(h) the foreign judgment was against a person who was entitled to immunity from the courts of that country; and

(i) the foreign court had no jurisdiction in circumstances where the judgment debtor was, at the time the proceedings were instituted, present in the foreign country and the bringing of proceedings in that U.S. court was contrary to an agreement under which the dispute was to be settled and the judgment debtor did not agree to the proceedings being brought in that U.S. court, nor counterclaimed or otherwise submitted to the jurisdiction.

 

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If the Guernsey Court gives judgment for the sum payable under a judgment of a United States court, the Guernsey judgment would be enforceable by the methods generally available for the enforcement of Guernsey judgments. These give the Guernsey Court discretion whether to allow enforcement by any particular method. In addition, it may not be possible to obtain a Guernsey judgment or to enforce any Guernsey judgment: if the judgment debtor is subject to any insolvent administration or similar proceedings; if there is delay; if an appeal is pending or anticipated against the Guernsey judgment in Guernsey or against the foreign judgment in the courts of the United States; or if the judgment debtor has any set-off or counterclaim against the judgment creditor. Additionally any security interest may affect the circumstances where the Guernsey Court provides judicial assistance to persons empowered under foreign bankruptcy law to act on behalf of an insolvent company and/or in relation to the enforcement of a judgment debt.

Jurisdiction

A foreign court is considered to have jurisdiction where one of four criteria is met, being any of the following:

(a) where the respondent to the order sought to be enforced was, at the time the proceedings were instituted, present in the foreign jurisdiction (and where that “person” is a corporate entity, where it is resident or maintains a fixed place of business in the foreign jurisdiction);

(b) where the respondent to the order sought to be enforced was a claimant or counterclaimant in the proceedings in the foreign court;

(c) where the respondent to the order sought to be enforced submitted to the jurisdiction of the foreign court by voluntarily appearing in the proceedings; or

(d) where the respondent to the order sought to be enforced agreed, prior to the commencement of the proceedings, to submit to the jurisdiction of the foreign court.

Sum of Money

It is a generally accepted principle of common law in Guernsey that for the Guernsey Court to recognize a foreign judgment, that judgment needs to be for a definite sum of money and must not include deductions or additions for unspecified amounts such as tax, nor can it include penalties.

Final and Conclusive

A foreign judgment which is final and conclusive, for the purposes of recognition under Guernsey common law, is one which cannot be varied by the court which pronounced it, notwithstanding that there may be a right of appeal.

Original actions in courts of Guernsey

The Guernsey Court will prima facie take jurisdiction over an action brought by a shareholder under U.S. securities laws against us, and would apply U.S. law (if applicable and appropriate) to determine our liability. However, the Guernsey Court may decline to exercise jurisdiction over the claim. A key factor as to whether the Guernsey Court would take jurisdiction is likely to be an argument on forum conveniens. Factors such as the extent of the disputed issues of foreign law, the nature of the dispute, our residence and place of business of, and the location of key witnesses is likely to influence the Guernsey Court’s decision in this area.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We are registering the offer and sale from time to time by the selling shareholders of up to 467,983,032 ordinary shares. All of the ordinary shares offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the selling shareholders for their respective accounts, except as described below. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales.

The selling shareholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the selling shareholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling shareholders in disposing of the securities. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, NYSE listing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and our independent registered public accountants.

The securities beneficially owned by the selling shareholders covered by this prospectus may be offered and sold from time to time by the selling shareholders. The term “selling shareholders” includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors in interest selling securities received after the date of this prospectus from a selling shareholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer. The selling shareholders will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale. Such sales may be made on one or more exchanges or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise, at prices and under terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price or in negotiated transactions. Each selling shareholder reserves the right to accept and, together with its respective agents, to reject, any proposed purchase of securities to be made directly or through agents. The selling shareholders and any of their permitted transferees may sell their securities offered by this prospectus on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. If underwriters are used in the sale, such underwriters will acquire the shares for their own account. These sales may be at a fixed price or varying prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The securities may be offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered if any of the securities are purchased.

The selling shareholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling the securities offered by this prospectus:

 

   

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;

 

   

block trades in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

an over-the-counter distribution in accordance with the rules of NYSE;

 

   

through trading plans entered into by a selling shareholder pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans;

 

   

to or through underwriters or broker-dealers;

 

   

in “at the market” offerings, as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, at negotiated prices, at prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, including sales made directly on a national securities exchange or sales made through a market maker other than on an exchange or other similar offerings through sales agents;

 

   

directly to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process or in privately negotiated transactions;

 

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in options transactions;

 

   

through a combination of any of the above methods of sale;

 

   

in consideration for services rendered to a selling shareholder or any entity associated with a selling shareholder; or

 

   

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

In addition, a selling shareholder that is an entity may elect to make a pro rata in-kind distribution of securities to its members, partners or shareholders pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part by delivering a prospectus with a plan of distribution. Such members, partners or shareholders would thereby receive freely tradeable securities pursuant to the distribution through a registration statement. To the extent a distributee is an affiliate of ours (or to the extent otherwise required by law), we may file a prospectus supplement in order to permit the distributees to use the prospectus to resell the securities acquired in the distribution.

There can be no assurance that the selling shareholders will sell all or any of the securities offered by this prospectus. In addition, the selling shareholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, or in other transactions exempt from registration, rather than under this prospectus. The selling shareholders have the sole and absolute discretion not to accept any purchase offer or make any sale of securities if they deem the purchase price to be unsatisfactory at any particular time.

The selling shareholders also may transfer the securities in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors-in-interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus. Upon being notified by a selling shareholder that a donee, pledgee, transferee, other successor-in-interest intends to sell our securities, we will, to the extent required, promptly file a supplement to this prospectus to name specifically such person as a selling securityholder.

With respect to a particular offering of the securities held by the selling shareholders, to the extent required, an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part, will be prepared and will set forth the following information:

 

   

the specific securities to be offered and sold;

 

   

the names of the selling shareholders;

 

   

the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the proceeds to be received from the sale, if any, and other material terms of the offering;

 

   

settlement of short sales entered into after the date of this prospectus;

 

   

the names of any participating agents, broker-dealers or underwriters; and

 

   

any applicable commissions, discounts, concessions and other items constituting compensation from the selling shareholders.

In connection with distributions of the securities or otherwise, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In connection with such transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with selling shareholders. The selling shareholders may also sell the securities short and redeliver the securities to close out such short positions. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such

 

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transaction). The selling shareholders may also pledge securities to a broker-dealer or other financial institution, and, upon a default, such broker-dealer or other financial institution, may effect sales of the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriters or agents, as the case may be, involved in the offering of such securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our securities. Specifically, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in our securities for their own account. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of our securities, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may bid for, and purchase, such securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allotted to an underwriter or a broker-dealer for distributing such securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. The underwriters or agents, as the case may be, are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.

The selling shareholders may solicit offers to purchase the securities directly from, and they may sell such securities directly to, institutional investors or others. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. The terms of any of those sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if utilized, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in our securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for our securities.

The selling shareholders may authorize underwriters, broker-dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we or the selling shareholders pay for solicitation of these contracts.

A selling shareholder may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by any selling shareholder or borrowed from any selling shareholder or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from any selling shareholder in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, any selling shareholder may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

In effecting sales, broker-dealers or agents engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions, discounts or concessions from the selling shareholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission, fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of the gross proceeds of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Carey Olsen (Guernsey) LLP, Carey House, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 4BZ, will pass upon the validity of our ordinary shares offered hereby.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and in the Registration Statement have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of BDO LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting expresses an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022.

BDO LLP, London, United Kingdom, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement (including any amendments and exhibits to the registration statement) on Form F-3 under the Securities Act with respect to our ordinary shares offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which forms a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. Certain information is omitted and you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for that information. With respect to references made in this prospectus to any contract or other document of Super Group, such references are not necessarily complete and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract or document. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely.

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we will be required to file reports and other information with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K. The SEC maintains an internet website that contains reports and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.

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 are exempt from the reporting and 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 periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as United States companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.

We maintain a corporate website at https://www.sghc.com. The information contained on, or accessible from, or hyperlinked to our website is not a part of this prospectus and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.

 

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus modifies or replaces that statement.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

   

our Annual Report on  Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on April 27, 2023; and

 

   

the description of our ordinary shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-41253), filed with the SEC on January 26, 2022, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, including the description of the securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act in Exhibit 2.1 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022.

We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (if such reports on Form 6-K expressly state that they are incorporated in whole or in part by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part) prior to the termination of this offering. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus.

Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference into this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:

Super Group (SGHC) Limited

Bordeaux Court, Les Echelons

St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1AR

Tel: +44 (0) 14 8182 2939.

Attn: Investor Relations

You should rely only on information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. Neither we nor the selling shareholders have authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The selling shareholders are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

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Up to 467,983,032 Ordinary Shares

 

LOGO

 

 

Preliminary Prospectus

 

 

            , 2023

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 8.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Our governing documents provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Guernsey law.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors. The indemnification agreements provide the indemnitees with contractual rights to indemnification, and expense advancement and reimbursement, to the fullest extent permitted under Guernsey law.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, 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.

 

Item 9.

Exhibits

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this registration statement:

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

    2.1    Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April  23, 2021, by and among Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corp., SGHC Limited, Super Group (SGHC) Limited, Super Group (SGHC) Merger Sub Inc., and Sports Entertainment Acquisition Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corp.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 26, 2021).+
    3.1    Amended and Restated Super Group (SGHC) Limited Memorandum of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Company’s Shell Company Report on 20-F (File No. 001-41253) filed with the SEC on February 2, 2022).
    3.2    Amended and Restated Super Group (SGHC) Limited Articles of Incorporation.*
    5.1    Opinion of Carey Olsen (Guernsey) LLP as to the validity of Super Group (SGHC) Limited’s ordinary shares.**
  23.1    Consent of BDO LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.*
  23.2    Consent of Carey Olsen (Guernsey) LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).**
  24.1    Power of Attorney.**
107    Filing Fee table.**

 

*

Filed herewith.

**

Previously filed.

+

Certain schedules and similar attachments to the exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5).


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Item 10.

Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement provided, however, that:

Paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Item 8.A. of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.


Table of Contents

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form F-1 on Form F-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of London, United Kingdom on May 17, 2023.

 

SUPER GROUP (SGHC) LIMITED

By:

 

/s/ Neal Menashe

 

Name: Neal Menashe

 

Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form F-1 on Form F-3 has been signed by the following persons on May 17, 2023 in the capacities indicated:

 

Name

  

Title

   

/s/ Neal Menashe

Neal Menashe

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

/s/ Alinda Van Wyk

Alinda Van Wyk

  

Chief Financial Officer and Director

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

*

Eric Grubman

   Chairman  

*

Richard Hasson

   Director  

*

John Collins

   Director  

*

Robert James Dutnall

   Director  

/s/ John Le Poidevin

John Le Poidevin

   Director  

*

Natara Holloway Branch

   Director  

*

Jonathan Jossel

   Director  

/s/ Donald J. Puglisi

Donald J. Puglisi

   Authorized Representative in the United States  

 

*By:  

/s/ John Le Poidevin

 

John Le Poidevin

Attorney-in-Fact

Exhibit 3.2

Adopted pursuant to shareholder resolutions dated 21 September 2022

The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended)

Non-Cellular Company Limited by Shares

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

SUPER GROUP (SGHC) LIMITED

 

 

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

1.

 

DEFINITIONS, INTERPRETATION AND EXCLUSION OF STANDARD ARTICLES

     1  

2.

 

SHARES

     7  

3.

 

ORDINARY SHARES

     8  

4.

 

REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS AND SHARE CERTIFICATES

     9  

5.

 

LIEN, CALLS ON SHARES, FORFEITURE AND SURRENDER

     12  

6.

 

TRANSFER OF SHARES

     14  

7.

 

REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE OF SHARES, TREASURY SHARES

     16  

8.

 

VARIATION OF RIGHTS ATTACHING TO SHARES

     18  

9.

 

COMMISSION ON SALE OF SHARES

     18  

10.

 

NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS

     18  

11.

 

TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

     19  

12.

 

ALTERATION OF CAPITAL

     20  

13.

 

CLOSING REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS OR FIXING RECORD DATE

     21  

14.

 

GENERAL MEETINGS

     21  

15.

 

PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

     29  

16.

 

VOTING RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS

     31  

17.

 

CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES AT MEETING

     34  

18.

 

CLEARING HOUSES

     35  

19.

 

DIRECTORS

     35  

20.

 

APPOINTMENT, DISQUALIFICATION AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

     35  

21.

 

DIRECTORS’ FEES AND EXPENSES

     37  

22.

 

POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS

     37  

23.

 

DELEGATION OF POWERS

     38  

24.

 

DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS

     40  

25.

 

MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS

     40  

26.

 

PERMISSIBLE DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS AND DISCLOSURE

     42  

27.

 

MINUTES

     44  

28.

 

ALTERNATE DIRECTORS

     44  

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

29.

 

RECORD DATES

     45  

30.

 

ACCOUNTS AND AUDITS

     48  

31.

 

AUDIT

     50  

32.

 

SEAL

     50  

33.

 

OFFICERS

     51  

34.

 

REGISTER OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     52  

35.

 

CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS

     52  

36.

 

NOTICES

     53  

37.

 

AUTHENTICATION OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS

     54  

38.

 

INFORMATION

     56  

39.

 

INDEMNITY

     56  

40.

 

FINANCIAL YEAR

     58  

41.

 

WINDING UP

     58  

42.

 

COMPANY NAME

     59  

 

-ii-


Adopted pursuant to shareholder resolutions dated 21 September 2022

The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended)

Non-Cellular Company Limited by Shares

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

SUPER GROUP (SGHC) LIMITED

 

 

 

1.

Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Standard Articles

Definitions

 

1.1

In these Articles, unless otherwise defined, the defined terms shall have the meanings assigned to them as follows:

Affiliate means:

 

  (a)

in the case of a natural person, such person’s parents, parents-in-law, spouse, children or grandchildren, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by such person or any of the foregoing, and

 

  (b)

in the case of a corporation, partnership or other entity or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity.

The term control shall mean the ownership, directly or indirectly, of shares possessing more than fifty per cent (50%) of the voting power of the corporation, or the partnership or other entity (other than, in the case of a corporation, shares having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency), or having the power to control the management or elect a majority of shareholders to the board of directors or equivalent decision-making body of such corporation, partnership or other entity;

Articles means, as appropriate:

 

  (a)

these Articles of Incorporation as amended from time to time; or

 

  (b)

two or more particular Articles of these Articles;

and Article refers to a particular Article of these Articles;


Business Day means a day, excluding Saturdays or Sundays, on which banks in New York and Guernsey are open for general banking business throughout their normal business hours;

certificated means a unit of security (including a Share) which is not an uncertificated unit and is normally held in certificated form;

Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America or any other federal agency for the time being administering the Securities Act;

Company means the above-named company;

Company’s Website means the website of the Company, the address or domain name of which has been notified to Shareholders;

Designated Stock Exchange means the New York Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Company’s securities are then traded;

Directors means the directors of the Company for the time being, or as the case may be, the Directors assembled as a board or as a committee thereof;

Distribution has the meaning given to the term “distribution” in the Law;

Dividend has the meaning given to the term “dividend” in the Law;

DTCC means the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation;

Electronic has the meaning given to the term “electronic” in the Electronic Transactions Law; electronic communication means electronic transmission to any Relevant Electronic Address or such other number, address or internet website or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by the Directors;

electronic form has the meaning given to such term in the Electronic Transactions Law;

Electronic Means shall have the meaning given to such term in the Law;

Electronic Record means a document (as defined in the Electronic Transactions Law) which is in electronic form;

Electronic Signature means a signature, seal, attestation or notarization which is in electronic form;

Electronic Transactions Law means the Electronic Transactions (Guernsey) Law, 2000 (as amended);

 

2


Eligible Shareholders means the Shareholders entitled to vote on the circulation date of a Written Resolution;

Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time;

Fully Paid and Paid Up means that the agreed issue price for a Share has been fully paid or credited as fully paid in money or money’s worth;

Joint Holders means two or more persons registered as the holders of a Share or Shares or who are jointly entitled to a Share or Shares including, without limitation, by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder;

Law means the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended);

Market Price means for any given day, the price quoted in respect of the Ordinary Shares on the Designated Stock Exchange of the close of trading on such day, or if such day is not a date on which the Designated Stock Exchange is open, then the close of trading on the previous trading day;

Memorandum means the Memorandum of Incorporation of the Company as amended from time to time;

month means a calendar month;

Nominating Shareholder means (i) the Shareholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at a general meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at any general meeting is made, and (iii) any Affiliate or associate of such shareholder or beneficial owner;

Officer means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company; and the expression includes a director or liquidator, but does not include the Secretary;

Operator means DTCC or such other person as may, for the time being, operate an Uncertificated System;

 

3


Ordinary Resolution means a resolution of the Company passed as an ordinary resolution in accordance with the Law by a simple majority of the votes of the Shareholders entitled to vote and voting in person or by attorney or by proxy at a meeting or by a simple majority of the total voting rights of Eligible Shareholders by Written Resolution;

Ordinary Share means a redeemable Ordinary Share in the capital of the Company of no par value and designated as an Ordinary Share, and having the rights provided for in these Articles;

PDF means Portable Document Format;

Register of Shareholders means the register of Shareholders maintained by the Company in accordance with Section 123 of the Law or any modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force, which shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include the register required to be kept by the Company under the Rules in respect of Shares held in uncertificated form;

Registered Office means the registered office for the time being of the Company;

Relevant Electronic Address shall have the meaning given to such term in the Law;

Rules means the rules, including any manuals, issued from time to time by an Operator governing the admission of securities to and the operation of the Uncertificated System managed by such Operator;

Seal means the common seal of the Company, if any, including any facsimile thereof;

Secretary means a person, if any, appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary;

Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time;

Share means an Ordinary Share or such other share as may be issued in the capital of the Company from time to time, and the expression where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a share;

Shareholder means in relation to Shares the person (or persons in respect of Joint Holders) whose name(s) is/are entered in the Register of Shareholders as the holder(s) of the Shares and includes, on the death, disability or insolvency of a Shareholder, any person entitled to such Shares on the death, disability or insolvency of such Shareholder.

 

4


In relation to Shares in the capital of the Company held in an Uncertificated System, means:

 

  (c)

a person who is permitted by the Operator to transfer by means of that Uncertificated System, title to uncertificated Shares of the Company held by him; or

 

  (d)

two or more persons who are jointly permitted to do so;

signed means a signature or representation of a signature, including an Electronic Signature, affixed by mechanical means or an electronic symbol or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic communication and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the electronic communication;

Special Resolution means a resolution of the Shareholders passed as a special resolution in accordance with the Law by a majority of not less than seventy five per cent of the votes of the Shareholders entitled to vote and voting in person or by attorney or by proxy at a meeting or by seventy five per cent of the total voting rights of Eligible Shareholders by Written Resolution;

subsidiary has the meaning given to that term in Section 531 of the Law;

Treasury Share means a share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Law;

Unanimous Resolution means a resolution of the Shareholders passed as a unanimous resolution in accordance with the Law by every Shareholder entitled to vote and voting in person or by proxy at a meeting or by all the Eligible Shareholders by Written Resolution;

uncertificated means a unit of a security (including a Share), title to which is recorded on the relevant Register of Shareholders or on the Company’s register of non-share securities as being held in uncertificated form, and title to which may be transferred by means of an Uncertificated System in accordance with the Rules, if any;

Uncertificated System means any computer-based system and its related facilities and procedures that are provided by an Operator and by means of which title to units of a security (including a Share) can be evidenced and transferred in accordance with the Rules, if any, without a written certificate or instrument;

United Kingdom means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

United States means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States, and the District of Columbia;

 

5


Waiver Resolution means a resolution of the Shareholders passed as a waiver resolution in accordance with the Law by a majority of not less than ninety per cent of the votes of the Shareholders entitled to vote and voting in person or by attorney or by proxy at a meeting or by not less than ninety per cent of the total voting rights of Eligible Shareholders by Written Resolution;

Written Resolution means a resolution of the Shareholders in writing passed as a written resolution in accordance with the Law; and

year means a calendar year.

Interpretation

 

1.2

In these Articles, save where the context requires otherwise:

 

  (a)

words importing the singular number shall include the plural number and vice versa;

 

  (b)

words importing the masculine gender only (i.e., he and his) shall include the feminine gender (i.e., her and hers) and shall include references to entities without gender (i.e., it and its);

 

  (c)

reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency;

 

  (d)

may shall be construed as permissive and “shall” shall be construed as imperative;

 

  (e)

a reference to a dollar or dollars (or $) is a reference to dollars of the United States of America;

 

  (f)

references to a statutory enactment shall include reference to any amendment or re- enactment thereof for the time being in force;

 

  (g)

any phrase introduced by the terms including, include, in particular or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms;

 

  (h)

written and in writing means all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an electronic record and any requirements as to delivery under these Articles include delivery in the form of an electronic record; where used in connection with a notice served by the Company on Shareholders or other persons entitled to receive notices hereunder, such writing shall also include a record maintained in an electronic medium which is accessible in visible form so as to be useable for subsequent reference;

 

6


  (i)

the term “clear days” in relation to the period of a notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is received or deemed to be received and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect;

 

  (j)

the term “holder” in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Shareholders as the holder of such Share;

 

  (k)

headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity;

 

  (l)

where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning, another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning; and

 

  (m)

all references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located.

Exclusion of Standard Articles

 

1.3

The standard articles of incorporation prescribed under section 16(2) of the Law are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company.

 

2.

Shares

Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights

 

2.1

Subject to the other provisions of these Articles, (and to any resolution that may be passed by the Company in general meeting), the Directors have power to issue an unlimited number of shares of no par value each and an unlimited number of shares with a par value as they see fit for an unlimited period. The Directors may, in their absolute discretion and without approval of the holders of Ordinary Shares, allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to Dividend or other Distribution, voting, return of capital or otherwise, any or all of which may be greater than the powers and rights associated with the Ordinary Shares, to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper, which shall be conclusively evidenced by their approval of the terms thereof. For the purposes of these Articles, no such allotment, issue, grant or disposal shall be considered to be a variation of the rights attaching to the Ordinary Shares.

 

2.2

The Company shall not issue Shares in bearer form and shall only issue Shares as fully paid.

 

7


Power to issue fractions of a Share

 

2.3

Subject to the Law, the Company may issue fractions of a Share of any class. A fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities, limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a Share of that class of Shares.

Contributions without issue of further Shares

 

2.4

With the consent of a Shareholder, the Directors may accept a voluntary contribution from that Shareholder without issuing Shares in return. If the Directors agree to accept a voluntary contribution from a Shareholder, the Directors shall resolve that such contribution shall be treated as an addition to the stated share capital account of the Company (it being understood that the contribution is not provided by way of loan).

Limit on the number of Joint Holders

 

2.5

In respect of a Share, the Company shall not be required to enter the names of more than four Joint Holders in the Register of Shareholders of the Company.

 

2.6

If two or more persons are registered as Joint Holders of a Share, then any one of those Joint Holders may give effectual receipts for moneys payable in respect of that Share.

Treasury Shares

 

2.7

From time to time, the Company may hold its own Shares as treasury shares and the Directors may sell, transfer or cancel any treasury shares in accordance with the Law. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be entitled to vote or receive any Dividends or Distributions in respect of any treasury shares held by it.

 

3.

Ordinary Shares

 

3.1

The holders of the Ordinary Shares shall be:

 

  (a)

entitled to Dividends and Distributions in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Articles;

 

  (b)

entitled to and are subject to the provisions in relation to winding up of the Company provided for in these Articles; and

 

  (c)

entitled to attend general meetings of the Company and shall be entitled (i) on a show of hands, to one vote and (ii) on a poll, to one vote for each Ordinary Share registered in the name of such holder in the Register of Shareholders, both in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Articles.

 

8


3.2

The Ordinary Shares shall be redeemable by agreement between the relevant Shareholder and the Company at the Market Price or at such other price as may be agreed between the relevant Shareholder and the Company.

 

3.3

All Ordinary Shares shall rank pari passu with each other in all respects.

 

4.

Register of Shareholders and share certificates

Issue of share certificates

 

4.1

The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Shareholders in accordance with the Law and, where applicable, an index of Shareholders in accordance with the Law. The Company may delegate the maintenance of its Register of Shareholders and any index of Shareholders upon such terms as the Directors may think fit provided always that any such delegation is in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Law.

 

4.2

Subject to and to the extent permitted by the Law, the Company, or the Directors on behalf of the Company, may cause to be kept and maintained in any country, territory or place, a branch register of Shareholders resident in such country, territory or place, and the Company may, or the Directors on behalf of the Company may, make and vary such regulations as it or they may think fit regarding the keeping of any such branch register.

 

4.3

Upon being entered in the Register of Shareholders as the holder of a Share, a Shareholder shall, subject to Article 4.8, be entitled:

 

  (a)

without payment, to one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Shareholder (and, upon transferring a part of the Shareholder’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and

 

  (b)

upon payment of such reasonable sum as the Directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that Shareholder’s Shares.

 

4.4

Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid or partly Paid Up. A certificate may be executed under seal, under the common signature of the Company or executed in such other manner as the Directors determine.

 

4.5

The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one Joint Holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.

 

9


4.6

All certificates for Shares shall be delivered personally, sent through the post addressed to the Shareholder entitled thereto at the Shareholder’s registered address as appearing in the Register of Shareholders or sent through electronic mail to the Shareholder entitled thereto at the Shareholder’s electronic address as appearing in the Register of Shareholders (if relevant) or otherwise notified to the Company. Every share certificate sent in accordance with these Articles will be sent at the risk of the Shareholder or other person entitled to the certificate. The Company will not be responsible for any share certificate lost or delayed in the course of delivery.

Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates

 

4.7

If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to:

 

  (a)

evidence;

 

  (b)

indemnity;

 

  (c)

payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and

 

  (d)

payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate;

as the Directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.

Uncertificated Shares and other securities

 

4.8

Subject to Article 4.9, at any time any Shares are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall not be required to (although may, in its absolute discretion choose to) provide a share certificate in accordance with Article 4.3 in respect of such Shares unless the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange provide otherwise. The Directors may, under and subject to the Rules, allow settlement of the Company’s Shares and other securities in any manner at their discretion and shall have power to implement such arrangements as they may think fit in order for any class of Shares or other securities to be admitted to settlement by means of an Uncertificated System. Where they do so, Articles 4.10 and 4.11 shall commence to have effect immediately prior to the time at which the Operator admits the class of Shares or other securities to settlement by means of the Uncertificated System.

 

4.9

Following a written request at any time from a Shareholder to the Company requesting a share certificate in respect of Shares held by that Shareholder, the Company shall, within 2 months of receipt by the Company of that written request, complete and have ready for delivery the certificate of such Shares in respect of which the request was made unless the conditions of allotment of the Shares otherwise provide.

 

10


4.10

In relation to any class of Shares or other securities which, for the time being, an Operator has admitted to settlement by means of an Uncertificated System, and for so long as such class of Shares or other securities remains so admitted, no provision of these Articles shall apply or have effect to the extent that it is in any respect inconsistent with:

 

  (a)

the holding of Shares of that class or other securities in uncertificated form;

 

  (b)

the transfer of title to Shares of that class or other securities by means of that Uncertificated System, as applicable; or

 

  (c)

the Rules.

 

4.11

Without prejudice to the generality of Article 4.10 and notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles where any class of Shares or other securities is, for the time being, admitted to settlement by means of an Uncertificated System:

 

(a)

such Shares or securities may be issued in uncertificated form in accordance with and subject as provided in the Rules;

 

(b)

unless the Directors otherwise determine, such Shares or securities held by the same holder or joint holder in certificated form and uncertificated form shall be treated as separate holdings;

 

(c)

such Shares or securities may be changed from uncertificated to certificated form, and from certificated to uncertificated form, in accordance with and subject as provided in the Rules;

 

(d)

title to (i) such of the Shares as are recorded on the Register of Shareholders and (ii) such of the other securities are recorded in the relevant register of securities as being held in uncertificated form may be transferred only by means of an Uncertificated System and as provided in the Rules and accordingly (and in particular) no provision of these Articles shall apply in respect of such Shares or securities to the extent that those Articles require or contemplate the effecting of a transfer by an instrument in writing and the production of a certificate for the Shares or securities to be transferred;

 

(e)

the Company shall comply in all respects with the Rules; and

 

(f)

no provision of these Articles shall apply so as to require the Company to issue a certificate (or equivalent) to any person holding such Shares or other securities in uncertificated form.

 

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5.

Lien, calls on Shares, forfeiture and surrender

 

Lien

 

5.1

The Company shall have a first and paramount lien and charge on all Shares (not being Fully Paid) for all moneys, whether presently payable or not, called or payable at a fixed time in respect of those Shares and that whether the same shall have been incurred before or after notice to the Company of any equitable or other interest of any person (other than such holder) and whether the time for payment or discharge shall have arrived or not and notwithstanding that the same are joint debts or liabilities of such holder and any other person (whether a Shareholder or not). Such lien or charge shall extend to all Dividends and Distributions from time to time paid in respect of such Shares. Unless otherwise agreed, the registration of a transfer of Shares shall operate as a waiver of the Company’s lien and charge (if any) on such Shares.

 

5.2

For the purpose of enforcing such lien the Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless some sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, nor until the expiration of 14 days after a notice in writing, stating and demanding payment of the sum presently payable, and giving notice of intention to sell in default, shall have been served on the holder for the time being of the Shares or the person entitled by reason of his death or bankruptcy to the Shares. For the purpose of giving effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise some person to transfer to the purchaser thereof the Shares so sold.

 

5.3

The net proceeds of such sale, after payment of the costs of such sale, shall be applied in or towards payment or satisfaction of the debt or liability in respect whereof the lien exists, so far as the same is presently payable and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities not presently payable as existed upon the shares prior to the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the time of the sale. The purchaser shall be registered as the holder of the Shares so transferred and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in relation to the sale.

Calls on Shares

 

5.4

The Directors may at any time make calls upon the Shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares (whether on account of the nominal value or by way of premium and not by the conditions of allotment made payable at fixed times) and each Shareholder shall pay to the Company at the time and place appointed the amount called. A call may be revoked or postponed.

 

5.5

Joint Holders shall be jointly and severally liable to pay calls.

 

5.6

If a sum called in respect of a Share is not paid before or on the day appointed the person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest from the day appointed to the time of actual payment at such rate as the Directors may determine.

 

  (a)

Any sum which by the terms of issue of a Share becomes payable on allotment or at any fixed date shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made and payable on the date on which by the terms of issue the same becomes payable and, in the case of non-payment, all the relevant provisions of these Articles as to payment of interest and expenses forfeiture or otherwise shall apply as if such sum had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.

 

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  (b)

The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Shareholder willing to advance the same all or any part of the money uncalled and unpaid upon the Shares held by him beyond the sums actually called up thereon as payment in advance of calls, and such payment in advance of calls shall extinguish, so far as the same shall extend, the liability upon the Shares in respect of which it is advanced, and upon the money so received or so much thereof as from time to time exceeds the amount of the calls then made upon the Shares in respect of which it has been received, the Company may (until the same would, but for such advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate as the Shareholder paying such sum and the Directors agree upon PROVIDED THAT any amount Paid Up in advance of calls shall not entitle the holder of the Shares upon which such amount is paid to participate in respect thereof in any Dividend or Distribution until the same would but for such advance become presently payable.

Forfeiture and surrender of shares

 

5.7

If a Shareholder fails to pay any call or instalment on the day appointed the Directors may, at any time during such period as any part remains unpaid, serve notice requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses which may have been incurred by the Company by reason of non-payment.

 

5.8

The notice shall state a further date on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made and the place where the payment is to be made and that, in the event of non- payment, the Shares in respect of which the call was made or instalment is payable will be liable to be forfeited. If the requirements of any such notice are not complied with any Share in respect of which the notice has been given may, at any time before payment has been made and subject to the Law, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends or other Distributions to be paid in respect of the forfeited Share and not actually paid before the forfeiture.

 

5.9

Notice of forfeiture shall forthwith be given to the former holder and an entry of such notice and forfeiture shall forthwith be made and dated in the Register of Shareholders opposite the entry of the relevant Share; but no forfeiture shall be in any manner invalidated by any omission or neglect to give notice or to make an entry, in the Register of Shareholders.

 

5.10

A forfeited Share shall be deemed to be the property of the Company and, subject to the provisions of the Law and these Articles may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms as the Directors shall think fit with or without all or any part of the amount previously paid on the Share being credited as paid and at any time before a sale or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled.

 

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5.11

A person whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of those Shares but shall remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which, at the date of forfeiture, were payable by him to the Company in respect of the Shares together with interest from the date of forfeiture until payment at such rate as the Directors may determine. The Directors may enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of forfeiture.

 

5.12

The forfeiture of a Share shall extinguish all interest in and all claims and demands against the Company in respect of the Share and all other rights and liabilities incidental to the Share as between the holder and the Company.

 

5.13

The Directors may accept from any Shareholder on such terms as shall be agreed a surrender of any Shares in respect of which there is a liability for calls.

 

5.14

Any surrendered Share may be disposed of in the same manner as a forfeited Share.

 

5.15

A declaration in writing by a Director or the Secretary that a share has been duly forfeited or surrendered on the date stated in the declaration shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Shares.

 

5.16

The Company may receive the consideration given for any Share on any re-allotment sale or disposition and may execute a transfer of the Share in favour of the person to whom the same is sold or disposed of. The purchaser shall, subject to the provisions of the Law and these Articles, be registered as the holder and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his title be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in forfeiture, sale, re-allotment or disposal.

 

6.

Transfer of shares

Form of transfer

 

6.1

Subject to these Articles, any agreement between a Shareholder and the Company, and the rules or regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange or any relevant securities laws (including, but not limited to the Exchange Act), (a) any Shareholder may transfer all or any of his uncertificated Shares by means of an Uncertificated System in such manner provided for in, and subject to, the Rules and accordingly no provision of these Articles shall apply in respect of an uncertificated Share to the extent that it requires or contemplates the effecting of a transfer by an instrument in writing or the production of a certificate for the Shares to be transferred; and (b) any Shareholder may transfer all or any of his certificated Shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or in any other form approved by the Directors acting reasonably and may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a clearing house or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Directors may approve from time to time.

 

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6.2

The instrument of transfer in respect of a certificated Share shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and, unless the Share is Fully Paid, by or on behalf of the transferee. Without prejudice to the last preceding Article, the Directors may also resolve, either generally or in any particular case, upon request by the transferor or transferee to accept transfers containing signatures in electronic form. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the Share until the name of the transferee in entered into the Register of Shareholders in respect thereof.

Power to refuse registration

 

6.3

The Directors may decline to recognise any instrument of transfer of any Share in certificated form or (to the extent permitted by the Rules) any transfer of any Share in uncertificated form which is not Fully Paid or on which the Company has a lien unless Article 2.5 applies or unless:

 

  (a)

in the case of a certificated Share, the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Share;

 

  (b)

in the case of a certificated Share, the instrument of transfer is lodged at the Registered Office or such other place as the Register of Shareholders is kept in accordance with the Law accompanied by the relevant share certificate(s) (if any) or such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer (and, if the instrument of transfer is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person so to do);

 

  (c)

in the case of a certificated Share, the instrument of transfer is duly and properly signed and endorsed or accompanied by the share certificates in respect of the relevant Shares or an indemnity; and

 

  (d)

in the case of an uncertificated Share the transfer has been effected in accordance with the Rules.

Notice of refusal to register

 

6.4

If the Directors refuse to register a transfer of a Share, they must send notice of their refusal to the existing Shareholder within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company.

Fee, if any, payable for registration

 

6.5

If the Directors so decide, the Company may charge a reasonable fee for the registration of any instrument of transfer or other document relating to the title to a Share.

 

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Company may retain instrument of transfer

 

6.6

The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the Directors refuse to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given.

Transfer to branch register

 

6.7

The Directors in so far as permitted by any applicable law and rules of the Designated Stock Exchange may, in their absolute discretion, at any time and from time to time transfer any Share upon the Register of Shareholders to any branch register or any Share on any branch register to the Register of Shareholders or any other branch register. In the event of any such transfer, the Shareholder requesting such transfer shall bear the cost of effecting such transfer unless the Directors otherwise determine.

Holding of Shares through Direct Registration System

 

6.8

At any time any of the Shares are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, a transfer of such Shares shall not require an instrument of transfer to be delivered to the Company where the following conditions are met in respect of such transfer:

 

  (a)

the transfer is made:

 

  (i)

to or from any person as may for the time being be authorised to operate any Uncertificated System by means of which title to units of a security (including shares) can be evidenced and transferred without a written certificate or instrument, or

 

  (ii)

by means of an Uncertificated System; and

 

  (b)

the transfer is in accordance with the relevant laws applicable to, and relevant rules and regulations of, the Designated Stock Exchange.

 

7.

Redemption and Purchase of Shares, Treasury Shares

 

7.1

Subject to the provisions, if any, in these Articles, the Memorandum, applicable law, including the Law, and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company may:

 

  (a)

issue Shares on terms that they are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the Shareholder on such terms and in such manner as the Directors may, before the issue of such Shares, determine; and

 

  (b)

purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Directors may agree with the relevant Shareholder in accordance with the Law, provided that the manner of purchase is in accordance with any applicable requirements imposed from time to time by the Commission, the Designated Stock Exchange and the Law.

 

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7.2

The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares in any manner authorised by the Law, including out of capital, profits or the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.

 

7.3

The Directors may, subject to the other provisions of these Articles and where permitted by the Law, prior to the purchase or redemption of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share rather than being cancelled.

 

7.4

The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer or sell a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration).

Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie

 

7.5

When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the Directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one way and partly in the other way).

Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share

 

7.6

Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share:

 

  (a)

the Shareholder holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive:

 

  (i)

the applicable payment for the Share; and

 

  (ii)

any Dividend or Distribution authorised in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase;

 

  (b)

the Shareholder’s name shall be removed from the Register of Shareholders with respect to the Share; and

 

  (c)

the Share shall be cancelled or, where permitted by the other provisions of these Articles and the Law, become a Treasury Share.

For the purpose of this Article, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the Register of Shareholders is updated to reflect the redemption or purchase.

 

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8.

Variation of Rights Attaching to Shares

 

8.1

If at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied without the consent of the holders of the issued Shares of that class where such variation is considered by the Directors not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights; otherwise, any such variation shall be made only with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than three fourths of the issued Shares of that class, or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than three fourths of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. For the avoidance of doubt, the Directors reserve the right, notwithstanding that any such variation may not have a material adverse effect, to obtain consent from the holders of Shares of the relevant class. To any such meeting all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that the necessary quorum shall be one person holding or representing by proxy at least one third of the issued Shares of the class and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.

 

8.2

For the purposes of a separate class meeting, to the extent permitted by the Law, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such class of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares.

 

8.3

The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking in priority to or pari passu therewith.

 

9.

Commission on Sale of Shares

The Company may, in so far as the Law permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.

 

10.

Non-Recognition of Trusts

Except as required by law:

 

  (a)

no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share on any trust; and

 

  (b)

no person other than the Shareholder shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share.

 

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11.

Transmission of Shares

Persons entitled on death of a Shareholder

 

11.1

If a Shareholder dies, the survivor or survivors (where he was a Joint Holder) or his legal personal representatives (where he was a sole holder), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his Shares. The estate of a deceased Shareholder is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, for which he was a joint or sole holder.

Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy

 

11.2

Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of a Shareholder (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may be required by the Directors, elect, by a notice in writing sent by him to the Company, either to become the holder of such Share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder of such Share. If he elects to have another person registered as the holder of such Share he shall sign an instrument of transfer of that Share to that person. The Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Shareholder before his death or bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution, as the case may be.

Indemnity

 

11.3

The Directors may require a person registered as a Shareholder by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Shareholder to indemnify the Company and the Directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the Directors as a result of that registration.

Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy

 

11.4

A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Shareholder (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same Dividends, other Distributions and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the holder of such Share. However, he shall not, before becoming a Shareholder in respect of a Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by ownership in relation to general meetings of the Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to have some person nominated by him be registered as the holder of the Share (but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Shareholder before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution or any other case than by transfer, as the case may be). If the notice is not complied with within ninety days of being received or deemed to be received (as determined pursuant to these Articles) the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all Dividends, other Distributions, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

 

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12.

Alteration of capital

Increasing, consolidating, converting and dividing share capital

 

12.1

To the fullest extent permitted by the Law, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following:

 

  (a)

re-designate the whole, or any particular class or part of a class, of shares into shares of another class;

 

  (b)

consolidate all or any of the Shares into fewer shares;

 

  (c)

divide all or any of the Shares into more shares; or

 

  (d)

convert all or any of its Shares the nominal amount of which is expressed in a particular currency into Shares of a nominal amount of a different currency, the conversion being effected at the rate of exchange (calculated to not less than three significant figures) current on the date of the resolution or on such other date as may be specified therein.

 

12.2

All new Shares created hereunder shall be subject to the same provisions with reference to the payment of liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the Shares in issue on the adoption of these Articles.

Sale of fractions of Shares

 

12.3

Whenever, as a result of a consolidation or division of Shares, any Shareholders would become entitled to fractions of a Share, the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, on behalf of those Shareholders, sell the Shares representing the fractions for (i) the Market Price on the date of such consolidation or division, in the case of any Shares listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, and (ii) the best price reasonably obtainable by the Company, in the case of any Shares not listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportion among those Shareholders, and the Directors may authorise (and the relevant Shareholder hereby authorises) any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference to the sale.

 

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13.

Closing Register of Shareholders or Fixing Record Date

 

13.1

The Directors shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, at least ten (10) days before every general meeting, a complete list of the Shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each Shareholder and the number of Shares registered in the name of each Shareholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any Shareholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the principal executive office of the Company. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any Shareholder who is present.

 

13.2

The Directors, in accordance with the Law, may fix in advance or arrears a date as the record date for any such determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of, attend or to vote at a meeting of the Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or for the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other Distribution, or in order to make a determination of Shareholders for any other purpose.

 

13.3

If no record date is fixed for the determination of Shareholders entitled to receive notice of, attend or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of a Dividend or other Distribution, the record date for such determination of Shareholders shall be, subject to the Law, at the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. When a determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.

 

14.

General Meetings

Power to call meetings

 

14.1

The Directors may call a general meeting at any time. General meetings shall be held in Guernsey or such other place outside of the United Kingdom and the United States as may be determined by the Directors from time to time.

 

14.2

If there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum for meetings of the Directors and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, the Directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional Directors.

 

14.3

The Directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles.

 

14.4

The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Shareholders who together hold more than 10% of such of the capital of the Company as carries the rights to vote at such general meeting (excluding any capital held as treasury shares).

 

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14.5

The requisition must also:

 

  (a)

specify the general nature of the business to be dealt with at the meeting;

 

  (b)

be signed by or on behalf of the requisitioners. The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners; and

 

  (c)

be deposited at the Registered Office and/or the principal executive office of the Company in accordance with the notice provisions.

 

14.6

Should the Directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 days from the date of deposit of a requisition to be held within 28 days of the date of the notice convening the meeting, the requisitioners or any of them representing more than one half of the total voting rights of the members who requested the meeting, may call a general meeting to be held within three months from the date on which the Directors became subject to the requirement to call a meeting.

 

14.7

Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum of a meeting of Directors and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, any one or more Shareholders who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional Directors.

 

14.8

If the Shareholders call a meeting under the above Articles, the Company shall reimburse their reasonable expenses.

Annual general meetings

 

14.9

The Company shall hold annual general meetings unless the requirement is waived in accordance with the Law. The first annual general meeting shall be held within a period of 18 months of the Company’s incorporation and thereafter at least once in every calendar year. Not more than 15 months may elapse between one annual general meeting and the next.

Content of notice

 

14.10

Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following:

 

  (a)

the place or, where the meeting is to be held entirely electronically or via telephone, the means and manner by which persons may attend, the date and the time of the meeting;

 

  (b)

if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting;

 

22


  (c)

the general nature of the business to be transacted;

 

  (d)

if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, that fact and the text of that resolution;

 

  (e)

if a resolution is proposed as a Waiver Resolution, that fact and the text of that resolution;

 

  (f)

if a resolution is proposed as a Unanimous Resolution, that fact and the text of that resolution;

 

  (g)

in the case of an annual general meeting, that the meeting is an annual general meeting; and

 

  (h)

any additional information required by these Articles.

 

14.11

In each notice, there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements:

 

  (a)

that a Shareholder who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote and speak at a meeting of the Shareholders instead of that Shareholder, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different Share or Shares held by the Shareholder; and

 

  (b)

that a proxy need not be a Shareholder.

Period of notice

 

14.12

A general meeting, including an annual general meeting, shall be called by at least 10 clear days’ notice (but not more than sixty (60) calendar days’ notice). A meeting, however, may be called on shorter notice if it is so agreed by all the Shareholders entitled to attend and vote at that meeting.

Persons entitled to receive notice

 

14.13

Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people:

 

  (a)

the Shareholders;

 

  (b)

persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder if the Company has been notified of their entitlement;

 

  (c)

the Directors;

 

  (d)

the Company’s auditor (if any); and

 

  (e)

persons entitled to vote in respect of a Share in consequence of the incapacity of a Shareholder if the Company has been notified of their entitlement.

 

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Publication of notice on a website

 

14.14

Subject to the Law, a notice of a general meeting may be published on a website providing the recipient is given separate notice of:

 

  (a)

the presence of the notice on the website;

 

  (b)

the address of the website;

 

  (c)

the place on the website where the notice may be accessed;

 

  (d)

how it may be accessed;

 

  (e)

that the document is a notice of a general meeting; and

 

  (f)

the place, date and time of the general meeting.

All Shareholders shall be deemed to have agreed to accept communication from the Company by Electronic Means (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by means of a website) in accordance with Sections 523, 524 and 526 and Schedule 3 of the Law unless a Shareholder notifies the Company otherwise. Notice under this Article must be in writing and signed by the Shareholder and delivered to the Registered Office of the Company or such other place as the Directors decide.

 

14.15

If a Shareholder notifies the Company that he is unable for any reason to access the website, the Company must as soon as practicable give notice of the meeting to that Shareholder in writing or by any other means permitted by these Articles but this will not affect when that Shareholder is deemed to have been given notice of the meeting.

Time a website notice is deemed to be given

 

14.16

A website notice is deemed to be given when the Shareholder is given notice of its publication or, if later, the date on which the notice first appears on the website after that notification is given.

Required duration of publication on a website

 

14.17

Where the notice of meeting is published on a website, it shall continue to be published in the same place on that website from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.

 

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Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice

 

14.18

Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following:

 

  (a)

an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting or an instrument of proxy to any person entitled to notice; or

 

  (b)

non-receipt of notice of the meeting or an instrument of proxy by any person entitled to notice.

 

14.19

In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website, proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published:

 

  (a)

in a different place on the website; or

 

  (b)

for only part of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.

Notice of other business

 

14.20

No business may be transacted at any general meeting, other than business that is (A) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Directors (or any duly authorised committee thereof) or pursuant to a requisition of a meeting by Shareholders in accordance with Article 14.3; (B) otherwise properly brought before an annual general meeting by or at the direction of the Directors (or any duly authorised committee thereof); or (C) otherwise properly brought before an annual general meeting by any Shareholder of the Company who (1) is a Shareholder of record on both (x) the date of the giving of the notice by such Shareholder provided for in this Article and (y) the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to vote at such annual general meeting, and (2) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Article.

 

  (a)

In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be brought properly before an annual general meeting by a Shareholder, such Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Company and comply with Articles 14.20(c) and 14.20(f).

 

  (b)

In addition to the matters set out in Articles 14.10 and 14.11, the notice of a general meeting at which Directors are to be elected shall include the name of any nominee or nominees who, at the time of the notice, the Directors intend to present for election.

 

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  (c)

For matters other than for the nomination for nomination and/or election of a Director to be made by a Shareholder, to be timely, such Shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual general meeting; provided, however, that if the Company’s annual general meeting occurs on a date more than thirty (30) days earlier or later than the Company’s prior year’s annual general meeting, then the Directors shall determine a date a reasonable period prior to the Company’s annual general meeting by which date the Shareholders notice must be delivered and publicise such date in a filing pursuant to the Exchange Act, or via press release. Such publication shall occur at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date set by the Directors.

 

  (d)

To be in proper written form, a Shareholder’s notice to the Company must set forth as to such matter such Shareholder proposes to bring before the annual general meeting:

 

  (i)

a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual general meeting, including the text of the proposal or business, and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual general meeting;

 

  (ii)

the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s Register of Shareholders, of the Shareholder proposing such business and any Shareholder Associated Person (as defined below);

 

  (iii)

the class or series and number of Shares of the Company that are held of record or are beneficially owned by such Shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person and any derivative positions held or beneficially held by the Shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person;

 

  (iv)

whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of such Shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person with respect to any securities of the Company, and a description of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such Shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person with respect to any securities of the Company;

 

  (v)

any material interest of the Shareholder or a Shareholder Associated Person in such business, including a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among any of such Shareholders or between or among any proposing Shareholders and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Shareholder; and

 

  (vi)

a statement as to whether such Shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s voting Shares required under applicable law and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange to carry the proposal.

 

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  (vii)

For purposes of this Article 14.20(d), a Shareholder Associated Person of any Shareholder shall mean (x) any Affiliate of, or person acting in concert with, such Shareholder; (y) any beneficial owner of Shares of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such Shareholder and on whose behalf the proposal or nomination, as the case may be, is being made; or (z) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such person referred to in the preceding clauses (x) and (y).

 

  (e)

In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination for election of a Director to be made by a Shareholder of the Company, such Shareholder must (i) be a Shareholder of record on both (x) the date of the giving of the notice by such Shareholder provided for in this Article and (y) the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to vote at such annual general meeting; (ii) on each such date beneficially own more than 15% of the issued Ordinary Shares (unless otherwise provided in the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission); and (iii) have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Company. If a Shareholder is entitled to vote only for a specific class or category of Directors at a meeting of the Shareholders, such Shareholder’s right to nominate one or more persons for election as a Director at the meeting shall be limited to such class or category of Directors.

 

  (f)

To be timely for purposes of Article 14.20(e), a Shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal registered offices of the Company not less than forty five (45) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the meeting.

 

  (g)

To be in proper written form for purposes of Article 14.20(f), a Shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth:

 

  (i)

as to each Nominating Shareholder:

 

  (A)

the information that is requested in Article 14.20(d)(ii)- (d)(vi); and

 

  (B)

any other information relating to such Shareholder that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law and rules of the Commission or of the Designated Stock Exchange; and

 

  (ii)

as to each person whom the Shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a Director:

 

  (A)

all information that would be required by Article 14.20(d)(ii)-(d)(vi) if such nominee was a Nominating Shareholder, except such information shall also include the business address of the person;

 

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  (B)

the principal occupation or employment of the person;

 

  (C)

all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for appointment of Directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act or any successor provisions thereto, and any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law and rules of the Commission or of the Designated Stock Exchange; and

 

  (D)

a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationship, between or among any Nominating Shareholder and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his respective Affiliates, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act if such Nominating Shareholder were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant.

 

   

Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to be named as a nominee and to serve as a Director if elected. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent Director of the Company in accordance with the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.

 

  (h)

Unless otherwise provided by (i) the terms of these Articles or (ii) any agreement among Shareholders or other agreement, in the case of this clause (ii), approved by the Directors; only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth above, shall be eligible to serve as Directors. If the chair of a general meeting determines that a proposed nomination was not made in compliance with these Articles, he or she shall declare to the general meeting that nomination is defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Articles, if the Nominating Shareholder (or a qualified representative of the Nominating Shareholder) does not appear at the general meeting to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded.

 

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14.21

Subject to the other provisions of these Articles, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director.

 

14.22

Subject to these Articles, a Director shall hold office until such time as he or she vacates office in accordance with Article 24.1.

 

14.23

in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article and a person must not be appointed as a Director unless he has, in writing, consented to being a Director and declared that he is not ineligible to be a Director under the Law. If the chair of an annual general meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chair shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

15.

Proceedings at meetings of Shareholders Quorum

 

15.1

No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of Shareholders is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. At least two Shareholders (present in person or by proxy) entitled to vote holding in aggregate not less than a simple majority of all voting share capital of the Company in issue shall be a quorum.

Use of technology

 

15.2

A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment as set forth in the notice of meeting.

Lack of quorum

 

15.3

If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply:

 

  (a)

if the meeting was requisitioned by Shareholders entitled to vote, it shall be cancelled; or

 

  (b)

in any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the Directors.

Adjournment

 

15.4

When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, unless these Articles otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Company may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

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15.5

A determination of the Shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a general meeting shall apply to any adjournment of such meeting unless the Directors fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting, but the Directors shall fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned for more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original meeting.

Chair

 

15.6

The chair of the board of Directors shall preside as chair at every general meeting of the Company. If at any meeting the chair of the board of Directors is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chair, the Directors present shall elect one of their number as chair of the meeting or if all the Directors present decline to take the chair or if no Directors are present, the Shareholders present (in person or by proxy) shall choose one of their own number to be the chair of the meeting.

Right of a director or auditor’s representative to attend and speak

 

15.7

Even if a Director or a representative of the auditor (if any) is not a Shareholder, he shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Shareholders holding a particular class of Shares.

Method of voting

 

15.8

All resolutions put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll, unless otherwise determined by the Directors or the Shareholders in accordance with the Law.

Taking of a poll

 

15.9

A poll on any question shall be taken immediately.

 

15.10

A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chair directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Shareholders) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll.

Chair does not have casting vote

 

15.11

In the case of an equality of votes, the chair of the meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.

Written Resolutions

 

15.12

Shareholders may pass a Written Resolution without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met:

 

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  (a)

all Shareholders entitled to vote must receive (including by way of electronic communication):

 

  (i)

a copy of the resolution; and

 

  (ii)

a statement informing the Shareholders:

 

  (A)

how to signify agreement to the resolution; and

 

  (B)

as to the date by which the resolution must be passed if it is not to lapse (or if no date is given the resolution shall lapse 28 days after the circulation date);

 

  (b)

the specified majority of Shareholders entitled to vote (for which purpose, the specified majority shall mean the majority of Shareholders who would be required to pass the relevant resolution at a duly convened and held meeting of Shareholders at which all Shareholders were present and voting):

 

  (i)

sign a document; or

 

  (ii)

sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Shareholders; and

 

  (c)

the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company at the place and by the time nominated by the Company in the notice of the resolution including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose.

Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of all Shareholders entitled to vote duly convened and held.

 

15.13

Each Shareholder shall have one vote for each Share he holds which confers the right to receive and vote on a written resolution, and unless the resolution in writing signed by the Shareholder is silent, in which case all Shares held are deemed to have been voted, the number of Shares specified in the resolution in writing shall be deemed to have been voted.

 

15.14

If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution, an Ordinary Resolution, a Waiver Resolution or a Unanimous Resolution, it has effect accordingly.

 

16.

Voting rights of shareholders

Right to vote

 

16.1

Unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless an amount presently payable has not been paid, all Shareholders are entitled to vote at a general meeting and all Shareholders holding Shares of a particular class are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares (whether present in person or by proxy).

 

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16.2

Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy.

 

16.3

A Shareholder who is entitled to vote shall have (i) on a show of hands, one vote or (ii) on a poll, one vote for each Share he holds, unless any Share carries special voting rights.

 

16.4

A fraction of a Share carrying the right to vote shall entitle its holder to an equivalent fraction of one vote.

 

16.5

No Shareholder is bound to vote all its Shares or any of them, nor is he bound to vote each of his Shares in the same way.

 

16.6

No Shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all sums presently payable by such Shareholder in respect of Shares in the Company have been paid.

Rights of Joint Holders

 

16.7

If Shares are held jointly, only one of the Joint Holders may vote. If more than one of the Joint Holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the Register of Shareholders shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other Joint Holders.

Shareholder with mental disorder

 

16.8

A Shareholder in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in Guernsey or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote by that Shareholder’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised or appointed by that court.

 

16.9

For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the Directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable.

Objections to admissibility of votes

 

16.10

An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chair whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

 

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Form of proxy

 

16.11

An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the Directors. A Shareholder may appoint more than one proxy to attend on the same occasion.

 

16.12

The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways:

 

  (a)

by the Shareholder;

 

  (b)

by the Shareholder’s authorised attorney; or

 

  (c)

if the Shareholder is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by a duly authorised signatory (including an authorised officer, secretary or attorney).

If the Directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying the Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.

 

16.13

The Directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy.

 

16.14

A Shareholder may revoke the appointment of a proxy by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with Article 16.12 prior to the time specified by the Company for the revocation of proxies for the meeting or adjourned meeting, but no earlier than 48 hours prior to the meeting; (for which purpose no account shall be taken of any part of a day that is not a working day); but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the proxy before the Directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.

How and when proxy is to be delivered

 

16.15

Subject to the following Articles, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed, or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the Directors, must be delivered so that it is received by the Company prior to the time specified by the Company for voting by proxy at the meeting. They must be delivered in either of the following ways:

 

  (a)

in the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post:

 

  (i)

to the Registered Office of the Company; or

 

  (ii)

to such other place within Guernsey specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or

 

33


  (b)

if, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified:

 

  (i)

in the notice convening the meeting;

 

  (ii)

in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or

 

  (iii)

in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting.

 

16.16

If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid (subject to the discretion of the Directors to accept it).

Voting by proxy

 

16.17

A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Shareholder would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Shareholder may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Shareholder votes on any resolution, a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid.

 

17.

Corporations Acting by Representatives at Meeting

 

17.1

Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Shareholder must act by one or more duly authorised representatives.

 

17.2

A corporate Shareholder wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing.

 

17.3

The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used.

 

17.4

The Directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice.

 

17.5

Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Shareholder is deemed to be present in person, and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Shareholder.

 

17.6

A corporate Shareholder may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company, but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the Directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.

 

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18.

Clearing Houses

If a clearing house or depository (or its nominee) is a Shareholder it may, by resolution of its Directors, other governing body or authorised individual(s) or by power of attorney, authorise such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative or representatives at any general meeting of the Company or at any general meeting of any class of Shareholders; provided that, if more than one person is so authorised, the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such person is so authorised. A person so authorised pursuant to this provision shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee) which he represents as that clearing house (or its nominee) could exercise if it were an individual shareholder of the Company holding the number and class of Shares specified in such authorisation.

 

19.

Directors

 

19.1

The minimum number of Directors shall be two and the maximum number of Directors shall be fourteen, unless increased or decreased from time to time by the Directors or the Company in general meeting by Ordinary Resolution. So long as Shares are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the board of Directors shall include such number of “independent directors” as the relevant rules applicable to the listing of any Shares on the Designated Stock Exchange require.

 

19.2

At no time shall a majority of Directors be resident in the United Kingdom or in the United States.

 

20.

Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors

First directors

 

20.1

The first Directors shall be appointed on the incorporation of the Company.

No age limit

 

20.2

There is no age limit for Directors save that they must be aged at least 18 years.

No corporate directors

 

20.3

A Director must be a natural person.

 

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Appointment of directors

 

20.4

The Directors shall, subject to applicable law and the listing rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, ensure that all individuals nominated in writing by Shareholders holding a majority of the issued Shares from time to time are nominated for election as Directors at the next annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting called for that purpose and they shall be appointed if approved by way of Ordinary Resolution at such general meeting.

 

20.5

The Directors shall have the right to nominate an individual for election as a Director at the next annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting called for that purpose and they shall be appointed if approved by way of Ordinary Resolution at such general meeting.

 

20.6

The Directors shall have power at any time and from time to time to appoint any person to be a Director, subject to these Articles, applicable law and the listing rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.

 

20.7

No appointment can cause the number of Directors to exceed the maximum, and any such appointment shall be invalid.

Removal of directors

 

20.8

A Director may be removed from office by the Shareholders by Ordinary Resolution at any time before the expiration of his term notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice to any claim for damages under such agreement). In addition, a Director may be removed from office by the board of Directors by resolution made by all of his co-Directors (not less than two in number). A Director may also be removed in accordance with Article 24.

Filling of vacancies

 

20.9

A vacancy on the board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a meeting of the Directors, subject to these Articles, applicable law and the listing rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.

Resignation of directors

 

20.10

A Director may at any time resign the office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions.

 

20.11

Unless the notice specifies a different date, the Director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date on which the notice is delivered to the Company.

 

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Corporate governance policies

 

20.12

The Directors may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or the listing rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives, which shall be intended to set forth the policies of the Company and the Directors on various corporate governance related matters, as the Directors shall determine by resolution from time to time.

No shareholding qualification

 

20.13

A Director shall not be required to hold any Shares in the Company by way of qualification. A Director who is not a shareholder of the Company shall nevertheless be entitled to receive notice of and to attend and speak at general meetings of the Company and all classes of Shares of the Company.

 

21.

Directors’ Fees and Expenses

 

21.1

The Directors may receive such remuneration as the Directors may from time to time determine. The Directors may be entitled to be repaid all traveling, hotel and incidental expenses reasonably incurred or expected to be incurred by him in attending meetings of the Directors or committees of the Directors or general meetings or separate meetings of any class of securities of the Company or otherwise in connection with the discharge of his duties as a Director.

 

21.2

Any Director who performs services which in the opinion of the Directors go beyond the ordinary duties of a Director may be paid such extra remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Directors may determine and such extra remuneration shall be in addition to or in substitution for any ordinary remuneration provided for, by or pursuant to any other Article.

 

22.

Powers and duties of directors

 

22.1

Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Memorandum, these Articles and any resolutions made in a general meeting, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may pay out of the assets of the Company all expenses incurred in setting up and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the Company.

 

22.2

No prior act of the Directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles or any direction given by Special Resolution. However, to the extent allowed by the Law, Shareholders may, by Ordinary Resolution, in accordance with the Law validate any prior or future act of the Directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.

 

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23.

Delegation of powers

Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee

 

23.1

The Directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; provided that any committee so formed shall include amongst its members at least two Directors unless otherwise required by applicable law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange; provided further that no committee shall have the power or authority to (a) recommend to the Shareholders an amendment of these Articles (except that a committee may, to the extent authorised in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of Shares adopted by the Directors as provided under the laws of Guernsey, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such Shares relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Company or the conversion into, or the exchange of such Shares for, Shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of Shares of the Company); (b) adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation or equivalent; (c) recommend to the Shareholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Company’s property and assets; (d) recommend to the Shareholders a liquidation or striking-off of the Company; (e) recommend to the Shareholders an amendment of the Memorandum; or (f) authorise a Dividend or Distribution or authorise the issuance of Shares unless the resolution establishing such committee (or the rules and regulations of such committee approved by the board of Directors) permits the committee to so authorize. Any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the board of Directors.

 

23.2

Unless otherwise permitted by the Directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by Directors.

Power to appoint an agent of the Company

 

23.3

The Directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The Directors may make that appointment:

 

  (a)

by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or

 

  (b)

in any other manner they determine.

Power to appoint an attorney of the Company

 

23.4

The Directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretion (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Directors may think fit, and may also authorise any such attorney to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion vested in him.

 

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23.5

Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the Directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person.

Management

 

23.6

The Directors may from time to time provide for the management of the affairs of the Company in such manner as they shall think fit and the provisions contained in the following paragraphs shall be without prejudice to the general powers conferred by this paragraph.

 

23.7

The Directors from time to time and at any time may establish any advisory committees, local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company and may appoint any persons to be members of such advisory committees or local boards and may appoint any agents of the Company and may fix the remuneration of any of the aforesaid; provided that any committee, local board or agency so formed shall include amongst its members at least two Directors unless otherwise required by applicable law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.

 

23.8

The Directors from time to time and at any time may delegate to any such advisory committee, local board or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in the Directors and may authorise the members for the time being of any such local advisory committee or board, or any of them to fill up any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies and any such appointment or delegation may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit and the Directors may at any time remove any person so appointed and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby.

 

23.9

Any such delegates as aforesaid may be authorised by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities, and discretions for the time being vested to them.

 

23.10

The Directors shall elect, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office, a chair. The chair of the board of Directors shall be a Director of the Company. Subject to the provisions of these Articles and the direction of the Directors, the chair of the board of Directors shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the position of chair of a board or which are delegated to him or her by the Directors, preside at all general meetings and meetings of the Directors at which he or she is present and have such powers and perform such duties as the Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

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24.

Disqualification of Directors

 

24.1

Subject to these Articles, the office of Director shall ipso facto be vacated, if the Director:

 

  (a)

becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors or is adjudged insolvent or has his affairs declared en désastre or has a preliminary vesting order made against his Guernsey realty;

 

  (b)

dies or is found to be or becomes, in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated, physically or mentally incapable of acting as a Director;

 

  (c)

resigns his office by notice to the Company in accordance with Articles 20.10 and 20.11;

 

  (d)

is prohibited by applicable law or the Designated Stock Exchange from being a Director;

 

  (e)

without special leave of absence from the Directors, is absent from meetings of the Directors for six consecutive months and the Directors resolve that his office be vacated; or

 

  (f)

is removed from office pursuant to these Articles or any other agreement between the Director and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

24.2

If the office of Director is terminated or vacated for any reason, he shall thereupon cease to be a member of any committee of the board of Directors of the Company.

 

25.

Meetings of directors

Regulation of directors’ meetings

 

25.1

Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. Where permitted by the Law, the Directors may determine that any meeting of the Directors conducted in accordance with these Articles and the Law shall be deemed to be held in a place other than where the chair of the meeting is present. All meetings of Directors shall take place outside of the United Kingdom and the United States. Any decision reached or resolution passed by the Directors at any meeting held in the United Kingdom or in the United States shall be invalid and of no effect.

 

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Calling meetings

 

25.2

The chair of the board of Directors, a majority of the Directors or the Secretary on request of a Director may at any time summon a meeting of the Directors by twenty-four (24) hours’ notice to each Director in person, by telephone, facsimile, electronic email, or in such other manner as the Directors may from time to time determine, which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Director (i) who signs a waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof, whether before or after the meeting, or (ii) who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to such Directors. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made part of the minutes of the meeting. A waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of any regular or special meeting of the Directors. Notice of any Directors’ meeting shall also be sent to any board observer in the same manner and at the same time as it is sent to the Directors.

Use of technology

 

25.3

Subject to Article 25.1, a Director or Directors may participate in any meeting of the Directors, or of any committee appointed by the Directors of which such Director or Directors are members, by means of telephone or similar communication equipment by way of which all persons participating in such meeting can hear each other and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting provided that no Directors physically present in the United Kingdom or the United States at the time of any such meeting may participate by such means unless a majority of the Directors participating are physically present outside of the United Kingdom or the United States (as applicable).

Quorum

 

25.4

The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of Directors (including any adjourned meeting) shall be a majority of Directors, but shall not be less than two. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the Directors present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Directors, subject to the provisions of these Articles and other applicable law.

 

25.5

If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes from the time specified for a meeting of Directors, or if, during a meeting, a quorum ceases to be present, then the meeting shall be adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or such other day, time and place as the Director(s) calling such meeting may determine.

Voting

 

25.6

A question which arises at a board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chair shall not have a casting vote.

 

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25.7

The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors, the continuing Directors may act for the purpose of increasing the number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose.

Validity

 

25.8

Anything done at a meeting of Directors is unaffected by the fact that it is later discovered that any person was not properly appointed, or had ceased to be a Director, or was otherwise not entitled to vote.

 

26.

Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure

 

26.1

Subject to these Articles and the Law, a Director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract with the Company shall declare the nature and extent of his interest at a meeting of the Directors. A general notice given to the Directors by any Director to the effect that he is a shareholder of any specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract which may thereafter be made with that company or firm shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of interest in regard to any contract so made. A Director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement notwithstanding that he may be interested therein and if he does so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the Directors at which any such contract or proposed contract or arrangement shall come before the meeting for consideration.

 

26.2

Provided that a disclosure has been made in accordance with the Law, a Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms (as to remuneration and otherwise) as the Directors may determine and no Director or intending Director shall be disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company either with regard to his tenure of any such other office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director is in any way interested, be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established. A Director, notwithstanding his interest, may be counted in the quorum present at any meeting whereat he or any other Director is appointed to hold any such office or place of profit under the Company or whereat the terms of any such appointment are arranged and he may vote on any such appointment or arrangement. Any Director who enters into a contract or arrangement or has a relationship that is reasonably likely to be implicated under this Article 26.2 or that would reasonably be likely to affect a Director’s status as an “Independent Director” under applicable law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange shall disclose the nature and extent of his or her interest in any such contract or arrangement in which he is interested or any such relationship.

 

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26.3

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:

 

  (a)

the Company renounces and waives:

 

  (i)

any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered or presented with an opportunity to participate in; or

 

  (ii)

any right to be informed of:

any business or corporate opportunity that may from time to time be of interest to or known to or be or have been presented to any Shareholder or any shareholder of the Shareholder Group (as applicable) and/or any of their respective Affiliates and/or any of their officers, directors, agents, stockholders, shareholders, partners and subsidiaries (other than the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Executive Chair of the Company (if any) and any other officer or executive officer of the Company) (each such opportunity, hereinafter, an Owner Opportunity) whether or not such Owner Opportunity may be a business or corporate opportunity the Company might reasonably have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so;

 

  (b)

the Company, the Executive Chair of the Company (if any) and any other officer or executive officer of the Company) (each of such persons, hereinafter, a Relevant Person) shall:

 

  (i)

be required or be under any duty (whether fiduciary or otherwise) to present to or make known to the Company any Owner Opportunity or refrain from, whether directly or indirectly, pursuing, participating in the pursuit of, exploiting or acquiring, any Owner Opportunity; or

 

  (ii)

be liable to the Company for any breach of any fiduciary or other duty, whether as a Director or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Relevant Person, whether directly or indirectly, acting in good faith, pursues, participates in the pursuit of, exploits or acquires any Owner Opportunity, directs any Owner Opportunity to another person or fails to present any Owner Opportunity, or information regarding any Owner Opportunity, to the Company;

unless such Owner Opportunity is, or has been, expressly offered in writing to the Relevant Person solely in their capacity as Director.

 

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26.4

Any Director may act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company, and he or his firm shall be entitled to reasonable expense reimbursement consistent with the Company’s policies in connection with such Director’s service in his official capacity; provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise a Director or his firm to act as auditor to the Company.

 

27.

Minutes

 

27.1

The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books or loose-leaf folders provided for the purpose of recording:

 

  (a)

all appointments of officers made by the Directors;

 

  (b)

the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors; and

 

  (c)

all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company, and of the Directors and of committees of Directors.

Written resolutions

 

27.2

The Directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all of the Directors:

 

  (a)

sign a document; or

 

  (b)

sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more Directors.

 

27.3

Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last Director signs.

 

27.4

No such resolution shall be valid if a majority of the Directors sign the resolution in the United Kingdom or in the United States.

 

28.

Alternate Directors

 

28.1

Any Director may by notice in writing under his hand served upon the Company, appoint any person (whether a Shareholder of the Company or not) as an alternate Director to attend and vote in his place at any meeting of the Directors at which he is not personally present or to undertake and perform such duties and functions and to exercise such rights as he could personally and such appointment may be made generally or specifically or for any period or for any particular meeting and with and subject to any particular restrictions.

 

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28.2

A Director who is resident outside of the United Kingdom or the United States cannot appoint as his alternate any Director or person resident in the United Kingdom or the United States.

 

28.3

Every such appointment shall be effective and the following provisions shall apply:-

 

28.4

Every alternate Director while he holds office as such shall be entitled:-

 

  (a)

if his appointor so directs the Secretary, to notice of meetings of the Directors; and

 

  (b)

to attend and to exercise (subject to any restrictions) all the rights and privileges of his appointor at all such meetings at which his appointor is not personally present.

 

28.5

Every alternate Director shall ipso facto vacate office if and when his appointment expires by effluxion of time or his appointor vacates office as a Director or removes the alternate Director from office as such by notice in writing under his hand served upon the Company.

 

28.6

No alternate Director shall be entitled as such to receive any remuneration from the Company but every alternate Director shall be entitled to be paid all reasonable expenses incurred in exercise of his duties.

 

28.7

A Director may act as alternate Director for another Director and shall be entitled to vote for such other Director as well as on his own account but no Director shall at any meeting be entitled to act as alternate Director for more than one other Director.

 

28.8

The remuneration of an alternate Director shall be payable out of the remuneration payable to the Director appointing him and the proportion of such remuneration shall be agreed between them.

 

28.9

Every instrument appointing an alternate Director shall be in such form as the Directors may determine.

 

28.10

The appointment of an alternate Director and any revocation of that appointment shall take effect when lodged at the Registered Office.

 

29.

Record Dates

 

29.1

Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the Directors may fix any time and date as the record date for authorising or paying a Dividend or Distribution or making or issuing an allotment of Shares. The record date may be before or after the date on which a Dividend, Distribution, allotment or issue is authorised, paid or made. Dividends and Distributions

 

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Payment of Dividends and Distributions by directors

 

29.2

Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Directors may pay Dividends and Distributions in such amounts and at such times as they may, in their absolute discretion determine, in accordance with the respective rights of the Shareholders. Any Dividend or Distribution shall not be a debt owed by the Company until such time as payment of the Dividend or Distribution is made.

 

29.3

In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to Dividends, Distributions or rights to Dividends or Distributions at a fixed rate, the following applies:

 

  (a)

if the Company has different classes of Shares, the Directors may pay Dividends or Distributions on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to Dividends or Distributions as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to Dividends or Distributions but no Dividend or Distribution shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential Dividend or Distribution is in arrears;

 

  (b)

subject to the provisions of the Law, the Directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any Dividend or Distribution payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment; and

 

  (c)

if the Directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Shareholders holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Shareholders may suffer by the lawful payment of the Dividend or Distribution on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights.

Apportionment of Dividends or Distributions

 

29.4

Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all Dividends and Distributions shall be paid according to the number of Shares held by a Shareholder on the date on which the Dividend or Distribution is paid, or on any record date fixed in respect thereof. If a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for Dividend or Distribution as from a particular date that Share shall rank for Dividend or Distribution accordingly.

Right of set off

 

29.5

The Directors may deduct from a Dividend, Distribution or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company in relation to a Share.

 

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Power to pay other than in cash

 

29.6

If the Directors so determine, any resolution of the Directors determining a Dividend or Distribution may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets or the issue of Shares. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the Directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following:

 

  (a)

issue fractional Shares;

 

  (b)

fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Shareholders on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Shareholders; and

 

  (c)

vest some assets in trustees.

How payments may be made

 

29.7

A Dividend, Distribution or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways:

 

  (a)

if the Shareholder holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose, by wire transfer to that bank account; or

 

  (b)

by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Shareholder holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share.

 

29.8

For the purpose of Article 29.7(a), the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purpose of Article 29.7(b), subject to any applicable law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Shareholder holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company.

 

29.9

If two or more persons are registered as Joint Holders, a Dividend, Distribution (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows:

 

  (a)

to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the Register of Shareholders or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or

 

  (b)

to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record.

 

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29.10

Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a Dividend, Distribution (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share.

Dividends or other monies not to bear interest in absence of special rights

 

29.11

Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no Dividend, Distribution or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest.

Unclaimed Dividends

 

29.12

All Dividends or Distributions unclaimed for one (1) year after having been authorised may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Directors for the benefit of the Company until claimed. Subject to any applicable unclaimed property or other laws, any Dividend or Distribution unclaimed after a period of ten (10) years from the date of authorisation shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. The payment by the Directors of any unclaimed Dividend or Distribution or other sums payable on or in respect of a Share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof.

 

30.

Accounts and audits

Accounting and other records

 

30.1

The Directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Law.

No automatic right of inspection

 

30.2

Except as provided in Article 13.1 and the Law, the Directors shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Shareholders not being Directors, and no Shareholder (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by applicable law or authorised by the Directors.

Sending of accounts and reports

 

30.3

The Company’s accounts and associated Directors’ report and auditor’s report (if any) that are required or permitted to be sent to any person pursuant to any applicable law shall be treated as properly sent to that person if:

 

  (a)

they are sent to that person in accordance with the notice provisions in Article 36; or

 

48


  (b)

they are published on a website providing that person is given separate notice of:

 

  (i)

the fact that the documents have been published on the website;

 

  (ii)

the address of the website;

 

  (iii)

the place on the website where the documents may be accessed; and

 

  (iv)

how they may be accessed.

 

30.4

If, for any reason, a person notifies the Company that he is unable to access the website, the Company must, as soon as practicable, send the documents to that person by any other means permitted by these Articles. This, however, will not affect when that person is taken to have received the documents under Article 30.5.

Time of receipt if documents are published on a website

 

30.5

Documents sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding two Articles are only treated as sent at least 10 clear days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be laid if:

 

  (a)

the documents are published on the website throughout a period beginning at least 10 clear days before the date of the meeting and ending with the conclusion of the meeting; and

 

  (b)

the person is given at least 10 clear days’ notice of the meeting.

Validity despite accidental error in publication on website

 

30.6

If, for the purpose of a meeting, documents are sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding Articles, the proceedings at that meeting are not invalidated merely because by accident:

 

  (a)

those documents are published in a different place on the website to the place notified; or

 

  (b)

they are published for only part of the period from the date of notification until the conclusion of that meeting.

When accounts are to be audited

 

30.7

The accounts relating to the Company’s affairs shall be audited in such manner and with such financial year end as may be determined from time to time by the Directors in accordance with the Law.

 

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31.

Audit

 

31.1

The Directors or, if authorised to do so, the audit committee of the Directors, may, in accordance with the provisions of the Law, appoint an auditor of the Company who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Directors and may fix his or their remuneration. In circumstances other than those provided for in the Law, any auditor of the Company shall be appointed by the members by ordinary resolution.

 

31.2

Every auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors.

 

32.

Seal

Company seal

 

32.1

The Company may have a seal if the Directors so determine.

Official seal

 

32.2

Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company may also have:

 

  (a)

an official seal or seals for use in any place or places outside Guernsey. Each such official seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company but shall have added on its face the name of the country, territory or place where it is to be used or the words “branch seal”; and

 

  (b)

an official seal for use only in connection with the sealing of securities issued by the Company and such official seal shall be a copy of the common seal of the Company but shall in addition bear the word “securities”.

When and how seal is to be used

 

32.3

A seal may only be used by the authority of the Directors. Unless the Directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways:

 

  (a)

by a Director and the Secretary; or

 

  (b)

by a single Director.

 

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If no seal is adopted or used

 

32.4

If the Directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner:

 

  (a)

by a Director and the Secretary; or

 

  (b)

by a single Director; or

 

  (c)

by any other person authorised by the Directors; or

 

  (d)

in any other manner permitted by the Law.

Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal

 

32.5

The Directors may determine that either or both of the following applies:

 

  (a)

that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction; and/or

 

  (b)

that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature.

Validity of execution

 

32.6

If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the Director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company.

 

33.

Officers

 

33.1

Subject to these Articles, the Directors may from time to time appoint any person, being a Director of the Company, to hold the office of the chair of the board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents or such other Officers as the Directors may think necessary for the administration of the Company, for such term and at such remuneration (whether by way of salary or commission or participation in profits or partly in one way and partly in another), and with such powers and duties as the Directors may think fit.

 

33.2

The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office.

 

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33.3

Any appointment of a Director to an executive office shall terminate if he ceases to be a Director but without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such Director.

 

33.4

Where a chair is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of Directors.

 

33.5

If there is no chair, or if the chair is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chair or the Directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chair should he ever not be available.

 

33.6

Subject to the provisions of the Law and Article 33.7, the Directors may also appoint any person, who need not be a Director, as Secretary, for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit.

 

33.7

The Secretary must consent in writing to holding that office.

 

33.8

A Director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not hold office, or perform the services, of auditor.

 

34.

Register of Directors and Officers

The Company shall cause to be kept in one or more books at its office a Register of Directors in which there shall be entered the full names and addresses of the Directors and such other particulars as required by the Law.

 

35.

Capitalisation of profits

Capitalisation of profits or of any stated capital account or capital redemption reserve

Subject to the Law and these Articles, the Directors may capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts (including any stated capital account or any capital redemption reserve) or any sum standing to the credit of profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution and to appropriate such sum to Shareholders in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst them had the same been a distribution of profits by way of Dividend or Distribution and to apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully Paid Up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit for the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions. The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Shareholders interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned.

 

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36.

Notices

Form of notices

 

36.1

Except as otherwise provided in these Articles, any notice or document may be served by the Company or by the person entitled to give notice to any Shareholder either personally, by facsimile or by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter or via a recognised courier service, fees prepaid, addressed to the Shareholder at his address as appearing in the Register of Shareholders or, to the extent permitted by all applicable laws and regulations, by electronic means by transmitting it to a Relevant Electronic Address supplied by the Shareholder to the Company or by placing it on the Company’s Website, provided that, the requirements of these Articles in respect of the same have been complied with. In the case of Joint Holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to that one of the Joint Holders whose name stands first in the Register of Shareholders in respect of the joint holding, and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the Joint Holders.

 

36.2

Any Shareholder present, either personally or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which such meeting was convened.

Signatures

 

36.3

A written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its execution or adoption by the giver.

 

36.4

Any document may be signed by an Electronic Signature.

Evidence of transmission

 

36.5

A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver.

 

36.6

A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient.

 

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Delivery of notices

 

36.7

Any notice or other document, if served by (a) post, shall be deemed to have been served when the letter containing the same is posted, or (b) facsimile, shall be deemed to have been served upon confirmation of successful transmission, or (c) recognised courier service, shall be deemed to have been served when the letter containing the same is delivered to the courier service and in proving such service it shall be sufficient to provide that the letter containing the notice or documents was properly addressed and duly posted or delivered to the courier, or (d) electronic means as provided herein shall be deemed to have been served and delivered on the day on which it is successfully transmitted or at such later time as may be prescribed by any applicable laws or regulations.

Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Shareholder

 

36.8

Any notice or document delivered or sent to any Shareholder in accordance with the terms of these Articles shall notwithstanding that such Shareholder be then dead or bankrupt, and whether or not the Company has notice of his death or bankruptcy, be deemed to have been duly served in respect of any Share registered in the name of such Shareholder as sole or Joint Holder, unless his name shall at the time of the service of the notice or document, have been removed from the Register of Shareholders as the holder of the Share, and such service shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service of such notice or document on all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the Share.

Saving provisions

 

36.9

A Shareholder present, either in person or by proxy, at any general meeting or at any meeting of the Shareholders holding any class of Shares shall be deemed to have received notice of the meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which it was called.

 

36.10

Every person who becomes entitled to a Share shall be bound by any notice in respect of that Share which, before his name is entered in the Register of Shareholders, has been duly given to a person from which he derives his title.

 

36.11

None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from the Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of Directors and written resolutions of Shareholders.

 

37.

Authentication of Electronic Records

Application of Articles

 

37.1

Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Shareholder, or by the Secretary, or by a Director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 37.2 or Article 37.4 applies.

 

54


Authentication of documents sent by Shareholders by Electronic means

 

37.2

An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Shareholders shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

  (a)

the Shareholder or each Shareholder, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose original document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Shareholders;

 

  (b)

the Electronic Record of the original document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Shareholder to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and

 

  (c)

Article 37.7 does not apply.

 

37.3

For example, where a sole Shareholder signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Shareholder unless Article 37.7 applies.

Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers by Electronic means

 

37.4

An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

  (a)

the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose original document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers;

 

  (b)

the Electronic Record of the original document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and

 

  (c)

Article 37.7 does not apply.

This Article applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in his own right or as a representative of the Company.

 

37.5

For example, where a sole Director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Director unless Article 37.7 applies.

 

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Manner of signing

 

37.6

For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles.

Saving provision

 

37.7

A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably:

 

  (a)

believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document;

 

  (b)

believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or

 

  (c)

otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document;

and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.

 

38.

Information

 

38.1

No Shareholder, as such, shall be entitled to require discovery of any information in respect of any detail of the Company’s trading or any information which is or may be in the nature of a trade secret or other confidential or proprietary information related to the conduct of the business of the Company and which in the opinion of the Directors would not be in the interests of the shareholders of the Company to communicate to the public.

 

38.2

The Directors shall be entitled (but not required, except as provided by law) to release or disclose any information in their possession, custody or control regarding the Company or its affairs to any of its Shareholders including, without limitation, information contained in the Register of Shareholders and transfer books of the Company.

 

39.

Indemnity

Indemnity

 

39.1

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify every Director and Officer of the Company or any predecessor to the Company (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former Director and former Officer of the Company or any predecessor to the Company, and the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing, and may indemnify any person (other than current and

 

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  former Directors and Officers) (any such Director or Officer, an Indemnified Person), out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions in connection with the Company other than such liability (if any) that they may incur to the Company in connection with their own negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust . No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability is in connection with the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. Each Shareholder agrees to waive any claim or right of action he or she might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Indemnified Person on account of any action taken by such Indemnified Person, or the failure of such Indemnified Person to take any action in the performance of his duties with or for the Company; provided that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust which may attach to such Indemnified Person.

 

39.2

In the event that an Indemnified Person may, in connection with such Indemnified Person’s appointment as an officer of and/or employment with another person (a Secondary Indemnitor), be entitled to be indemnified out of the assets of or rely on insurance taken out by such Secondary Indemnitor (a Secondary Indemnity), the Company’s obligation, if any, to indemnify such Indemnified Person or to claim under any insurance purchased and maintained by the Company under Article 39 as a result of this Article 39 shall be treated as the primary recourse of the Indemnified Person in respect of any liabilities set out in this Article 39 and shall not be reduced as a consequence of the existence of such Secondary Indemnity.

 

39.3

The Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person.

 

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39.4

The Directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or other Officer of the Company against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company.

 

39.5

Subject to the Law, neither any amendment nor repeal of the Articles set forth under this heading of Indemnity (the Indemnification Articles), nor the adoption of any provision of these Articles or Memorandum of Incorporation inconsistent with the Indemnification Articles, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of the Indemnification Articles, in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising or that, but for these Indemnification Articles, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision. The Indemnification Articles are not exclusive and contracts may be entered into between the Company and the Indemnified Persons with respect to their indemnification.

 

40.

Financial Year

Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall begin on January 1 in each year (or, in the case of the Company’s first financial year, its date of incorporation) and shall end on December 31 in such year.

 

41.

Winding up

Distribution of assets in specie

 

41.1

If the Company is wound up, the liquidator shall, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Law, first apply the assets of the Company in satisfaction of creditors’ claims in such manner and order as such liquidator thinks fit. Subject to the rights attaching to any Shares, in a winding up, following the payment of all creditors, any surplus assets shall be distributed to the Shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due of all monies payable to the Company.

 

41.2

If the Company is wound up, the liquidator, subject to the rights attaching to any Shares and with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Law, divide amongst the Shareholders in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether such assets shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Shareholders or different classes of Shareholders. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Shareholders as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Shareholder shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability.

 

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42.

Company Name

Where permitted by the Law, the Directors may authorise the change of name of the Company, provided that the new name of the Company complies with the requirements of the Law and any rules of the Designated Stock Exchange (where applicable), and may take all such actions and make such filings as may be necessary to effect any change of name.

 

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Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Super Group (SGHC) Limited

St. Peter Port, Guernsey

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our reports dated April 27, 2023, relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of Super Group (SGHC) Limited’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting expresses an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022.

We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

/s/ BDO LLP

BDO LLP

London, United Kingdom

May 17, 2023