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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 16, 2023

Registration No. 333-

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

                                                   

 

FORM F-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                                  

 

Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                                   

 

England and Wales 2834 Not Applicable

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

1 Caspian Point

Caspian Way

Cardiff, CF10 4DQ, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 29 20480 180

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

                                                   

 

Donald J. Puglisi

Puglisi & Associates

850 Library Ave., Suite 204

Newark, Delaware 19711

Tel: (302) 738-6680

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

                                                   

 

Copies of communications to:

Alice Hsu

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

(212) 506-5000

                                                   

 

   
 

 

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

 

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.  o

 

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 post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earliest effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

 

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 standard provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨

 

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 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 
   
 

 

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

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 16, 2023 

 

 

 

BIODEXA PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

 

281,126,205 Ordinary Shares Representing 56,225,241 American Depositary Shares

                                            

 

This prospectus relates to the resale, by the selling shareholders identified in this prospectus, of up to an aggregate of 281,126,205 ordinary shares, nominal value £0.001 per share, or Ordinary Shares, of Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales, or the Company, represented by 56,225,241 American Depositary Shares, or Depositary Shares, consisting of (1) 166,019,415 Ordinary Shares represented by 33,203,883 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of series C warrants, or Series C Warrants, (2) 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares represented by 22,135,922 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of series D warrants, or Series D Warrants and, together with the Series C Warrants, the Warrants, and (3) 4,427,180 Ordinary Shares represented by 885,436 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of placement agent warrants issued to Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., or the Placement Agent, the exclusive placement agent in the offering, or the Placement Agent Warrants. The Series C Warrants, the Series D Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants were all sold in connection with a registered direct offering that closed May 26, 2023, or the Registered Direct Offering, and expect to be issued on June 20, 2023, three trading days after Shareholder Approval, as defined below, was obtained.

 

The selling shareholders are identified in the table commencing on page 18. Each Depositary Share represents five Ordinary Shares. No Depositary Shares are being registered hereunder for sale by us. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Depositary Shares by the selling shareholders. All net proceeds from the sale of the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares covered by this prospectus will go to the selling shareholders. However, we may receive the proceeds from any exercise of warrants in certain circumstances. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

The selling shareholders may sell all or a portion of the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares from time to time in market transactions through any market on which the Depositary Shares are then traded, in negotiated transactions or otherwise, and at prices and on terms that will be determined by the then prevailing market price or at negotiated prices directly or through a broker or brokers, who may act as agent or as principal or by a combination of such methods of sale. We will bear all of the expenses incurred in connection with the registration of these shares. The selling shareholders will pay any underwriting discounts and selling commissions and/or similar charges incurred in connection with the sale of the shares. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

The Depositary Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BDRX.” The last reported closing price of the Depositary Shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market on June 15, 2023 was $0.078.

 

We are also a “foreign private issuer,” as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that impose certain disclosure obligations and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. In addition, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to purchase these securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission 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.

___________________

 

 

The date of this prospectus is       , 2023

 

   
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
   
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION 2
   
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 3
   
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 5
   
RISK FACTORS 12
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 13
   
DIVIDEND POLICY 14
   
CAPITALIZATION 15
   
REGISTERED OFFERING AND PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF SECURITIES 17
   
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS 18
   
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OFFERED AND SHARE CAPITAL 22
   
DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES 37
   
TAXATION 47
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 54
   
LEGAL MATTERS 56
   
EXPERTS 56
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 56
   
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 56
   
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES 57
   
EXPENSES OF THE OFFERING 57

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the registration statement filed by us includes additional information not contained in this prospectus. You may read the registration statement and the other reports we file with the SEC at the SEC’s website or its offices described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized any person to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it seeking an offer to buy, these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information in this prospectus speaks only as of the date of this prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the securities offered hereby. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may have changed since that date. We do not take any responsibility for, nor do we provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any information other than the information in this prospectus. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor the sale of the Depositary Shares means that information contained in this prospectus is correct after the date of this prospectus. You should not consider this prospectus to be an offer or solicitation relating to the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation relating to the securities is not authorized. Furthermore, you should not consider this prospectus to be an offer or solicitation relating to the securities if the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or if it is unlawful for you to receive such an offer or solicitation.

 

Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus supplement to “Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC,” “Biodexa,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us,” “the Group,” or similar terms refer to Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

We have not taken any action to permit a public offering of the Depositary Shares outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. 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 Depositary Shares and the distribution of this prospectus outside of the United States.

 

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PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION

 

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and adopted by the European Union. We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this prospectus. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that preceded them.

 

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in British pounds sterling. Except as otherwise stated, all monetary amounts in this prospectus are presented in British pounds sterling.

 

In this prospectus, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires:

 

·“$” and “U.S. dollar” each refer to the United States dollar (or units thereof); and

 

·“£,” “pence” and “p” each refer to British pounds sterling (or units thereof).

 

On March 27, 2023, following shareholder approval, we effected a one-for-20 reverse split of our ordinary shares, nominal value £0.02 per share, or Ordinary Shares, and our Ordinary Shares began trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange plc, or AIM, on a split-adjusted basis as of such date. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. As a result of the reverse stock split, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares was reduced to 8,667,337 shares as of March 27, 2023. On March 24, 2023, our shareholders approved the cancellation of admission of our Ordinary Shares on AIM and this cancellation became effective on April 26, 2023.

 

Concurrently with the reverse split, and in order to continue meeting The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC’s, or NASDAQ, minimum 500,000 publicly held shares requirement pursuant to Rule 5550(a)(4), on March 27, 2023 we effected a ratio change in the number of Ordinary Shares represented by the Depositary Shares from 25 Ordinary Shares per Depositary Share to five Ordinary Shares per Depositary Share.

 

The change in the number of Ordinary Shares resulting from the reverse stock split and change in the number of Depositary Shares resulting from the change in ratio has been applied retroactively to all share and per share amounts presented in this prospectus, to the extent applicable.

 

On June 14, 2023, we held an annual general meeting of shareholders, or June AGM, and our shareholders passed resolutions, among other procedural items, to approve the allotment of, and disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of, up to 7.0 billion Ordinary Shares, or Shareholder Approval. On June 14, 2023, we also held a general meeting of shareholders, or June GM, and our shareholders passed resolutions to (x)(i) re-designate our deferred shares into A Deferred Shares, or the Re-Designation, and (ii) subdivide our Ordinary Shares of £0.02 nominal value each into one ordinary share of £0.001 nominal value and 19 B Deferred Shares of £0.001 nominal value each, each the Subdivision, with a record date of June 14, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. British Standard Time, or BST, which became effective on June 15, 2023 and (y) adopt new articles of association, or the Articles of Association, which make consequential amendments to the existing articles of association of the Company to reflect the Re-Designation and the Subdivision, together with certain other changes to reflect that the Ordinary Shares are no longer admitted to trading on AIM, a market operated in the United Kingdom by the London Stock Exchange plc. As is standard for deferred shares, each B Deferred Share has very limited rights and is effectively valueless. The Company will not issue any share certificates in respect of B Deferred Shares. The B Deferred Shares have the rights and restrictions as set out in the Articles of Association and do not entitle the holder thereof to receive notice of or attend and vote at any general meeting of the Company or to receive a dividend or other distribution.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements contained or incorporated by reference herein, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

 

These forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data together with management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made and are subject to risks and uncertainties. We wish to caution you that there are some known and unknown factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to risks related to:

 

·our requirement for additional financing and our ability to continue as a going concern;

 

·our estimates regarding losses, expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;

  

·our ability to successfully develop, test, and partner with a licensee to manufacture or commercialize products for conditions using our technology platforms;

 

·the successful commercialization and manufacturing of any future product candidate we may commercialize or license;

 

·the success and timing of preclinical studies and clinical trials;

 

·shifts in our business and commercial strategy;

 

·the filing and timing of regulatory filings, including Investigational New Drug applications, with respect to any of our products and the receipt of any regulatory approvals;

 

·the anticipated medical benefits of our product candidates;

 

·the difficulties in obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our product candidates, and the labeling under any approval we may obtain;

 

·the success and timing of the potential commercial development of our product candidates including MTX110 and any product candidates we may acquire in the future;

 

·our plans and ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates and any product candidates we may acquire in the future;

 

·the ability to manufacture products in third-party facilities;

 

·the rate and degree of market acceptance of any of our product candidates;

 

·the successful development of our commercialization capabilities, including our internal sales and marketing capabilities;

 

·obtaining and maintaining intellectual property protection for our product candidates and our proprietary technology;

 

·the success of competing therapies and products that are or become available;

 

·the success of any future acquisitions;

 

·the difficulties of integrating the business of any future acquisitions into our own;

 

·cybersecurity and other cyber incidents;

 

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·industry trends;

 

·the impact of government laws and regulations;

 

·regulatory, economic and political developments in the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States and other foreign countries, including any impact from the United Kingdom leaving the European Union;

 

·the difficulties doing business internationally;

 

·the ownership of our Ordinary Shares and Depositary Shares;

 

·our ability to continue to meet the listing criteria required to remain listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market;

 

·our status as a foreign private issuer;

 

·our ability to recruit or retain key scientific or management personnel or to retain our senior management;

 

·the impact and costs and expenses of any litigation we may be subject to now or in the future;

 

·the performance of third parties, including joint venture partners, our collaborators, third-party suppliers and parties to our licensing agreements; and

 

·other risks and uncertainties, including those described in “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, or in this prospectus.

 

We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. You are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are referenced in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F or in this prospectus. You should also carefully review the risk factors and cautionary statements described in the other documents we file from time to time with the SEC, specifically our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and our Reports on Form 6-K. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by law.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

The following summary of our business highlights some of the information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Because this is only a summary, however, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should carefully read this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, which are described under “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in this prospectus. You should also carefully consider the matters discussed in the section in this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors.”

 

Our Business

 

We are a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of products aimed at primary and metastatic cancers of the brain. Our lead candidate, MTX110, is being studied in aggressive rare/orphan brain cancer indications including recurrent glioblastoma and diffuse midline glioma.  

 

MTX110 is a liquid formulation of the histone deacetylase, or HDAC inhibitor, panobinostat. Our proprietary formulation enables delivery of the product via convection-enhanced delivery, or CED, at potentially chemotherapeutic doses directly to the site of the tumor, by-passing the blood-brain barrier and avoiding systemic toxicity.

 

Our clinical assets are supported by three proprietary drug delivery technologies focused on improving the bio-delivery and bio-distribution of drugs through either sustained delivery (Q-SpheraTM), direct delivery (MidaSolveTM), or targeted delivery (MidaCoreTM):

 

·Our Q-Sphera platform: Our disruptive polymer microsphere microtechnology is used for sustained delivery to prolong and control the release of therapeutics over an extended period of time, from weeks to months.

 

·Our MidaSolve platform: Our innovative oligosaccharide nanotechnology is used to solubilize drugs so that they can be administered in liquid form directly and locally into tumors.

 

·MidaCore platform: Our leading-edge gold nanoparticle, or GNP, nanotechnology is used for targeting sites of disease by using either chemotherapeutic agents or immunotherapeutic agents.

 

 

Recent Developments

 

Notification of Non-Compliance with NASDAQ Continued Listing Requirements

 

The Company's Depositary Shares are currently listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market. We are required to meet certain qualitative and financial tests to maintain the listing of the Depositary Shares on NASDAQ. On June 14, 2023, we received a letter from NASDAQ notifying us of their determination to suspend the Company’s Depositary Shares from NASDAQ Capital Market on the morning of June 23, 2023, because the Company’s Depositary Shares have had a closing bid price below $0.10 for ten consecutive trading days, and that a Form 25-NSE will be filed with the SEC, which will remove the Depositary Shares from listing on NASDAQ. We plan to appeal the determination at a hearing panel. A hearing request will stay the suspension of the Depositary Shares and the filing of a Form 25-NSE until the hearing panel makes a decision. The decision of the hearing panel could result in the suspension of trading of the Depositary Shares and the removal of the Depositary Shares from listing and registration on NASDAQ or it could grant us a 180-day exception to remain listed if the hearing panel believes we would be able to achieve and maintain compliance with the bid price requirement. Following the exception to remain listed, the Company would be subject to the procedures applicable to a company with recurring deficiencies (NASDAQ Listing Rule 5815(d)(4)(B)). We also previously received a letter from Nasdaq on January 31, 2023, stating that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the bid price for the Company's Depositary Shares had closed below the minimum $1.00 bid price per share requirement for continued listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and were given until July 31, 2023, or the Compliance Period, to regain compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement. To regain compliance, the closing bid price of a company’s securities must meet or exceed $1.00 per share for at least 10 consecutive business days during the Compliance Period.

 

We will consider taking such actions as may be necessary and appropriate to achieve compliance with continued listing requirements.

 

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June AGM and June GM

 

On June 14, 2023, we held the June AGM, and our shareholders passed the Shareholder Approval, approving among other procedural items, the allotment of, and disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of, up to 7.0 billion Ordinary Shares. On June 14, 2023, we also held the June GM and our shareholders passed resolutions to (x)(i) the Re-Designation, and (ii) the Subdivision, with a record date of June 14, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. BST, which became effective on June 15, 2023 and (y) adopt the Articles of Association, which make consequential amendments to the existing articles of association of the Company to reflect the Re-Designation and the Subdivision, together with certain other changes to reflect that the Ordinary Shares are no longer admitted to trading on AIM, a market operated in the United Kingdom by the London Stock Exchange plc. As is standard for deferred shares, each B Deferred Share has very limited rights and is effectively valueless. The Company will not issue any share certificates in respect of B Deferred Shares. The B Deferred Shares have the rights and restrictions as set out in the Articles of Association and do not entitle the holder thereof to receive notice of or attend and vote at any general meeting of the Company or to receive a dividend or other distribution.

 

 May 2023 Registered Direct Offering

 

On May 26, 2023, we completed the closing of the Registered Direct Offering with institutional investors, or the Investors, for the sale of 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares represented by 22,135,922 Depositary Shares at a price per Depositary Share of $0.15, for aggregate gross proceeds of $3.32 million.

 

Pursuant to the terms of that certain securities purchase agreement entered into in connection with the Offering, as defined below, or Purchase Agreement, following Shareholder Approval on June 14, 2023, on June 20, 2023, we expect to issue to the Investors (i) Series C Warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 33,203,883 Depositary Shares representing 166,019,415 Ordinary Shares and (ii) Series D Warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 22,135,922 Depositary Shares representing 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares, or the Warrant Private Placement, together with the Registered Direct Offering, the Offering. The Warrants will be exercisable at an exercise price of $0.20 per Depositary Share, subject to adjustments for certain dilutive equity issuances. The Warrants will become exercisable upon receipt of Shareholder Approval. The Series C Warrants will expire one year from the initial exercise date and may be exercised on a cashless basis, subject to the satisfaction of payment of not less than the nominal value of the ordinary shares under the provisions of the United Kingdom Companies Act of 2006, or the Companies Act. The Series D Warrants will expire five years from the initial exercise date. A holder of the Warrants may not exercise the Warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own more than 4.99% or 9.99% (such amount to be determined at the option of the holder) of the number of ordinary shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of the Company and each Investor, and customary indemnification provisions for a transaction of this type, including taking reasonable steps to maintain the Depositary Shares listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

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Pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Placement Agency Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2023 and entered into in connection with the Offering, or the Placement Agent Agreement, by and between the Company and the Placement Agent, the Company agreed to pay the Placement Agent a cash fee in an amount equal to 8.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering, and to issue to the Placement Agent, the Placement Agent Warrants, to purchase warrant Depositary Shares equal to 4.0% of the total Depositary Shares (or Depositary Share equivalents) issued in the connection with the Offering. Following Shareholder Approval on June 14, 2023, we expect to issue the Placement Agent, the Placement Agent Warrants exercisable for 885,436 Depositary Shares representing 4,427,180 Ordinary Shares. The Placement Agent Warrant has substantially the same terms as the Series D Warrants, except that the exercise price of the Placement Agent Warrant will be 125% of the offering price of the Depositary Shares issued in the Registered Direct Offering and the term of the Placement Agent Warrants will terminate on the three-year anniversary of the initial exercise date as defined in the Placement Agent Warrant. The Company also agreed to pay the Placement Agent a management fee equal to 1.0% of the gross proceeds raised in the Offering and an expense allowance of up to $85,000 for legal fees and other out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Additionally, pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to be subject to a lock-up period on subsequent equity sales which will last until 30 days following the date this Form F-1 registration statement is declared effective by the SEC. The Company has also agreed to not issue any securities that are subject to a price reset based on the trading prices of the Company’s ordinary shares or upon a specified or contingent event in the future or enter into any agreement to issue securities at a future determined price for a period of one year following the closing date of the Warrant Private Placement, subject to an exception.

  

February 2023 Private Placement and Change in Ratio of Depositary Shares

 

On February 15, 2023, we completed the closing of a private placement with certain institutional investors, or the February Private Placement, for the sale of up to an aggregate of 108,489,511 of our Ordinary Shares represented by 21,697,902 Depositary Shares, consisting of (i) 3,250,200 Ordinary Shares represented by 650,040 Depositary Shares, (ii) 12,931,020 Ordinary Shares represented by 2,586,205 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of Series A warrants issued in the February Private Placement, (iii) 19,396,545 Ordinary Shares represented by 3,879,309 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of Series B warrants issued in the February Private Placement, and (iv) up to 71,749,800 Ordinary Shares represented by 14,349,960 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued in the February Private Placement, subject to certain reset provisions set forth in the Pre-Funded Warrants, at an initial purchase price of $2.32 per Depositary Share, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6.0 million. The issuance of the Series A warrants, Series B warrants and any pre-funded warrants issuable upon a reset was subject to approval of our shareholders at a general meeting.

 

In addition, in connection with the February Private Placement, on February 9, 2023, we entered into a Waiver to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2022, or the Waiver, by and between the Company and Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, or the Master Fund, as amended on December 16, 2022, or the December SPA, providing for a permanent waiver of certain equity issuance prohibitions and participation rights under the December SPA. In connection therewith, the Company agreed to, subject to receipt of shareholder approval, issue to the Master Fund Series A warrants exercisable for 625,000 Ordinary Shares represented by 125,000 Depositary Shares. In addition, the exercise price of the October Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) granted to the Master Fund and the May Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) was reduced to $4.00.

 

In connection with the February Private Placement, we held a general meeting of shareholders on March 24, 2023, or the March GM. At the March GM, our shareholders passed resolutions to: (i) approve the allotment of, and disapplication of pre-emption rights with respect to, the Ordinary Shares issued under the Series A warrants, the Series B warrants, certain of the pre-funded warrants, and the warrants issued to the placement agent in the February Private Placement, or the Placement Agent February Warrants, (ii) change the name of the Company to “Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC,” (iii) allow the allotment of up to 100% of our fully diluted share capital for future share issuances through our annual general meeting in 2025, and (iv) authorize a 1-for-20 reverse stock split of our Ordinary Shares.

 

Upon approval of the reverse stock split and in order to bring the price of the Depositary Shares into compliance with NASDAQ’s minimum requirement for 500,000 listed Depositary Shares, we changed the ratio of Depositary Shares from one Depositary Share representing 25 Ordinary Shares to a new ratio of one Depositary Share representing five Ordinary Shares. This had the effect of a one-for-four reverse split of the Depositary Shares.

 

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Terminated Transaction with Bioasis Technologies Inc.

 

On December 13, 2022, we entered into an Arrangement Agreement, or Arrangement Agreement, with Bioasis Technologies Inc., or Bioasis, pursuant to which (i) we were to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Bioasis, or the Bioasis Shares, in exchange for our Ordinary Shares (to be issued in the form of Depositary Shares), and (ii) Bioasis would become our wholly owned subsidiary. 

 

In addition, in connection with entering into the Arrangement Agreement, Bioasis issued to the Company a promissory note, or the Note, in consideration for a loan from the Company, which loan was to be made in three tranches of $250,000 payable on each of December 19, 2022, January 3, 2023 and February 6, 2023, in each case, subject to written demand and to the terms and conditions of the Note. As of the date hereof, we have loaned Bioasis $500,000 under the Note.

 

On January 23, 2023, following the failure by our shareholders to approve the necessary resolutions to complete the transaction, Bioasis terminated the Arrangement Agreement and the transactions related thereto.

 

In connection with the termination of, and pursuant to the terms of, the Arrangement Agreement, Bioasis has demanded an expense reimbursement of $225,000. In addition, on February 27, 2023, Bioasis demanded the third payment of $250,000 under the Note. We have notified Bioasis that is in default under the terms of the Note and have demanded repayment immediately of all amounts owed to us under the Note.

 

 Registered Direct Offering and Termination of Proposed Private Placement

 

On December 16, 2022, we completed the closing of a registered direct offering with the Master Fund, for the sale of 492,466 Ordinary Shares represented by 98,493 Depositary Shares at a price per Depositary Share of $4.00, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $0.4 million.

 

On January 26, 2023, following the termination of the Arrangement Agreement by Bioasis, we terminated the December SPA, and the Registration Rights Agreement, by and between the Company and the Master Fund, dated as of December 13, 2022, pursuant to which we would have sold such Master Fund $9.6 million of our securities, subject to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement.

 

Change in Ratio of Depositary Shares

 

On September 26, 2022, we effected a change in the number of our Ordinary Shares represented by the Depositary Shares, issued by The Bank of New York Mellon as depositary, from five of our Ordinary Shares per Depositary Share to 25 Ordinary Shares per Depositary Share. The change in ratio had the same effect as a one-for-five reverse stock split of the Depositary Shares, reducing the number of outstanding Depositary Shares, as of the close of business on September 26, 2022, to approximately 3,940,000.

 

Our Ordinary Shares were not affected by the change. The change in the number of Depositary Shares resulting from the change in ratio has been applied retroactively to all share and per share amounts presented in this prospectus; provided, however, that such changes have not been made to the financial statements and accompanying notes incorporated herein by reference. 

 

MTX110 Developments

 

On June 1, 2022, we announced that upon submitting an application to the FDA, our development program of MTX110 for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma had been granted Fast Track designation by the agency. Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of treatments for serious conditions and that potentially address unmet medical needs. Drugs that are granted this designation are given the opportunity for more frequent interactions with the FDA, as well as potential pathways for expedited approval.

 

On January 12, 2023, we announced that, following completion of one-month treatment with MTX110 in our first patient, our Phase I study of MTX110 in recurrent glioblastoma would continue with a planned dose escalation following positive recommendation from the study’s Data Safety Monitoring Board, or DSMB. The Phase I study, is an open-label, dose escalation study designed to assess the feasibility and safety of intermittent infusions of MTX110 administered by convection enhanced delivery (CED) via implanted refillable pump and catheter. The study aims to recruit two cohorts, each with a minimum of four patients; the first cohort will receive MTX110 only and the second cohort will receive MTX110 in combination with lomustine.

 

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The first patient in the study was dosed at 60uM of MTX110 via direct-to-tumour delivery and has received four 48-hour infusions over a period of four weeks. No treatment-associated adverse events were noted in the patient during this period. Following successful completion of the first month of treatment, the DSMB reviewed the available data and recommended dose escalation in the study to 90uM. This dose is expected to be the optimal one of MTX110 and is the one currently being used in the ongoing Phase I study of patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG, at Columbia University.

 

Our Pipeline and Platform Technologies

 

We are actively pursuing the development of MTX110 in three Phase I studies. Our other product candidates, MTD201, Q-octreotide and MTD211, Q-brexpiprazole are not being actively developed but are available for licensing. MTX223 is a research and development collaboration with Janssen. Our development pipeline includes six projects as follows:

 

 

 

Corporate Information

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 1 Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff CF10 4DQ, United Kingdom. The telephone number at our principal executive office is +44 29 20480 180. Our service agent in the United States is located at Puglisi and Associates, 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711. The Depositary Shares, each representing five of our Ordinary Shares, are listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol “BDRX.” Our website is located at http://biodexapharma.com. We do not incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information on, or accessible through, our website, and you should not consider it as part of this prospectus.

 

Additional Information

 

For additional information related to our business and operations, please refer to the reports incorporated herein by reference, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023, as amended by Form 20-F/A on May 5, 2023, and our Reports on Form 6-K, as amended, as filed with the SEC, as described in the section titled “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”

 

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The Offering

 

Depositary Shares offered by the Selling
Shareholders
Up to an aggregate of 281,126,205 Ordinary Shares of the Company represented by 56,225,241 Depositary Shares, consisting of (1) 166,019,415 Ordinary Shares represented by 33,203,883 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of Series C Warrants, (2) 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares represented by 22,135,922 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Series D Warrants and, (3) 4,427,180 Ordinary Shares represented by 885,436 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants. The Series C Warrants, the Series D Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants are all expected to be issued on June 20, 2023 in connection with the Registered Direct Offering on May 23, 2023. The selling shareholders are identified in the table commencing on page 18.
   
Ordinary Shares outstanding prior to this offering 213,859,022 Ordinary Shares (including those represented by Depositary Shares).
   
Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after this
offering
494,985,227 Ordinary Shares (including those represented by Depositary Shares), assuming all warrants are exercised in full.
   
Depositary Shares

Each Depositary Share represents five Ordinary Shares.

 

The depositary (through its custodian) will hold the Ordinary Shares underlying your Depositary Shares. You will have rights as provided in the deposit agreement among us, The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, and all owners and holders from time to time of Depositary Shares issued thereunder. You may, among other things, cancel your Depositary Shares and withdraw the underlying ordinary shares against a fee paid to the depositary (which may be reimbursable by the Company). In certain limited instances described in the deposit agreement, we may amend or terminate the deposit agreement without your consent. If you continue to hold your Depositary Shares, you agree to be bound by the terms of the deposit agreement then in effect.

 

To better understand the terms of the Depositary Shares and the deposit agreement, including applicable fees and charges, you should carefully read “Description of American Depositary Shares” in this prospectus. You should also read the deposit agreement, which is an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.

   
Depositary The Bank of New York Mellon.
   
Use of proceeds We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares by the selling shareholders. All net proceeds from the sale of the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares covered by this prospectus will go to the selling shareholders. However, we may receive the proceeds from any exercise of warrants if the holders do not exercise the warrants on a cashless basis. See the section of this prospectus titled “Use of Proceeds.”

 

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Risk factors Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should read the “Risk Factors” section starting on page 12 of this prospectus, as well as those risk factors that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to invest in our securities.
   
Trading symbol on NASDAQ for Depositary Shares “BDRX”

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Our business has significant risks. You should consider carefully the risks set forth below and other information in this prospectus, including the information contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference, before you decide to purchase our securities. These risks and uncertainties are not the only risks and uncertainties we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently consider immaterial could also negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, profits and share prices. If any of the risks described below actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, profits and share prices could be materially adversely affected. See also the information contained under the heading “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” herein.

 

We have been notified that NASDAQ will suspend and delist the Company's Depositary Shares on June 23, 2023 if we do not successfully appeal the determination. Even if our appeal is successful, if we cannot meet certain NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements by July 31, 2023, NASDAQ may delist the Company's Depositary Shares, which could have an adverse impact on the liquidity and market price of the Company's Depositary Shares.

 

The Company's Depositary Shares are currently listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market. We are required to meet certain qualitative and financial tests to maintain the listing of the Depositary Shares on NASDAQ. On June 14, 2023, we received a letter from NASDAQ notifying us of their determination to suspend the Company’s Depositary Shares from NASDAQ Capital Market on the morning of June 23, 2023, because the Company’s Depositary Shares have had a closing bid price below $0.10 for ten consecutive trading days, and that a Form 25-NSE will be filed with the SEC, which will remove the Depositary Shares from listing on NASDAQ. We plan to appeal the determination at a hearing panel. A hearing request will stay the suspension of the Depositary Shares and the filing of a Form 25-NSE until the hearing panel makes a decision. The decision of the hearing panel could result in the suspension of trading of the Depositary Shares and the removal of the Depositary Shares from listing and registration on NASDAQ or it could grant us a 180-day exception to remain listed if the hearing panel believes we would be able to achieve and maintain compliance with the bid price requirement. Following the exception to remain listed, the Company would be subject to the procedures applicable to a company with recurring deficiencies (NASDAQ Listing Rule 5815(d)(4)(B)). We also previously received a letter from Nasdaq on January 31, 2023, stating that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the bid price for the Company's Depositary Shares had closed below the minimum $1.00 bid price per share requirement for continued listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and were given until the Compliance Period to regain compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement. To regain compliance, the closing bid price of a company’s securities must meet or exceed $1.00 per share for at least 10 consecutive business days during the Compliance Period.

 

We cannot assure you that we will be successful in appealing the determination and regaining compliance, or if we do regain compliance, that we will remain in compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market. If we fail to sustain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on NASDAQ, our Depositary Shares may be subject to delisting by NASDAQ. This could inhibit the ability of our holders of the Company's Depositary Shares to trade their shares in the open market, thereby severely limiting the liquidity of such shares. Although shareholders may be able to trade their Depositary Shares on the over-the-counter market, there can be no assurance that this would occur. Further, the over-the-counter market provides significantly less liquidity than NASDAQ and other national securities exchanges, is thinly traded and highly volatile, has fewer market makers and is not followed by analysts. As a result, your ability to trade or obtain quotations for these securities may be more limited than if they were quoted on NASDAQ or other national securities exchanges.

  

The sale of a substantial amount of our Ordinary Shares (represented by Depositary Shares), including resale of the Ordinary Shares (represented by Depositary Shares) issuable upon the exercise of the warrants held by the selling shareholders in the public market could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our Ordinary Shares and/or Depositary Shares. 

 

We are registering for resale 281,126,205 Ordinary Shares represented by 56,225,241 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by the selling shareholders. Sales of substantial amounts of our Ordinary Shares and/or Depositary Shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares and/or Depositary Shares. We cannot predict if and when selling shareholders may sell such shares in the public markets. Furthermore, in the future, we may issue additional Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares). Any such issuance could result in substantial dilution to our existing shareholders and could cause our share price to decline.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares by the selling shareholders. All net proceeds from the sale of the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares and the warrants covered by this prospectus will go to the selling shareholders. We expect that the selling shareholders will sell their Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares as described under “Plan of Distribution.”

 

We may receive proceeds from the exercise of the warrants and issuance of the Depositary Shares underlying the warrants. If all of the warrants mentioned above were exercised for cash in full, the proceeds would be approximately $11.2 million. We currently intend to use the net proceeds of such warrant exercise, if any, to fund the clinical development program of MTX110 and for working capital and general corporate purpose. Pending such uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing investments.

 

We can make no assurances that any of the warrants will be exercised, or if exercised, the quantity which will be exercised or in the period in which they will be exercised.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

 

Since inception, we have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our Ordinary Shares and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Ordinary Shares or the Depositary Shares in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and expansion of our business. As a result, investors in the Ordinary Shares and Depositary Shares will benefit in the foreseeable future only if the Ordinary Shares and Depositary Shares appreciate in value.

 

Any determination to pay dividends in the future would be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions, and any future debt agreements and is subject to compliance with applicable laws, including the Companies Act, which requires English companies to have profits available for distribution equal to or greater than the amount of the proposed dividend.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2022:

 

·on an actual basis; and

 

·on a pro-forma as adjusted basis, reflecting the adoption of the Articles of Association on June 14, 2023 reflecting the change in nominal value of our Ordinary Shares, to give effect to the issuance and sale by us of:

 

(i)the May 2023 Registered Direct Offering of 22,135,922 Depositary Shares, representing 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares, at an offering price of $0.15 per Depositary Share, after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us; and

 

(ii)the February Private Placement and the issuance of the Placement Agent February Warrants in the February Private placement, after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses by us.

 

The adjusted amounts shown below are unaudited and represent management’s estimate. You should read this table in conjunction with the section of this prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds” and our consolidated financial statements and other financial information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. 

 

   As of December 31, 2022 
   Actual  

Pro forma As Adjusted (1)(2)

(unaudited)

 
   (£’s in thousands, except share and per share data) 
Cash and cash equivalents   2,836    8,973 
Long-term debt   463   463
Total equity   3,162    4,886 
Total capitalization   3,625    5,349 

 

_____________

 

(1)The proceeds from the February Private Placement have been translated into British pounds sterling at a rate of £1.00 to $1.2078.
(2)The fair value of warrants issued in the February Private Placement has been calculated, as of February 15, 2023, and recorded as a current liability of £4,615,220 and a debit to share premium of £4,615,220.

 

The table above does not include, as of December 31, 2022:

 

·121,340 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under our equity incentive plans at a weighted-average exercise price of £5.05 per share;

 

·138 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options assumed in connection with the acquisition of DARA BioSciences, Inc., or DARA, at a weighted average exercise price of $1,903.40 per share;

 

·warrants, issued to the Master Fund in an October 2019 private placement, exercisable for 30,000 Depositary Shares (representing 150,000 Ordinary Shares) at an exercise price of $4.00 per Depositary Share;

 

·warrants, issued to the placement agent in connection with an October 2019 private placement, exercisable for 1,499 Depositary Shares (representing 7,495 Ordinary Shares) at an exercise price of $125.00 per Depositary Share;

 

·warrants, issued to the Master Fund in a May 2020 private placement, exercisable for 32,550 Depositary Shares (representing 162,750 Ordinary Shares) at an exercise price of $4.00 per Depositary Share;

 

·warrants, issued to various investors in a May 2020 private placement, exercisable for 33,357 Depositary Shares (representing 166,785 Ordinary Shares) at an exercise price of $41.00 per Depositary Share;

 

·warrants, issued to the placement agent in connection with the May 2020 private placement, exercisable for 1,476 Depositary Shares (representing 7,380 Ordinary Shares) at an exercise price of $41.25 per Depositary Share;

 

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·warrants, issued in a May 2020 placing in the United Kingdom, exercisable for 349,999 ordinary shares, at an exercise price of £6.80 per share;

 

·warrants, issued in August 2022, exercisable for 16,666 Ordinary Shares, at an exercise price of £2.70 per Ordinary Share;

 

·warrants, issued in February 2023 to the placement agent in connection with the December 2022 registered direct offering, exercisable for 3,939 Depositary Shares (representing 19,695 Ordinary Shares) at an exercise price of $5.00 per Depositary Share;

 

·warrants, issued in February 2023 to the placement agent in connection with the February Private Placement, exercisable for 103,448 Depositary Shares (representing 517,240 Ordinary Shares) at an exercise price of $2.90 per Depositary Share;

 

·warrants, issued to the Master Fund in return for a waiver in connection with the February Private Placement, exercisable for 125,000 Depositary Shares (representing 625,000 Ordinary Shares), at an exercise price of $2.68 per Depositary Share;

 

·Series C warrants, expected to be issued in June 2023, exercisable for 33,203,883 Depositary Shares (representing 166,019,415 Ordinary Shares), at an exercise price of £0.20 per Depositary Share (with a cashless exercise option);

 

·Series D warrants, expected to be issued in June 2023, exercisable for 22,135,922 Depositary Shares (representing 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares), at an exercise price of £0.20 per Depositary Share; and

 

·warrants, expected to be issued in June 2023, to the Placement Agent in connection with the Registered Direct Offering, exercisable for 885,436 Depositary Shares (representing 4,427,180 Ordinary Shares), at an exercise price of $0.1875 per Depositary Share.

 

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REGISTERED OFFERINGS AND PRIVATE PLACEMENTS OF SECURITIES

 

 

February 2023 Private Placement

 

On February 15, 2023, we completed the February Private Placement with certain institutional investors, for the sale of up to an aggregate of 108,489,511 of our Ordinary Shares represented by 21,697,902 Depositary Shares, consisting of (i) 3,250,200 Ordinary Shares represented by 650,040 Depositary Shares, (ii) 12,931,027 Ordinary Shares represented by 2,586,205 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of Series A warrants issued in the February Private Placement, (iii) 19,396,545 Ordinary Shares represented by 3,879,309 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of Series B warrants issued in the February Private Placement, and (iv) up to 71,749,800 Ordinary Shares represented by 14,349,960 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued in the February Private Placement, subject to certain reset provisions set forth in the pre-funded warrants, at an initial purchase price of $2.32 per Depositary Share, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6.0 million.

 

In addition, in connection with the February Private Placement, on February 9, 2023, we entered into the Waiver, by and between the Company and the Master Fund, as amended on December 16, 2022, by the December SPA, providing for a permanent waiver of certain equity issuance prohibitions and participation rights under the December SPA. In connection therewith, we agreed to, subject to receipt of shareholder approval, issue to the Master Fund Series A warrants exercisable for 625,000 Ordinary Shares represented by 125,000 Depositary Shares. Further, we issued to the placement agent in the February Private Placement, Placement Agent February Warrants to purchase 536,938 Ordinary Shares represented by 107,387 Depositary Shares. In addition, the exercise price of the October Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) granted to the Master Fund and the May Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) was reduced to $4.00.

 

At the March GM on March 24, 2023, our shareholders approved, among other things, the allotment of, and disapplication of pre-emption rights with respect to, the Ordinary Shares to be issued under the Series A warrants, the Series B warrants, certain of the pre-funded warrants, and the Placement Agent February Warrants. We subsequently issued the warrants to the investors and the placement agent in the February Private Placement.

 

May 2023 Registered Direct Offering

 

On May 26, 2023, we completed the closing of a registered direct offering with institutional investors for the sale of 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares represented by 22,135,922 Depositary Shares at a price per Depositary Share of $0.15, for aggregate gross proceeds of $3.32 million.

 

On June 14, 2023, at the June AGM, the Shareholder Approval approved, among other procedural items, the allotment of, and disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of, up to 7.0 billion Ordinary Shares.

 

Following the Shareholder Approval, we expect to issue, on June 20, 2023, to the Investors (i) Series C Warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 33,203,883 Depositary Shares representing 166,019,415 Ordinary Shares and (ii) Series D Warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 22,135,922 Depositary Shares representing 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares. The Warrants will be exercisable at an exercise price of $0.20 per Depositary Share, subject to adjustments for certain dilutive equity issuances. The Warrants will become exercisable upon receipt of Shareholder Approval. The Series C Warrants will expire one year from the initial exercise date and may be exercised on a cashless basis, subject to the satisfaction of payment of not less than the nominal value of the ordinary shares under the provisions of the Companies Act. The Series D Warrants will expire five years from the initial exercise date. A holder of the Warrants may not exercise the Warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own more than 4.99% or 9.99% (such amount to be determined at the option of the holder) of the number of ordinary shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

 

 On or after the date of exercise, a holder of the Series C Warrants may also provide notice and elect an “alternative cashless exercise” pursuant to which they would receive an aggregate number of Depositary Shares equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of Depositary Shares that would be issuable upon a cash exercise and (y) 1.0 six months after the issuance date of the Series D Warrants, if and only if there is no effective registration statement registering the applicable Depositary Shares, or no current prospectus available for such shares, the resale of the Depositary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, the purchaser may exercise the Warrants by means of a “cashless exercise”, subject to the satisfaction of payment of not less than the nominal value of the ordinary shares under the provisions of the Companies Act. 

 

In addition, and also following Shareholder Approval on June 14, 2023, we expect to issue to the Placement Agent the Placement Agent Warrants to purchase 4,427,180 Ordinary Shares represented by 885,436 Depositary Shares.

 

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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

 

This prospectus covers the possible resale from time to time by the selling shareholders identified in the table below of Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares, including Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. The selling shareholders may sell some, all or none of their Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares. We do not know how long the selling shareholders will hold the Warrants, whether any will exercise the Warrants, and upon such exercise, how long such selling shareholders will hold the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares before selling them, and we currently have no agreements, arrangements or understandings with the selling shareholders regarding the sale of any of the shares. 

 

The table below lists the selling shareholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares by each of the selling shareholders. The second and third columns list the number of Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares beneficially owned by each selling shareholder, based on its ownership of Depositary Shares and warrants to purchase Depositary Shares, as of June 12, 2023, assuming exercise of the warrants held by the selling shareholders on that date, without regard to any limitations on conversions or exercises. The fourth and fifth columns list the maximum number of Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares being offered in this prospectus by the selling shareholders. The sixth and seventh columns list the amount of Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares owned after the offering, by number of Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares and percentage of outstanding Ordinary Shares, assuming in both cases the sale of all of the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus, and without regard to any limitations on conversions or exercises.

 

In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the selling shareholders, this prospectus generally covers the resale of the sum of (i) the number of Ordinary Shares issued to the selling shareholders in the Warrant Private Placement described herein and (ii) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of the related warrants, determined as if the outstanding warrants were exercised in full as of the trading day immediately preceding the date this registration statement was initially filed with the SEC, each as of the trading day immediately preceding the applicable date of determination and all subject to adjustment as provided in the registration right agreement, without regard to any limitations on the exercise of the warrants.

 

Under the terms of the Warrants, a selling shareholder may not exercise the Warrants to the extent such exercise would cause such selling shareholder, together with its affiliates and attribution parties, to beneficially own a number of Ordinary Shares which would exceed 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of our then outstanding Ordinary Shares following such exercise, excluding for purposes of such determination Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of such Warrants which have not been exercised. The beneficial ownership limitation may be increased or decreased, provided that in no event shall it exceed 9.99%, upon notice to us, provided that any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation shall not be effective until 61 days following the receipt of such notice by us. The number of shares in the table below does not reflect this limitation. See “Plan of Distribution.” The selling shareholders may sell all, some or none of their Ordinary Shares in this offering. See "Plan of Distribution." 

 

Name of Selling Shareholder     Number of
Ordinary
Shares Owned
Prior to
Offering**
   

 Percentage
of
Ordinary
Shares
Owned
Prior to the
Offering***

    Maximum
Number
of Ordinary
Shares
to be Sold
Pursuant
to this
Prospectus**
   

 Percentage
of Ordinary
Shares
to be Sold
Pursuant
to this
Prospectus***

    Number of
Ordinary
Shares
Owned
After the
Offering**

 

 

  Percentage of
Ordinary
Shares Owned
After the
Offering***
Seven Knots LLC (1)     12,084,875     5.65%     12,084,875     5.65%     --     --
Armistice Capital, LLC (2)     34,416,100     16.09%     24,169,750     11.30%     10,246,350     4.94%
Bigger Capital Fund, LP (3)     24,169,750     11.30%     24,169,750     11.30%     --     --
Boothbay Absolute Return Strategies, LP (4)     8,005,025     3.74%     8,005,025     3.74%     --     --
Boothbay Diversified Alpha Master Fund LP (5)     4,079,850     1.91%     4,079,850     1.91%     --     --
Brio Capital Master Fund Ltd. (6)     24,169,750     11.30%     24,169,750     11.30%     --     --
Cavalry Investment Fund LP (7)     24,169,750     11.30%     24,169,750     11.30%     --     --
Ionic Ventures, LLC (8)     24,169,750     11.30%     24,169,750     11.30%     --     --
Iroquois Capital Investment Group LLC (9)     15,710,325     7.35%     15,710,325     7.35%     --     --
Iroquois Master Fund Ltd. (10)     8,459,400     3.96%     8,459,400     3.96%     --     --
Keystone Capital Partners LLC (11)     12,084,875     5.65%     12,084,875     5.65%     --     --
L1 Capital Global Opportunities Master Fund (12)     24,208,005     11.32%     24,169,750     11.30%     38,255     *
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (13)     4,964,220     2.32%     4,427,180     2.07%     537,040     *
Mercer Street Global Opportunity Fund, LLC (14)     24,169,750     11.30%     24,169,750     11.30%     --     --
S.H.N Financial Investments Ltd (15)     24,169,750     11.30%     24,169,750     11.30%     --     --
Walleye Opportunities Master Fund Ltd (16)     23,088,355     10.80%     22,916,675     10.72%     171,680     *

__________________

*Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent.
**Subject to beneficial ownership blocker. See notes below.
***Based upon 213,859,022 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of June 12, 2023.

 

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(1)The selling shareholder also holds 1,450,185 Series C Warrants (representing 7,250,925 Ordinary Shares) and 966,790 Series D Warrants (representing 4,833,950 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of Seven Knots LLC is 7 Rose Avenue, Great Neck, NY 11021.

 

(2)The selling shareholder holds 1,861,720 Depositary Shares (representing 9,308,600 Ordinary Shares), 30,000 registered warrants (representing 150,000 Ordinary Shares) issued by us in an October 2019 registered direct offering, 32,550 registered warrants (representing 162,750 Ordinary Shares) issued by us in a May 2020 registered direct offering and 125,000 registered Series A warrants (representing 625,000 Ordinary Shares) issued by us in return for a waiver in connection with the February Private Placement. The selling shareholder also holds 2,900,370 Series C Warrants (representing 14,501,850 Ordinary Shares) and 1,933,580 Series D Warrants (representing 9,667,900 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The securities are directly held by the Master Fund, and may be deemed to be beneficially owned by: (i) Armistice Capital, LLC, or Armistice Capital, as the investment manager of the Master Fund; and (ii) Steven Boyd, as the Managing Member of Armistice Capital. The address of the Master Fund is c/o Armistice Capital, LLC, 510 Madison Ave, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

 

(3)The selling shareholder holds 2,900,370 Series C Warrants (representing 14,501,850 Ordinary Shares) and 1,933,580 Series D Warrants (representing 9,667,900 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of Bigger Capital Fund, LP is 11700 West Charleston Blvd, #170-659, Las Vegas, NV 89135.

 

(4)The selling shareholder holds 960,603 Series C Warrants (representing 4,803,015 Ordinary Shares) and 640,402 Series D Warrants (representing 3,202,010 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. Boothbay Absolute Return Strategies, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, or BBARS, is managed by Boothbay Fund Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or Boothbay. Boothbay, in its capacity as the investment manager of BBARS, has the power to vote and the power to direct the disposition of all securities held by BBARS. Ari Glass is the Managing Member of Boothbay. Each of BBARS, Boothbay and Mr. Glass disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The principal business address of BBARS is c/o Boothbay Fund Management, LLC, 140 East 45th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

 

(5)The selling shareholder holds 489,582 Series C Warrants (representing 2,447,910 Ordinary Shares) and 326,388 Series D Warrants (representing 1,631,940 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. Boothbay Diversified Alpha Master Fund LP, a Cayman Islands limited partnership, or BBDAMF, is managed by Boothbay. Boothbay, in its capacity as the investment manager of BBDAMF, has the power to vote and the power to direct the disposition of all securities held by BBDAMF. Ari Glass is the Managing Member of Boothbay. Each of BBDAMF, Boothbay and Mr. Glass disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The principal business address of BBDAMF is c/o Boothbay Fund Management, LLC, 140 East 45th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

 

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(6)The selling shareholder holds 2,900,370 Series C Warrants (representing 14,501,850 Ordinary Shares) and 1,933,580 Series D Warrants (representing 9,667,900 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of Brio Capital Master Fund Ltd. is c/o Brio Capital Management LLC, 100 Merrick Road, Suite 401W, Rockville Centre, NY 11570.

 

(7)The selling shareholder holds 2,900,370 Series C Warrants (representing 14,501,850 Ordinary Shares) and 1,933,580 Series D Warrants (representing 9,667,900 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of Cavalry Investment Fund LP is 82 E. Allendale Road, Suite 5B, Saddle River, NJ 07458.

 

(8)The selling shareholder holds 2,900,370 Series C Warrants (representing 14,501,850 Ordinary Shares) and 1,933,580 Series D Warrants (representing 9,667,900 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of Ionic Ventures, LLC is 3053 Fillmore Street, Suite 2565, San Francisco, CA 94123.

 

(9)The selling shareholder holds 1,885,239 Series C Warrants (representing 9,426,195 Ordinary Shares) and 1,256,826 Series D Warrants (representing 6,284,130 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. Richard Abbe is the managing member of Iroquois Capital Investment Group LLC. Mr. Abbe has voting control and investment discretion over securities held by Iroquois Capital Investment Group LLC. As such, Mr. Abbe may be deemed to be the beneficial owner (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the securities held by Iroquois Capital Investment Group LLC. The principal business address of Iroquois Capital Investment Group LLC is 2 Overhill Road, Suite 400, Scarsdale, NY 10583.

 

(10)The selling shareholder holds 489,582 Series C Warrants (representing 2,447,910 Ordinary Shares) and 326,388 Series D Warrants (representing 1,631,940 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. Iroquois Capital Management L.L.C. is the investment manager of Iroquois Master Fund, Ltd. Iroquois Capital Management, LLC has voting control and investment discretion over securities held by Iroquois Master Fund. As Managing Members of Iroquois Capital Management, LLC, Richard Abbe and Kimberly Page make voting and investment decisions on behalf of Iroquois Capital Management, LLC in its capacity as investment manager to Iroquois Master Fund Ltd. As a result of the foregoing, Mr. Abbe and Mrs. Page may be deemed to have beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the securities held by Iroquois Capital Management and Iroquois Master Fund. The principal business address of Iroquois Master Fund Ltd. is c/o Iroquois Capital Management, LLC, 2 Overhill Road, Suite 400, Scarsdale, NY 10583.

 

(11)The selling shareholder also holds 1,450,185 Series C Warrants (representing 7,250,925 Ordinary Shares) and 966,790 Series D Warrants (representing 4,833,950 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of Keystone Capital Partners LLC is 139 Fulton Street, Suite 412, New York, NY 10038.

 

(12)The selling shareholder holds 7,651 registered warrants (representing 38,255 Ordinary Shares) issued by us in a May 2020 registered direct offering, 2,900,370 Series C Warrants (representing 14,501,850 Ordinary Shares) and 1,933,580 Series D Warrants (representing 9,667,900 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of L1 Capital Global Opportunities Master Fund is 1688 Meridian Avenue, Level 6, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

 

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(13)The selling shareholder holds 21 Depositary Shares (representing 105 Ordinary Shares), 3,939 registered warrants (representing 19,695 Ordinary Shares) issued by us as placement agent warrants in connection with the December 2022 registered direct offering and 103,448 registered warrants (representing 517,240 Ordinary Shares) issued by us in connection with the February 2023 Private Placement. The selling shareholder also holds 885,436 placement agent warrants (representing 4,427,180 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of Ladenburg is 640 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10019.

 

(14)The selling shareholder holds 2,900,370 Series C Warrants (representing 14,501,850 Ordinary Shares) and 1,933,580 Series D Warrants (representing 9,667,900 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of Mercer Street Global Opportunity Fund, LLC is 1111 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2920, Miami, FL 33131.

 

(15)The selling shareholder holds 2,900,370 Series C Warrants (representing 14,501,850 Ordinary Shares) and 1,933,580 Series D Warrants (representing 9,667,900 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of S.H.N Financial Investments Ltd. is Arik Einstein 3, Herzliya, Israel.

 

(16)The selling shareholder holds 34,336 Depositary Shares (representing 171,680 Ordinary Shares), 1,300,000 pre-funded warrants (representing 6,500,000 Ordinary Shares) issued by us in the February 2023 private placement. The holder also owns 2,900,370 Series C Warrants (representing 14,501,850 Ordinary Shares) and 1,933,580 Series D Warrants (representing 9,667,900 Ordinary Shares) which we are registering hereby. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99%, which does not permit the selling shareholder to exercise that portion of the warrants that would result in the selling shareholder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of our Ordinary Shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The amounts and percentages in the table do not give effect to the 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation, if applicable. The principal business address of Walleye Opportunities Master Fund Ltd is 2800 Niagara Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55447.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OFFERED SECURITIES AND OUR SHARE CAPITAL

 

The following describes our issued share capital, summarizes the material provisions of our Articles of Association and highlights certain differences in corporate law in the United Kingdom and the United States. This description of our share capital and summary of our Articles of Association is not complete and is qualified by reference to our Articles of Association. You should read our Articles of Association, which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, for the provisions that are important to you.

 

General

 

We are a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales under registered number 09216368. Our registered office is 1 Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF10 4DQ. The principal legislation under which we operate and our shares are issued is the Companies Act.

 

Issued Share Capital

 

Our issued share capital as of June 15, 2023, when the Re-Designation and Subdivision became effective following the June GM and the record date of June 14, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. BST, is 213,859,022 Ordinary Shares. Each Ordinary Share has a nominal value £0.001 per share. Each issued Ordinary Share is fully paid. We currently have 1,000,001 A Deferred Shares, 3,939,821,418 B Deferred Shares and no preference shares in our issued share capital.

 

There is no limit to the number of Ordinary Shares or preference shares that we are authorized to issue, as the concept of authorized capital is no longer applicable under the provisions of the Companies Act. There are no conversion rights, redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions relating to any ordinary shares.

 

We are not permitted under English law to hold our own Ordinary Shares unless they are repurchased by us and held in treasury. We do not currently hold any of our own ordinary shares.

 

History of Share Capital

 

On May 20, 2020, we issued 454,545 Ordinary Shares represented by 90,909 Depositary Shares in a registered direct offering with certain institutional investors for aggregate gross proceeds of $3.0 million. In addition, in a concurrent private placement, we issued warrants to purchase a total of 454,545 Ordinary Shares represented by 90,909 Depositary Shares at an exercise price of $41.00 per Depositary Share and warrants to purchase a total of 22,727 Ordinary Shares represented by 4,545 Depositary Shares to affiliates of H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or Wainwright, in the private placement at an exercise price of $41.25 per Depositary Share.

 

On May 22, 2020, we issued 333,333 Units to certain investors in a placing in the United Kingdom for aggregate gross proceeds of £1.8 million. Each Unit comprised one new Ordinary Share and one warrant to purchase Ordinary Share, or a UK Warrant, with an exercise price of £6.80 per share. We also issued UK Warrants to purchase a total of 16,666 Ordinary Shares to Turner Pope, the placing agent, in connection with the closing of such offering, on the same terms and conditions as the other investors in the offering.

 

 On July 27, 2020, we issued 1,064,814 Ordinary Shares, including 138,888 Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to a broker option at £5.40 per share, to certain non-U.S. investors in a placing in the United Kingdom for aggregate gross proceeds of £5.75 million.

 

On August 19, 2020, we issued to certain Wainwright affiliates 125,000 Ordinary Shares represented by 25,000 Depositary Shares upon the exercise of warrants issued in May 2020 at an exercise price of $41.00 per share.

 

On September 30, 2020, we issued 1,250 Ordinary Shares to be purchased under the plan set up in 2017 with our employees and directors to acquire Ordinary Shares via salary sacrifice arrangement, or the Share Incentive Plan at £0.02 per share, to the trust of the Share Incentive Plan.

  

On February 19, 2021, we issued to certain Wainwright affiliates 15,340 Ordinary Shares represented by 3,068 Depositary Shares upon the exercise of warrants issued in May 2020 at an exercise price of $41.25 per share.

 

On July 6, 2021, we issued 1,754,386 Ordinary Shares at £5.70 per share to certain non-U.S. investors in a placing in the United Kingdom for aggregate gross proceeds of £10.0 million.

 

On March 22, 2022, we issued one Ordinary Share upon the exercise of one warrant issued in February 2019 to a certain institutional investor at an exercise price of £200 per share.

 

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On May 3, 2022, we issued 1,250 Ordinary Shares to be purchased under the Share Incentive Plan at £0.02 per share to the trust of the Share Incentive Plan.

 

On August 3, 2022, we issued warrants to purchase 16,666 Ordinary Shares to a certain institutional investor at an exercise price of £2.70 per share.

 

On September 26, 2022, we effected a ratio change to the Depositary Shares, pursuant to which the ratio of Ordinary Shares to Depositary Shares was changed such that one Depositary Share represented 25 Ordinary Shares. Our Ordinary Shares were not affected by this change.

 

On December 16, 2022, we sold to an institutional investor 492,466 Ordinary Shares represented by 98,493 Depositary Shares in a registered direct offering at $4.00 per Depositary Share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $0.4 million.

 

On February 15, 2023, we completed the closing of the February Private Placement pursuant to which we sold to certain institutional investors (1) 3,250,200 Ordinary Shares represented by 650,040 Depositary Shares at $2.32 per Depositary Share, (2) 12,931,027 Ordinary Shares represented by 2,586,205 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of Series A warrants issued in the February Private Placement at an exercise price of $2.68 per warrant, (3) 19,396,545 Ordinary Shares represented by 3,879,309 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of Series B warrants issued in the February Private Placement at an exercise price of $2.68 per warrant, and (4) up to 71,749,800 Ordinary Shares represented by 14,349,960 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued in the February Private Placement at an exercise price of $0.0004 per warrant, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6.0 million. We also issued unregistered placement agent warrants to purchase a total of 536,935 Ordinary Shares represented by 107,387 Depositary Shares to the placement agent in the February Private Placement at an exercise price of $5.00 per warrant for 3,939 warrants and an exercise price of $2.90 per warrant for 103,448 warrants, and Series A warrants to purchase 625,000 Ordinary Shares represented by 125,000 Depositary Shares at an exercise price of $2.68 per warrant to an investor pursuant to a waiver agreement.

 

On March 27, 2023, following shareholder approval, we effected a one-for-20 reverse split of our Ordinary Shares, and our Ordinary Shares began trading on AIM on a split-adjusted basis as of such date. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. As a result of the reverse stock split, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares was reduced to 8,667,337 shares as of March 27, 2023. 

 

Concurrently with the reverse split, and in an effort to bring the Depositary Shares price into compliance with NASDAQ’s minimum requirement for 500,000 listed Depositary Shares, on March 27, 2023, we effected a ratio change in the number of our Ordinary Shares represented by the Depositary Shares from 25 Ordinary Shares per Depositary Share to five Ordinary Shares per Depositary Share.

 

Between March 27, 2023, and the date hereof, we have issued 88,012,075 Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of 17,602,415 pre-funded warrants, Series A warrants and Series B warrants issued in the February Private Placement.

 

On May 26, 2023, we completed the closing of a registered direct offering with institutional investors of (1) 166,019,415 Ordinary Shares represented by 33,203,883 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of the Series C Warrants at an exercise price of $0.20 per warrant, (2) 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares represented by 22,135,922 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Series D Warrants at an exercise price of $0.20 per warrant and, (3) 4,427,180 Ordinary Shares represented by 885,436 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants at an exercise price of $0.1875 per warrant.

 

In June 2023 we expect to issue the Series C Warrants, Series D Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants to the investors and the Placement Agent after receiving required shareholder approval of the allotment of, and disapplication of pre-emption rights with respect to the Ordinary Shares to be issued under the Series C Warrants, Series D Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants at our general meeting held on June 14, 2023.

 

Options

 

We have established the Midatech Pharma PLC 2014 Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme, or the EMI Scheme, pursuant to which we have issued options to purchase Ordinary Shares to employees and directors. As of June 9, 2023, there were options to purchase 103,815 Ordinary Shares under the EMI Scheme. In addition, as of June 9, 2023, there were options to purchase 17,525 Ordinary Shares under non-approved schemes. The options lapse after ten years from the date of the grant.

 

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As of June 9, 2023, the weighted average remaining life of the option under the EMI Scheme, the US Plan and non-approved options schemes was 7.9 years.

 

In connection with our acquisition of DARA in December 2015, we assumed all of DARA’s outstanding options, or DARA Options. As of June 9, 2023, there were outstanding DARA Options to purchase 138 Ordinary Shares with a weighted average remaining life of 2.0 years. All Ordinary Shares delivered to holders of DARA Options will be delivered in the appropriate amount of Depositary Shares.

 

Warrants

 

October 2019 and May 2020 Warrants

 

In October 2019, we completed a private placement with certain institutional investors, or the October Private Placement, where we issued warrants to certain investors, or the October Private Placement Warrants, and the placement agent, Wainwright, or the Wainwright October Warrants. In May 2020, we completed a private placement with certain institutional investors, or the May Private Placement, where we issued warrants to certain investors, or the May Private Placement Warrants, the placement agent, Wainwright, or the Wainwright May Warrants and the Master Fund, or the May Master Fund Warrants. The following is a brief summary of the October Private Placement Warrants, Wainwright October Warrants, May Private Placement Warrants, Wainwright May Warrants and the May Master Fund Warrants issued in connection with the October Private Placement and May Private Placement, as applicable, and is subject in all respects to the provisions contained in the applicable warrants, which, with respect to the October Private Placement Warrants and Wainwright October Warrants, are filed as exhibits to our Report on Form 6-K dated October 24, 2019, and for the May Private Placement Warrants, May Master Fund Warrants and Wainwright May Warrants, are filed as exhibits to our Report on Form 6-K dated May 20, 2020. In December 13, 2022, the exercise price of the October Private Placement Warrants granted to the Master Fund and the May Private Placement Warrants was reduced to US$4.00. Unless otherwise stated, references to warrants in this section include the October Private Placement Warrants, May Private Placement Warrants, Wainwright October Warrants and Wainwright May Warrants.

 

Exercisability. The October Private Placement Warrants and Wainwright October Warrants became exercisable on December 23, 2019. The May Private Placement Warrants, May Master Fund Warrants and Wainwright May Warrants became exercisable upon issuance. The October Private Placement Warrants, May Private Placement Warrants and May Master Fund Warrants will expire five and one-half years from the initial exercise date, and the Wainwright October Warrants and Wainwright May Warrants will expire on October 22, 2024 and May 18, 2025, respectively. The holder shall deliver the aggregate exercise price for the Depositary Shares specified in the exercise notice within two trading days following the date of exercise (subject to the ‘cashless exercise’ arrangements described below).

 

Cashless Exercise. With respect to the October Private Placement Warrants and Wainwright October Warrants, if, more than six months after the date of issuance of such warrants, there is no effective registration statement registering, or no current prospectus available for, the resale of the Depositary Shares underlying such warrants, the holder may exercise the warrant, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis. With respect to the May Private Placement Warrants and Wainwright May Warrants, if there is no effective registration statement registering, or no current prospectus available for, the resale of the Depositary Shares underlying such warrants, the holder may exercise the warrant, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis.

 

Exercise Price. The exercise price of (i) each October Private Placement Warrant and Wainwright October Warrant is $4.00 and $125.00 per Depositary Share, respectively and (ii) each May Private Placement Warrant, May Master Fund Warrant and Wainwright May Warrant is $41.00, $4.00 and $41.25 per Depositary Share, respectively, each subject to the ‘cashless exercise’ arrangements described above and to adjustment as described below.

  

Beneficial Ownership Limitation. A holder shall have no right to exercise any portion of a warrant, to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, such holder, together with such holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such holder or any such affiliate, would beneficially own in excess of, at the initial option of the holder thereof, 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the Ordinary Shares underlying the Depositary Shares upon such exercise. The holder of the warrant, upon notice to us, may increase or decrease the beneficial ownership limitation to a percentage not to exceed 9.99%, provided that any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation shall not be effective until 61 days following notice to us. Beneficial ownership of the holder and its affiliates will be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Stock dividends and stock splits. If we pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution payable in Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares, or any other equity or equivalent securities, subdivide or combine outstanding Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares, or reclassify Depositary Shares, Ordinary Shares or any shares of our capital stock, the exercise price of each warrant will be adjusted by multiplying the then exercise price by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Depositary Shares (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event, and the denominator of which shall be the number of Depositary Shares outstanding immediately after such event.

 

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Rights Offerings; pro rata distributions. If we issue Ordinary Share equivalents or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to holders of Depositary Shares, a holder of a warrant will be entitled to acquire, subject to the beneficial ownership limitation described above, such securities or property that such holder could have acquired if such holder had held the number of Depositary Shares issuable upon complete exercise of the warrant immediately prior to the date a record is taken for such issuance. If we declare or make any dividend or other distribution of assets or rights to acquire assets to holders of Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares, a holder of a warrant will be entitled to participate, subject to the beneficial ownership limitation, in such distribution to the same extent that the holder would have participated therein if the holder had held the number of Depositary Shares issuable upon full exercise of the warrant.

 

Fundamental Transaction. If we effect a fundamental transaction, including, among other things, a merger, sale of substantially all of our assets, tender offer, exchange offer and other business combination transactions, then upon any subsequent exercise of a warrant, the holder thereof shall have the right to receive, for each Ordinary Share represented by the Depositary Shares that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such fundamental transaction, the number of shares of the successor’s or acquiring corporation’s securities, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable as a result of such fundamental transaction by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares represented by the Depositary Shares for which the warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.

 

Transferability. Each warrant and all rights thereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of the warrant, together with a written assignment of the warrant subject to applicable securities laws; provided, however, that the Wainwright October Warrants and Wainwright May Warrants are subject to certain FINRA transfer restrictions. We do not intend to apply for listing of the warrants on any securities exchange or other trading system.

 

No Rights as Shareholder Until Exercise. Except as set forth in the warrants, the holders of the warrants do not have any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a holder of our capital stock until they exercise the warrants.

 

May 2020 United Kingdom Placing Warrants

 

On May 22, 2020, we issued 333,333 Units, with each Unit comprising one new Ordinary Share and one UK Warrant. The exercise price of the UK Warrants is £6.80 per share and it expires five years and six months from the issuance date. We also issued UK Warrants to purchase a total of 16,666 Ordinary Shares to Turner Pope, the placing agent, in connection with the closing of such offering, on the same terms and conditions as the other investors in the offering.

 

Series A Warrants, Series B Warrants, Pre-Funded Warrants and Placement Agent February Warrants

 

The following is a brief summary of the Series A warrants, pre-funded warrants and the Placement Agent February Warrants issued in connection with the February Private Placement, and is subject in all respects to the provisions contained in the applicable warrants, which, are filed as exhibits to our Report on Form 6-K dated February 9, 2023. Unless otherwise stated, references to warrants in this subsection include the Series A warrants, pre-funded warrants and Placement Agent February Warrants. All Series B warrants issued in the February Private Placement have been exercised.

 

Exercisability. The warrants are exercisable. The Series A warrants expire five years from the initial exercise date and the Placement Agent February Warrants expire three years from the initial exercise date. The pre-funded warrants do not expire. The holder shall deliver the aggregate exercise price for the Depositary Shares specified in the exercise notice within two trading days following the date of exercise (subject to the ‘cashless exercise’ arrangements described below). The pre-funded warrants are exercisable at any time after the initial exercise date until exercised in full and may be exercised on a cashless basis.

  

Cashless Exercise. The Series A warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis. In such event, the aggregate number of Depositary Shares issuable in such cashless exercise pursuant to any given notice of exercise electing to effect an alternative cashless exercise shall equal the product of (x) the aggregate number of Depositary Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of the Series A warrant in accordance with the terms of thereof if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise and (y) 1.00. 

 

Exercise Price. The exercise price of each (i) Series A warrant and Series B warrant is $2.68 per Depositary Share, (ii) pre-funded warrant is $0.0004 per Depositary Share, and (ii) and a portion of the Placement Agent February Warrants are $5.00 per Depositary Share and another portion is $2.90 per Depositary Share, respectively, each subject to the ‘cashless exercise’ arrangements described above and to adjustment as described herein (other than the Placement Agent February Warrants).

 

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Beneficial Ownership Limitation. A holder shall have no right to exercise any portion of a warrant, to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, such holder, together with such holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such holder or any such affiliate, would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% (or in the case of the Placement Agent February Warrants, 4.99%), of the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the Ordinary Shares underlying the Depositary Shares upon such exercise. The holder of the warrant, upon notice to us, may increase or decrease the beneficial ownership limitation to a percentage not to exceed 9.99%, provided that any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation shall not be effective until 61 days following notice to us. Beneficial ownership of the holder and its affiliates will be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Stock dividends and stock splits. If we pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution payable in Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares, or any other equity or equivalent securities, subdivide or combine outstanding Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares, or reclassify Depositary Shares, Ordinary Shares or any shares of our capital stock, the exercise price of each warrant will be adjusted by multiplying the then exercise price by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Depositary Shares (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event, and the denominator of which shall be the number of Depositary Shares outstanding immediately after such event.

 

Rights Offerings; pro rata distributions. If we issue Ordinary Share equivalents or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to holders of Depositary Shares, a holder of a warrant will be entitled to acquire, subject to the beneficial ownership limitation described above, such securities or property that such holder could have acquired if such holder had held the number of Depositary Shares issuable upon complete exercise of the warrant immediately prior to the date a record is taken for such issuance. If we declare or make any dividend or other distribution of assets or rights to acquire assets to holders of Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares, a holder of a warrant will be entitled to participate, subject to the beneficial ownership limitation, in such distribution to the same extent that the holder would have participated therein if the holder had held the number of Depositary Shares issuable upon full exercise of the warrant.

 

Fundamental Transaction. If we effect a fundamental transaction, including, among other things, a merger, sale of substantially all of our assets, tender offer, exchange offer and other business combination transactions, then upon any subsequent exercise of a warrant, the holder thereof shall have the right to receive, for each Ordinary Share represented by the Depositary Shares that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such fundamental transaction, the number of shares of the successor’s or acquiring corporation’s securities, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable as a result of such fundamental transaction by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares represented by the Depositary Shares for which the warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. In addition, with respect to the Series A warrants, Series B warrants and the Placement Agent February Warrants, in the event of a fundamental transaction that is (i) an all cash or substantially all cash transaction, (ii) a “Rule 13e-3 transaction” as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act, or (iii) with certain limited exceptions, a fundamental transaction involving a person or entity not traded on a national securities exchange or other established trading market, including, but not limited to, the London Stock Exchange, AIM, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The NYSE MKT, The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market, The NASDAQ Capital Market, the OTC QX, the OTC QB or the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, then the Company or any successor entity will pay at the holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with or within 30 days after the consummation of the fundamental transaction, an amount of cash equal to the value of the Warrant as determined in accordance with the Black Scholes option pricing model.

  

Transferability. Each warrant and all rights thereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of the warrant, together with a written assignment of the warrant subject to applicable securities laws; provided, however, that the Placement Agent February Warrants are subject to certain FINRA transfer restrictions. We do not intend to apply for listing of the warrants on any securities exchange or other trading system.

 

No Rights as Shareholder Until Exercise. Except as set forth in the warrants, the holders of the warrants do not have any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a holder of our capital stock until they exercise the warrants.

 

 Series C Warrants, Series D Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants

 

The following is a brief summary of the Series C Warrants, Series D Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants issued in connection with the Warrant Private Placement, and is subject in all respects to the provisions contained in the applicable warrants, which, are filed as exhibits to our Report on Form 6-K dated May 24, 2023. Unless otherwise stated, references to warrants in this subsection include the Series C Warrants, Series D Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants.

 

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Exercisability. The warrants became exercisable on June 14, 2023. The Series C Warrants, Series D Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants expire one year, five years and three years, respectively from the initial exercise date. The holder shall deliver the aggregate exercise price for the Depositary Shares specified in the exercise notice within two trading days following the date of exercise (subject to the ‘cashless exercise’ arrangements described below).

 

Cashless Exercise. The Series C Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis. In such event, the aggregate number of Depositary Shares issuable in such cashless exercise pursuant to any given notice of exercise electing to effect an alternative cashless exercise shall equal the product of (x) the aggregate number of Depositary Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of the Series C warrant in accordance with the terms of thereof if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise and (y) 1.00. 

 

Exercise Price. The exercise price of each Series C Warrant and Series D Warrant is $0.20 per Depositary Share and the exercise price of each Placement Agent Warrant is $0.1875 per Depositary Share. The Series C Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis. The Series D Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis, if and only if, we have not filed a registration statement registering the Depositary Shares underlying the Series D warrants within six months of the initial exercise date.

 

Beneficial Ownership Limitation. A holder shall have no right to exercise any portion of a warrant, to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, such holder, together with such holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such holder or any such affiliate, would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% (or in the case of the Placement Agent Warrants, 4.99%), of the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the Ordinary Shares underlying the Depositary Shares upon such exercise. The holder of the warrant, upon notice to us, may increase or decrease the beneficial ownership limitation to a percentage not to exceed 9.99%, provided that any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation shall not be effective until 61 days following notice to us. Beneficial ownership of the holder and its affiliates will be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Stock dividends and stock splits. If we pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution payable in Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares, or any other equity or equivalent securities, subdivide or combine outstanding Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares, or reclassify Depositary Shares, Ordinary Shares or any shares of our capital stock, the exercise price of each warrant will be adjusted by multiplying the then exercise price by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Depositary Shares (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event, and the denominator of which shall be the number of Depositary Shares outstanding immediately after such event.

 

Rights Offerings; pro rata distributions. If we issue Ordinary Share equivalents or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to holders of Depositary Shares, a holder of a warrant will be entitled to acquire, subject to the beneficial ownership limitation described above, such securities or property that such holder could have acquired if such holder had held the number of Depositary Shares issuable upon complete exercise of the warrant immediately prior to the date a record is taken for such issuance. If we declare or make any dividend or other distribution of assets or rights to acquire assets to holders of Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares, a holder of a warrant will be entitled to participate, subject to the beneficial ownership limitation, in such distribution to the same extent that the holder would have participated therein if the holder had held the number of Depositary Shares issuable upon full exercise of the warrant.

 

Fundamental Transaction. If we effect a fundamental transaction, including, among other things, a merger, sale of substantially all of our assets, tender offer, exchange offer and other business combination transactions, then upon any subsequent exercise of a warrant, the holder thereof shall have the right to receive, for each Ordinary Share represented by the Depositary Shares that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such fundamental transaction, the number of shares of the successor’s or acquiring corporation’s securities, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable as a result of such fundamental transaction by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares represented by the Depositary Shares for which the warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. In addition, with respect to the Series C warrants, Series D warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants, in the event of a fundamental transaction that is (i) an all cash or substantially all cash transaction, (ii) a “Rule 13e-3 transaction” as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act, or (iii) with certain limited exceptions, a fundamental transaction involving a person or entity not traded on a national securities exchange or other established trading market, including, but not limited to, the London Stock Exchange, AIM, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The NYSE MKT, The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market, The NASDAQ Capital Market, the OTC QX, the OTC QB or the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, then the Company or any successor entity will pay at the holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with or within 30 days after the consummation of the fundamental transaction, an amount of cash equal to the value of the Warrant as determined in accordance with the Black Scholes option pricing model.

 

Transferability. Each warrant and all rights thereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of the warrant, together with a written assignment of the warrant subject to applicable securities laws; provided, however, that the Placement Agent Warrants are subject to certain FINRA transfer restrictions. We do not intend to apply for listing of the warrants on any securities exchange or other trading system.

 

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No Rights as Shareholder Until Exercise. Except as set forth in the warrants, the holders of the warrants do not have any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a holder of our capital stock until they exercise the warrants.

 

Articles of Association

 

Shares and Rights Attaching to Them

 

Objects

 

The objects of our Company are unrestricted.

 

Share Rights

 

Subject to any special rights attaching to shares already in issue, our shares may be issued with or have attached to them any preferred, deferred or other special rights or privileges or be subject to such restrictions as we may resolve by ordinary resolution of the shareholders or decision of our board of directors, or the Board.

 

Voting Rights

 

Without prejudice to any rights or restrictions as to voting rights attached to any shares forming part of our share capital from time to time, the voting rights attaching to shares are as follows:

 

·on a show of hands every shareholder who is present in person and each duly authorized representative present in person of a shareholder that is a corporation shall have one vote;

 

·on a show of hands, each proxy present in person has one vote for and one vote against a resolution if the proxy has been duly appointed by more than one shareholder and the proxy has been instructed by one or more of those shareholders to vote for the resolution and by one or more other of those shareholders to vote against it;

 

·on a show of hands, each proxy present in person has one vote for and one vote against a resolution if the proxy has been duly appointed by more than one shareholder entitled to vote on the resolution and either: (1) the proxy has been instructed by one or more of those shareholders to vote for the resolution and has been given any discretion by one or more other of those shareholders to vote and the proxy exercises that discretion to vote against it; or (2) the proxy has been instructed by one or more of those shareholders to vote against the resolution and has been given any discretion by one or more other of those shareholders to vote and the proxy exercises that discretion to vote for it; and

 

·on a poll every shareholder who is present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for each share of which he is the holder.

 

At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is demanded. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, a poll may be demanded by:

 

·the chairman of the meeting;

 

·at least five shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote;

 

·any shareholder(s) present in person or by proxy and representing in the aggregate not less than 10% of the total voting rights of all shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution; or

 

·any shareholder(s) present in person or by proxy and holding shares conferring a right to vote on the resolution on which there have been paid up sums in the aggregate equal to not less than 10% of the total sums paid up on all shares conferring that right.

 

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Restrictions on Voting

 

No shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate class meeting in respect of any share held by him unless all calls or other sums payable by him in respect of that share have been paid.

 

The Board may from time to time make calls upon the shareholders in respect of any money unpaid on their shares and each shareholder shall (subject to at least 14 days’ notice specifying the time or times and place of payment) pay at the time or times so specified the amount called on his shares. If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, and the fourteen days’ notice provided by the Board has not been complied with, any share in respect of which such notice was given may be forfeited by a resolution of the Board.

 

A shareholder’s right to attend general or class meetings of the Company or to vote in respect of his or her shares may be suspended by the Board in accordance with our Articles of Association if he or she fails to comply with a proper request for the disclosure of interests regarding the shares. See “—Other United Kingdom Law Considerations—Disclosure of Interest in Shares” in this prospectus.

 

Dividends

 

We may, by ordinary resolution, declare a dividend to be paid to the share owners according to their respective rights and interests in profits, and may fix the time for payment of such dividend. No dividend may be declared in excess of the amount recommended by the directors. The Board may from time to time declare and pay to our share owners such interim dividends as appear to the directors to be justified by our profits available for distribution. There are no fixed dates on which entitlement to dividends arises on our ordinary shares.

 

The share owners may pass on the recommendation of the directors, an ordinary resolution to direct that all or any part of a dividend to be paid by distributing specific assets, in particular paid up shares or debentures of any other body corporate. Our Articles of Association also permit, with the prior authority of an ordinary resolution of shareholders, a scrip dividend scheme under which share owners may be given the opportunity to elect to receive fully paid ordinary shares instead of cash, or a combination of shares and cash, with respect to future dividends.

 

By the way of the exercise of a lien, if a share owner owes us any money relating in any way to shares, the Board may deduct any of this money from any dividend on any shares held by the share owner, or from other money payable by us in respect of the shares. Money deducted in this way may be used to pay the amount owed to us.

 

Unclaimed dividends and other money payable in respect of a share can be invested or otherwise used by directors for our benefit until they are claimed. A dividend or other money remaining unclaimed 12 years after it first became due for payment will be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

 

A shareholder’s right to receive dividends on his shares may, if they represent more than 0.25% of the issued shares of that class, be suspended by the directors if he fails to comply with a proper request for the disclosure of interests regarding the shares. See “—Other United Kingdom Law Considerations—Disclosure of Interests in Shares” in this prospectus.

 

Change of Control

 

There is no specific provision in our Articles of Association that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control. We are, however, subject to the provisions of the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, or the City Code, which contains detailed provisions regulating the timing and manner of any takeover offer for those of the Company’s shares which confer voting rights. See “—Other United Kingdom Law Considerations—City Code on Takeovers and Mergers” in this prospectus.

 

Variation of Rights

 

Whenever our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class may be varied or abrogated in such manner (if any) as may be provided by those rights or (in the absence of any such provision) either with the consent in writing of the holders of at least 75% of the issued shares of that class or with the authority of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

 

Alteration of Share Capital and Repurchases

 

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, and without prejudice to any relevant special rights attached to any class of shares, we may, from time to time:

 

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·increase our share capital by allotting and issuing new shares in accordance with our Articles of Association and any relevant shareholder resolution;

 

·consolidate all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger nominal amount (i.e., par value) than the existing shares;

 

·subdivide any of our shares into shares of a smaller nominal amount (i.e., par value) than our existing shares; or

 

·redenominate our share capital or any class of share capital.

 

Preemptive Rights and New Issuance of Shares

 

Under the Companies Act, the issuance of equity securities (except shares held under an employees’ share scheme) that are to be paid for wholly in cash must be offered first to the existing holders of equity securities in proportion to the respective nominal amounts (i.e., par values) of their holdings on the same or more favorable terms, unless a special resolution to the contrary has been passed or the articles of association otherwise provide an exclusion from this requirement (which exclusion can be for a maximum of five years after which our shareholders’ approval would be required to renew the exclusion). In this context, “equity securities” means ordinary shares (and would exclude shares that, with respect to dividends or capital, carry a right to participate only up to a specified amount in a distribution), and any and all rights to subscribe for or convert securities into such ordinary shares. This differs from U.S. law, under which shareholders generally do not have pre-emptive rights unless specifically granted in the certificate of incorporation or otherwise.

 

The Board seeks general authority to allot shares on a non-pre-emptive basis at each annual general meeting. By way of resolutions passed at our annual general meeting held on June 14, 2023, authorities were given to the directors to generally allot shares in the Company, or to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert or exchange any security into shares in the Company, up to an aggregate nominal amount of £140,000,000, for a period up to the conclusion of our annual general meeting to be held in 2026. Pre-emptive rights under the Companies Act will not apply in respect of allotment of shares for cash made pursuant to such authority.

  

Transfer of Shares

 

Any certificated shareholder may transfer all or any of his shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual common form or in any other manner which is permitted by the Companies Act and approved by the Board. Any written instrument of transfer shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and (in the case of a partly paid share) the transferee.

 

All transfers of uncertificated shares shall be made in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 and the facilities and requirements of its relevant system. The Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 permit shares to be issued and held in uncertificated form and transferred by means of a computer-based system.

 

The Board may decline to register any transfer of any share unless it is:

 

·a fully paid share;

 

·a share on which the Company has no lien;

 

·in respect of only one class of shares;

 

·in favor of a single transferee or not more than four transferees;

 

·duly stamped or duly certificated or otherwise shown the satisfaction of the Board to be exempt from any required stamp duty; or

 

·delivered for registration at the Company’s registered office or such other place as the Board may decide, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates (other than uncertificated shares) and any other evidence the Board may reasonably require to provide the title to such share of the transferor.

 

If the Board declines to register a transfer, it shall, as soon as practicable and in any event within two months after the date on which the transfer is lodged, send to the transferee notice of the refusal, together with reasons for the refusal.

 

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CREST

 

CREST is a computerized paperless share transfer and settlement system which allows securities to be transferred by electronic means, without the need for a written instrument of transfer. The Articles of Association are consistent with CREST membership and, among other things, allow for the holding and transfer of shares in uncertificated form.

 

Shareholder Meetings

 

Annual General Meetings

 

In accordance with the Companies Act, we are required in each year to hold an annual general meeting in addition to any other general meetings in that year and to specify the meeting as such in the notice convening it. The annual general meeting shall be convened whenever and wherever the board sees fit, subject to the requirements of the Companies Act.

 

Notice of General Meetings

  

Subject to certain conditions, holders of Depositary Shares are entitled to receive notices under the terms of the deposit agreement relating to the Depositary Shares. See “Description of American Depositary Shares—Voting Rights” in this prospectus.

 

Quorum of General Meetings

 

No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present, but the absence of a quorum shall not preclude the appointment, choice or election of a chairman which shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting. At least two shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum for all purposes.

 

Class Meetings

 

The provisions in the Articles of Association relating to general meetings apply to every separate general meeting of the holders of a class of shares except that:

 

·no member, other than a member of the Board, shall be entitled to notice of it or attend such meeting unless he is a holder of shares of that class;

 

·the quorum for such class meeting shall be two holders in person or by proxy representing not less than one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class;

 

·at the class meeting, a holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll and shall on a poll be entitled to one vote for every shares of the class held by him; and

 

·if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum is not present at the meeting, one holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy at an adjourned meeting constitutes a quorum.

 

Directors

 

Number of Directors

 

We may not have less than two directors on our Board. We have no maximum number of directors, though we may fix a maximum number by ordinary resolution of the shareholders. We may, by ordinary resolution of the shareholders, vary the minimum and any maximum number of directors from time to time.

 

Appointment of Directors

 

Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Association, we may, by ordinary resolution of the shareholders, elect any person to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing board.

 

Without prejudice to the power to appoint any person to be a director by shareholder resolution, the Board has the power to appoint any person to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board. Any director appointed by the Board will hold office only until the earlier to occur of the close of the next following annual general meeting and someone being appointed in his stead at that meeting. Such a director is eligible for re-election at that meeting but shall not be taken into account in determining the directors or the number of directors who are to retire by rotation at such meeting.

 

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Rotation of Directors

 

At every annual general meeting, one-third of the directors or, if their number is not a multiple of three, then the number nearest to and not exceeding one-third, shall retire from office and each director must retire from office at least once every three years. If there are fewer than three directors, one director shall make himself or herself available for re-election.

 

The directors to retire on each occasion shall be those subject to retirement by rotation who have been longest in office since their last election, but as between persons who became or were re-elected directors on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree amongst themselves) be determined by lot.

 

A director who retires at the annual general meeting shall be eligible for re-election.

 

The shareholders may, at the meeting at which a director retires, fill the vacated office by electing a person and in default the retiring director shall, if willing to continue to act, be deemed to have been re-elected, unless at such meeting it is expressly resolved not to fill such vacated office or unless a resolution for the re-election of such director shall have been put to the meeting and lost or such director has given notice in writing to us that he is unwilling to be re-elected or such director has attained the retirement age applicable to him as director pursuant to the Companies Act.

 

Director’s Interests

 

The Board may authorize, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any matter proposed to them which would otherwise result in a director infringing his duty to avoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with our interests and which may reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest. A director shall not, save as otherwise agreed by him, be accountable to us for any benefit which he (or a person connected with him) derives from any matter authorized by the directors and any contract, transaction or arrangement relating thereto shall not be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such benefit.

 

Subject to the requirements under Sections 175, 177 and 182 of the Companies Act (which require a director to avoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly conflicts, with our interests, and to declare any interest that he has, whether directly or indirectly, in a proposed or existing transaction or arrangement with us), and provided that he has disclosed to the Board the nature and extent of any interest of his in accordance with the Companies Act and the Articles of Association, a director notwithstanding his office:

 

·may be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with us or in which we are otherwise interested;

 

·may be a director or other officer of, or employed by, or a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate promoted by us or in which we are otherwise interested; and

 

·shall not, by reason of his office, be accountable to us for any benefit which he derives from any such office or employment or from any such transaction or arrangement or from any interest in any such body corporate and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit. In the case of interests arising where a director is in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in (a) a proposed transaction or arrangement with us or (b) a transaction or arrangement that has been entered into by us and save as otherwise provided by the Articles of Association, such director shall not vote at a meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board on any resolution concerning such matter in which he has a material interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interest in shares, debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, us) unless his interest or duty arises only because the case falls within one or more of the following paragraphs:

 

·the resolution relates to the giving to him or a person connected with him of a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of money lent to, or an obligation incurred by him or such a person at the request of or for the benefit of, us or any of our subsidiaries;

 

·the resolution relates to the giving of a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of a debt or obligation of ours or any of our subsidiaries for which the director or a person connected with him has assumed responsibility in whole or part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;

 

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·the resolution relates in any way to any other company in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer or shareholder or otherwise howsoever, provided that he and any persons connected with him do not to his knowledge, hold an interest in shares representing one per cent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such company or of the voting rights available to shareholder of such company;

 

·the resolution relates in any way to an arrangement for the benefit of our employees or any employees of our subsidiaries which does not award him as such any privilege or benefit not generally awarded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates;

 

·the resolution relates in any way to the purchase or maintenance for the directors of insurance; or

 

·the resolution is in respect of any matter in which the interest of the director cannot reasonably be regarded as conflicting.

 

A director shall not be counted in the quorum present at a meeting in relation to a resolution on which he is not entitled to vote.

 

If a question arises at a meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board as to the right of a director to vote or be counted in the quorum, and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting or not to be counted in the quorum, the question may, before the conclusion of the meeting, be referred to the chairman of the meeting and his ruling in relation to any director other than himself shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of the director concerned has not been fairly disclosed.

 

An interest of a person connected with a director shall be treated as an interest of the director and Section 252 of the Companies Act shall determine whether a person is connected with a director.

 

Directors’ Fees and Remuneration

 

Each of the directors shall be paid a fee at such rate as may from time to time be determined by the Board (or for the avoidance of doubt any duly authorized committee of the Board) provided that the aggregate of all such fees so paid to directors shall not exceed £600,000 per annum, or such higher amount as may from time to time be determined by ordinary resolution of shareholders.

 

Each director may be paid his reasonable traveling, hotel and other expenses of attending and returning from meetings of the Board or committees thereof of or general meetings or separate meetings of the holders’ class of shares or of debentures and shall be paid all expenses properly and reasonably incurred by him in the conduct of the Company’s business or in the discharge of his duties as a director. Any director who, by request, goes or resides abroad for any purposes required by us or who performs services which in the opinion of the Board go beyond the ordinary duties of a director may be paid such extra remuneration as the Board may determine.

 

An executive director shall receive such remuneration as the Board may determine, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration as a director as detailed above.

 

Age Limitations and Share Ownership

 

We do not have any age limitations for our directors, nor do we have mandatory retirement as a result of reaching a certain age. Our directors are not required to hold any shares in the Company.  

 

Borrowing Power

 

Our directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow or raise money and mortgage or charge all or any part of our undertaking, property and assets (present and future), and uncalled capital. Subject to the Companies Act, the directors may also create and issue debentures, other loan stock and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. Our directors are required to restrict the borrowings of the Company to ensure that the aggregate principal amount of borrowings at any one time outstanding and all of its subsidiary undertakings (other than intra-Group borrowing) shall not at any time, without the previous sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company, exceed two times the gross asset value of the Company and our subsidiaries.

 

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Liability of Biodexa and its Directors and Officers

 

Subject to the provisions on indemnities set out in Companies Act, every director, alternate director or former director (and of any associated company) shall be entitled to be indemnified out of our assets against all costs and liabilities incurred by him or her in relation to any proceedings or any regulatory investigation or action which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by him or her as a director so long as the indemnities do not cover liability for breach of duty to the Company or cover any fine, costs or related expense in connection with any proceedings for default on the part of the director. Lawful indemnities extend to the provision of funds to him or her by the Company to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him in defending himself in any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) or in connection with an application for statutory relief or in an investigation by a regulatory authority which must however be repaid where such proceedings, application, investigation or action are in connection with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him or her in relation to the Company (or any associated company of ours) and he or she is convicted or found in default thereof. Under English law, any provision that purports to exempt a director of a company (to any extent) from any liability that would otherwise attach to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company is void.

 

Under a deed poll declared by us on August 5, 2015, or the Deed of Indemnity, our Board and our Company Secretary are indemnified against costs and liabilities incurred in connection with their office, other than any liability owed by such person to the Company itself (or any of our associated entities) and other than indemnification for liabilities in certain circumstances, which are prohibited by virtue of the Companies Act. The Deed of Indemnity provides that a director may also be lent sums to finance any relevant defense costs, provided that, in the event such proceedings involve criminal or civil matters in which the person is convicted or has a judgment made against him or her, then such loan must be repaid. Our total aggregate liability under the Deed of Indemnity is £5 million.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to a charter provision, by-law, contract, arrangements, statute or otherwise, we acknowledge that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

Other United Kingdom Law Considerations

 

Mandatory Purchases and Acquisitions

 

Pursuant to Sections 979 to 991 of the Companies Act, where a takeover offer has been made for us and the offeror has acquired or unconditionally contracted to acquire not less than 90% in value of the shares to which the offer relates and not less than 90% of the voting rights carried by those shares, the offeror may give notice to the holder of any shares to which the offer relates which the offeror has not acquired or unconditionally contracted to acquire that he wishes to acquire, and is entitled to so acquire, those shares on the same terms as the general offer. The offeror would do so by sending a notice to the outstanding minority shareholders telling them that it will compulsorily acquire their shares. Such notice must be sent within three months of the last day on which the offer can be accepted in the prescribed manner. The squeeze-out of the minority shareholders can be completed at the end of six weeks from the date the notice has been given, following which the offeror can execute a transfer of the outstanding shares in its favor and pay the consideration to us, and we would hold the consideration on trust for the outstanding minority shareholders. The consideration offered to the outstanding minority shareholders whose shares are compulsorily acquired under the Companies Act must, in general, be the same as the consideration that was available under the takeover offer.

 

Sell Out

 

The Companies Act also gives our minority shareholders a right to be bought out in certain circumstances by an offeror who has made a takeover offer for all of our shares. The holder of shares to which the offer relates, and who has not otherwise accepted the offer, may require the offeror to acquire his shares if, prior to the expiry of the acceptance period for such offer, (i) the offeror has acquired or agreed to acquire not less than 90% in value of the voting shares, and (ii) not less than 90% of the voting rights carried by those shares. The offeror may impose a time limit on the rights of minority shareholders to be bought out that is not less than three months after the end of the acceptance period. If a shareholder exercises his rights to be bought out, the offeror is required to acquire those shares on the terms of this offer or on such other terms as may be agreed.

 

Disclosure of Interest in Shares

 

Pursuant to Part 22 of the Companies Act, we are empowered by notice in writing to any person whom we know or have reasonable cause to believe to be interested in our shares, or at any time during the three years immediately preceding the date on which the notice is issued has been so interested, requiring such person within a reasonable time to disclose to us particulars of that person’s interest and (so far as is within his knowledge) particulars of any other interest that subsists or subsisted in those shares. The Articles of Association specify that a response is required from such person within 14 days after service of any such notice.

 

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Under the Articles of Association, if a person defaults in supplying us with the required particulars in relation to the shares in question, or the “Default Shares, the directors may by notice direct that:

 

·in respect of the Default Shares, the relevant member shall not be entitled to attend or vote (either in person or by proxy) at any general meeting or of a general meeting of the holders of a class of shares or upon any poll or to exercise any right conferred by the Default Shares; and/or

 

·where the Default Shares represent at least 0.25% of their class, (a) any dividend (or any part of a dividend) payable in respect of the Default Shares shall be retained by us without liability to pay interest, (b) the shareholder may not be entitled to elect to receive shares instead of a dividend, and (c) no transfers by the relevant member of any Default Shares may be registered (unless the member himself is not in default and the transfer does not relate to Default Shares, the transfer is exempt or that the transfer is permitted under the U.K. Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001).

 

Purchase of Own Shares

 

Under English law, a limited company may only purchase or redeem its own shares out of the distributable profits of the company or the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of financing the purchase, provided that they are not restricted from doing so by their articles. A limited company may not purchase or redeem its own shares if, as a result of the purchase, there would no longer be any issued shares of the company other than redeemable shares or shares held as treasury shares. Shares must be fully paid in order to be repurchased.

 

Subject to the above, we may purchase our own shares in the manner prescribed below. We may make a market purchase of our own fully paid shares pursuant to an ordinary resolution of shareholders. The resolution authorizing the purchase must:

 

·specify the maximum number of shares authorized to be acquired;

 

·determine the maximum and minimum prices that may be paid for the shares; and

 

·specify a date, not being later than five years after the passing of the resolution, on which the authority to purchase is to expire.

 

We may purchase our own fully paid shares otherwise than on a recognized investment exchange pursuant to a purchase contract authorized by resolution of shareholders before the purchase takes place. Any authority will not be effective if any shareholder from whom we propose to purchase shares votes on the resolution and the resolution would not have been passed if he had not done so. The resolution authorizing the purchase must specify a date, not being later than five years after the passing of the resolution, on which the authority to purchase is to expire.

 

Distributions and Dividends

 

Under the Companies Act, before a company can lawfully make a distribution or dividend, it must ensure that it has sufficient distributable reserves (on a non-consolidated basis). The basic rule is that a company’s profits available for the purpose of making a distribution are its accumulated, realized profits, so far as not previously utilized by distribution or capitalization, less its accumulated, realized losses, so far as not previously written off in a reduction or reorganization of capital duly made. The requirement to have sufficient distributable reserves before a distribution or dividend can be paid applies to us and to each of our subsidiaries that has been incorporated under English law.

 

It is not sufficient that we, as a public company, have made a distributable profit for the purpose of making a distribution. An additional capital maintenance requirement is imposed on us to ensure that the net worth of the company is at least equal to the amount of its capital. A public company can only make a distribution:

 

·if, at the time that the distribution is made, the amount of its net assets (that is, the total excess of assets over liabilities) is not less than the total of its called-up share capital and undistributable reserves; and

 

·if, and to the extent that, the distribution itself, at the time that it is made, does not reduce the amount of the net assets to less than that total.

 

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City Code on Takeovers and Mergers

 

The Company is a public limited company incorporated in, and with its registered office in, the United Kingdom but its securities are not admitted to trading on a regulated market or multilateral trading facility in the United Kingdom (or a stock exchange in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man). The City Code shall only apply to the Company if it is considered by the United Kingdom Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, or the Panel, to have its place of central management and control in the United Kingdom (or the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man). This is known as the “residency test”. The way in which the test for central management and control is applied for the purposes of the City Code may be different from the way in which it is applied by the United Kingdom tax authorities, HMRC. Under the City Code, the Panel typically considers where the majority of the directors of the Company are resident, amongst other factors, for the purposes of determining where the Company has its place of central management and control. Three of the four directors of the Company are currently resident in the United Kingdom and the place of central management and control of the Company is intended, for the time being, to remain in the United Kingdom meaning that the Company and its shareholders will have the benefit of the protections that the City Code affords, including, but not limited to, under Rule 9 of the City Code as set out below.

 

The City Code is issued and administered by the United Kingdom Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, or the Panel. The City Code provides a framework within which takeovers of companies subject to it are conducted. In particular, the City Code contains certain rules in respect of mandatory offers. Under Rule 9 of the City Code, if a person:

 

·acquires an interest in our shares which, when taken together with shares in which he or persons acting in concert with him are interested, carries 30% or more of the voting rights of our shares; or

 

·who, together with persons acting in concert with him, is interested in shares that in the aggregate carry not less than 30% and not more than 50% of the voting rights in us, acquires additional interests in shares that increase the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which that person is interested,

 

the acquirer, and depending on the circumstances, its concert parties would be required (except with the consent of the Panel) to make a cash offer for our outstanding shares at a price not less than the highest price paid for any interests in the shares by the acquirer or its concert parties during the previous 12 months.

 

Notwithstanding the above, the Company may cease to be subject to the City Code in the future if there are any changes that lead to the Company being deemed to no longer have its place of central management and control in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

 

Exchange Controls

 

There are no governmental laws, decrees, regulations or other legislation in the United Kingdom that may affect the import or export of capital, including the availability of cash and cash equivalents for use by us, or that may affect the remittance of dividends, interest, or other payments by us to non-resident holders of our Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares, other than withholding tax requirements. There is no limitation imposed by English law or in the Articles of Association on the right of non-residents to hold or vote shares. 

 

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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

General

 

The Depositary Shares representing our Ordinary Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BDRX.” The Bank of New York Mellon is the depositary for the Depositary Shares. Each Depositary Share represents ownership of five Ordinary Shares deposited with the Bank of New York Mellon London Branch, as custodian for the depositary. Each Depositary Share also represents ownership of any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s principal office at which the Depositary Shares will be administered and its principal executive office are located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10286.

 

You may hold Depositary Shares either (1) directly (a) by having an American Depositary Receipt, or ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of Depositary Shares, registered in your name, or (b) by having Depositary Shares registered in your name in the Direct Registration System, or (2) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in Depositary Shares through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold Depositary Shares directly, you are a registered Depositary Share holder. This description assumes you are a Depositary Share holder. If you hold the Depositary Shares indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of Depositary Share holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

 

The Direct Registration System, or DRS, is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the Depositary Share holders entitled thereto.

 

We will not treat Depositary Share holders as our shareholders and accordingly, Depositary Shares holders will not have shareholder rights. English law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the Ordinary Shares underlying the Depositary Shares. Holders of Depositary Shares will have the rights of Depositary Share holders. A Deposit Agreement sets out Depositary Share holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. The laws of the State of New York govern the Deposit Agreement and the Depositary Shares.

 

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Deposit Agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire Deposit Agreement and the form of American Depositary Receipt, which are filed as exhibits to this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 56 of this prospectus.

 

Holding the Depositary Shares

 

How will you hold your Depositary Shares?

 

You may hold Depositary Shares either (i) directly (a) by having an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of Depositary Shares, registered in your name, or (b) by holding Depositary Shares in DRS, or (ii) indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold Depositary Shares directly, you are a Depositary Share holder. This description assumes you hold your Depositary Shares directly. Depositary Shares will be issued through DRS unless you specifically request certificated ADRs. If you hold the Depositary Shares indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of Depositary Share holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the Ordinary Shares?

 

The depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on Ordinary Shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of ordinary shares your Depositary Shares represent as of the record date (which will be as close as practicable to the record date for Ordinary Shares) set by the depositary with respect to the Depositary Shares.

 

Cash. The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the Ordinary Shares or any net proceeds from the sale of any Ordinary Shares, rights, securities, or other entitlements into U.S. dollars if it can do so on a practicable basis, and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not practical or lawful or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary either to distribute the foreign currency to the Depositary Share holders, or to hold the foreign currency for the account of the Depositary Share holders, in which case it will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.

 

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Before making a distribution, any taxes or other governmental charges, together with fees and expenses of the depositary, that must be paid, will be deducted. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents down to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.

 

Shares. The depositary may distribute additional Depositary Shares representing any Ordinary Shares it distributes as a dividend or free distribution to the extent reasonably practicable and permissible under law. The depositary will only distribute whole Depositary Shares. It will sell Ordinary Shares which would require it to deliver a fractional Depositary Share and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional Depositary Shares, the outstanding Depositary Shares will, to the extent permissible by law, also represent the new Ordinary Shares. The depositary may also sell all or a portion of the Ordinary Shares that is has not distributed, and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. Additionally, the depositary may sell a portion of the distributed Ordinary Shares sufficient to pay its fees and expenses, and any taxes and governmental charges, in connection with that distribution.

 

Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares. If we offer holders of our Ordinary Shares the option to receive dividends in either cash or Ordinary Shares, the depositary, after consultation with us and having received timely notice as described in the deposit agreement of such elective distribution by us, has discretion to determine to what extent such elective distribution will be made available to you as a holder of the Depositary Shares. We must first instruct the depositary to make such elective distribution available to you and furnish it with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. The depositary could decide it is not legal or reasonably practical to make such elective distribution available to you. In such case, the depositary shall, on the basis of the same determination as is made in respect of the ordinary shares for which no election is made, distribute either cash in the same way as it does in a cash distribution, or additional Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares in the same way as it does in a share distribution. The depositary is not obligated to make available to you a method to receive the elective dividend in Ordinary Shares rather than in Depositary Shares. There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Ordinary Shares.

 

Rights to Purchase Additional Shares. If we offer holders of our Ordinary Shares any rights to subscribe for additional Ordinary Shares or any other rights, the depositary may after consultation with us and having received timely notice as described in the deposit agreement of such distribution by us, make these rights available to you. We must first instruct the depositary to make such rights available to you and furnish the depositary with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. If the depositary decides it is not legal and reasonably practicable to make the rights available, or if rights have been made available but have not been exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the depositary may, if it determines it is lawful and reasonably practicable to do so, endeavor to sell the rights and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them.

 

If the depositary makes rights available to you, it will establish procedures to distribute such rights and enable you to exercise the rights upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. The depositary shall not be obliged to make available to you a method to exercise such rights to subscribe for Ordinary Shares (rather than Depositary Shares).

 

The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed rights sufficient to pay its fees and expenses, and any taxes and governmental charges, in connection with that distribution.

 

There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Ordinary Shares, or be able to exercise such rights.

 

U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the Depositary Shares represented by shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these Depositary Shares freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the Depositary Shares described in this section, except for changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.

 

Other Distributions. Subject to receipt of timely notice, as described in the Deposit Agreement, from us with the request to make any such distribution available to you, and provided the depositary has determined such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will send to you anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is practicable, upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. If the depositary cannot make a distribution in this way, it may endeavor to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary is unable to sell what we distributed, it may dispose of such property in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances for nominal or no consideration. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay its fees and expenses and any taxes and governmental charges in connection with that distribution.

 

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The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any Depositary Share holders. We have no obligation to register Depositary Shares, ordinary shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of Depositary Shares, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to Depositary Share holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us or the depositary to make them available to you.

 

Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation

 

How are Depositary Shares issued?

 

The depositary will deliver Depositary Shares if you or your broker deposit Ordinary Shares or evidence of rights to receive Ordinary Shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of Depositary Shares in the names you request and will deliver the Depositary Shares to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto.

 

 How do Depositary Share holders cancel an American Depositary Share?

 

You may turn in your Depositary Shares at the depositary’s principal office or by providing appropriate instructions to your broker. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the Ordinary Shares and any other deposited securities underlying the Depositary Shares to you or a person you designate at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its principal office, to the extent permitted by law.

 

How do Depositary Share holders interchange between Certificated Depositary Shares and Uncertificated Depositary Shares?

 

You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated Depositary Shares. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send you a statement confirming that you are the owner of uncertificated Depositary Shares. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a holder of uncertificated Depositary Shares requesting the exchange of uncertificated Depositary Shares for certificated Depositary Shares, the depositary will execute and deliver to you an ADR evidencing those Depositary Shares.

 

Voting Rights

 

How do you vote?

 

You may instruct the depositary to vote the Ordinary Shares or other deposited securities underlying your Depositary Shares. Otherwise, you could exercise your right to vote directly if you withdraw the Ordinary Shares. However, you may not know about the meeting sufficiently enough in advance to withdraw the Ordinary Shares.

 

If we ask for your instructions and upon timely notice from us as described in the deposit agreement, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you by regular, ordinary mail delivery, or by electronic transmission. The materials will (i) describe the matters to be voted on and (ii) explain how you may instruct the depositary to vote the Ordinary Shares or other deposited securities underlying your Depositary Shares as you direct. For your voting instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them in writing on or before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to applicable law and the provisions of the deposit agreement, the deposited securities and our articles of association, to vote or to have its agents vote the ordinary shares or other deposited securities as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct.

 

We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the Ordinary Shares underlying your Depositary Shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner in which any vote is cast. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and you may have no recourse if the Ordinary Shares underlying your Depositary Shares are not voted as you requested.

 

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In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we will give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted at least 30 days in advance of the meeting date.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

As a Depositary Share holder, you will be required to pay the following service fees to the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental charges (in addition to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities represented by any of your Depositary Shares):


Service
  Fees
   
•     to any person to whom Depositary Shares are issued or to any person to whom a distribution is made in respect of Depositary Share distributions pursuant to stock dividends or other free distributions of stock, bonus distributions, stock splits or other distributions (except where converted to cash)   Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share issued
   
•     to any person surrendering Depositary Shares for withdrawal of deposited securities or whose Depositary Shares are cancelled or reduced for any other reason including, inter alia, cash distributions made pursuant to a cancellation or withdrawal   Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share cancelled
   
•     Distribution of cash dividends   Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share held
   
•     Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds, including proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements   Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share held
   
•     Distribution of Depositary Shares pursuant to exercise of rights.   Up to US$0.05 per Depositary Share held
   
•     Depositary services   Up to US$0.05 annually per Depositary Share held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary bank

 

In addition, Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners of Depositary Shares, persons depositing Ordinary Shares for deposit and persons surrendering Depositary Shares for cancellation and withdrawal of deposited securities will be required to pay the following charges:

 

·taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;

 

·such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of Ordinary Shares or other deposited securities with our share registrar and applicable to transfers of Ordinary Shares or other deposited securities to or from the name of the custodian, the depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;

 

·such cable, telex, facsimile and electronic transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be at the expense of the person depositing or withdrawing Ordinary Shares or Depositary Share holders and beneficial owners of Depositary Shares;

 

·the expenses, fees and other charges incurred by the depositary in the conversion of foreign currency, including, without limitation, the expenses, fees and other charges imposed by any affiliate of the depositary (which may, in its sole discretion, act in a principal capacity in such transaction) that may be utilized in connection therewith;

 

·such fees and expenses as are incurred by the depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to ordinary shares, deposited securities, Depositary Shares and ADRs;

 

·the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with the delivery of deposited securities, including any fees of a central depository for securities in the local market, where applicable; and

 

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·any fees, charges, costs or expenses that may be incurred from time to time by the depositary and/or any of the depositary’s agents, including the custodian, and/or agents of the depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of ordinary shares, deposited securities and/or Depositary Shares, the sale of securities (including, without limitation, deposited securities), the delivery of deposited securities or otherwise in connection with the depositary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation (such fees, charges, costs or expenses to be assessed against Depositary Share holders of record as at the date or dates set by the depositary as it sees fit and collected at the sole discretion of the depositary by billing such Depositary Share holders for such fee or by deducting such fee from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).

 

The depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of Depositary Shares are typically paid to the depositary bank by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly issued Depositary Shares from the depositary bank and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the Depositary Shares to the depositary bank for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these fees to their clients. Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to Depositary Share holders and the depositary services fee are charged by the depositary bank to the holders of record of Depositary Shares as of the applicable Depositary Share record date.

 

The depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. In the case of distributions other than cash (i.e., share dividends, rights), the depositary bank charges the applicable fee to the Depositary Share record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of Depositary Shares registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or uncertificated in direct registration), the depositary bank sends invoices to the applicable record date Depositary Share holders. In the case of Depositary Shares held in brokerage and custodian accounts (via DTC), the depositary bank generally collects its fees through the systems provided by DTC (whose nominee is the registered holder of the Depositary Shares held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding Depositary Shares in their DTC accounts. The brokers and custodians who hold their clients’ Depositary Shares in DTC accounts in turn charge their clients’ accounts the amount of the fees paid to the depositary banks.

 

In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary bank may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the Depositary Share holder.

 

The depositary has agreed to reimburse us for a portion of certain expenses it incurs that are related to establishment and maintenance of the ADR program, including investor relations expenses. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the depositary will reimburse us, but the amount of reimbursement available to us is not related to the amounts of fees the depositary collects from investors. Further, the depositary has agreed to reimburse us certain fees payable to the depositary by holders of Depositary Shares. Neither we nor the depositary can determine the exact amount to be made available to us because (i) the number of Depositary Shares that will be issued and outstanding, (ii) the level of service fees to be charged to holders of Depositary Shares and (iii) its reimbursable expenses related to the program are not known at this time.

 

Payment of Taxes

 

You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable, or which become payable, on your Depositary Shares or on the deposited securities represented by any of your Depositary Shares. The depositary may refuse to register or transfer your Depositary Shares or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your Depositary Shares until such taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your Depositary Shares to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of Depositary Shares to reflect the sale and pay to you any net proceeds, or send to you any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes. You agree to indemnify us, the depositary, the custodian and each of their respective agents, directors, employees and affiliates for, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes and additions to tax (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained for or by you. Your obligations under this paragraph shall survive any transfer of ADRs, any surrender of ADRs and withdrawal of deposited securities or the termination of the deposit agreement.

 

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Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers, etc.

 

If we:   Then:
·   Change the nominal or par value of our ordinary shares   The cash, ordinary shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities.    
       
·   Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities   Each Depositary Share will automatically represent its equal share of new deposited securities.  
       
·   Distribute securities on the ordinary shares that are not distributed to you   The depositary may also deliver new Depositary Shares or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities. The depositary may also sell the new deposited securities and distribute the net proceeds if we are unable to assure the depositary that the distribution (a) does not require registration under the Securities Act or (b) is exempt from registration under the Securities Act.  
       
·   Recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action   Any replacement securities received by the depositary shall be treated as newly deposited securities and either the existing Depositary Shares or, if necessary, replacement Depositary Shares distributed by the depositary will represent the replacement securities. The depositary may also sell the replacement securities and distribute the net proceeds if the replacement securities may not be lawfully distributed to all Depositary Share holders.  

 

Upon any change in our par value, split-up, subdivision cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of our Ordinary Shares, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation or sale of assets affecting us or to which we otherwise are a party, any securities which shall be received by the depositary or a custodian in exchange for, or in conversion of or replacement or otherwise in respect of, our ordinary shares shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as new deposited securities under the deposit agreement, and the ADRs shall, subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement and applicable law, evidence Depositary Shares representing the right to receive such additional securities. Alternatively, the depositary may, with our approval, and shall, if we request, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement and receipt of an opinion of our counsel satisfactory to the depositary that such distributions are not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, execute and deliver additional ADRs as in the case of a stock dividend on our ordinary shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding ADRs to be exchanged for new ADRs, in either case, as well as in the event of newly deposited ordinary shares, with necessary modifications to the form of ADR specifically describing such new deposited securities and/or corporate change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any security so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Depositary Share holders, the depositary may, with our approval, and shall if we request, subject to receipt of an opinion from our counsel satisfactory to the depositary that such distributions are not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, sell such securities at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and may allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the depositary and taxes and governmental charges) for the account of the Depositary Share holders otherwise entitled to such securities upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Depositary Share holders and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to the deposit agreement. In accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement, the depositary is not responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such securities available to Depositary Share holders in general or any Depositary Share holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such securities.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

How may the deposit agreement be amended?

 

We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the form of ADR without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, including expenses incurred in connection with foreign exchange control regulations and other charges specifically payable by Depositary Share holders under the deposit agreement, or materially prejudices a substantial existing right of Depositary Share holders, it will not become effective for outstanding Depositary Shares until 30 days after the depositary notifies Depositary Share holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your Depositary Shares, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended. If any new laws are adopted which would require the deposit agreement to be amended in order to comply therewith, we and the depositary may amend the deposit agreement in accordance with such laws and such amendment may become effective before notice thereof is given to Depositary Share holders.

 

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How may the deposit agreement be terminated?

 

The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement if we ask it to do so, in which case the depositary will give notice to you at least 90 days prior to termination. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement if the depositary has told us that it would like to resign, or if we have removed the depositary, and in either case we have not appointed a new depositary within 90 days. In either such case, the depositary must notify you at least 30 days before termination.

 

After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property and deliver ordinary shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation of Depositary Shares after payment of any fees, charges, taxes or other governmental charges. Six months or more after termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, for the pro rata benefit of the Depositary Share holders that have not surrendered their Depositary Shares. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. The depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination, our only obligations under the deposit agreement will be to indemnify the depositary and to pay fees and expenses of the depositary that we agreed to pay.

 

Books of Depositary

 

The depositary will maintain Depositary Share holder records at its depositary office. You may inspect such records at such office during regular business hours but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of our business or matters relating to the Depositary Shares or the deposit agreement.

 

The depositary will maintain facilities in New York to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of ADRs.

 

These facilities may be closed from time to time, to the extent not prohibited by law or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the depositary, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law, any government or governmental body or commission or any securities exchange on which the ADRs or Depositary Shares are listed, or under any provision of the deposit agreement or provisions of, or governing, the deposited securities, or any meeting of our shareholders or for any other reason.

 

Limitations on Obligations and Liability

 

Limits on Our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of Depositary Shares

 

The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary and its directors, officers, affiliates, employees and agents.

 

We and the depositary, and each of our and their respective directors, officers, affiliates, employees and agents:

 

·are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without gross negligence or willful misconduct;

 

·are not liable to Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners or any third parties if prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the deposit agreement or the ADRs, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any state thereof, the United Kingdom or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraints or by reason of any provision, present or future of our constituent documents or any provision of or governing any deposited securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond their control, (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure beyond such party’s control);

 

·are not liable to Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners or any third parties by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the deposit agreement or in our constituent documents or provisions of or governing deposited securities;

 

·are not liable to Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners or any third parties for the inability of any holder of Depositary Shares to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit made available to holders of deposited securities that is not made available to holders of Depositary Shares under the terms of the deposit agreement;

 

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·have no obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities, the ADRs, or the deposit agreement, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liabilities be furnished as often as may be required (and no custodian shall be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the custodian being solely to the depositary);

 

·may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, opinion or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

·disclaim any liability for any action/inaction in reliance on the advice or information of legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting ordinary shares for deposit, holders and beneficial owners (or authorized representatives) of Depositary Shares, or any other person believed in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information; and

 

·disclaim any liability to Depositary Share holders, beneficial owners or any third parties for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement or otherwise.

 

Neither the depositary nor the custodian shall be liable under the deposit agreement or otherwise for the failure by any Depositary Share holder or beneficial owner to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such Depositary Share holder’s or beneficial owner’s income tax liability. The depositary and any of its agents also disclaim any liability for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote, the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote or failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable or for allowing any rights to lapse in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement, the failure or timeliness of any notice from us, the content of any information submitted to it by us for distribution to you or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, any investment risk associated with the acquisition of an interest in the deposited securities, the validity or worth of the deposited securities, the credit-worthiness of any third party, or for any tax consequences that may result from ownership of Depositary Shares, Ordinary Shares or deposited securities. The depositary and its agents shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary.

 

In connection with the sale of securities, including, without limitation, deposited securities, the deposit agreement provides that the depositary shall not have any liability for the price received in connection with any such sale, the timing thereof or any delay in action or omission to act nor shall it be responsible for any error or delay in action, omission to act, default or negligence on the part of the party so retained in connection with any such sale or proposed sale.

 

The depositary will have the right, in its sole discretion, to refer any claim or dispute arising directly or indirectly from the relationship created by the deposit agreement to arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration proceeding shall be conducted by three arbitrators, one nominated by the Depositary, one nominated by the Company, and one nominated by the two party-appointed arbitrators. Any judgment, rendered by the arbitrators may be enforced in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The arbitration shall occur in New York, New York, and the procedural law of such arbitration shall be New York law. The arbitration provisions of the deposit agreement do not preclude you from pursuing claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act in federal courts. In addition, the deposit agreement provides that each party to the deposit agreement (including each holder, beneficial owner and holder of interests in the ADRs) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in any lawsuit or proceeding against the depositary or us related to our ordinary shares, the Depositary Shares or the deposit agreement.

 

In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.

 

Requirements for Depositary Actions

 

Before the depositary will issue, deliver or register a transfer of a Depositary Share, split-up, subdivide or combine Depositary Shares, make a distribution on a Depositary Share, or permit withdrawal of ordinary shares, the depositary may require:

 

·payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any Ordinary Shares or other deposited securities and payment of the applicable fees, expenses and charges of the depositary;

 

·satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matters contemplated in the deposit agreement; and

 

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·compliance with applicable laws and governmental regulations, and such reasonable regulations and procedures as the depositary may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement and applicable law, including presentation of transfer documents.

 

The depositary may refuse to issue and deliver Depositary Shares or register transfers of Depositary Shares generally when the register of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary determines that it is necessary or advisable to do so.

 

Your Right to Receive the Shares Underlying Your Depositary Shares

 

You have the right to cancel your Depositary Shares and withdraw the underlying Ordinary Shares at any time except:

 

·when temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed its transfer books; (ii) the transfer of Ordinary Shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our Ordinary Shares;

 

·when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges;

 

·when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of Ordinary Shares or other deposited securities;

 

·other circumstances specifically contemplated by Section I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time); or

 

·for any other reason if the depositary determines, in good faith, that it is necessary or advisable to prohibit withdrawals.

 

This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.

 

Pre-release of Depositary Shares

 

The deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver Depositary Shares before deposit of the underlying ordinary shares. This is called a pre-release of the Depositary Shares. The depositary may also deliver Ordinary Shares upon cancellation of pre-released Depositary Shares (even if the Depositary Shares are cancelled before the pre-release transaction has been closed out). A pre-release is closed out as soon as the underlying Ordinary Shares are delivered to the depositary. The depositary may receive Depositary Shares instead of Ordinary Shares to close out a pre-release. The depositary may pre-release Depositary Shares only under the following conditions: (i) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that it or its customer (a) beneficially owns the Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares to be deposited, (b) agrees to indicate the depositary as owner of such Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares in its records and to hold such Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares in trust for the depositary until such ordinary shares or Depositary Shares are delivered to the depositary or the custodian, (c) unconditionally guarantees to deliver such Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares to the depositary or the custodian, as the case may be, and (d) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the depositary deems appropriate; (ii) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash, United States government securities or other collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; and (iii) the depositary must be able to close out the pre-release on not more than five business days’ notice. Each pre-release is subject to further indemnities and credit regulations as the depositary considers appropriate. In addition, the depositary will normally limit the number of Depositary Shares that may be outstanding at any time as a result of pre-release to 30% of the aggregate number of Depositary Shares then outstanding, although the depositary may disregard the limit from time to time, if it thinks it is appropriate to do so.

 

Direct Registration System

 

The deposit agreement provides that, to the extent available by the depositary, Depositary Shares shall be evidenced by ADRs issued through DRS/Profile unless certificated ADRs are specifically requested by the Depositary Share holder. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the Depositary Share holders entitled thereto. The Profile Modification System, or Profile, is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a Depositary Share holder, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the Depositary Share holder to register such transfer.

 

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In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreement understand that the depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of a Depositary Share holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in the paragraph above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Depositary Share holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code).

 

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TAXATION

 

The following summary contains a description of the material U.S. federal income tax and United Kingdom tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Ordinary Shares and Depositary Shares, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares. The summary is based upon the on the tax laws of the United States and regulations thereunder and the tax laws of the United Kingdom and regulations thereunder as of the date hereof, which are subject to change.

 

Certain United Kingdom Taxation Considerations

 

The following is a general summary of certain United Kingdom tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposal of our Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares and does not address all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares. It is based on United Kingdom tax law and generally published His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, or HMRC, practice as of the date of this Annual Report, both of which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect. A United Kingdom tax year runs from April 6th in any year to April 5th in the following year.

 

Save as provided otherwise, this summary applies only to a person who is the absolute beneficial owner of our Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares and who is resident (and, in the case of an individual, domiciled) in the United Kingdom for tax purposes and who is not resident for tax purposes in any other jurisdiction and does not have a permanent establishment or fixed base in any other jurisdiction with which the holding of our Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares is connected, or a U.K. Holder. A person who is not a U.K. Holder, including a person (a) who is not resident (or, if resident, is not domiciled) in the United Kingdom for tax purposes, including an individual and company who trades in the United Kingdom through a branch, agency or permanent establishment in the United Kingdom to which an Ordinary Share or Depositary Share is attributable, or (b) who is resident or otherwise subject to tax in a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom, is recommended to seek the advice of professional advisors in relation to their taxation obligations.

 

This summary is for general information only and is not intended to be, nor should it be considered to be, legal or tax advice to any particular investor. It does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to specific investors in light of their particular circumstances or to investors subject to special treatment under United Kingdom tax law. In particular this summary:

 

only applies to an absolute beneficial owner of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares and any dividend paid in respect of that Ordinary Share where the dividend is regarded for United Kingdom tax purposes as that person’s own income (and not the income of some other person); and

 

(a) only addresses the principal United Kingdom tax consequences for an investor who holds Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares as a capital asset, (b) does not address the tax consequences that may be relevant to certain special classes of investor such as a dealer, broker or trader in shares or securities and any other person who holds Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares otherwise than as an investment, (c) does not address the tax consequences for a holder that is a financial institution, insurance company, collective investment scheme, pension scheme, charity or tax-exempt organization, (d) assumes that a holder is not an officer or employee of the company (nor of any related company) and has not (and is not deemed to have) acquired the Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares by virtue of an office or employment, and (e) assumes that a holder does not control or hold (and is not deemed to control or hold), either alone or together with one or more associated or connected persons, directly or indirectly (including through the holding of Depositary Shares), an interest of 10% or more in the issued share capital (or in any class thereof), voting power, rights to profits or capital of the company, and is not otherwise connected with the company.

 

This summary further assumes that a holder of Depositary Shares is the beneficial owner of the underlying Ordinary Shares for United Kingdom direct tax purposes.

 

POTENTIAL INVESTORS IN THE DEPOSITARY SHARES SHOULD SATISFY THEMSELVES PRIOR TO INVESTING AS TO THE OVERALL TAX CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING, SPECIFICALLY, THE CONSEQUENCES UNDER UNITED KINGDOM TAX LAW AND HMRC PRACTICE OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSAL OF THE ORDINARY SHARES OR DEPOSITARY SHARES, IN THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES BY CONSULTING THEIR OWN TAX ADVISERS.

 

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Taxation of Dividends

 

Withholding Tax. A dividend payment in respect of an Ordinary Share may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom tax.

 

Income Tax. An individual holder of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares who is not a U.K. Holder will not be chargeable to United Kingdom income tax on a dividend paid by the Company, unless such holder carries on (whether solely or in partnership) a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency in the United Kingdom to which the Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares are attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on his or her individual circumstances, be chargeable to United Kingdom income tax on a dividend received from the Company.

 

A dividend received by individual U.K. Holders will be subject to United Kingdom income tax. The rate of United Kingdom income tax that is chargeable on dividends received in the tax year 2023/2024 by an individual U.K. Holder who is (i) an additional rate taxpayer is 39.35%, (ii) a higher rate taxpayer is 33.75%, and (iii) a basic rate taxpayer is 8.75%. An individual U.K. Holder may be entitled to a tax-free dividend allowance (in addition to their personal allowance) of £1,000 for the tax year 2023/2024, being the amount of dividend income that the relevant individual can receive before United Kingdom income tax is payable. Dividends within the dividend allowance will still count towards the relevant individual's basic, higher or additional rate bands, however. An individual’s dividend income is treated as the top slice of their total income that is chargeable to United Kingdom income tax. Dividends which are covered by an individual’s personal income tax allowance do not count towards and are ignored for the dividend allowance.

 

Corporation Tax. A U.K. Holder within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax may be entitled to exemption from United Kingdom corporation tax in respect of dividend payments in respect of an Ordinary Share. If the conditions for the exemption are not satisfied or such U.K. Holder elects for an otherwise exempt dividend to be taxable, United Kingdom corporation tax will be chargeable on the dividend. From April 1, 2023, the main rate of corporation tax of 25% will apply to companies with profits in excess of £250,000. A lower rate of corporation tax of 19% will apply to companies with profits of up to £50,000, and a marginal scaled rate between 19% and 25% will apply to companies with profits between £50,000 and £250,000. If potential investors are in any doubt as to their position, they should consult their own professional advisers.

 

A corporate holder of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares that is not a U.K. Holder will not be subject to United Kingdom corporation tax on a dividend received from the company, unless it carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment to which the Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares are attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on its individual circumstances and if the exemption from United Kingdom corporation tax discussed above does not apply, be chargeable to United Kingdom corporation tax on dividends received from the Company.

 

Taxation of Disposals

 

U.K. Holders. A disposal or deemed disposal of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares by an individual U.K. Holder may, depending on his or her individual circumstances, give rise to a chargeable gain or to an allowable loss for the purpose of United Kingdom capital gains tax. The principal factors that will determine the capital gains tax position on a disposal of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares are the extent to which the holder realizes any other capital gains in the tax year in which the disposal is made, the extent to which the holder has incurred capital losses in that or any earlier tax year and the level at which the annual exempt amount for United Kingdom capital gains tax, or the annual exempt amount, is set by the United Kingdom government for that tax year. The annual exempt amount for the 2023/2024 tax year is £6,000. If, after all allowable deductions, an individual U.K. Holder’s total taxable income for the relevant tax year exceeds the basic rate income tax limit, a taxable capital gain accruing on a disposal of an Ordinary Share or a Depositary Shares is taxed at the rate of 20%. In other cases, a taxable capital gain accruing on a disposal of our Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares may be taxed at the rate of 10% or the rate of 20% or at a combination of both rates.

 

An individual U.K. Holder who ceases to be resident in the United Kingdom (or who fails to be regarded as resident in a territory outside the United Kingdom for the purposes of double taxation relief) for a period of less than five calendar years and who disposes of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares during that period of temporary non-United Kingdom residence may be liable to United Kingdom capital gains tax on a chargeable gain accruing on such disposal on his or her return to the United Kingdom (or upon ceasing to be regarded as resident outside the United Kingdom for the purposes of double taxation relief) (subject to available exemptions or reliefs).

 

A disposal (or deemed disposal) of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares by a corporate U.K. Holder may give rise to a chargeable gain or an allowable loss for such holder for the purpose of United Kingdom corporation tax.

 

Any gain or loss in respect of currency fluctuations over the period of holding Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares is also brought into account on a disposal.

 

Non-U.K. Holders. An individual holder who is not a U.K. Holder will not be liable to United Kingdom capital gains tax on capital gains realized on the disposal of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares unless such holder carries on (whether solely or in partnership) a trade, profession or vocation in the U.K. through a branch or agency in the United Kingdom to which the Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares are attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on his or her individual circumstances, be chargeable to United Kingdom capital gains tax on chargeable gains arising from a disposal of his or her Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares.

 

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A corporate holder of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares that is not a U.K. Holder will not be liable for United Kingdom corporation tax on chargeable gains realized on the disposal of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares unless it carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment to which the Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares are attributable. In these circumstances, a disposal (or deemed disposal) of Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares by such holder may give rise to a chargeable gain or an allowable loss for the purposes of United Kingdom corporation tax.

 

Inheritance Tax

 

If for the purposes of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Estates of Deceased Persons and on Gifts) Treaty United States of America Order 1979 (SI 1979/1454) between the United States and the United Kingdom an individual holder is at the time of their death or a transfer made during their lifetime, domiciled in the United States and is not a national of the United Kingdom, any Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares beneficially owned by that holder should not generally be subject to United Kingdom inheritance tax, provided that any applicable United States federal gift or estate tax liability is paid, except where (i) the Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares are part of the business property of a United Kingdom permanent establishment or pertains to a United Kingdom fixed base used for the performance of independent personal services; or (ii) the Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares are comprised in a settlement unless, at the time the settlement was made, the settlor was domiciled in the United States and not a national of the United Kingdom (in which case no charge to United Kingdom inheritance tax should apply).

 

Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax

 

The United Kingdom stamp duty, or stamp duty, and United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax, or SDRT, treatment of the issue and transfer of, and the agreement to transfer, an ordinary share outside a depositary receipt system or a clearance service is discussed in the paragraphs under “General” below. The stamp duty and SDRT treatment of such transactions in relation to such systems is discussed in the paragraphs under “Depositary Receipt Systems and Clearance Services” below.

 

General

 

An agreement to transfer an ordinary share will normally give rise to a charge to SDRT at the rate of 0.5% of the amount or value of the consideration payable for the transfer. SDRT is, in general, payable by the purchaser.

 

The transfer of an Ordinary Share would be subject to stamp duty at the rate of 0.5% of the consideration given for the transfer (rounded up to the next £5). The purchaser is liable to HMRC for the payment of the stamp duty (if any). Under current HMRC guidance, no stamp duty should be payable on a written instrument transferring a Depositary Share or on a written agreement to transfer a Depositary Share, on the basis that the Depositary Share is not regarded as either “stock” or a “marketable security” for United Kingdom stamp duty purposes.

 

If a duly stamped transfer completing an agreement to transfer is produced within six years of the date on which the agreement is made (or, if the agreement is conditional, the date on which the agreement becomes unconditional) any SDRT already paid is generally repayable, normally with interest, and any SDRT charge yet to be paid is canceled to avoid a double charge as the stamp duty has been paid.

 

Depositary Receipt Systems and Clearance Services

 

The Court of Justice of the European Union in C-569/07 HSBC Holdings Plc, Vidacos Nominees Limited v The Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs and the First-tier Tax Tribunal decision in HSBC Holdings Plc and the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation v The Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, have considered the provisions of the European Union Council Directive 69/335/EEC, which was subsequently substituted by the European Union Council Directive 2008/7/EEC, or the E.U. Directives. Following these decisions HMRC has publicly confirmed that issues or transfers of shares of United Kingdom incorporated companies, such as us, to a clearance service (such as, in our understanding, DTC) or a depositary receipt system will not be charged to United Kingdom SDRT at 1.5% where that issue or transfer is an integral part of a raising of new capital.

 

It was announced as part of the United Kingdom Budget 2017 by the United Kingdom government that the 1.5% stamp duty and SDRT charge will not be enforced on the issue of shares by United Kingdom incorporated companies (and transfers of such shares where the transfer is integral to new capital raising) into clearance services and depositary receipt systems following Brexit. However, the United Kingdom government could potentially introduce new United Kingdom legislation with the effect that a future issue or transfer of an Ordinary Shares into a clearance service or depositary receipt system (even where such an issue or transfer is an integral part of the raising of new capital by the company) may potentially become chargeable to 1.5% stamp duty or SDRT.

 

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Where an ordinary share is transferred (i) to, or to a nominee for, a person whose business is or includes the provision of clearance services or (ii) to, or to a nominee for a person whose business is or includes issuing depositary receipts and that transfer is not integral to the raising of new capital by the company, stamp duty or SDRT would generally be chargeable at the rate of 1.5% of the amount or value of the consideration given or, in certain circumstances, the value of the shares.

 

There is an exception from the 1.5% charge on the transfer to, or to a nominee , a clearance service where the clearance service has made and maintained an election under section 97A(1) of the Finance Act 1986, which has been approved by HMRC. If such an election were made by a clearance service, SDRT at the rate of 0.5% of the amount or value of the consideration payable for the transfer would arise on any transfer of an ordinary share into such a clearance service and on subsequent agreements to transfer such share within such clearance service. It is our understanding that DTC has not to date made an election under section 97A(1) of the Finance Act of 1986.

 

Any liability for stamp duty or SDRT in respect of a transfer into a clearance service or depositary receipt system, or in respect of a transfer within such a service, which does arise, will strictly be accountable to HMRC by the clearance service or depositary receipt system operator or their nominee, as the case may be, but will, in practice, be payable by the participants in the clearance service or depositary receipt system.

 

Certain United States Taxation Considerations

 

The following is a summary of material United States federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of Depositary Shares by United States holders (as defined below). This summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. Each investor should consult its tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our securities.

 

This summary is based on provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, United States Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (whether final, temporary, or proposed), administrative rulings, and judicial interpretations thereof, and the Convention Between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains of 2001, as amended, or the United States-U.K. Treaty, all as in effect on the date hereof, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.

 

For purposes of this discussion, the term “United States holder” means a holder of our Ordinary Shares or Depositary Shares that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation that is created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

any trust if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (b) such trust has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 

This summary addresses only the United States federal income tax considerations for United States holders that acquire and hold the Depositary Shares as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be relevant to a holder in light of its particular circumstances, or that may apply to holders that are subject to special treatment under the United States federal income tax laws (including, for example, banks, financial institutions, underwriters, insurance companies, dealers in securities or foreign currencies, traders in securities who elect the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, persons that have a functional currency other than the United States dollar, tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations), mutual funds, subchapter S corporations, partnerships or other pass-through entities for United States federal income tax purposes, certain expatriates, corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid United States federal income tax, persons who hold Depositary Shares as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale, conversion or other integrated transaction, persons who acquire Depositary Shares through the exercise of options or other compensation arrangements, persons who own (or are treated as owning) 10% or more of the total combined voting power or value of our outstanding shares, certain taxpayers that are required to prepare certified financial statements or file financial statements with certain regulatory or governmental agencies, or persons who are not United States holders). In addition, this discussion does not address any aspect of state, local, foreign, estate, gift or other tax law that may apply to holders of Depositary Shares.

 

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The United States federal income tax treatment of a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) or a partner in a partnership (or owner of another “pass-through entity”) holding Depositary Shares generally will depend on the activities of the partnership (or other pass-through entity) and the status of the partner (or owner). A partnership (or other pass-through entity) holding Depositary Shares or partner (or owner) in such a partnership (or other pass-through entity) should consult its tax advisor regarding the associated tax consequences.

 

Consequences Relating to Ownership and Disposition of Depositary Shares

 

Ownership of Depositary Shares. For United States federal income tax purposes, a holder of Depositary Shares will generally be treated as if such holder directly owned the Ordinary Shares represented by such Depositary Shares.

 

Distributions on Depositary Shares. Subject to the discussion below under Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” the gross amount of any distribution on Depositary Shares (including withheld taxes, if any, but not including certain distributions, if any, of Depositary Shares or Ordinary Shares distributed pro rata to all our shareholders) made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) will generally be taxable to a United States holder as dividend income on the date such distribution is actually or constructively received. Any such dividends paid to corporate United States holders generally will not qualify for the dividends received deduction that may otherwise be allowed under the Code. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would generally be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the United States holder’s basis in the Depositary Shares, and thereafter as capital gain. However, since we do not calculate our earnings and profits under United States federal income tax principles, it is expected that any distribution on Depositary Shares will be reported as a dividend even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a non-taxable return of capital or as capital gain under the rules described above.

 

Dividends paid in currencies other than the United States dollar, if any, will generally be taxable to a United States holder as ordinary dividend income in an amount equal to the United States dollar value of the currency received on the date such distribution is actually or constructively received. Such United States dollar value must be determined using the spot rate of exchange on such date, regardless of whether the non-United States currency is actually converted into United States dollars on such date. The United States holder may realize exchange gain or loss if the currency received is converted into United States dollars after the date on which it is actually or constructively received. In general, any such gain or loss will be ordinary and will be treated as from sources within the United States for United States foreign tax credit purposes.

 

Subject to the discussion below under 3.8% Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income,” dividends received by certain non-corporate United States holders (including individuals) from a “qualified foreign corporation” may be eligible for reduced rates of taxation, currently at a maximum rate of 20%, provided that certain holding period requirements and other conditions are satisfied. For these purposes, a foreign corporation will generally be treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid by that corporation on shares that are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. United States Treasury Department guidance indicates that the Depositary Shares, which are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, would be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. However, there can be no assurance that the Depositary Shares will be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in future years. A foreign corporation is also treated as a qualified foreign corporation if it is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States which is determined by the United States Treasury Department to be satisfactory for purposes of these rules and which includes an exchange of information provision. The United States Treasury Department has determined that the United States-U.K. Treaty meets these requirements. We would not constitute a qualified foreign corporation for purposes of these rules if we are a passive foreign investment company for the taxable year in which we pay a dividend or for the preceding taxable year, as discussed below under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”

 

Subject to certain conditions and limitations, non-United States taxes, if any, withheld on dividends paid by the Company may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for a deduction from a United States holder’s federal taxable income or a credit against a United States holder’s United States federal income tax liability under the United States foreign tax credit rules. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends, if any, that we distribute will constitute “passive category income,” or, in the case of certain United States holders, “general category income.” A foreign tax credit for foreign taxes imposed on distributions may be denied if you do not satisfy certain minimum holding period requirements or if you engage in certain risk reduction transactions. The rules governing the United States foreign tax credit are complex, and United States holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the United States foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.

 

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Sale of Depositary Shares

 

A United States holder will generally recognize gain or loss on any sale, exchange, redemption, or other taxable disposition of Depositary Shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and such holder’s tax basis in such securities. Subject to the discussion below under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” any gain or loss recognized by a United States holder on a taxable disposition of Depositary Shares will generally be capital gain or loss and will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the holder’s holding period in such share exceeds one year at the time of the disposition. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

If the consideration received by a United States holder is in the form of currency other than United States dollars, the amount realized will be the United States dollar value of the payment received determined by reference to the spot rate of exchange on the date of the sale or other disposition. However, if the Depositary Shares disposed of in the transaction are treated as traded on an “established securities market,” and you are either a cash basis taxpayer or an accrual basis taxpayer that has made a special election to apply the same rules applicable to cash basis taxpayers (which must be applied consistently from year to year and cannot be changed without the consent of the United States Internal Revenue Service, or IRS), you will determine the United States dollar value of the amount realized in a non-United States dollar currency by translating the amount received at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the sale. In other cases, a United States holder may recognize foreign currency exchange gain or loss based on currency fluctuations between the trade date and the settlement date of such sale. In general, any such gain or loss will be ordinary and will be treated as from sources within the United States for United States foreign tax credit purposes.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

 

A foreign corporation is a “passive foreign investment company,” or PFIC, if either (1) 75% or more of its gross income for the taxable year is passive income or (2) the average percentage of assets held by such corporation during the taxable year that produce passive income or that are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%. For purposes of applying the tests in the preceding sentence, the foreign corporation is deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets, and to receive directly its proportionate share of the income, of any other corporation of which the foreign corporation owns, directly or indirectly, at least 25% by value of the stock. 

 

Based upon estimates with respect to our income, assets, and operations, we expect that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year. However, because the determination of PFIC status must be made on an annual basis after the end of the taxable year and will depend on the composition of the income and assets, as well as the nature of our activities and those of our subsidiaries from time to time, there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a PFIC for any taxable year.

 

If we were to be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which a United States holder held the Depositary Shares, various adverse United States tax consequences could result to such United States holder, including taxation of gain on a sale or other disposition of the Depositary Shares at ordinary income rates and imposition of an interest charge on gain or on distributions with respect to the Depositary Shares. Unless a United States holder of PFIC shares elects, in either case if eligible, to be taxed annually on a mark-to-market basis or makes a “qualifying electing fund,” or a QEF, election and certain other requirements are met, gain realized on the sale or other disposition of PFIC shares would generally not be treated as capital gain. Instead, the United States holder would be treated as if the United States holder had realized such gain ratably over the holder’s holding period for such securities. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of sale or other disposition and to any year before the foreign corporation became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for such year, together with an interest charge in respect of the tax attributable to each such year. Similar rules apply to the extent any distribution in respect of PFIC shares exceeds 125% of the average annual distribution on such PFIC shares received by the shareholder during the preceding three years or holding period, whichever is shorter. With certain exceptions, a foreign corporation is treated as a PFIC with respect to a shareholder if the corporation was a PFIC with respect to such holder at any time during the holder’s holding period of the foreign corporation’s stock. Dividends paid to with respect to shares of a PFIC are not eligible for the special tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income of certain non-corporate holders. Instead, such dividend income is taxable at rates applicable to ordinary income.

 

If we were to be treated as a PFIC and the Depositary Shares are “marketable,” the tax consequences described above could be avoided by a “mark-to-market” election with respect to the Depositary Shares. The Depositary Shares generally will be marketable if they are “regularly traded” on certain United States stock exchanges or on a foreign stock exchange that meets certain conditions. For these purposes, the Depositary Shares will be considered regularly traded during any calendar year during which they are traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. Any trades that have as their principal purpose meeting this requirement will be disregarded.

 

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A United States holder making a “mark-to-market” election (assuming the requirements for such an election are satisfied) generally would (i) be required to include as ordinary income the excess of the fair market value of the Depositary Shares on the last day of the United States holder’s taxable year over the United States holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Depositary Shares and (ii) be allowed a deduction in an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the excess, if any, of the United States holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Depositary Shares over the fair market value of such Depositary Shares on the last day of the United States holder’s taxable year or (B) the excess, if any, of the amount included in income because of the election for prior taxable years over the amount allowed as a deduction because of the election for prior taxable years. In addition, upon a sale or other taxable disposition of Depositary Shares, a United States holder would recognize ordinary income or loss (which loss could not be in excess of the amount included in income because of the election for prior taxable years over the amount allowed as a deduction because of the election for prior taxable years). United States holders should be aware, however, that if we are determined to be a PFIC, the interest charge regime described above could be applied to indirect distributions or gains deemed to be attributable to United States holders in respect of any of our subsidiaries that also may be determined to be a PFIC, and the mark-to-market election would not be effective for such subsidiaries.

 

If we were to be treated as a PFIC, different rules would apply to a United States holder making a QEF election with respect to the Depositary Shares. However, we do not intend to prepare or provide the information necessary for United States holders to make a QEF election.

 

A United States holder who is a direct or “indirect” holder of stock of a PFIC must file IRS Form 8621 in respect of such PFIC for a taxable year in the circumstances described in the United States Treasury Regulations. United States holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the PFIC rules, including the availability of the “mark-to-market” election.

 

3.8% Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income

 

A 3.8% tax, or “Medicare Tax,” is imposed on all or a portion of “net investment income,” which may include any gain realized or amounts received with respect to Depositary Shares by (i) United States holders that are individuals with modified adjusted gross income in excess of certain thresholds, and (ii) certain estates and trusts. United States holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the applicability of the Medicare Tax resulting from ownership or disposition of Depositary Shares.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

United States holders may be subject to information reporting requirements and may be subject to backup withholding with respect to dividends on Depositary Shares and on the proceeds from the sale, exchange, or disposition of Depositary Shares unless the United States holder provides an accurate taxpayer identification number and complies with certain certification procedures or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and amounts withheld may be allowed as a credit against the United States holder’s United States federal income tax liability and may entitle the United States holder to a refund, provided that certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

Foreign Asset Reporting

 

United States holders who are individuals and who own “specified foreign financial assets” with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000 are generally required to file an information statement along with their tax returns, currently on IRS Form 8938, with respect to such assets. “Specified foreign financial assets” include securities issued by a non-United States issuer (which would include an investment in our securities) that are not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions. Higher reporting thresholds apply to certain individuals living abroad and to certain married individuals. Individuals who fail to report the required information could be subject to substantial penalties, and such individuals should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of these rules to their investment in Depositary Shares. In addition, under a law known as the “Bank Secrecy Act” United States citizens, green card holders and resident aliens, as well as domestic entities must file a FinCEN Form 114 with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network if the aggregate value of all “foreign financial accounts” held by such person exceeds $10,000 at any time during a particular calendar year. Holders of Depositary Shares are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these reporting requirements as they relate to their ownership of Depositary Shares.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each selling shareholder and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares covered by this prospectus on the principal trading market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A selling shareholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

 

 

·ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

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

 

·purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

·an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

·privately negotiated transactions;

 

·settlement of short sales;

 

·in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;

 

·through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

·a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

·any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling shareholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.

 

In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities 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 transaction).

 

The selling shareholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each selling shareholders has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.

 

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the securities may be resold by the selling shareholders without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.


       Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the Depositary Shares for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling shareholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the Depositary Shares by the selling shareholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling shareholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered hereby will passed upon for us by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, New York, New York and Brown Rudnick LLP, London, United Kingdom.

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial statements as of December 31, 2022, and for the each of the three years in the period then ended, incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and in the Registration Statement have been so incorporated in reliance on a report of Mazars LLP, an independent registered accounting firm, given on authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The report on the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, contains an explanatory paragraph regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Mazars 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 registration statement on Form F-1, including amendments and relevant exhibits and schedules, under the Securities Act covering the Ordinary Shares represented by Depositary Shares to be sold in this offering. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, summarizes material provisions of contracts and other documents that we refer to in the prospectus. Since this prospectus does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement, you should read the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules for further information with respect to us and our Ordinary Shares and the Depositary Shares.

 

We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules of the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders under the federal proxy rules contained in Sections 14(a), (b) and (c) of the Exchange Act, and our “insiders” are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy, information statements and other information regarding issuers at http://www.sec.gov. You can review our SEC filings and the registration statement by accessing this website. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at http://www.biodexapharma.com. Our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC, 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 an important part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference, as of their respective dates of filing, the documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC and any documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of securities under this prospectus (except in each case the information contained in such documents to the extent “furnished” and not “filed”):

 

·our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023, as amended on May 5, 2023;

 

·our Reports on Form 6-K and any amendments thereto furnished to the SEC on January 6, 2023, January 11, 2023, January 12, 2023, January 23, 2023, January 26, 2023, February 2, 2023, February 9, 2023, February 15, 2023, March 8, 2023, March 10, 2023, March 24, 2023, March 27, 2023, March 29, 2023 (both filings), March 30, 2023, April 4, 2023 (both filings), April 5, 2023, April 7, 2023, April 12, 2023, April 19, 2023, April 28, 2023, May 18, 2023, May 22, 2023, May 24, 2023, May 25, 2023, May 26, 2023 (both filings), June 1, 2023, June 14, 2023 and June 15, 2023 that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus; and

 

·the description of Depositary Shares representing our ordinary shares and our ordinary shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A originally filed with the SEC on December 2, 2015, and as amended on April 30, 2021, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

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 they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) prior to the termination of this offering. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

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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 in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in 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:

 

Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC

1 Caspian Point

Caspian Way

Cardiff, CF10 4DQ, United Kingdom

+44 29 2048 0180

 

You may also access these documents on our website, www.biodexapharma.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.

 

You should rely only on information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We 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.

 

ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

We are incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. All of our directors and officers of are residents of jurisdictions outside the United States. Our corporate headquarters is located in the United Kingdom and all or a substantial portion of our assets, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of our directors and officers, are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for you to serve legal process on us or our directors or have any of them appear in a U.S. court.

 

We understand that in England it may not be possible to bring proceedings or enforce a judgment of a U.S. court in respect of civil liabilities based solely on the federal securities laws of the United States. In addition, awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the United States or elsewhere may be unenforceable in England. An award of damages is usually considered to be punitive if it does not seek to compensate the claimant for loss or damage suffered and is instead intended to punish the defendant. In addition to public policy aspects of enforcement, such as the aforementioned, the enforceability of any judgment in England will depend on the particular facts of the case and the relevant circumstances, for example (and expressly without limitation), whether there are any relevant insolvency proceedings which may affect the ability to enforce a judgment. In addition, the United States and the United Kingdom have not currently entered into a treaty (or convention) providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments (although both are contracting states to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards).

 

We have appointed Donald J. Puglisi as our authorized agent upon whom process may be served in any action instituted in any U.S. federal or state court having subject matter jurisdiction arising out of or based upon the securities offered by this prospectus.

 

EXPENSES OF THE OFFERING

 

The following table sets forth the expenses payable by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered hereby. All amounts shown, other than the SEC registration fee, are estimates:

 

SEC registration fee   $ 474
Printing and engraving   $  2,650
Accounting services    $ 6,391
Legal fees and expenses   $ 350,000
Miscellaneous     $ 3,000
Total   $ 362,515

 

* Other fees not capable of estimation at this time.

 

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, 2023

 

  
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PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 6.Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

The Registrant’s articles of association provide that, subject to the Companies Act, every person who is or was at any time a director, alternate director, or former director of the Registrant or of any of its subsidiaries may be indemnified out of the assets of the Registrant against all costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages and liabilities incurred by him or her in performing his duties or the exercise of his or her powers or otherwise in relation to such company. Generally, under the Companies Act, a company may not indemnify its directors against personal liability covering: liability to the company in cases where the company sues the director (i.e., only liability to third parties can be the subject of an indemnity); liability for fines for criminal conduct or fines imposed by a regulator; or other liabilities, such as legal costs, in criminal cases where the director is convicted, or in civil cases brought by the company where the final judgment goes against the director.

 

The Registrant has entered into a deed of indemnity with each of its directors and officers. Except as prohibited by applicable law, these deeds of indemnity may require Biodexa, among other things, to indemnify its directors and officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by such directors and officers in any action or proceeding arising out of their service as a director or officer of the Registrant, or one of its subsidiaries, or arising out of the services provided to another company or enterprise at the Registrant’s request.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, as amended, 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 7.Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

The following information is furnished with regard to all securities issued by the registrant within the last three years that were not registered under the Securities Act, as amended. Unless otherwise indicated below, the issuance of such shares was deemed exempt from registration requirements of the Securities Act, as such securities were offered and sold outside of the United States to persons who were neither citizens nor residents of the United States, pursuant to Regulation S, or such sales were exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

 On July 27, 2020, we issued 1,064,814 Ordinary Shares, including 138,888 Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to a broker option at £ 5.40 per share, to certain non-U.S. investors in a placing in the United Kingdom for aggregate gross proceeds of £5.75 million.

 

On August 19, 2020, we issued to certain Wainwright affiliates 125,000 Ordinary Shares represented by 25,000 Depositary Shares upon the exercise of warrants issued in May 2020 at an exercise price of $41.00 per share.

 

On September 30, 2020, we issued 1,250 Ordinary Shares to be purchased under the Share Incentive Plan at £0.02 per share to the trust of the Share Incentive Plan.

 

On February 19, 2021, we issued to certain Wainwright affiliates 15,340 Ordinary Shares represented by 3,068 Depositary Shares upon the exercise of warrants issued in May 2020 at an exercise price of $41.25 per share.

 

On July 6, 2021, we issued 1,754,386 Ordinary Shares at £5.70 per share to certain non-U.S. investors in a placing in the United Kingdom for aggregate gross proceeds of £10.0 million.

 

On March 22, 2022, we issued one Ordinary Share upon the exercise of one warrant issued in February 2019 to a certain institutional investor at an exercise price of £200 per share.

 

On May 3, 2022, we issued 1,250 Ordinary Shares to be purchased under the Share Incentive Plan at £0.02 per share to the trust of the Share Incentive Plan.

 

On August 3, 2022, we issued warrants to purchase 16,666 Ordinary Shares to a certain institutional investor at an exercise price of £2.70 per share.

 

On December 16, 2022, we sold to an institutional investor 492,466 Ordinary Shares represented by 98,493 Depositary Shares in a registered direct offering at $4.00 per Depositary Share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $0.4 million.

 

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On February 15, 2023, we completed the closing of the February Private Placement pursuant to which we sold to certain institutional investors (1) 3,250,200 Ordinary Shares represented by 650,040 Depositary Shares at $2.32 per Depositary Share, (2) 12,931,027 Ordinary Shares represented by 2,586,205 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of Series A warrants issued in the February Private Placement at an exercise price of $2.68 per warrant, (3) 19,396,545 Ordinary Shares represented by 3,879,309 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of Series B warrants issued in the February Private Placement at an exercise price of $2.68 per warrant, and (4) up to 71,749,800 Ordinary Shares represented by 14,349,960 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued in the February Private Placement at an exercise price of $0.0004 per warrant, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6.0 million. We also issued unregistered placement agent warrants to purchase a total of 536,935 Ordinary Shares represented by 107,387 Depositary Shares to the placement agent in the February Private Placement at an exercise price of $5.00 per warrant for 3,939 warrants and an exercise price of $2.90 per warrant for 103,448 warrants, and Series A warrants to purchase 625,000 Ordinary Shares represented by 125,000 Depositary Shares at an exercise price of $2.68 per warrant to an investor pursuant to a waiver agreement.

Between March 27, 2023, and the date hereof, we have issued 88,012,075 Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of 17,602,415 pre-funded warrants, Series A warrants and Series B warrants issued in the February Private Placement.

 

On May 26, 2023, we completed the closing of a registered direct offering with institutional investors of (1) 166,019,415 Ordinary Shares represented by 33,203,883 Depositary Shares, issuable upon the exercise of the Series C Warrants at an exercise price of $0.20 per warrant, (2) 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares represented by 22,135,922 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Series D Warrants at an exercise price of $0.20 per warrant and, (3) 4,427,180 Ordinary Shares represented by 885,436 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants at an exercise price of $0.1875 per warrant.

 

In June 2023 we expect to issue the Series C Warrants, Series D Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants to the investors and the Placement Agent after receiving required shareholder approval of the allotment of, and disapplication of pre-emption rights with respect to the Ordinary Shares to be issued under the Series C Warrants, Series D Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants at our general meeting held on June 14, 2023.

 

Item  8.Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)The Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

 

See the Exhibit Index attached to this registration statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)Financial Statement Schedules.

 

Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

Item 9.Undertakings

 

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 Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” or “Calculation of Registration Fee” table, as amended, 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;

 

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Provided, however, that:

 

(A)Paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement; and

 

(B)Paragraphs (1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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.

 

(C)Provided further, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is for an offering of asset-backed securities on Form S-1 or Form S-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment is provided pursuant to Item 1100(c) of Regulation.

 

(2)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment 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 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.

 

(5)That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

(i)Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(ii)Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. 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 effective date, 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 effective date.

 

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 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 of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

 

(1)For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

(2)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.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form F-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in London, United Kingdom, on this 16th day of June, 2023. 

 

  BIODEXA PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
     
  By: /s/ Stephen Stamp
    Stephen Stamp
    Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer
         
         

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned, hereby severally constitute and appoint Stephen Stamp, in his individual capacity, our true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, to sign any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to cause the same to be filed with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and desirable to be done in and about the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as we might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all facts and things that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form F-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Name and Signature   Title(s)   Date
         
/s/ Stephen Stamp   Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer, Director   June 16, 2023
Stephen Stamp   (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)    
         
         
/s/ Stephen Parker, Ph.D.   Non-Executive Chairman of the Board   June 16, 2023
Stephen Parker, Ph.D.        
         
         
/s/ Simon Turton, Ph.D.   Senior Independent Non-Executive Director   June 16, 2023
Simon Turton, Ph.D.        
         
/s/ Sijmen de Vries, M.D.   Non-Executive Director   June 16, 2023
Sijmen de Vries, M.D.        

 

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AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form F-1 has been signed by the undersigned on this 16th day of June, 2023.

 

By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi  
Name:  Donald J. Puglisi  
Title: Authorized Representative in the United States  

 

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Exhibit Index

 

  ITEM 19. EXHIBITS.

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Title

   
3.1* Articles of Association of Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC, adopted on June 14, 2023.
   
4.1* Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
   
4.2* Specimen certificate representing ordinary shares of Biodexa Pharmaceuticals Plc.
   
4.3 Form of Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement by and among Midatech Pharma PLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, and all owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares thereunder (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-252507), filed with the SEC on January 28, 2021).
   
4.4 Form of American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.3 as Exhibit A thereto). 
   
4.5 Form of Warrant issued on October 25, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on October 24, 2019).
   
4.6 Form of Placement Agent Warrant issued on October 25, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on October 24, 2019).
   
4.7 Form of Warrant issued on May 20, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 20, 2020).
   
4.8 Form of Placement Agent Warrant issued on May 20, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 20, 2020).
   
4.9 Form of Warrant Instrument issued on May 22, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 20, 2020).
   
4.10 Form of Series A Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023).
   
4.11 Form of Series B Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023).
   
4.12 Form of Pre-Funded Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023).
   
4.13 Form of Placement Agent Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023).
   
4.14 Form of Series C Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023).
   
4.15 Form of Series D Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023).
   
4.16 Form of Placement Agent Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023).
   
5.1* Opinion of Brown Rudnick LLP.

 

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10.1# Midatech Pharma PLC 2014 Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-206305), originally filed with the SEC on August 11, 2015, as amended).
   
10.2# Form of Option Agreement (included in Exhibit 10.1).
   
10.3# Consultancy Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2014, by and between Midatech Limited and Chesyl Pharma Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-206305), originally filed with the SEC on August 11, 2015, as amended).
   
10.4# Form of Appointment Letter between Midatech Pharma PLC and certain directors of Midatech Pharma PLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-206305), originally filed with the SEC on August 11, 2015, as amended).
   
10.5# Deed of Indemnity dated August 5, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-206305), originally filed with the SEC on August 11, 2015, as amended).
   
10.6† License, Collaboration and Distribution Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2019, by and between Midatech Pharma PLC, CMS Bridging Limited, CMS Medical Hong Kong Limited and China Medical System Holdings Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.17 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, filed with the SEC on May 28, 2019).
   
10.7 Relationship Agreement, dated January 29, 2019, by and among the Company, certain CMS Concert Party Members and Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2019).
   
10.8 Deed of Variation of Relationship Agreement, dated May 12, 2020, between Midatech Pharma PLC, Certain CMS Concert Party Members and Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2021).
   
10.9# The Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.27 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on April 24, 2018).
   
10.10†# Service Agreement dated as of September 9, 2019, by and between Midatech Pharma PLC and Stephen Stamp (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on September 19, 2019).
   
10.11 Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2022, by and between Midatech Pharma PLC and the purchaser identified on the signature page thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on December 13, 2022). 
   
10.12 Form of First Amendment to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2022, by and between Midatech Pharma PLC and the purchaser identified on the signature page thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2022).
   
10.13 Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2023, by and between Midatech Pharma PLC and the purchasers identified on the signature page thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023). 
   
10.14# Service Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2021, by and between Midatech Pharma PLC and Dmitry Zamoryakhin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2022).
   
10.15# Terms of Appointment as Director, dated June 20, 2022, by and between Midatech Pharma PLC and Stephen Barry Parker (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on June 21, 2022).

 

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10.16 Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2023, by and between Midatech Pharma PLC and the investors identified on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023).
   
10.17 Form of Waiver, dated as of February 9, 2023, by and between Midatech Pharma PLC and a certain institutional investor (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023).
   
10.18 Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2023, by and between Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC and the investors identified on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023).
   
10.19 Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2023, by and between Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC and the investors identified on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023).
   
10.20 Placement Agency Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2023, by and between Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023).
   
10.21 Form of Lock-up Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2023, by and between Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC and named directors and officers of Biodexa and other individuals and entities listed in the Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023).
   
10.22 Form of Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2023, by and between Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC and the investors identified on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K/A, filed with the SEC on May 26, 2023).
   
21.1 Subsidiaries of Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023).
   
23.1* Consent of Mazars LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
   
23.2* Consent of Brown Rudnick LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
   
24.1* Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
   
107

Filing Fee Table. 

___________

* Filed herewith.

# Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

Certain portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted because they are not material and would likely cause competitive harm to Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC if publicly disclosed.

 

 

II-9

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

BIODEXA PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

 

(registered number 09216368)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWM/031674.0002

 

8 Clifford Street

London W1S 2LQ

www.brownrudnick.com

T: 020 7851 6000

F: 020 7851 6100

 

   
 

 

Table of Contents

 

PRELIMINARY 1
1 DEFINITIONS 1
2 LIABILITY OF MEMBERS 5
3 FORM OF RESOLUTION 5
4 EXCLUSION OF MODEL ARTICLES (AND ANY OTHER PRESCRIBED REGULATIONS) 5
5 REGISTERED OFFICE 5
     
SHARE CAPITAL 5
6 ALLOTMENT, REDUCTION AND ALTERATION 5
7 SHARE WARRANTS TO BEARER 6
8 COMMISSIONS AND BROKERAGE 7
9 TRUSTS NOT RECOGNISED 7
10 VARIATION OF CLASS RIGHTS 7
11 CLASS MEETINGS 8
12 FRACTIONS 8
     
CERTIFICATED SHARES 9
13 RIGHT TO CERTIFICATES 9
14 REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATES 10
     
UNCERTIFICATED SHARES 10
15 UNCERTIFICATED SHARES 10
   
LIEN ON SHARES 12
16 COMPANY’S LIEN ON SHARES NOT FULLY PAID 12
17 ENFORCEMENT OF LIEN BY SALE 12
18 APPLICATION OF SALE PROCEEDS 13
19 CALLS 13
20 LIABILITY OF JOINT HOLDERS 13
21 INTEREST 13
22 DIFFERENTIATION 14
23 PAYMENT IN ADVANCE OF CALLS 14
24 RESTRICTIONS IF CALLS UNPAID 14
25 SUMS DUE ON ALLOTMENT TREATED AS CALLS 14
   
FORFEITURE 14
26 FORFEITURE AFTER NOTICE OF UNPAID CALL 14
27 NOTICE AFTER FORFEITURE 15
28 CONSEQUENCES OF FORFEITURE 15
29 DISPOSAL OF FORFEITED SHARE 15
30 PROOF OF FORFEITURE 16
   
UNTRACED MEMBERS 16
31 SALE OF SHARES 16
32 APPLICATION OF SALE PROCEEDS 17
   
TRANSFER OF SHARES 18
33 FORM OF TRANSFER 18
34 REGISTRATION OF A CERTIFICATED SHARE TRANSFER 18
35 REGISTRATION OF AN UNCERTIFICATED SHARE TRANSFER 19

 

 i 
 

 

36 RENUNCIATION OF ALLOTMENTS 19
37 NO FEE ON REGISTRATION 19
   
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES 19
38 ON DEATH 19
39 ELECTION OF PERSON ENTITLED BY TRANSMISSION 20
40 RIGHTS ON TRANSMISSION 21
   
GENERAL MEETINGS 21
41 GENERAL MEETINGS 21
42 NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS 21
43 QUORUM FOR GENERAL MEETING 24
44 PROCEDURE IF QUORUM NOT PRESENT 24
45 CHAIRMAN OF GENERAL MEETING 24
46 RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS AND OTHERS TO ATTEND MEETINGS 25
47 ACCOMMODATION OF MEMBERS AT MEETING 25
48 SECURITY AT PHYSICAL GENERAL MEETINGS 25
49 SECURITY AT ELECTRONIC GENERAL MEETINGS 25
50 POWER TO ADJOURN 26
51 NOTICE OF ADJOURNED MEETING 26
52 BUSINESS OF ADJOURNED MEETING 26
   
VOTING 27
53 VOTING AT A GENERAL MEETING 27
54 POLL PROCEDURE 27
55 VOTES OF MEMBERS 28
56 CHAIRMAN’S CASTING VOTE 28
57 VOTING RESTRICTIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING CALL 29
58 PROXY INSTRUMENT 29
59 TERMINATION OF PROXY OR CORPORATE AUTHORITY 31
60 CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES 31
61 AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTIONS 32
62 OBJECTION TO ERROR IN VOTING 32
   
FAILURE TO DISCLOSE INTERESTS IN SHARES 33
63 FAILURE TO DISCLOSE INTERESTS IN SHARES 33
   
APPOINTMENT, RETIREMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS 35
64 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS 35
65 NO SHARE QUALIFICATION 35
66 COMPANY’S POWER TO APPOINT DIRECTORS 35
67 BOARD’S POWER TO APPOINT DIRECTORS 35
68 APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 35
69 ELIGIBILITY OF NEW DIRECTORS 36
70 ROTATIONAL RETIREMENT AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 36
71 POSITION OF RETIRING DIRECTOR 37
72 REMOVAL BY ORDINARY RESOLUTION 37
73 VACATION OF DIRECTOR’S OFFICE 37
   
ALTERNATE DIRECTORS 38
74 APPOINTMENT 38
75 RESPONSIBILITY 39
76 PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS 39

 

 ii 
 

 

77 INTERESTS 39
78 TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT 39
   
BOARD POWERS 40
79 BOARD POWERS 40
80 DIRECTORS BELOW THE MINIMUM NUMBER 40
81 DELEGATION TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 40
82 DELEGATION TO COMMITTEES 40
83 LOCAL MANAGEMENT 41
84 DELEGATION TO AGENTS 41
85 EXERCISE OF VOTING POWER 41
86 PROVISION FOR EMPLOYEES 41
87 OVERSEAS REGISTERS 42
88 ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS 42
89 BORROWING POWERS 42
   
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION, EXPENSES AND BENEFITS 43
90 FEES 43
91 EXPENSES 43
92 REMUNERATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 44
93 SPECIAL REMUNERATION 44
94 PENSIONS AND OTHER BENEFITS 44
   
DIRECTORS’ PROCEEDINGS 44
95 BOARD MEETINGS 44
96 NOTICE OF BOARD MEETINGS 44
97 QUORUM 45
98 BOARD CHAIRMAN 45
99 VOTING 45
100 TELEPHONE PARTICIPATION 45
101 WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS 45
102 COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS 46
103 MINUTES 46
104 VALIDITY OF PROCEEDINGS 46
   
INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS 47
105 PERMITTED INTERESTS 47
106 DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS TO BOARD 47
107 INTERESTED DIRECTOR NOT TO VOTE OR COUNT FOR QUORUM 47
108 DIRECTOR’S INTEREST IN OWN APPOINTMENT 48
109 CONCLUSIVE RULINGS ON DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS 48
110 CONNECTED PERSONS 49
111 SUSPENSION OR RELAXATION OF PROVISIONS CONCERNING DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS 49
   
SECRETARY 51
112 SECRETARY 51
   
SEALS AND DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATION 51
113 SAFE CUSTODY 51
114 APPLICATION OF SEAL 51
115 OFFICIAL SEAL FOR USE ABROAD 51
116 DIRECTORS OR SECRETARY TO AUTHENTICATE OR CERTIFY 52

 

 iii 
 

 

DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS 52
117 DECLARATION 52
118 INTERIM DIVIDENDS 52
119 ENTITLEMENT TO DIVIDENDS 52
120 PAYMENT METHODS 53
121 DEDUCTIONS 54
122 INTEREST 54
123 UNCLAIMED DIVIDENDS 54
124 UNCASHED DIVIDENDS 54
125 DIVIDENDS IN KIND 54
126 SCRIP DIVIDENDS 55
127 RESERVES 56
128 CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS AND RESERVES 57
   
RECORD DATES 58
129 BOARD TO FIX DATE 58
   
ACCOUNTS 58
130 ACCESS TO ACCOUNTING RECORDS 58
131 DISTRIBUTION OF ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 58
   
NOTICES 58
132 FORMS OF NOTICES 58
133 SERVICE ON MEMBERS 59
134 NOTICES BY ADVERTISEMENT 61
135 EVIDENCE OF GIVING NOTICE 61
136 NOTICE BINDING ON TRANSFEREES 62
137 NOTICE TO PERSONS ENTITLED BY TRANSMISSION 62
   
DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION 62
138 DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION 62
   
INDEMNITY 63
139 RIGHT TO INDEMNITY 63
140 POWER TO INSURE 65
   
AUDITORS 65
141 VALIDITY OF AUDITOR’S ACTS 65
142 AUDITOR’S RIGHT TO ATTEND GENERAL MEETINGS 65
143 A DEFERRED SHARES 65
144 B DEFERRED SHARES 67
145 FORUM SELECTION 69

 

 iv 
 

 

Company number: 09216368

 

THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

 

PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

 

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

of BIODEXA PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

 

(Adopted by Special Resolution passed on 14 June 2023)

 

PRELIMINARY

 

1DEFINITIONS

 

1.1In these Articles (unless the context requires otherwise) the following words have the following meanings;

 

Act means the Companies Act 2006;
   
A Deferred Shares means the A Deferred Shares of £1 each in the capital of the Company having the rights set out in Article 143;
   
ADS means American Depositary Shares of the Company listed on NASDAQ or any Recognised Investment Exchange (and each evidenced by way of a depository receipt (ADR));
   
Articles means these articles of association as altered from time to time and “Article” shall be construed accordingly;
   
Auditors means the auditors for the time being of the Company;
   
bankruptcy includes individual insolvency proceedings in a jurisdiction other than England and Wales or Northern Ireland which have an effect similar to that of bankruptcy;
   
B Deferred Shares means the B Deferred Shares of £0.001 each in the capital of the Company having the rights set out in Article 144;
   
Board means the board of Directors for the time being of the Company or the Directors present or deemed to be present at a duly convened meeting at which a quorum is present;
   
certificated means in relation to a share, that is recorded in the Register of Members as being held in certificated form;
   
clear days means in relation to a period of notice, the period excluding the day when the notice is served or deemed served and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect;

 

 1 
 

 

Companies Acts has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Act;
   
Company means Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC, registered in England with number 09216368;
   
"Depositary" means the holder of a share for the time being held on behalf of another person on the terms of a depositary agreement or a depositary receipt or a similar document;
   
Director means a director for the time being of the Company;
   
document includes, unless otherwise specified, any document sent or supplied in electronic form;
   
electronic form has the same meaning as in section 1168 of the Act;
   
electronic means has the same meaning as in section 1168 of the Act;
   
execution means any mode of execution (and “executed” shall be construed accordingly);
   
fully paid in relation to a share, means that the nominal value and any premium to be paid to the Company in respect of that share have been paid to the Company;
   
Group means the group comprising the Company and its subsidiary undertakings (not including any parent undertaking of the Company);
   
Group Undertaking means any undertaking in the Group, including the Company;
   
holder means in relation to a share, the member whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of that share;
   
Issuer-Instruction means an issuer-instruction, as defined in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations;
   
London Stock Exchange means London Stock Exchange Plc;
   
member means a member of the Company or, if the context so requires, a member of the Board or of any committee of the Board;
   
NASDAQ means the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC;
   
NASDAQ rules means the rules of NASDAQ;
   
Operator means the Operator (as defined in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations) of the Uncertificated System;

 

 2 
 

 

Ordinary Shares means ordinary shares of £0.001 each in the Company;
   
paid or paid up means paid up or credited as paid up;
   
participating issuer has the same meaning as in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations;
   
Participating Security means a share or class of shares or a renounceable right of allotment of a share, title to which is permitted to be transferred by means of an Uncertificated System in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations;
   
Protocol means the protocol approved by the Board from time to time governing the procedure for and conduct of meetings of the Board and certain determinations to be made by the Board;
   
partly paid in relation to a share means that part of that share’s nominal value or any premium at which it was issued which has not been paid to the Company;
   

Recognised Investment

Exchange

means any stock exchange, over-the-counter market or other organised securities market that is open to the international public and on which securities are regularly traded;
   
Registered Office means the registered office from time to time of the Company;
   
Register of Members means the Company’s register of members kept pursuant to the Companies Acts;
   
Seal means the common seal of the Company or any official or securities seal that the Company has or may have as permitted by the Companies Acts;
   
Secretary means the secretary of the Company or any other person appointed to perform any of the duties of the secretary of the Company including a joint, temporary, assistant or deputy secretary;
   
share means a share in the capital of the Company;
   
System-Participant means a system-participant, as defined in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations;
   
uncertificated means in relation to a share, a share to which title is recorded in the Register of Members as being held in uncertificated form and title to which may be transferred by means of an Uncertificated System in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations;

 

 3 
 

 

Uncertificated Securities
Regulations
means the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3755); and
   
Uncertificated System means the CREST system or any other applicable system which is a “relevant system” for the purpose of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations.

 

1.2In these Articles:

 

(A)words or expressions that are not defined in Article 1.1 have the same meanings (where applicable) as in the Companies Acts as in force on the date of the adoption of these Articles;

 

(B)reference to any statute or any statutory instrument or any provision of a statute or of a statutory instrument includes a reference to any statutory modification or re-enactment of it for the time being in force, as (where applicable) amended or modified or extended by any other statute or any order, regulation, instrument or other subordinate legislation made under such statute or statutory provision or under the statute under which such statutory instrument was made;

 

(C)words in the singular include the plural and vice versa, words importing any gender include all genders and a reference to a “person” includes any individual, firm, partnership, unincorporated association, company, corporation or other body corporate;

 

(D)References to “writing” or “written” include printing, typewriting, lithography, photography and any other modes of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form and documents and information sent or supplied in electronic form or made available on a website are “in writing” for the purposes of these Articles;

 

(E)reference to an Uncertificated System is a reference to the Uncertificated System in respect of which the particular share or class of shares or renounceable right of allotment of a share is a Participating Security;

 

(F)references to “address”, in relation to documents in electronic form, includes any number or address used for the supply of documents in electronic form;

 

(G)present means for the purposes of physical general meetings, present in person, or, for the purposes of electronic general meetings, present by electronic means (and references to persons attending by electronic means is defined as attendance at electronic general meetings via the electronic platform(s) stated in the notice of such meeting);

 

(H)where an ordinary resolution is expressed to be required for any purpose, a special resolution is also effective for such purpose; and

 

(I)headings do not affect the interpretation of any Article.

 

 4 
 

 

2LIABILITY OF MEMBERS

 

The liability of each member is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the share(s) held by such member.

 

3FORM OF RESOLUTION

 

Subject to the Companies Acts, where anything can be done by passing an ordinary resolution, this can also be done by passing a special resolution.

 

4EXCLUSION OF MODEL ARTICLES (AND ANY OTHER PRESCRIBED REGULATIONS)

 

No regulations or articles set out in any statute, or in any statutory instrument or other subordinate legislation made under any statute, concerning companies (including the regulations in the Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/3229)) shall apply as the articles of the Company. The following shall be the articles of association of the Company.

 

5REGISTERED OFFICE

 

The Company’s registered office is to be situated in England and Wales.

 

SHARE CAPITAL

 

6ALLOTMENT, REDUCTION AND ALTERATION

 

6.1Subject to the Companies Acts, these Articles and to any relevant authority of the Company in general meeting required by the Act, the Board may offer, allot, grant options or otherwise deal with or dispose of shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares to such persons, at such times and on such terms as it may decide (including, without limitation, terms relating to the renunciation of any allotment). No shares may be issued at a discount.

 

6.2The Board may, at any time after the allotment of any share but before any person has been entered in the Register of Members, recognise a renunciation by the allottee in favour of some other person and accord to the allottee of a share a right to effect such renunciation and/or allow the rights to be represented to be one or more Participating Securities, in each case upon the subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may think fit to impose.

 

6.3Subject to the Companies Acts and without prejudice to any rights attached to any shares, any share may be issued with such rights or restrictions as the Company may by ordinary resolution determine.

 

6.4Subject to the Companies Acts, any share may be issued which is, or is to be liable, to be redeemed at the option of one or both of the Company or the holder, and the Board may determine the terms, conditions and manner of redemption of any such redeemable share. Such terms and conditions shall apply to the relevant shares as if the same were set out in these Articles.

 

 5 
 

 

6.5The Company, by special resolution, may reduce its share capital, any capital redemption reserve fund or any share premium account in any manner and with, and subject to, any incident authorised, and consent required, by law.

 

6.6The Company, by ordinary resolution, may:

 

(A)consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amount;

 

(B)subject to the Act, subdivide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount, so however that in the sub-division the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the reduced share is derived (and so that the resolution whereby any share is sub-divided may determine that, as between the holders of the shares resulting from such sub-division, one or more of the shares may have, as compared with the others, any such preferred, deferred or other rights or be subject to any such restrictions as the Company has power to attach to unissued or new shares); or

 

(C)cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and reduce the amount of its authorised share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.

 

7SHARE WARRANTS TO BEARER

 

7.1Subject to the Companies Acts, the Company may, with respect to any fully paid shares, issue a warrant (a “share warrant”) stating that the bearer of the warrant is entitled to the shares specified in it. The Company may provide (by coupons or otherwise) for the payment of future dividends on the shares included in a share warrant. The shares specified in the share warrant may be transferred by the delivery of the share warrant. The provisions of these Articles as to transfer and transmission of shares shall not apply to share warrants.

 

7.2The powers referred to in Article 7.1 may be exercised by the Board. The Board may determine and vary the terms on which a share warrant is to be issued, including (without limitation) terms on which:

 

(A)new share warrant or coupon may be issued in the place of one damaged, defaced, worn out or lost (provided that no new share warrant shall be issued to replace one that has been lost unless the Board is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the original has been destroyed);

 

(B)the bearer of the share warrant may be entitled to receive notice of and to attend, vote and demand a poll at general meetings;

 

(C)dividends may be paid; and

 

(D)any share warrant may be surrendered and the name of the holder entered in the Register of Members in respect of the shares specified in it.

 

7.3Subject to the terms on which a share warrant is issued and to these Articles, the bearer of a share warrant shall be deemed to be a member for all purposes. The bearer of a share warrant shall be subject to the terms in force and applicable to such share warrant, whether made before or after its issue.

 

 6 
 

 

7.4The Company shall not be bound to recognise (even if it has notice of it) any interest in or in respect of any share represented by a share warrant other than the bearer’s absolute right to the share warrant.

 

7.5The Company shall not be responsible for any loss or damage suffered by any person by reason of the Company entering in the Register of Members, upon the surrender of a share warrant, the name of any person who is not the true and lawful owner of that share warrant.

 

8COMMISSIONS AND BROKERAGE

 

The Company may exercise all powers conferred by the Companies Acts of paying commissions in relation to a subscription for shares or other allotment. Subject to the Companies Acts, NASDAQ or any Recognised Investment Exchange, in each case, to the extent applicable to the Company from time to time, any such commissions may be satisfied in cash or by the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or other securities or any combination of such methods as the Directors see fit. The Company may also pay such brokerage in relation to a subscription for shares as may be lawful.

 

9TRUSTS NOT RECOGNISED

 

Except as otherwise provided by these Articles, required by law or as ordered by a Court of competent jurisdiction, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share on any trust and the Company shall not be bound by or recognise any equitable, contingent, future, partial or other claim to or interest in any share except an absolute right of the holder to the share in its entirety (even if the Company has notice of such interest).

 

10VARIATION OF CLASS RIGHTS

 

10.1Subject to the Companies Acts and if the share capital of the Company is divided into shares of different classes, any of the rights attached to any class of shares (notwithstanding that the Company may be or be about to be in liquidation) may (unless the rights attached to the shares of the class otherwise provide) be varied or abrogated in any manner, either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than three quarters in nominal value of the issued shares of the class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of shares of the class duly convened and held in accordance with Article 11.

 

10.2Subject to the terms of issue of or rights attached to any shares, the rights or privileges attached to any class of shares shall be deemed not to be varied or abrogated by:

 

(A)the creation or issue of any new shares ranking pari passu in all respects (save as to the date from which such new shares shall rank for dividend) with or subsequent to those already issued;

 

(B)the reduction of the capital paid up on such shares or by the purchase or redemption by the Company of any of its own shares in accordance with the Companies Acts and these Articles; or

 

 7 
 

 

(C)the Board resolving that a class of shares is to become or is to cease to be, or the Operator permitting such class of shares to become or to cease to be, a Participating Security.

 

11CLASS MEETINGS

 

11.1The Board may call a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of any class at any time and for any purpose as it thinks fit.

 

11.2A separate meeting for the holders of a class of shares shall be convened and conducted as nearly as possible in the same way as a general meeting pursuant to these Articles, except that:

 

(A)no member, other than a Director, shall be entitled to notice of it or to attend such meeting unless he is a holder of shares of that class;

 

(B)no vote may be given except in respect of a share of that class;

 

(C)the quorum at the meeting other than an adjourned meeting shall be two persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of that class and at an adjourned meeting the quorum shall be one person holding shares of that class or his proxy, regardless of the number of shares held by such person; and

 

(D)poll may be demanded by a member present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting and on a poll each member shall have one vote for every share of that class of which he is the holder.

 

12FRACTIONS

 

12.1If, as the result of a consolidation and division or a sub-division of shares, fractions of shares become attributable to members, the Board may on behalf of the members deal with the fractions as it thinks fit, including (without limitation) in either of the ways prescribed in this Article 12 below.

 

12.2The Board may sell shares representing the fractions to any person (including, subject to the Companies Acts, the Company) for the best price reasonably obtainable and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportion amongst the persons to whom such fractions are attributable (except that if the amount due to a person is less than £5.00, the Company may retain such sum for its own benefit). To give effect to such sale the Board may:

 

(A)in the case of certificated shares, authorise a person to execute an instrument of transfer of shares to the purchaser or as the purchaser may direct; and

 

(B)in the case of uncertificated shares, exercise any power conferred on it by Article 15.10 to effect a transfer of the shares.

 

12.3The purchaser will not be bound to see to the application of the purchase monies in respect of any such sale, nor will its title to the shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings connected with the sale or transfer. Any instrument or exercise referred to in Article 12.2 shall be effective as if it had been executed or exercised by the holder of the shares to which it relates.

 

 8 
 

 

12.4In relation to any fractions and subject always to the Companies Acts, the Board may issue, to a member credited by way of capitalisation as fully paid, the minimum number of shares required to round up his holding of shares to a number which, following a consolidation and division or a sub-division, leaves a whole number of shares (such issue being deemed to have been effected immediately before the consolidation or the sub-division, as the case may be). The amount required to pay up those shares may be capitalised as the Board thinks fit, out of amounts standing to the credit of any reserve or fund of the Company (including any share premium account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account), whether or not available for distribution, and applied in paying up in full the appropriate number of shares. A resolution of the Board capitalising part of any such reserve or fund will have the same effect as if the capitalisation had been made with the sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company pursuant to Article 128. In relation to the capitalisation the Board may exercise all the powers conferred on it by Article 127 without the sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company.

 

CERTIFICATED SHARES

 

13RIGHT TO CERTIFICATES

 

13.1Subject to the Companies Acts and these Articles, every person (except any person in respect of whom the Company is not required by the Companies Acts to complete and have ready for delivery a share certificate), upon becoming the holder of a certificated share is entitled, without charge, to one certificate for all the certificated shares of a class registered in his name or, in the case of certificated shares of more than one class being registered in his name, to a separate certificate for each class of shares, unless the terms of issue of the shares provide otherwise.

 

13.2Where a member (other than a person in respect of whom the Company is not required by the Companies Acts to complete and have ready for delivery a share certificate) transfers part of or pays up any further sum on his shares comprised in a certificate he shall be entitled, without charge, to one certificate for the balance of certificated shares retained by him, reflecting the amounts paid up on such shares. Where a member (other than a person in respect of whom the Company is not required by the Companies Acts to complete and have ready for delivery a share certificate) receives more shares of any class, he shall be entitled, without charge, to one certificate for the extra shares of that class to the extent that the balance is to be held in certificated form.

 

13.3The Company is not bound to issue more than one certificate for certificated shares held jointly by two or more persons. Delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be sufficient delivery to all joint holders.

 

13.4A certificate shall specify the number and class and the distinguishing numbers (if any) of the shares in respect of which it is issued and the nominal value and amount paid up on the shares. It shall be issued under the Seal, which may be affixed to or printed on it, or in such other manner as the Board may approve, having regard to the terms of issue and the requirements of (to the extent applicable) the Companies Acts.

 

 9 
 

 

13.5Every share certificate sent in accordance with these Articles will be sent at the risk of the member 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.

 

14REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATES

 

14.1If any certificate is worn-out, defaced, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company may cancel it and issue a replacement certificate subject to such terms as the Board may decide as to evidence and indemnity (with or without security) and to payment of any exceptional out-of- pocket expenses of the Company in investigating such evidence and preparing such indemnity or such security but otherwise free of charge, and (if the certificate is worn-out or defaced) on delivery of the old certificate to the Company.

 

14.2Where a member holds two or more certificates for shares of one class, the Board may, at his request, on surrender of the original certificates and without charge, cancel the certificates and issue a single replacement certificate for certificated shares of that class.

 

14.3At the request of a member, the Board may cancel a certificate and issue two or more in its place (representing certificated shares in such proportions as the member may specify), on surrender of the original certificate and on payment of such reasonable sum as the Board may decide.

 

UNCERTIFICATED SHARES

 

15UNCERTIFICATED SHARES

 

15.1Subject to the Companies Acts and the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, the Board may resolve that a class of shares is to become, or is to cease to be, a Participating Security.

 

15.2Shares of a class shall not be treated as forming a separate class from other shares of the same class as a consequence of such shares being held in certificated or uncertificated form or of any provision in these Articles or the Uncertificated Securities Regulations applying only to certificated shares or to uncertificated shares.

 

15.3Any share of a class which is a Participating Security may be changed from an uncertificated share to a certificated share and from a certificated share to an uncertificated share in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations.

 

15.4These Articles apply to uncertificated shares of a class which is a Participating Security only to the extent that these Articles are consistent with the holding of such shares in uncertificated form, with the transfer of title to such shares by means of the Uncertificated System and with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations.

 

15.5The Board may lay down regulations not included in these Articles which (in addition to or in substitution for any provisions in these Articles):

 

(A)apply to the issue, holding or transfer of uncertificated shares;

 

(B)set out (where appropriate) the procedures for conversion and/or redemption of uncertificated shares; and/or

 

 10 
 

 

(C)the Board considers necessary or appropriate to ensure that these Articles are consistent with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations and/or the Operator’s rules and practices.

 

15.6Such regulations will apply instead of any relevant provisions in these Articles which relate to certificates and the transfer, conversion and redemption of shares or which are not consistent with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, in all cases to the extent (if any) stated in such regulations. If the Board makes any such regulations, Article 15.4 will (for the avoidance of doubt) continue to apply when read in conjunction with those regulations.

 

15.7Any instruction given by means of an Uncertificated System as referred to in these Articles shall be a dematerialised instruction given in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, the facilities and requirements of the Uncertificated System and the Operator’s rules and practices.

 

15.8For any purpose under these Articles, the Company may treat a member’s holding of uncertificated shares and of certificated shares of the same class as if they were separate holdings, unless the Board otherwise decides.

 

15.9Unless the Board determines otherwise or the Uncertificated Securities Regulations require otherwise, any shares issued or created out of or in respect of any uncertificated shares shall be uncertificated shares and any shares issued or created out of or in respect of any certificated shares shall be certificated shares.

 

15.10Where the Company is entitled under the Companies Acts, the Operator’s rules and practices, these Articles or otherwise to dispose of, forfeit, enforce a lien over, transfer, re-allot or sell or otherwise procure the sale of any shares of a class which is a Participating Security which are held in uncertificated form, the Board may take such steps (subject to the Uncertificated Securities Regulations and to such rules and practices) as may be required or appropriate, by instruction by means of the Uncertificated System or otherwise, to effect such disposal, forfeiture, enforcement or sale including by (without limitation):

 

(A)requesting or requiring the deletion of any computer-based entries in the Uncertificated System relating to the holding of such shares in uncertificated form;

 

(B)altering such computer-based entries so as to divest the holder of such shares of the power to transfer such shares other than to a person selected or approved by the Company for the purpose of such transfer;

 

(C)requiring any holder of such shares, by notice in writing to him, to change his holding of such uncertificated shares into certificated form within any specified period and keep it as a certificated share for as long as the Board requires;

 

(D)requiring any holder of such shares to take such steps as may be necessary to sell or transfer such shares as directed by the Company;

 

(E)otherwise rectify or change the Register of Members in respect of any such shares in such manner as the Board considers appropriate (including, without limitation, by entering the name of a transferee into the Register of Members as the next holder of such shares); and/or

 

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(F)appointing any person to take any steps in the name of any holder of such shares as may be required to change such shares from uncertificated form to certificated form and/or to effect the transfer of such shares (and such steps shall be effective as if they had been taken by such holder).

 

15.11The Company shall be entitled to assume that the entries on any record of securities maintained by it in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations and regularly reconciled with the relevant Operator’s register of securities are a complete and accurate reproduction of the particulars entered in the Operator’s register of securities and shall accordingly not be liable in respect of any act or thing done or omitted to be done by or on behalf of the Company in reliance on such assumption. Any provision of these Articles which requires or envisages that action will be taken in reliance on information contained in the Register of Members shall be construed to permit that action to be taken in reliance on information contained in any relevant record of securities (as so maintained and reconciled).

 

LIEN ON SHARES

 

16COMPANY’S LIEN ON SHARES NOT FULLY PAID

 

16.1The Company has a first and paramount lien on each issued share (not being a fully paid share) registered in the name of each member (whether solely or jointly with other persons) for all amounts payable to the Company (whether actually or contingently and whether presently payable or not) in respect of such share.

 

16.2The lien applies to all dividends on any such share, to all amounts payable by the Company in respect of such share and (if the lien is enforced and the share is sold by the Company) the proceeds of the sale of that share. It also applies notwithstanding that:

 

(A)the Company may have notice of any equitable or other interest of any person in any such share; or

 

(B)any such amounts payable may be the joint debts and liabilities of both the holder of the share and one or more other persons.

 

16.3The Board may waive any lien that has arisen or resolve that any share be exempt wholly or in part from this Article 16.

 

17ENFORCEMENT OF LIEN BY SALE

 

17.1For the purpose of enforcing the Company’s lien on any shares, the Board may sell all or any of such shares in such manner as it decides if an amount in respect of which (the lien exists is presently payable and is not paid within fourteen (14) clear days following the giving of a notice to the holder (or any person entitled by transmission to the share) demanding payment of the amount due within such fourteen (14) clear day period and stating that if the notice is not complied with the shares may be sold.

 

17.2To give effect to such sale the Board may:

 

(A)in the case of certificated shares, authorise a person to execute an instrument of transfer of shares in the name and on behalf of the holder of, or the person entitled by transmission to, them to the purchaser or as the purchaser may direct; and

 

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(B)in the case of uncertificated shares, exercise any power conferred on it by Article 15.10 (uncertificated shares) to effect a transfer of the shares.

 

17.3The purchaser will not be bound to see to the application of the purchase monies in respect of any such sale, nor will its title to the shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings connected with the sale or transfer. Any instrument or exercise referred to in Article 17.2 shall be effective as if it had been executed or exercised by the holder of, or the person entitled by transmission to, the shares to which it relates.

 

18APPLICATION OF SALE PROCEEDS

 

The net proceeds of any sale of shares subject to the Company’s lien under these Articles (after payment of the costs and expenses of sale) shall be applied in or towards satisfaction of the amount then due to the Company in respect of the shares. Any balance shall be paid to the original holder of, or the person entitled (but for such sale) by transmission to, the shares on (in the case of certificated shares) surrender to the Company for cancellation of the certificate for such shares and (in all cases) subject to the Company having a lien on such balance on the same basis as applied to such shares for any amount not presently payable as existed on such shares before the sale.

 

19CALLS

 

19.1Subject to the terms on which shares are allotted, the Board may make calls on the members (and any persons entitled by transmission) in respect of any amounts unpaid on their shares (whether in respect of nominal value or premium) and not payable on a date fixed by or in accordance with the allotment terms. Each such member or other person shall pay to the Company the amount called, subject to receiving at least fourteen (14) clear days’ notice specifying when and where the payment is to be made, as required by such notice.

 

19.2A call may be made payable by instalments. A call shall be deemed to have been made when the resolution of the Board authorising it is passed. A call may, before the Company’s receipt of any amount due under it, be revoked or postponed in whole or in part as the Board may decide. A person upon whom a call is made will remain jointly and severally liable with successors in title for calls made on him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect of which the call was made.

 

20LIABILITY OF JOINT HOLDERS

 

The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of it.

 

21INTEREST

 

If the whole of the sum payable in respect of any call is not paid by the day it becomes due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall pay all costs, charges and expenses that the Company may have incurred by reason of such non-payment, together with interest on the unpaid amount from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at the rate fixed by the terms of the allotment of the share or in the notice of the call or, if no rate is fixed, at such rate not exceeding five (5) per cent, per annum (compounded on a six monthly basis) as the Board shall determine. The Board may waive payment of such costs, charges, expenses or interest in whole or in part.

 

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22DIFFERENTIATION

 

Subject to the allotment terms, the Board may make arrangements on or before the issue of shares to differentiate between the holders of shares in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their shares.

 

23PAYMENT IN ADVANCE OF CALLS

 

23.1The Company may receive from any member (or any person entitled by transmission willing to advance the same) all or any part of the amount uncalled and unpaid on the shares held by him (or to which he is entitled). The liability of each such member or other person on the shares to which such payment relates shall be reduced by such amount. The Company may pay interest on such amount from the time of receipt until the time when such amount would, but for such advance, have become due and payable at such rate not exceeding five (5) per cent, per annum (compounded on a six monthly basis) as the Board may decide.

 

23.2The Company may at any time repay the amount so advanced by giving at least three (3) months’ notice in writing to such member of its intention to do so, unless before the expiration of such notice the amount so advanced shall have been called up on the shares in respect of which it was advanced.

 

23.3No sum paid up on a share in advance of a call shall entitle the holder to any portion of a dividend subsequently declared or paid in respect of any period prior to the date on which such sum would, but for such payment, become due and payable.

 

24RESTRICTIONS IF CALLS UNPAID

 

Unless the Board decides otherwise, no member shall be entitled to receive any dividend or to be present or vote at any meeting or to exercise any right or privilege as a member until he has paid all calls due and payable on every share held by him, whether alone or jointly with any other person, together with interest and expenses (if any) to the Company.

 

25SUMS DUE ON ALLOTMENT TREATED AS CALLS

 

Any sum payable in respect of a share on allotment or at any fixed date, whether in respect of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium or as an instalment of a call, shall be deemed to be a call. If such sum is not paid, these Articles shall apply as if it had become due and payable by virtue of a call.

 

FORFEITURE

 

26FORFEITURE AFTER NOTICE OF UNPAID CALL

 

26.1If a call or an instalment of a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the Board may give to the person from whom it is due not less than fourteen (14) clear days’ notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any costs, charges and expenses that the Company may have incurred by reason of such non-payment. The notice shall state the place where payment is to be made and that if the notice is not complied with the shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. If the notice is not complied with, any shares in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Board. The forfeiture will include all dividends and other amounts payable in respect of the forfeited shares which have not been paid before the forfeiture.

 

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26.2The Board may accept the surrender of a share which is liable to be forfeited in accordance with these Articles. All provisions in these Articles which apply to the forfeiture of a share also apply to the surrender of a share.

 

27NOTICE AFTER FORFEITURE

 

When a share has been forfeited, the Company shall give notice of the forfeiture to the person who was before forfeiture the holder of the share or the person entitled by transmission to the share. An entry that such notice has been given and of the fact and date of forfeiture shall be made in the Register of Members. No forfeiture will be invalidated by any omission to give such notice or make such entry.

 

28CONSEQUENCES OF FORFEITURE

 

28.1A share shall, on its forfeiture, become the property of the Company.

 

28.2All interest in and all claims and demands against the Company in respect of a share and all other rights and liabilities incidental to the share as between its holder and the Company shall, on its forfeiture, be extinguished and terminate except as otherwise stated in these Articles or, in the case of past members, as provided by the Companies Acts.

 

28.3The holder of a share (or the person entitled to it by transmission) which is forfeited shall:

 

(A)on its forfeiture cease to be a member (or a person entitled) in respect of it;

 

(B)if a certificated share, surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the share;

 

(C)remain liable to pay to the Company all monies payable in respect of the share at the time of forfeiture, with interest from such time of forfeiture until the time of payment, in the same manner in all respects as if the share had not been forfeited; and

 

(D)remain liable to satisfy all (if any) claims and demands which the Company might have enforced in respect of the share at the time of forfeiture without any deduction or allowance for the value of the share at the time of forfeiture or for any consideration received on its disposal.

 

29DISPOSAL OF FORFEITED SHARE

 

29.1Subject to the Companies Acts, a forfeited share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of, on such terms and in such manner as the Board may decide, either to the person who was before the forfeiture the holder or to any other person. At any time before the disposal, the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Board may decide. Where for the purpose of its disposal a forfeited share is to be transferred to any transferee, the Board may:

 

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(A)in the case of certificated shares, authorise a person to execute an instrument of transfer of shares in the name and on behalf of their holder to the purchaser or as the purchaser may direct; and

 

(B)in the case of uncertificated shares, exercise any power conferred on it by Article 15.10 (uncertificated shares) to effect a transfer of the shares.

 

29.2Any instrument or exercise referred to in Article 29.1 shall be effective as if it had been executed or exercised by the holder of, or the person entitled by transmission to, the shares to which it relates. The Company may receive the consideration (if any) given for the share on its disposal.

 

30PROOF OF FORFEITURE

 

A statutory declaration by a Director or the Secretary that a share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. The declaration shall (subject to the execution of any necessary instrument of transfer) constitute good title to the share. The person to whom the forfeited share is transferred or sold shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration (if any) given for it on such transfer. His title to the share will not be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings connected with the forfeiture or transfer of the share.

 

UNTRACED MEMBERS

 

31SALE OF SHARES

 

31.1Subject to the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, the Company may sell, at the best price reasonably obtainable, any share of a member, or any share to which a person is entitled by transmission, if:

 

(A)during the period of twelve (12) years prior to the date of the publication of the advertisements referred to in this Article 31.1 (or, if published on different dates, the earlier or earliest of them):

 

(1)no cheque, warrant or money order in respect of such share sent by or on behalf of the Company to the member or to the person entitled by transmission to the share, at his address in the Register of Members or other address last known to the Company has been cashed; and

 

(2)no cash dividend payable on the shares has been satisfied by the transfer of funds to a bank account of the member (or person entitled by transmission to the share) or by transfer of funds by means of the Uncertificated System, and the Company has received no communication (whether in writing or otherwise) in respect of such share from such member or person, provided that during such twelve (12) year period the Company has paid at least three (3) cash dividends (whether interim or final) in respect of shares of the class in question and no such dividend has been claimed by the person entitled to such share;

 

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(B)on or after the expiry of such twelve (12) year period the Company has given notice of its intention to sell such share by advertisements in a national newspaper published in the country in which the Company’s Registered Office is located and in a newspaper circulating in the area in which the address in the Register of Members or other last known address of the member or the person entitled by transmission to the share or the address for the service of notices on such member or person notified to the Company in accordance with these Articles is located;

 

(C)such advertisements, if not published on the same day, are published within thirty (30) days of each other;

 

(D)during a further period of three (3) months following the date of publication of such advertisements (or, if published on different dates, the date on which the requirements of this Article 31.1 concerning the publication of newspaper advertisements are met) and prior to the sale the Company has not received any communication (whether in writing or otherwise) in respect of such share from the member or person entitled by transmission; and

 

(E)if such share is listed or dealt in on any stock exchange, the Company has first given notice in writing to that exchange (where required) of its intention to sell such share.

 

31.2If during such twelve (12) year period, or during any subsequent period ending on the date when all the requirements of Article 31.1 have been met in respect of any shares, any additional shares that have been issued in respect of those held at the beginning of, or previously so issued during, any such subsequent period and all the requirements of Article 31.1 have been satisfied with regard to such additional shares, the Company may also sell the additional shares.

 

31.3To give effect to a sale pursuant to Article 31.1 or Article 31.2, the Board may:

 

(A)in the case of certificated shares, authorise a person to execute an instrument of transfer of shares in the name and on behalf of the holder of, or the person entitled by transmission to, them to the purchaser or as the purchaser may direct; and

 

(B)in the case of uncertificated shares, exercise any power conferred on it by Article 15.10 (uncertificated shares) to effect a transfer of the shares.

 

31.4The purchaser will not be bound to see to the application of the purchase monies in respect of any such sale, nor will its title to the shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings connected with the sale or transfer. Any instrument or exercise referred to in Article 31.3 shall be effective as if it had been executed or exercised by the holder of, or the person entitled by transmission to, the shares to which it relates.

 

32APPLICATION OF SALE PROCEEDS

 

The Company shall account to the member or other person entitled to such share for the net proceeds of such sale by carrying all monies in respect of the sale to a separate account. The Company shall be deemed to be a debtor to, and not a trustee for, such member or other person in respect of such monies. Monies carried to such separate account may either be employed in the business of the Company or invested as the Board may think fit. No interest shall be payable to such member or other person in respect of such monies and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned on them.

 

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TRANSFER OF SHARES

 

33FORM OF TRANSFER

 

33.1Subject to these Articles, a member may transfer all or any of his shares:

 

(A)in the case of certificated shares, by an instrument of transfer in writing in any usual form or in another form approved by the Board, which must be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and (in the case of a transfer of a share which is not fully paid) by or on behalf of the transferee; or

 

(B)in the case of uncertificated shares, without a written instrument in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations.

 

33.2Subject to the provisions of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, the transferor shall remain the holder of the share transferred until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members in respect of it.

 

34REGISTRATION OF A CERTIFICATED SHARE TRANSFER

 

Subject to these Articles, the Board may, in its absolute discretion and without giving a reason, refuse to register the transfer of a certificated share or the renunciation of a renounceable letter of allotment unless it is:

 

(A)in respect of a share which is fully paid;

 

(B)in respect of a share on which the Company has no lien;

 

(C)in respect of only one class of shares;

 

(D)in favour of a single transferee or renouncee or not more than four joint transferees or renouncees;

 

(E)duly stamped or duly certificated or otherwise shown to the satisfaction of the Board to be exempt from stamp duty (if required); and delivered for registration to the Registered Office or such other place as the Board may decide, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates (except in the case of a transfer of a share, for which a certificate has not been issued, by a person in respect of whom the Company is not required by the Companies Acts to complete and have ready for delivery a share certificate, and except in the case of a renunciation) and any other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to prove the title to such share of the transferor or person renouncing and the due execution by him of the transfer or renunciation or, if the transfer or renunciation is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of such person to do so, provided that the Board shall not refuse to register any transfer or renunciation of any certificated shares made through a Recognised Investment Exchange or any other stock exchange outside the United Kingdom on which the Company’s shares are normally traded in circumstances where such refusal would prevent dealings in such shares from taking place on an open and proper basis.

 

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34.2If the Board refuses to register a transfer or renunciation pursuant to this Article 34, it shall, within two (2) months after the date on which the transfer or renunciation was delivered to the Company, send notice of the refusal to the transferee or renouncee unless it suspects that the proposed transfer or renunciation may be fraudulent. An instrument of transfer or renunciation that the Board refuses to register shall (except in the case of suspected fraud) be returned to the person delivering it. All instruments of transfer which are registered may, subject to these Articles, be retained by the Company.

 

35REGISTRATION OF AN UNCERTIFICATED SHARE TRANSFER

 

35.1The Board shall register a transfer of title to any uncertificated share or the renunciation or transfer of any renounceable right of allotment of a share which is a Participating Security held in uncertificated form in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, except that the Board may refuse (subject to any relevant requirements of (to the extent applicable) the NASDAQ rules and/or the rules of any Recognised Investment Exchange in the case of any ADS which are admitted to NASDAQ or any other Recognised Investment Exchange) to register any such transfer or renunciation which is in favour of more than four persons jointly or in any other circumstance permitted by the Uncertificated Securities Regulations.

 

35.2In accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, where title to an uncertificated share is transferred by means of an Uncertificated System to a person who is to hold such share in certificated form thereafter, the Company, as participating issuer, shall register the transfer in accordance with the relevant Operator instruction, but so that the Company may refuse to register such a transfer in any circumstance permitted by the Uncertificated Securities Regulations.

 

35.3If the Board refuses to register any such transfer or renunciation the Company shall, within two (2) months after the date on which the instruction relating to such transfer or renunciation was received by the Company, send notice of the refusal to the transferee or renouncee.

 

36RENUNCIATION OF ALLOTMENTS

 

The Board may, at its discretion, recognise and give effect to a renunciation of the allotment of any share by the allottee in favour of some other person.

 

37NO FEE ON REGISTRATION

 

No fee shall be charged for the registration of a transfer of a share or the renunciation of a renounceable letter of allotment or other document relating to or affecting the title to any share or for making any other entry in the Register of Members.

 

TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

 

38ON DEATH

 

If a member dies, the survivors or survivor where he was a joint holder, or his personal representatives where he was the sole or only surviving holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his shares. Nothing in these Articles shall release the estate of a deceased holder from any liability in respect of a share which has been held by him solely or jointly.

 

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39ELECTION OF PERSON ENTITLED BY TRANSMISSION

 

39.1A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member, or of any other event giving rise to a transmission of such entitlement by operation of law (an “entitled person”), may, on such evidence as to his title being produced as the Board may require, elect either to become registered as the holder of such share or to have some person nominated by him so registered. If he elects to be registered himself, he shall give notice to the Company to that effect. If he elects to have some other person registered, he shall:

 

(A)in the case of a certificated share, execute an instrument of transfer of such share to such person; and

 

(B)in the case of an uncertificated share, either:

 

(1)procure that all appropriate instructions are given by means of the Uncertificated System to effect the transfer of such share to such person; or

 

(2)change the uncertificated share to certificated form and then execute an instrument of transfer of such share to such person.

 

39.2Where the entitlement of a person to a share because of the death or bankruptcy of a member or otherwise by operation of law is proved to the satisfaction of the Board, the Board shall within sixty days after proof cause the entitlement of that person to be noted in the Register of Members.

 

39.3An entitled person shall be entitled to receive and may give a discharge for all dividends and other money payable in respect of the share but shall not be entitled in respect of that share to receive notices of or to attend or vote at meetings of the Company or at any separate meetings of the holders of any class of shares or, except as previously stated, to any of the rights or privileges of a member until he has become a holder in respect of the share in question.

 

39.4All the provisions of these Articles relating to the transfer of shares shall apply to the notice or instrument of transfer or instructions (as the case may be) referred to in Article 39.1 as if the notice were an instrument of transfer and as if the instrument of transfer was executed, or the instructions were given, by the member and the event giving rise to the transmission had not occurred.

 

39.5The Board may give notice requiring a person to make the election referred to in Article 39.1. If such notice is not complied with within sixty days, the Board may withhold payment of all dividends and other amounts payable in respect of the share until notice of election has been made.

 

39.6Subject to the provisions of this Article 39, any offer, notice, information or any other document delivered or sent to the address of any shareholder in pursuance of these Articles shall, notwithstanding that such shareholder be then dead or bankrupt or that any other event giving rise to a transmission of such shareholder’s entitlement by operation of law has occurred, and whether or not the Company has notice of his death or bankruptcy or other event giving rise to a transmission of such shareholder’s entitlement by operation of law, be deemed to have been duly delivered or sent in respect of any share registered in the name of such shareholder as sole or first-named joint holder.

 

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40RIGHTS ON TRANSMISSION

 

A person becoming entitled by transmission to a share shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were the holder of the share, except that he shall not, before being registered as its holder, be entitled in respect of it to receive notice of, or to attend or vote at, any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares.

 

GENERAL MEETINGS

 

41GENERAL MEETINGS

 

41.1A general meeting shall be held in every year as the annual general meeting of the Company (and specified as such in the notice convening the meeting), at such time (within a period of not more than fifteen (15) months after the holding of the last preceding annual general meeting) and place as may be determined by the Board in accordance with the Protocol. The general meetings referred to in this Article 41.1 shall be called annual general meetings.

 

41.2Without prejudice to Article 41.1 and the requirement under the Companies Acts to convene an annual general meeting in each year, the Board may convene a general meeting whenever it thinks fit. A general meeting shall also be convened on such requisition, or in default may be convened by such requisitionists, as provided by sections 303 to 305 of the Act and no business shall be transacted at such meeting except that stated by the requisition or proposed by the Board.

 

41.3The Board may resolve to enable persons entitled to attend and participate in a general meeting (or annual general meeting) to do so partly (but not wholly) by simultaneous attendance and participation by means of electronic facility or facilities, and may determine the means, or all different means, of attendance and participation used in relation to the general meeting. The members present in person or by proxy by means of an electronic facility or facilities (as so determined by the Board) shall be counted in the quorum for, and be entitled to participate in, the general meeting in question. That meeting shall be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chair is satisfied that adequate facilities are available throughout the meeting to ensure that members attending the meeting by all means (including the means of an electronic facility or facilities) are able to:

 

(A)participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened;

 

(B)hear all persons who speak at the meeting; and

 

(C)be heard by all other persons attending and participating in the meeting.

 

42NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

 

42.1An annual general meeting shall be convened by not less than twenty-one (21) clear days’ notice.

 

42.2All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be convened by not less than fourteen (14) clear days’ notice, even where a special resolution is to be considered.

 

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42.3Subject to the Companies Acts and notwithstanding that it is convened by shorter notice than that specified in Article 42.1 and Article 42.2, a general meeting shall be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:

 

(A)in the case of an annual general meeting, by all the members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting; and

 

(B)in the case of any other general meeting, by a majority in number of the members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety five (95) per cent, in nominal value of the shares giving that right.

 

42.4The notice of meeting shall specify:

 

(A)if applicable, that the general meeting is to be the annual general meeting;

 

(B)the place, the day and the time of the meeting;

 

(C)the general nature of the business to be transacted;

 

(D)if the meeting is convened to consider a special resolution, the intention to propose the resolution as such;

 

(E)with reasonable prominence, that a member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and, on a poll, vote instead of him and that a proxy need not also be a member;

 

(F)the procedures with which members must comply in order to be able to attend and vote at the meeting (including the date by which they must comply);

 

(G)details of any forms to be used for the appointment of a proxy;

 

(H)time by which a person must be entered on the Register of Members in order for such person to have the right to attend or vote at the meeting (subject to the Uncertificated Securities Regulations if the Company is then a participating issuer for the purpose of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations);

 

(I)at the Board’s discretion, include a statement for the procedure for members to vote in advance or by electronic means (including the date by which it must be done and details of any forms to be used); and

 

(J)If pursuant to Article 41.3 the Board determines that a general meeting shall be held partly by means of electronic facility or facilities, the notice shall:

 

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(1)include a statement to that effect;

 

(2)specify the means, or all different means, of attendance and participation thereat, and any access, identification and security arrangements determined; and

 

(3)state how it is proposed that persons attending or participating in the meeting electronically should communicate with each other during the meeting.

 

42.5The notice of meeting shall be given to the members (other than a member who, under these Articles or any restrictions imposed on any shares, is not entitled to receive notice from the Company), to the Directors and to the Auditors.

 

42.6Where the Company has given an electronic address in any notice of meeting, any document or information relating to proceedings at the meeting may be sent by electronic means to that address, subject to any conditions or limitations specified in the relevant notice of meeting.

 

42.7The Board may determine that the members entitled to receive notice of a meeting are those persons entered on the Register of Members at a time determined by the Board (subject to the Uncertificated Securities Regulations if the Company is then a participating issuer for the purpose of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations) which shall not be more than 48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting, excluding any part of any day that is not a working day. Changes to entries on the register after the time so specified in the notice shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to so attend or vote.

 

42.8The accidental omission to send or give a notice of meeting or, in cases where it is intended that it be sent out or given with the notice, an instrument of proxy or any other document to, the failure to give notice due to circumstances beyond the Company’s control, or the non- receipt of any such item by, any person entitled to receive any such item shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting. In this Article references to notice or any other document includes communications in electronic form and documents made available on a website in accordance with the Companies Acts and these Articles.

 

42.9If the Board, in its absolute discretion, considers that it is impractical or unreasonable for any reason to hold a general meeting at the time or place specified in the notice calling the general meeting, it may move and/or postpone the general meeting to another time and/or place. Notice of the business to be transacted at such moved and/or postponed meeting is not required. The Board must take reasonable steps to ensure that members trying to attend the general meeting at the original time and/or place are informed of the new arrangements for the general meeting. Proxy forms can be delivered as specified in Article 58 until 48 hours before the rearranged meeting (excluding any day that is not a working day). Any postponed and/or moved meeting may also be postponed and/or moved under this Article 42.

 

42.10In determining whether eligible members are participating in a general meeting, it is irrelevant where any eligible member is or how they communicate with each other. All eligible members participating in accordance with Article 41.3 shall be counted for quorum purposes.

 

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43QUORUM FOR GENERAL MEETING

 

No business shall be transacted at a general meeting unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business. For all purposes the quorum shall be not less than two (2) qualifying persons, unless (i) each is a qualifying person only because he is authorised under section 323 of the Act to act as the representative of a corporation in relation to the meeting, and they are representatives of the same corporation, or (ii) each is a qualifying person only because he is appointed as proxy of a member in relation to the meeting, and they are proxies of the same member. For the purposes of this Article 43, a “qualifying person” means (i) an individual who is a member of the Company, (ii) a person authorised under section 323 of the Act to act as the representative of a corporation in relation to the meeting, or (iii) a person appointed as a proxy of a member in relation to the meeting. The absence of a quorum will not prevent the appointment of a chairman of the meeting. Such appointment shall not be treated as being part of the business of the meeting.

 

44PROCEDURE IF QUORUM NOT PRESENT

 

44.1If within five minutes (or such longer time not exceeding one hour as the chairman of the meeting may decide to wait) after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting a quorum is not present, or if during the meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting:

 

(A)if convened on the requisition of members, shall be dissolved; and

 

(B)in any other case shall stand adjourned for no less than ten (10) clear days to such other day and at such other time and place as the chairman (or, in default, the Board) may decide.

 

44.2If at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within five minutes (or such longer time not exceeding one hour as the chairman of the meeting may decide to wait) after the time appointed for holding it, one person entitled to vote on the business to be transacted, being a qualifying person, shall be a quorum.

 

45CHAIRMAN OF GENERAL MEETING

 

45.1The chairman (if any) of the Board or, in his absence, the vice chairman (if any) shall preside as chairman at a general meeting. If there is no chairman or vice chairman, or if at a meeting neither is present within five minutes after the time fixed for the start of the meeting, or neither is willing to act, the Directors present shall select one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. If only one Director is present and willing to act, he shall be chairman of the meeting. In default, the members present in person or proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

45.2Without prejudice to any other power that he may have under the provisions of the Articles or at common law, the chairman, acting in good faith, may take such action as he thinks fit to promote the orderly conduct of the business of the meeting as specified in the notice of meeting and the chairman’s good faith decision on matters of procedure or arising incidentally from the business of the meeting shall be final, as shall be his determination as to whether any matter is of such a nature.

 

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46RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS AND OTHERS TO ATTEND MEETINGS

 

46.1A Director (and any other person invited by the chairman of the meeting to do so) may attend and speak at a general meeting and at a separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares of the Company, whether or not he is a member.

 

46.2The chairman may invite any person to attend and speak at any general meeting where he considers that this will assist in the deliberations of the meeting.

 

47ACCOMMODATION OF MEMBERS AT MEETING

 

If it appears to the chairman of the meeting that the meeting place specified in the notice convening the meeting is inadequate to accommodate all members entitled and wishing to attend, the meeting will be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chairman is satisfied that adequate facilities are available to ensure that a member who is unable to be accommodated is able (whether at the meeting place or elsewhere):

 

(A)to participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened;

 

(B)to hear and see all persons present who speak (whether by the use of microphones, loud-speakers, audio-visual communications equipment or otherwise); and

 

(C)to be heard and seen by all other persons present in the same way.

 

48SECURITY AT PHYSICAL GENERAL MEETINGS

 

In addition to any measures which the Board may be required to take due to the location or venue of the meeting, the Board may make any arrangement and impose any restriction it considers appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances to ensure the security of a meeting including, without limitation, the provision of evidence of identity by any person attending the meeting, the searching of any such person and the imposing of restrictions on the items of personal property that may be taken into the meeting place. The Board may refuse entry to, or eject from, a meeting a person who refuses to comply with any such arrangements or restrictions.

 

49SECURITY AT ELECTRONIC GENERAL MEETINGS

 

49.1The Board and, at any electronic general meeting, the chairman, may make any arrangement and impose any requirement or restriction as is:

 

(A)necessary to ensure the identification of those taking part and the security of the electronic communication; and

 

(B)proportionate to those objectives,and in this respect the Company is able to authorise any voting application, system or facility for electronic general meetings as it sees fit.

  

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50POWER TO ADJOURN

 

50.1The chairman of the meeting may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present, and shall, if so directed by the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time (or indefinitely) and from place to place.

 

50.2Without prejudice to any other power of adjournment which the chairman of the meeting may have under these Articles, at common law or otherwise, the chairman may, without the consent of the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time (or indefinitely) and from place to place if he decides that it is necessary or appropriate to do so in order to:

 

(A)secure the proper and orderly conduct of the meeting; or

 

(B)give all persons entitled to do so an opportunity of attending the meeting; or

 

(C)give all persons entitled to do so a reasonable opportunity of speaking and voting at the meeting; or

 

(D)ensure that the business of the meeting is properly concluded or disposed of, including (without limitation) for the purpose of determining the result of a poll.

 

51NOTICE OF ADJOURNED MEETING

 

51.1Whenever a meeting is adjourned for thirty (30) days or more or indefinitely, at least seven clear days’ notice, specifying the place, the day and time of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted, shall be given in the same manner as in the case of an original meeting. Except in these circumstances, no member shall be entitled to any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at any adjourned meeting.

 

51.2The Board may determine that persons entitled to receive notice of an adjourned meeting in accordance with this Article 51 are those persons entered on the Register of Members at the close of business on a day determined by the Board, provided that, if the Company is a participating issuer, the day determined by the Board may not be more than 21 days before the day that the relevant notice of meeting is being sent.

 

51.3The notice of an adjourned meeting given in accordance with this Article 51 may also specify a time (which, if the Company is a participating issuer, shall not be more than 48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting excluding any part of any day that is not a working day) by which a person must be entered on the Register of Members in order to have the right to attend or vote at the meeting. Changes to entries on the Register of Members after the time so specified in the notice shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to so attend or vote.

 

52BUSINESS OF ADJOURNED MEETING

 

No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.

 

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VOTING

 

53VOTING AT A GENERAL MEETING

 

53.1At a general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before, or on the declaration of the result of, the show of hands a poll is demanded by either:

 

(A)the chairman of the meeting;

 

(B)at least five members present in person (or by proxy) having the right to vote on the resolution;

 

(C)member or members present in person (or by proxy) representing not less than ten (10) per cent of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote on the resolution; or

 

(D)member or members present in person (or by proxy) holding shares conferring a right to vote on the resolution on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than ten (10) per cent of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right.

 

53.2Unless a poll is so demanded and the demand is not withdrawn, a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, or not earned by a particular majority, and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution.

 

53.3A demand for a poll may be withdrawn before the poll is taken, but only with the consent of the chairman of the meeting. A demand so withdrawn shall not be taken to have invalidated the result of a show of hands declared before the demand was made. If a poll is demanded before the declaration of the result on a show of hands and the demand is duly withdrawn, the meeting shall continue as if the demand had not been made.

 

54POLL PROCEDURE

 

54.1No poll shall be demanded on the election of a chairman of a meeting or (except with the consent of the chairman of the meeting) on any question of adjournment. A poll duly demanded on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith and a poll on any other matter shall be taken either forthwith or at such time and place, not being more than thirty (30) days from the date of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the poll was demanded, as the chairman of the meeting shall direct. The chairman of the meeting may direct the manner in which a poll shall be taken and may appoint scrutineers who need not be members. No notice need be given of a poll not taken immediately if the time and place at which it is to be taken are announced at the meeting at which it is demanded. In any other case at least seven (7) clear days’ notice shall be given specifying the time and place at which the poll is to be taken. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.

 

54.2The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of the meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which a poll has been demanded.

 

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54.3On a poll, votes may be given in person or by proxy. A member entitled to more than one vote need not, if he votes, use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.

 

55VOTES OF MEMBERS

 

55.1Subject to any rights or restrictions attaching to any shares and to any suspension or abrogation of voting rights pursuant to these Articles:

 

(A)on a show of hands every member who is entitled to vote on the relevant matter and who (being an individual) is present in person or by duly appointed proxy or (being a corporation) is present by a duly authorised representative who is not himself a member entitled to vote or by duly authorised representatives who are not themselves members entitled to vote shall have one vote (for the avoidance of doubt, a proxy who has been appointed by more than one member and has been instructed by one or more of those members to vote for the resolution and by one or more members to vote against the resolution, has one vote for and one vote against the resolution only. A proxy appointed by more than one member will not be restricted by the instructions to vote for or against the resolution he has received from casting a second vote the opposing way under discretionary authority given by other members.); and

 

(B)on a poll every member who (being an individual) is present in person or by duly appointed proxy or (being a corporation) is present by duly authorised representative(s) or by duly appointed proxy(ies) shall have one vote for every share of which he is the holder.

 

55.2In the case of joint holders, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders. Seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members in respect of the joint holding.

 

55.3A member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court or official having jurisdiction (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder or incapacity may vote, on a show of hands or on a poll, by his guardian or other person duly authorised to act on his behalf, who may vote on a poll by proxy. Evidence to the satisfaction of the Board of the authority of the person claiming the right to vote shall be deposited at the Registered Office, or at such other place as is specified in accordance with these Articles for the deposit of instruments of proxy, not less than 48 hours (excluding any day that is not a working day) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the right to vote is to be exercised, and in default the right to vote shall not be exercisable.

 

55.4Notwithstanding section 324A of the Act, the Company is under no obligation to check whether proxies or corporate representatives are voting in accordance with any instructions of the appointor and that votes will not be invalidated should instructions not be followed.

 

56CHAIRMAN’S CASTING VOTE

 

In the case of an equality of votes, either on a show of hands or on a poll, for the avoidance of doubt the chairman of the meeting shall not be entitled to a further or casting vote in addition to any other vote he may have or be entitled to exercise.

 

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57VOTING RESTRICTIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING CALL

 

Unless the Board decides otherwise, no member shall be entitled to be present or vote at any meeting either personally or by proxy until he has paid all calls due and payable on every share held by him whether alone or jointly with any other person together with interest and expenses (if any) to the Company.

 

58PROXY INSTRUMENT

 

58.1The appointment of a proxy shall be in any usual form or in any other form which the Board may approve and, in the case of an instrument in writing, shall be executed by or on behalf of the appointor. In the case of an instrument in writing, a corporation may execute a form of proxy either under its common seal (or in any other manner permitted by law and having the same effect as if executed under seal) or under the hand of a duly authorised officer, attorney or other person. A member may appoint more than one proxy to attend on the same occasion, but only one proxy may be appointed in respect of any one share. The appointment of a proxy shall not preclude a member from attending and voting at the meeting or at any adjournment of it. A form of proxy shall, unless it provides to the contrary, be valid for any adjournment of the meeting to which it relates. The appointment of a person as proxy for a member must be notified to the Company in writing.

 

58.2Without limiting the foregoing, in relation to any shares which are held in uncertificated form, the directors may from time to time permit appointments of a proxy to be made by means of an electronic communication in the form of an Uncertificated Proxy Instruction, (that is, a properly authenticated dematerialised instruction, and/or other instruction or notification, which is sent by means of the relevant system concerned and received by such participant in that system acting on behalf of the company as the directors may prescribe, in such form and subject to such terms and conditions as may from time to time be prescribed by the directors (subject always to the facilities and requirements of the relevant system concerned)); and may in a similar manner permit supplements to, or amendments or revocations of, any such Uncertificated Proxy Instruction to be made by like means. The directors may in addition prescribe the method of determining the time at which any such properly authenticated dematerialised instruction (and/or other instruction or notification) is to be treated as received by the company or such participant. The directors may treat any such Uncertificated Proxy Instruction which purports to be or is expressed to be sent on behalf of a holder of a share as sufficient evidence of the authority of the person sending that instruction to send it on behalf of that holder.

 

58.3The appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is executed or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in some other way approved by the Board may:

 

(A)in the case of an instrument in writing be deposited at the Registered Office or at such other place in the United Kingdom as is specified in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting, not less than 48 hours before (excluding any day that is not a working day) the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote; or

 

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(B)in the case of an appointment contained in an electronic communication, be received at the address specified for the purpose of receiving electronic communications:

 

(1)in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or

 

(2)in any invitation contained in an electronic communication to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting; or

 

(3)as has been made available, throughout the period beginning with the first date in which the notice of the meeting is given and ending with the conclusion of the meeting, on the Company’s website; not less than 48 hours (excluding any day that is not a working day) before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote. Any document or information relating to proxies may be sent by electronic means to that such electronic address, subject to any conditions or limitations specified by the Company when providing the address;

 

(C)in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours (excluding any day that is not a working day) after it was demanded, be deposited or received at the place referred to in Article 58.3(A) and (B) after the poll has been demanded and not less than 24 hours (excluding any day that is not a working day) before the time appointed for taking the poll; or where the poll is not taken forthwith but is taken not more than 48 hours (excluding any day that is not a working day) after it was demanded, be delivered at the meeting to the chairman of the meeting, the Secretary or any Director, and an appointment of proxy which is not deposited, delivered or received in a manner so permitted shall be invalid (unless the Board, in its absolute discretion in relation to any such appointment, waives any such requirement and decides to treat such appointment as valid). The appointment of a proxy will not be valid after twelve (12) months from its date or the date of its execution, except at an adjourned meeting or on a poll demanded at a meeting or an adjourned meeting in cases where the meeting was originally held within twelve (12) months from such date.

 

58.4When two or more valid but differing appointments of proxy are delivered or received in respect of the same share for use at the same meeting and in respect of the same matter, the one which is last validly delivered or received (regardless of its date or of the date of its execution) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the other or others as regards that share. If the Company is unable to determine which appointment was last validly delivered or received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share.

 

58.5An appointment of proxy shall be deemed (unless the contrary is stated in it) to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll and to vote, on a poll, on a resolution or a motion or an amendment of a resolution put to, or other business which may properly come before, the meeting or meetings for which it is given or any adjournment of any such meeting, as the proxy thinks fit. Such appointment shall not confer any further right to speak at the meeting, except with the permission of the chairman of the meeting.

 

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58.6The Board may, at the expense of the Company, send forms of appointment of proxy to the members by post, by electronic communication or otherwise (with or without provision for their return by pre-paid post) for use at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares, either blank or nominating as proxy in the alternative any one or more of the Directors or any other person. If for the purpose of any meeting invitations to appoint as proxy a person or one of a number of persons specified in the invitations are issued at the Company’s expense, they shall be issued to all (and not to some only) of the members entitled to be sent notice of the meeting and to vote at it. The accidental omission to send such a form of appointment or invitation or failure to send such form of appointment or invitation due to circumstances beyond the Company’s control to, or the non-receipt of such form of appointment or invitation by, any member entitled to attend and vote at a meeting shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.

 

59TERMINATION OF PROXY OR CORPORATE AUTHORITY

 

A vote given or poll demanded by proxy or by the duly authorised representative of a corporation shall be valid notwithstanding the previous termination of the authority of the person voting or demanding a poll, unless written notice of the termination was received by the Company at the Registered Office, or at such other place at which the instrument of proxy was duly deposited, or, where the appointment of proxy was contained in an electronic communication, at the address at which such appointment was duly received, at least one (1) hour before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote is given or the poll demanded or (in the case of a poll not taken on the same day as the meeting or adjourned meeting) at least one (1) hour before the time appointed for taking the poll.

 

60CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES

 

60.1A corporation which is a member may, by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares.

 

60.2Any person or persons so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation (in respect of that part of the corporation’s holdings to which the authority relates) as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual member. If more than one person is authorised by a corporation, such corporate representatives of that corporation may exercise their powers on behalf of the corporation in a different manner in respect of different shares held by the corporation but not in respect of the same shares.

 

60.3The corporation shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting if a person so authorised is present at it. All references in these Articles to attendance and voting in person shall be construed accordingly.

 

60.4A Director, the Secretary or some other person authorised for the purpose by the Secretary may require the representative to produce a certified copy of the resolution so authorising him or such other evidence of his authority reasonably satisfactory to such person before permitting him to exercise his powers.

 

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61AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTIONS

 

61.1If an amendment shall be proposed to any resolution but shall in good faith be ruled out of order by the chairman of the meeting, any error in such ruling shall not invalidate the proceedings on the substantive resolution.

 

61.2An ordinary resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by ordinary resolution if:

 

(A)the proposed amendment is to correct a patent error and does not, in the reasonable opinion of the chairman of the meeting, materially alter the scope of the resolution; or

 

(B)at least 48 hours prior to the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which such resolution is to be proposed, notice in writing of the terms of the amendment and intention to move it has been lodged at the Registered Office or received in electronic form at the electronic address at which the Company has or is deemed to have agreed to receive it; or

 

(C)the chairman of the meeting in his absolute discretion decides that it may be proposed.

 

61.3Any proposed amendment to an ordinary resolution may be withdrawn by the proposer at, or prior to the time appointed for holding, the general meeting or adjourned meeting at which such resolution is to be proposed with the prior consent of the chairman of the meeting.

 

61.4A special resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by ordinary resolution, if:

 

(A)the chairman of the meeting proposes the amendment at the general meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, and

 

(B)the amendment does not go beyond what is necessary to correct a grammatical or other non-substantive error in the resolution.

 

62OBJECTION TO ERROR IN VOTING

 

No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter or to the counting of, or failure to count, any vote, except at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which the error occurs. Any such objection or error shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting (whose decision shall be final and conclusive), who shall not be obliged to take it into account unless he considers it to be of sufficient magnitude to affect the decision of the meeting. The chairman’s decision on such matters shall be final and binding on all concerned.

 

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FAILURE TO DISCLOSE INTERESTS IN SHARES

 

63FAILURE TO DISCLOSE INTERESTS IN SHARES

 

63.1For the purpose of this Article 63:

 

(A)Exempt Transfer” means, in relation to shares held by a member:

 

(1)transfer of shares pursuant to an acceptance of a takeover offer (within the meaning of Section 974 of the Act);

 

(2)transfer in consequence of a sale made through the London Stock Exchange or any investment exchange selected by the Company outside the United Kingdom on which any shares are normally traded; or

 

(3)transfer which is shown to the satisfaction of the Board to be made in consequence of a sale in good faith of the whole of the beneficial interest in the shares to a person who is unconnected with the member and with any other person appearing to be interested in the shares;

 

(B)interested” is construed as it is for the purpose of section 793 of the Act;

 

(C)person, other than the member holding a share, shall be treated as appearing to be interested in such share if the member has informed the Company that the person is or may be so interested, or if the Company (after taking account of information obtained from the member or, pursuant to a section 793 notice from anyone else) knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the person is or may be so interested;

 

(D)reference to a person having failed to give to the Company information required by a section 793 notice, or being in default of supplying such information, includes references to his having:

 

(1)failed or refused to give all or any part of such information; and

 

(2)given information which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly given information which is false in a material particular; and

 

(E)transfer” means a transfer of a share or (where applicable) a renunciation of a renounceable letter of allotment or other renounceable document of title relating to a share.

 

63.2Where notice is given by the Company under section 793 of the Act (a “section 793 notice”) to a member, or another person appearing to be interested in shares held by such member, and the member or other person has failed in relation to any shares (“Default Shares”, which expression applies also to any shares issued after the date of the section 793 notice in respect of those shares and to any other shares registered in the name of such member at any time whilst the default subsists) to give the Company the information required within fourteen (14) clear days after the date of the section 793 notice, unless the Board otherwise decides:

 

(A)the member is not entitled in respect of the Default Shares to be present or to vote (either in person or by proxy) at a general meeting or at a separate meeting of the holders of a class of shares or on a poll, or to exercise other rights conferred by membership in relation to the meeting or poll; and

 

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(B)where the Default Shares represent at least 0.25 per cent, in nominal value of the issued shares of their class:

 

(1)a dividend (or any part of a dividend) payable in respect of the Default Shares (except on a winding up of the Company) may be withheld by the Company, which shall have no obligation to pay interest on such dividend;

 

(2)the member shall not be entitled to elect, pursuant to Article 126 (scrip dividends) or otherwise, to receive shares instead of a dividend; and

 

(3)the Board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register the transfer of any Default Shares (subject, in the case of any uncertificated shares, to the Uncertificated Securities Regulations) unless:

 

(a)the transfer is an Exempt Transfer; or

 

(b)the member is not himself in default in supplying the information required and proves to the satisfaction of the Board that no person in default of supplying the information required is interested in any of the shares which are the subject of the transfer.

 

63.3The sanctions under Article 63.2 shall cease to apply seven (7) days after the earlier of:

 

(A)receipt by the Company of notice of an Exempt Transfer, but only in relation to the shares transferred; and

 

(B)receipt by the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Board, of all the information required by the section 793 notice.

 

63.4The Board may:

 

(A)give notice in writing to any member holding Default Shares in uncertificated form requiring the member:

 

(1)to change his holding of such shares from uncertificated form into certificated form within a specified period; and

 

(2)then to hold such Default Shares in certificated form for so long as the default subsists; and

 

(B)appoint any person to take any steps, by instruction by means of the Uncertificated System or otherwise, in the name of any holder of Default Shares as may be required to change such shares from uncertificated form into certificated form (and such steps shall be effective as if they had been taken by such holder).

 

63.5Where Default Shares in which a person appears to be interested are held by a Depositary, the provisions of this Article 63 shall be treated as applying only to those shares held by the Depositary in which such person appears to be interested and not (insofar as such person's apparent interest is concerned) to any other shares held by the Depositary.

 

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63.6The provisions of this Article 63 are in addition and without prejudice to the provisions of the Companies Acts, and in particular shall not prevent the Company from making an application for restrictions to be placed on any shares under section 794 of the Act.

 

APPOINTMENT, RETIREMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

 

64NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

 

Unless and until otherwise determined by the Company by ordinary resolution, the number of Directors (other than alternate Directors) shall be not less than two (2) in number. The Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution fix a maximum number of directors and from time to time vary that maximum number.

 

65NO SHARE QUALIFICATION

 

A Director need not hold any shares but shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and speak at all general meetings of the Company and of any class of members of the Company.

 

66COMPANY’S POWER TO APPOINT DIRECTORS

 

66.1Subject to these Articles, the Company may by ordinary resolution appoint a person who is willing to act to be a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Directors, subject to the total number of Directors not exceeding any maximum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles.

 

66.2A resolution for the appointment of two or more persons as Directors by a single resolution at a general meeting shall be void unless a resolution that the resolution for appointment be proposed in such way has first been agreed to by the meeting without any vote being given against it.

 

67BOARD’S POWER TO APPOINT DIRECTORS

 

67.1Without prejudice to the Company’s power to appoint a person to be a Director pursuant to these Articles, the Board shall have power at any time to appoint any person who is willing to act as a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board, subject to the total number of Directors not exceeding any maximum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles.

 

67.2Any Director so appointed after the date of adoption of these Articles shall, if still a Director, retire at the next annual general meeting after his appointment and be eligible to stand for election as a Director at such meeting. Such person shall not be taken into account in determining the number or identity of Directors who are to retire by rotation at such meeting.

 

68APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

 

Subject to the Companies Acts, the Board may appoint one or more of its members to an executive office or other position of employment with the Company for such term (subject to the Companies Acts) and on any other conditions the Board thinks fit. The Board may revoke, terminate or vary the terms of any such appointment, without prejudice to a claim for damages for breach of contract between the Director and the Company.

 

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69ELIGIBILITY OF NEW DIRECTORS

 

No person, other than a Director retiring (by rotation or otherwise), shall be appointed or re-appointed as a Director at any general meeting unless:

 

(A)he is recommended for appointment by the Board; or

 

(B)not less than seven (7) nor more than forty two (42) clear days before the date appointed for the meeting, a notice executed by a member (other than the person to be proposed) qualified to vote at the meeting has been given to the Company at the Registered Office of the intention to propose such person for appointment or re-appointment, stating the particulars which would, if he were so appointed or re-appointed, be required to be included in the Company’s register of directors, accompanied by a notice executed by that person of his willingness to be appointed or re-appointed.

 

70ROTATIONAL RETIREMENT AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

 

70.1Each Director is subject to retirement by rotation in accordance with these Articles, subject to Article 71 (Position of Retiring Director).

 

70.2At each annual general meeting one third of the Directors who are subject to retirement by rotation or, if their number is not three (3) nor a multiple of three (3), the number nearest to one third, shall retire from office, provided always that a Director who is subject to retirement by rotation shall retire at the third annual general meeting after the annual general meeting or general meeting (as the case may be) at which he was previously appointed or re-appointed. If there are fewer than three (3) Directors who are subject to retirement by rotation, one of them shall retire from office at the annual general meeting.

 

70.3Subject to the Companies Acts and these Articles, the Directors to retire by rotation at each annual general meeting shall be, so far as necessary to obtain the number required, first, any Director who wishes to retire and not offer himself for re-election and, second, those Directors who have been longest in office since their last appointment or re-appointment. As between two (2) or more Directors who have been in office an equal length of time, the Director to retire shall, in default of agreement between them, be determined by lot. The Directors to retire on each occasion (both as to number and identity) shall be determined by the composition of the Board at the start of business seven (7) days before the date of the notice convening the annual general meeting notwithstanding any change in the number or identity of the Directors after that time but before the close of the meeting.

 

70.4If the Board so decides, one (1) or more other Directors selected by the Board may also retire at an annual general meeting as if any such other Director was also retiring by rotation at that meeting in accordance with these Articles.

 

70.5Any Director who has held office with the Company, other than employment or executive office, and who, at the date of the annual general meeting, has held such office for nine (9) years or more, shall be subject to re-appointment at each annual general meeting.

 

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71POSITION OF RETIRING DIRECTOR

 

71.1A Director who retires at an annual general meeting (whether by rotation or otherwise) may, if willing to act, be re-appointed. If he is not re-appointed or deemed to have been re-appointed, he shall retain office until the meeting appoints someone in his place or, if it does not do so, until the end of the meeting.

 

71.2At any general meeting at which a Director retires by rotation, the Company may fill the vacancy and, if it does not do so, the retiring Director shall, if willing, be deemed to have been re-appointed unless it is expressly resolved not to fill the vacancy or a resolution for the re-appointment of the Director is put to the meeting and lost.

 

72REMOVAL BY ORDINARY RESOLUTION

 

In addition to any power of removal under the Companies Acts and subject to the Companies Acts, the Company may:

 

(A)by ordinary resolution remove any Director before the expiration of his period of office, but without prejudice to any claim for damages which he may have for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company; and

 

(B)by ordinary resolution appoint another person who is willing to act to be a Director in his place (subject to these Articles).

 

Any person so appointed shall be treated, for the purposes of determining the time at which he or any other Director is to retire, as if he had become a Director on the day on which the person in whose place he is appointed was last appointed or re-appointed a Director.

 

73VACATION OF DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

 

73.1Without prejudice to the provisions in these Articles for retirement (by rotation or otherwise) the office of a Director shall be vacated if:

 

(A)he resigns by notice in writing delivered to the Secretary at the Registered Office or at an address specified by the Company for the purposes of communication by electronic means or tendered at a Board meeting;

 

(B)he offers to resign by notice in writing delivered to the Secretary at the Registered Office or at an address specified by the Company for the purposes of communication by electronic means or tendered at a Board meeting and the Board resolves to accept such offer;

 

(C)he only held office as a Director for a fixed term and such term expires;

 

(D)he ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Companies Acts or (if applicable) the NASDAQ rules or the rules of any Recognised Investment Exchange, is removed from office pursuant to these Articles, the Companies Acts or (if applicable) the NASDAQ rules or the rules of any Recognised Investment Exchange or becomes prohibited by law from being a Director;

 

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(E)he becomes bankrupt, has an interim receiving order made against him, makes any arrangement or compounds with his creditors generally or applies to the court for an interim order in connection with a voluntary arrangement under any legislation relating to insolvency;

 

(F)registered medical practitioner who is treating him gives a written opinion to the Company stating that he has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a Director and may remain so for more than three months;

 

(G)he is absent, without permission of the Board, from Board meetings for six consecutive months (whether or not an alternate Director attends in his place) and the Board resolves that his office be vacated;

 

(H)he is removed from office by notice in writing addressed to him at his address as shown in the Company’s register of directors and signed by a majority of the board of directors in number (excluding from such calculation the director the subject of removal) but without prejudice to any claim for damages which he may have for breach of contract against the Company; or

 

(I)in the case of a Director who holds executive office, his appointment to such office is terminated or expires and the Board resolves that his office be vacated.

 

73.2A resolution of the Board declaring a Director to have vacated office pursuant to this Article 73 shall be conclusive as to the fact and grounds of vacation stated in the resolution.

 

73.3If the office of a Director is vacated for any reason, he shall cease to be a member of any committee of the Board.

 

73.4In this Article 73, delivery of notice may be in writing, including the use of electronic communications subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may decide.

 

ALTERNATE DIRECTORS

 

74APPOINTMENT

 

74.1A Director (other than an alternate Director) may appoint any other Director or any person approved for that purpose by the Board and willing to act, to be his alternate by notice in writing delivered to the Secretary at the Registered Office, or in any other manner approved by the Board.

 

74.2The appointment of an alternate Director who is not already a Director shall:

 

(A)require the approval of either a majority of the Directors or the Board by way of a Board resolution; and

 

(B)not be effective until his consent to act as a Director in the form prescribed by the Companies Acts has been received at the Registered Office.

 

74.3An alternate Director need not hold a share qualification and shall not be counted in reckoning any maximum or minimum number of Directors allowed by these Articles.

 

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75RESPONSIBILITY

 

Every person acting as an alternate Director shall be an officer of the Company, shall alone be responsible to the Company for his own acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing him.

 

76PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS

 

76.1An alternate Director shall (subject to his giving to the Company an address within the United Kingdom at which notices may be served on him) be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of the Board and all committees of the Board of which his appointor is a member and, in the absence from such meetings of his appointor, to attend and vote at such meetings and to exercise all the powers, rights, duties and authorities of his appointor (other than the power to appoint an alternate Director). A Director acting as alternate Director shall have a separate vote at Board meetings for each Director for whom he acts as alternate Director, but he shall count as only one for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present.

 

76.2Signature by an alternate Director of any resolution in writing of the Board or a committee of the Board will, unless the notice of his appointment provides otherwise, be as effective as signature by his appointor.

 

77INTERESTS

 

An alternate Director shall be entitled to contract and be interested in and benefit from contracts or arrangements with the Company and to be repaid expenses and to be indemnified in the same way and to the same extent as a Director. However, he shall not be entitled to receive from the Company any fees for his services as alternate, except only such part (if any) of the fee payable to his appointor as such appointor may by notice in writing to the Company direct. Subject to this Article 77, the Company shall pay to an alternate Director such expenses as might properly have been paid to him if he had been a Director.

 

78TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT

 

An alternate Director shall cease to be an alternate Director:

 

(A)if his appointor revokes his appointment by notice delivered to the Secretary at the Registered Office or in any other manner approved by the Board; or

 

(B)if he resigns his office of alternate Director by notice delivered to the Secretary at the Registered Office or in any other manner approved by the Board; or

 

(C)if his appointor ceases for any reason to be a Director, provided that if any Director retires but is re-appointed or deemed to be re-appointed at the same meeting, any valid appointment of the alternate Director which was in force immediately before his retirement shall remain in force; or

 

(D)if any event happens in relation to him which, if he were a Director, would cause his office as Director to be vacated.

 

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BOARD POWERS

 

79BOARD POWERS

 

Subject to the Companies Acts, these Articles and to any directions given by special resolution of the Company, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Board, which may exercise all the powers of the Company whether relating to the management of the business or not. No alteration of these Articles nor any such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if such alteration had not been made or such direction had not been given. The provisions in these Articles giving specific powers to the Board shall not limit the general powers given by this Article 79.

 

80DIRECTORS BELOW THE MINIMUM NUMBER

 

If the number of Directors is less than the minimum prescribed in accordance with these Articles, the remaining Director or Directors shall act only for the purposes of appointing an additional Director or Directors to make up such minimum or of convening a general meeting of the Company for the purpose of making such appointment. If there are no Director or Directors able or willing to act, any two members may summon a general meeting for the purpose of appointing Directors. Any additional Director so appointed shall hold office (subject to these Articles) only until the dissolution of the annual general meeting next following such appointment unless he is re-elected during such meeting.

 

81DELEGATION TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

 

The Board may delegate to a Director holding executive office any of its powers, authorities and discretions for such time and on such terms and conditions as it shall think fit. The Board may grant to a Director the power to sub-delegate, and may retain or exclude the right of the Board to exercise the delegated powers, authorities or discretions collaterally with the Director. The Board may at any time revoke the delegation or alter its terms and conditions.

 

82DELEGATION TO COMMITTEES

 

82.1The Board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions (including, without limitation, those relating to the payment of monies or other remuneration to, and the conferring of benefits on, a Director) for such time and on such terms and conditions as it shall think fit to a committee consisting of one or more Directors and (if thought fit) one or more other persons, provided always that a majority of committee members shall be Directors. No resolution or decision may be passed or taken at a meeting of a committee unless a majority of committee members present at the committee meeting are Directors. The Board may grant to the committee the power to sub-delegate, and may retain or exclude the right of the Board to exercise the delegated powers, authorities or discretions collaterally with the committee. The Board may at any time revoke the delegation or alter its terms and conditions or discharge the committee in whole or in part. Where a provision of the Articles refers to the exercise of a power, authority or discretion by the Board and that power, authority or discretion has been delegated by the Board to a committee, the provision shall be construed as permitting the exercise of the power, authority or discretion by the committee.

 

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82.2The Board’s power under these Articles to delegate to a committee:

 

(A)includes (without limitation) the power to delegate the determination of any fee, remuneration or other benefit to be paid or provided to any Director; and

 

(B)is not limited by the fact that in some Articles but not others express reference is made to particular powers being exercised by the Board or by a committee.

 

83LOCAL MANAGEMENT

 

The Board may establish local or divisional boards, agencies or branch offices for managing the affairs of the Company in a specified locality and may appoint persons to be members of a local or divisional board, agency or branch office and may fix their remuneration. The Board may delegate to a local or divisional board, agency or branch office any of its powers, authorities and discretions for such time and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. The Board may grant to such local or divisional board, agency or branch office the power to sub-delegate, may retain or exclude the right of the Board to exercise the delegated powers, authorities or discretions collaterally with the local or divisional board, agency or branch office and may authorise the members of a local or divisional board, agency or branch (or any of them) to fill a vacancy or to act despite a vacancy. The Board may at any time revoke or alter the terms and conditions of the appointment or delegation. Subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the Board, the proceedings of a local or divisional board, agency or branch office with two or more members are governed by those Articles that regulate the proceedings of the Board, so far as applicable.

 

84DELEGATION TO AGENTS

 

The Board may, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint a person to be the agent of the Company and may delegate to such person any of its powers, authorities and discretions for such purposes, for such time and on such terms and conditions (including as to remuneration) as it thinks fit. The Board may grant the power to sub-delegate and may retain or exclude the right of the Board to exercise the delegated powers, authorities or discretions collaterally with the agent. The Board may at any time revoke or alter the terms and conditions of the appointment or delegation.

 

85EXERCISE OF VOTING POWER

 

The Board may exercise or cause to be exercised the voting power conferred by shares in any other body corporate held or owned by the Company, or any power of appointment to be exercised by the Company, in any manner it thinks fit (including the exercise of the voting power or power of appointment in favour of the appointment of any Director as a director or other officer or employee of such company or in favour of the payment of remuneration to the directors, officers or employees of such company).

 

86PROVISION FOR EMPLOYEES

 

The Board may exercise any power conferred on the Company by the Companies Acts to make provision for the benefit of persons employed or formerly employed by any Group Undertaking (or any member of his family or any person who is dependent on him) in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of such Group Undertaking.

 

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87OVERSEAS REGISTERS

 

Subject to the Companies Acts and the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, the Board may exercise the powers conferred on the Company with regard to the keeping of an overseas branch, local or other register in relation to members and may make and vary such regulations as it thinks fit concerning the keeping of any such register.

 

88ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

 

The Board may appoint any person (not being a Director) to any office or employment having a designation or title including the word “director” or attach to any existing office or employment with the Company such designation or title and may terminate any such appointment or the use of such designation or title. The inclusion of the word “director” in the designation or title of any such office or employment shall not imply that such person is, or is deemed to be, or is empowered in any respect to act as, a Director for any of the purposes of the Companies Acts or these Articles.

 

89BORROWING POWERS

 

89.1Subject to this Article 89, the Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or part of the undertaking, property and assets (present or future) and uncalled capital of the Company and, subject to the Companies Acts, to create and issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for a debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of a third party.

 

89.2The Board shall restrict the borrowings of the Company and shall exercise all voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable by the Company in relation to its subsidiary undertakings so as to ensure (as regards subsidiary undertakings, to the extent possible by such exercise) that the aggregate of the amounts borrowed by the Group and remaining outstanding at any time (excluding intra Group borrowings) shall not without the previous sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company exceed an amount equal to two times the gross asset value of the Group where gross asset value is defined as total fixed plus total current assets as measured under UK GAAP or total current plus total non-current assets as measured under IFRS as appropriate provided always that no such sanction shall be required to the borrowing of any moneys intended to be applied and actually applied within six months in the repayment (with or without premium) of any moneys previously borrowed and then outstanding, notwithstanding that the same may result in the said limit being exceeded during such period.

 

89.3In this Article:

 

(A)share capital allotted shall be treated as issued and any share capital already called up or payable at any future date within the following twelve months shall be treated as already paid up and if the Company proposes to issue any shares for cash and the issue of such shares has been underwritten then such shares shall be deemed to have been issued and the subscription moneys (including any premium) payable in respect thereof within the following twelve months shall be deemed to have been paid up;

 

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(B)any company which it is proposed shall become a subsidiary contemporaneously with any relevant transaction shall be treated as if it had already become a subsidiary;

 

(C)the following shall (unless otherwise taken into account) be deemed to be included in moneys borrowed (a) debentures issued in whole or in part for a consideration other than cash, (b) amounts outstanding under acceptance credits (other than in respect of the purchase of goods in the ordinary course of trading), (c) the nominal amount of any share capital issued and the principal amount of any moneys borrowed the redemption or repayment, whereof is guaranteed by the Company or by any subsidiary except in so far as such share capital is for the time being held by or such moneys are for the time being owing to, and the beneficial interest therein is vested in, the Company or any subsidiary; and

 

(D)any fixed premium payable on final redemption or repayment of any debentures or other borrowed moneys or share capital shall be taken into account as an addition to the principal or nominal amount thereof.

 

89.4No person dealing with the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall by reason of the foregoing provision be concerned to see or inquire whether the said limit is observed and no debt incurred or security given in excess of such limit shall be invalid or ineffectual unless the lender or the recipient of the security had at the time when the debt was incurred or the security given express notice that the said limit had been or would thereby be exceeded.

 

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION, EXPENSES AND BENEFITS

 

90FEES

 

Unless otherwise decided by the Company by ordinary resolution, the Company shall pay to the Directors (but not alternate Directors) for their services as Directors such aggregate amount of fees as the Board decides (not exceeding £600,000 per annum or such larger amount as the Company may by ordinary resolution decide). The aggregate fees shall be divided among the Directors in such proportions as the Board decides or, if no decision is made, equally. A fee payable to a Director pursuant to this Article 90 shall be distinct from any salary or remuneration payable to him under a service agreement or other amount payable to him pursuant to other provisions of these Articles and accrues from day to day.

 

91EXPENSES

 

A Director may also be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by him in connection with his attendance at meetings of the Board or of committees of the Board or general meetings or separate meetings of the holders of any class of shares or otherwise in connection with the discharge of his duties as a Director, including (without limitation) any professional fees incurred by him (with the approval of the Board or in accordance with any procedures stipulated by the Board) in taking independent professional advice in connection with the discharge of such duties.

 

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92REMUNERATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

 

The salary or remuneration of a Director appointed to hold employment or executive office in accordance with the Articles may be a fixed sum of money, or wholly or in part governed by business done or profits made, or as otherwise decided by the Board (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by the Board acting through a duly authorised Board committee), and may be in addition to or instead of a fee payable to him for his services as Director pursuant to these Articles.

 

93SPECIAL REMUNERATION

 

A Director who, at the request of the Board, goes or resides abroad, makes a special journey or performs a special service on behalf of or for the Company (including, without limitation, services as a chairman or vice-chairman of the Board, services as a member of any Board committee and services which the Board considers to be outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a Director) may be paid such reasonable additional remuneration (whether by way of salary, bonus, commission, percentage of profits or otherwise) and expenses as the Board (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Board acting through a duly authorised Board committee) may decide.

 

94PENSIONS AND OTHER BENEFITS

 

The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to provide pensions or other retirement or superannuation benefits and to provide death or disability benefits or other allowances or gratuities (by insurance or otherwise) for a person who is or has at any time been a Director, an officer or a director or an employee of a company which is or was a Group Undertaking, a company which is or was allied to or associated with the Company or with a Group Undertaking or a predecessor in business of the Company or of a Group Undertaking (and for any member of his family, including a spouse or former spouse, or a person who is or was dependent on him). For this purpose the Board may establish, maintain, subscribe and contribute to any scheme, trust or fund and pay premiums and, subject to the Companies Acts, lend money or make payments to, guarantee or give an indemnity in respect of, or give any financial or other assistance in connection with any of the matters set out in this Article. The Board may arrange for this to be done by the Company alone or in conjunction with another person. A Director or former Director is entitled to receive and retain for his own benefit any pension or other benefit provided in accordance with this Article 94 and is not obliged to account for it to the Company. The receipt of any such benefit will not disqualify any person from being or becoming a Director of the Company.

 

DIRECTORS’ PROCEEDINGS

 

95BOARD MEETINGS

 

Subject to these Articles and to the Protocol, the Board may regulate its proceedings as it thinks fit.

 

96NOTICE OF BOARD MEETINGS

 

A Director may, and the Secretary at the request of a Director shall, call a meeting of the Board. Notice of a Board meeting shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is given to him personally or by word of mouth or sent in writing to his last known address or any other address given to the Company by him for such purpose or given by electronic communications to an address for the time being notified to the Company by the Director. A Director may be treated as having waived his entitlement to notice of a meeting of the Board if he has not supplied the Company with the information necessary to ensure that he receives notice of a meeting before it takes place. A Director may waive the requirement that notice of any Board meeting be given to him, either prospectively or retrospectively.

 

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97QUORUM

 

97.1No business shall be transacted at any meeting of the Board unless a quorum is present. The quorum may be fixed by the Board and unless so fixed at any other number shall be two (2). An alternate Director who is not himself a Director shall, if his appointor is not present, be counted in the quorum. A duly convened Board meeting at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise any and all of the authorities, discretions and powers vested in or exercisable by the Board.

 

97.2If a Director ceases to be a director at a Board meeting, he can continue to be present and to act as a director and be counted in the quorum until the end of the meeting if no other Director objects and if otherwise a quorum of Directors would not be present.

 

98BOARD CHAIRMAN

 

The Board may appoint any Director to be, and may remove, a chairman and a vice chairman of the Board. The chairman or, in his absence, the vice chairman, shall preside at all Board meetings. If there is no chairman or vice chairman, or if at a Board meeting neither the chairman nor the vice chairman is present within five (5) minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, or if neither of them is willing to act as chairman, the Directors present may choose any Director present to be chairman of the meeting.

 

99VOTING

 

Questions arising at a meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall not have a second or casting vote.

 

100TELEPHONE PARTICIPATION

 

Subject to the Protocol, a Director or his alternate Director may participate in a meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board through the medium of conference telephone, video conferencing or any other form of communication equipment if all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. A person participating in this way shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and shall be counted in a quorum and entitled to vote. Subject to the Companies Acts, all business transacted in this way by the Board or a committee of the Board shall be deemed for the purposes of the Articles to be validly and effectively transacted at a meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board even if one Director only is physically present at any one place. The meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled or, if there is no such group, where the chairman of the meeting then is.

 

101WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS

 

101.1Subject to the Protocol, a resolution in writing, executed by all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a Board meeting and in number not being less than a quorum, or by all the members of a committee of the Board for the time being entitled to receive notice of the meetings of such committee and in number not being less than a quorum of such committee, shall be as valid and effective for all purposes as a resolution duly passed at a meeting of the Board (or committee, as the case may be).

 

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101.2Such a resolution:

 

(A)may consist of several documents in the same form each executed by one or more of the Directors or members of the relevant committee, including executions evidenced by facsimile transmission;

 

(B)may be in electronic format provided that the resolution has been signed by the Director or his alternate and is of acceptable quality;

 

(C)need not be signed by an alternate Director if it is signed by his appointor;

 

(D)if signed by an alternate Director, need not also be signed by his appointor; and

 

(E)to be effective, need not be signed by a Director who is prohibited by these Articles from voting on it, or by his alternate.

 

102COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS

 

Proceedings of committees of the Board shall be conducted in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Board (if any). Subject to those regulations, such proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with applicable provisions of these Articles regulating the proceedings of the Board. Where the Board resolves to delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions to a committee and such resolution states that the committee shall consist of any one or more unnamed Directors, it shall not be necessary to give notice of a meeting of such committee to any Directors other than the Director or Directors who form the committee.

 

103MINUTES

 

103.1The Board shall cause minutes to be made of:

 

(A)all appointments of officers and committees made by the Board and of any such officer’s remuneration; and

 

(B)the names of Directors present at every meeting of the Board, a committee of the Board, the Company or the holders of any class of shares or debentures, and all orders, resolutions and proceedings of such meetings.

 

103.2Any such minutes, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the proceedings were held or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting or the Secretary, shall be prima facie evidence of the matters stated in them.

 

104VALIDITY OF PROCEEDINGS

 

All acts done in good faith by a meeting of the Board, or of a committee of the Board, or by a person acting as a Director, an alternate Director or a committee member shall, notwithstanding that it may be discovered afterwards that there was a defect in the appointment of any person so acting or that any of them were disqualified from holding office, or had vacated office, or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified and had continued to be a Director, alternate Director or committee member and entitled to vote.

 

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INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS

 

105PERMITTED INTERESTS

 

Subject to the Companies Acts and compliance with the next Article 106, a Director, notwithstanding his office:

 

(A)may enter into or otherwise be interested in any contract, arrangement, transaction or proposal with the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested, either in connection with his tenure of any office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise;

 

(B)may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (except that of auditor) in conjunction with the office of Director and may act by himself or through his firm in a professional capacity for the Company, and in any such case on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Board may arrange, either in addition to or in lieu of any remuneration provided for by any other Article;

 

(C)may be a director or other officer of, or employed by, or a party to any contract, arrangement, transaction or proposal with or otherwise interested in, any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested or as regards which the Company has any powers of appointment; and

 

shall not be liable to account to the Company for any profit, remuneration or other benefit realised by any such office, employment, contract, arrangement, transaction or proposal, and no such contract, arrangement, transaction or proposal shall be avoided on the grounds of any such interest or benefit.

 

106DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS TO BOARD

 

A Director who is in any way (directly or indirectly) interested in any contract or arrangement or any other proposal with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at the meeting of the Board at which the question of entering into the contract, arrangement or proposal is first considered, if he knows his interest then exists or, in any other case, at the first meeting of the Board after he knows that he is or has become so interested. For the purposes of this Article 106 a general notice given to the Board by a Director that he is to be regarded as having an interest (of the nature and extent specified in the notice) in any contract, arrangement or proposal in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a sufficient disclosure under this Article 106 in relation to such contract, arrangement or proposal of the nature and extent so specified.

 

107INTERESTED DIRECTOR NOT TO VOTE OR COUNT FOR QUORUM

 

A Director shall not vote on, or be counted in the quorum in relation to, any resolution of the Board or of a committee of the Board concerning any contract or arrangement or any other proposal to which the Company is or is to be a party and in which he has an interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interests in shares or debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, the Company), other than a resolution:

 

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(A)relating to the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity to him in respect of money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person at the request of or for the benefit of a Group Undertaking;

 

(B)relating to the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity in respect of a debt or obligation of a Group Undertaking for which he himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;

 

(C)relating to, or in the context of, an offer of securities by a Group Undertaking in which he is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which he is to participate;

 

(D)relating to another company in which he does not have to his knowledge an interest in shares (as that term is used in sections 820 to 825 of the Act) representing one (1) per cent or more of either any class of the equity share capital, or the voting rights in, such company;

 

(E)relating to an arrangement for the benefit of employees of any Group Undertaking which does not award him any privilege or benefit not generally awarded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates;

 

(F)concerning insurance which the Company proposes to maintain or purchase for the benefit of Directors or for the benefit of persons including Directors; or

 

(G)in respect of which the interest of the Director cannot reasonably be regarded as conflicting.

 

108DIRECTOR’S INTEREST IN OWN APPOINTMENT

 

A Director shall not vote or be counted in the quorum on any resolution of the Board or committee of the Board concerning his own appointment (including fixing or varying or recommending the terms of his appointment or its termination) as a holder of any office or place of profit with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested. Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment (including fixing or varying or recommending the terms of appointment or the termination thereof) of two or more Directors to offices or places of profits with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, such proposals may be divided and a separate resolution considered in relation to each Director. In such case each of the Directors concerned (if not debarred from voting under these Articles) shall be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of each resolution except that concerning his own appointment.

 

109CONCLUSIVE RULINGS ON DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS

 

(A)If any question arises at any meeting as to the materiality of the interest of a Director (other than the chairman of the meeting) or as to the entitlement of any Director (other than the chairman) to vote or be counted in the quorum and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting or being counted in the quorum, such question shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting. The chairman’s ruling in relation to such Director shall be conclusive and binding on all concerned (except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of such Director, as known to him, has not been adequately disclosed to the meeting).

 

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(B)If any question arises at any meeting as to the materiality of the interest of the chairman of the meeting or as to his entitlement to vote or be counted in the quorum and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting or being counted in the quorum, such question shall be decided by a resolution of the Directors or committee members present at the meeting (excluding the chairman), whose majority vote shall be conclusive and binding on all concerned (except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of such chairman, as known to him, has not been adequately disclosed to the meeting).

 

110CONNECTED PERSONS

 

For the purposes of the provisions of these Articles concerning a Director’s interests in relation to the Company, the interest of a person who is for the purposes of the Companies Acts connected with a Director shall be (if known by the Director to be an interest of any such connected person) treated as the interest of the Director and, in relation to an alternate Director, the interest of his appointor shall be treated as the interest of the alternate Director in addition to an interest which the alternate Director otherwise has. This Article 110 applies to an alternate Director as if he were a Director.

 

111SUSPENSION OR RELAXATION OF PROVISIONS CONCERNING DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS

 

111.1Subject to the Companies Acts, the Company may by ordinary resolution suspend, vary or relax any provision in these Articles concerning a Director’s interests in relation to the Company, either generally or in respect of any particular matter, or ratify any contract, arrangement or other proposal not authorised by reason of a contravention of any such provision.

 

111.2For the purposes of section 175 of the Act, the Directors may authorise any matter proposed to them in accordance with these Articles which would, if not so authorised, constitute or give rise to an infringement of duty by a Director under that section.

 

111.3Authorisation of a matter under Article 111.2 shall be effective only if:

 

(A)the matter in question shall have been proposed by any person for consideration at a meeting of the Directors, in accordance with the Directors procedures, if any, for the time being relating to matters for consideration by the Directors or in such other manner as the Directors may approve;

 

(B)any requirement as to the quorum at the meeting of the Directors at which the matter is considered is met without counting the Director in question and any other interested Director (together the “Interested Directors”); and

 

(C)the matter was agreed to without the Interested Directors voting or would have been agreed to if the votes of the Interested Directors had not been counted.

 

111.4Any authorisation of a matter pursuant to Article 111.2 shall extend to any actual or potential conflict of interest which may reasonably be expected to arise out of the matter so authorised.

 

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111.5Any authorisation of a matter pursuant to Article 111.2 shall be subject to such conditions or limitations as the Directors may specify, whether at the time such authorisation is given or subsequently, and may be terminated or varied by the Directors at any time. A Director shall comply with any obligations imposed on him by the Directors pursuant to any such authorisation.

 

111.6A Director shall not, by reason of his office or the fiduciary relationship thereby established, be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefit which derives from any matter authorised by the Directors under Article 111.2 and any contract, transaction or arrangement relating thereto shall not be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such remuneration or other benefit or on the ground of the Director having any interest as referred to in the said section 175.

 

111.7A Director shall be under no duty to the Company with respect to any information which he obtains or has obtained otherwise than as a director or officer or employee of the Company and in respect of which he owes a duty of confidentiality to another person. However, to the extent that his connection with that other person conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company, this Article 111 applies only if the existence of that connection has been authorised by the Directors under Article 111.2. In particular, the Director shall not be in breach of the general duties he owes to the Company by virtue of sections 171 to 177 of the Act because he fails:

 

(A)to disclose any such information to the Directors or to any Director or other officer or employee of the Company; and/or

 

(B)to use any such information in performing his duties as a Director or officer or employee of the Company.

 

111.8Where the existence of a Director’s connection with another person has been authorised by the Directors under Article 111.2 and his connection with that person conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company, the Director shall not be in breach of the general duties he owes to the Company by virtue of sections 171 to 177 of the Act because he:

 

(A)absents himself from meetings of the Directors or any committee thereof at which any matter relating to the conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest will or may be discussed or from the discussion of any such matter at a meeting or otherwise; and/or makes arrangements not to receive documents and information relating to any matter which gives rise to the conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest sent or supplied by the Company and/or for such documents and information to be received and read by a professional adviser, for so long as he reasonably believes such conflict of interest (or possible conflict of interest) subsists.

 

111.9The provisions of Articles 111.7 and 111.8 are without prejudice to any equitable principle or rule of law which may excuse the Director from:

 

(A)disclosing information, in circumstances where disclosure would otherwise be required under these Articles or otherwise; or

 

(B)attending meetings or discussions or receiving documents and information as referred to in Article 111.8, in circumstances where such attendance or receiving such documents and information would otherwise be required under these Articles.

 

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111.10For the purposes of this Article 111, a conflict of interest includes a conflict of interest and duty and a conflict of duties.

 

SECRETARY

 

112SECRETARY

 

112.1Subject to the Companies Acts, the Board shall appoint a Secretary and may appoint one or more persons to be a joint, deputy or assistant Secretary on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. The Board may remove a person appointed pursuant to this Article 112 from office and appoint another or others in his place. Any such removal shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service.

 

112.2Any provision of the Companies Acts or of these Articles requiring or authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the same person acting both as a Director and as, or in the place of, the Secretary.

 

SEALS AND DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATION

 

113SAFE CUSTODY

 

The board shall provide for the safe custody of every Seal.

 

114APPLICATION OF SEAL

 

114.1Any Seal may be used only by the authority of the Board or of a committee of the Board. The Board may decide who is to sign an instrument to which the Seal is to be affixed either generally or in relation to a particular instrument or type of instrument. The Board may decide, either generally or in a particular case, that a signature may be dispensed with or affixed by mechanical means. Unless otherwise decided by the Board:

 

(A)share certificates and certificates issued in respect of debentures or other securities to which the Seal is affixed (subject to the provisions of the relevant instrument) need not be signed or, if signed, a signature may be applied by mechanical or other means or may be printed; and

 

(B)every other instrument to which the Seal is affixed shall be signed, in the presence of a witness, by at least one of: (i) a Director; (ii) the Secretary; or (iii) a person duly authorised by the Board.

 

114.2Every share certificate or share warrant shall be issued either under the Seal (which may be affixed to it or printed on by mechanical or other means) or in such other manner as the Board, having regard to the terms of issue and the Companies Acts may authorise. All references in these Articles to the Seal shall be construed in relation to share certificates and share warrants accordingly.

 

115OFFICIAL SEAL FOR USE ABROAD

 

The Company may exercise the powers conferred by the Companies Acts with regard to having an official seal for use abroad, and those powers shall be vested in the Board.

 

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116DIRECTORS OR SECRETARY TO AUTHENTICATE OR CERTIFY

 

A Director or the Secretary or any person appointed by the Board for the purpose may authenticate any documents affecting the constitution of the Company (including these Articles) and any resolutions passed by the Company or holders of a class of shares or the Board or any committee of the Board and any books, records, documents and accounts relating to the business of the Company, and may certify copies of or extracts from any such items as true copies or extracts.

 

DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS

 

117DECLARATION

 

Subject to the Companies Acts and these Articles, the Company may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend to be paid to members according to their respective rights and interests in the profits of the Company. No such dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Board.

 

118INTERIM DIVIDENDS

 

Subject to the Companies Acts, the Board may pay such interim dividends (including any dividend payable at a fixed rate) as appears to the Board to be justified by the profits of the Company available for distribution. If at any time the share capital is divided into different classes, the Board may pay such interim dividends on shares which rank after shares conferring preferential rights with regard to dividend as well as on shares conferring preferential rights, unless at the time of payment any preferential dividend is in arrears. If the Board acts in good faith, it shall not incur any liability to the holders of shares conferring preferential rights for any loss that they may suffer by the lawful payment of an interim dividend on any shares ranking after those with preferential rights.

 

119ENTITLEMENT TO DIVIDENDS

 

119.1Except as otherwise provided by these Articles or the rights attached to, or the terms of issue of shares:

 

(A)dividend shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up (otherwise than in advance of calls) on the nominal value of the shares on which the dividend is paid; and

 

(B)dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amounts paid up on the nominal value of the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid, but if any share is issued on terms that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, it shall rank for dividend accordingly.

 

119.2Except as otherwise provided by these Articles or the rights attached to shares dividend may be paid in any currency or currencies decided by the Board; and the Company may agree with a member that any dividend declared or which may become due in one currency will be paid to the member in another currency, for which purpose the Board may use any relevant exchange rate current at any time as the Board may select for the purpose of calculating the amount of any member’s entitlement to the dividend.

 

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120PAYMENT METHODS

 

120.1The Company may pay a dividend, interest or other amount payable in respect of a share in cash or by cheque, warrant or money order or by a bank or other funds transfer system or (in respect of any uncertificated share) through the Uncertificated System in accordance with any authority given to the Company to do so (whether in writing, through the Uncertificated System or otherwise) by or on behalf of the member in a form or in a manner satisfactory to the Board. Any joint holder or other person jointly entitled to a share may give an effective receipt for a dividend, interest or other amount paid in respect of such share.

 

120.2The Company may send a cheque, warrant or money order by post:

 

(A)in the case of a sole holder, to his registered address;

 

(B)in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the person whose name stands first in the Register of Members;

 

(C)in the case of a person or persons entitled by transmission to a share, as if it were a notice given in accordance with these Articles; or

 

(D)in any case, to a person and address that the person or persons entitled to the payment may in writing direct.

 

120.3Every cheque, warrant or money order shall be sent at the risk of the person or persons entitled to the payment and shall be made payable to the order of the person or persons entitled or to such other person or persons as the person or persons entitled may in writing direct. The payment of the cheque, warrant or money order shall be a good discharge to the Company. If payment is made by a bank or other funds transfer or through the Uncertificated System, the Company shall not be responsible for amounts lost or delayed in the course of transfer. If payment is made by or on behalf of the Company through the Uncertificated System:

 

(A)the Company shall not be responsible for any default in accounting for such payment to the member or other person entitled to such payment by a bank or other financial intermediary of which the member or other person is a customer for settlement purposes in connection with the Uncertificated System; and

 

(B)the making of such payment in accordance with any relevant authority referred to in Article 120.1 above shall be a good discharge to the Company.

 

120.4The Board may:

 

(A)lay down procedures for making any payments in respect of uncertificated shares through the Uncertificated System;

 

(B)allow any holder of uncertificated shares to elect to receive or not to receive any such payment through the Uncertificated System; and

 

(C)lay down procedures to enable any such holder to make, vary or revoke any such election.

 

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120.5The Board may withhold payment of a dividend (or part of a dividend) payable to a person entitled by transmission to a share until he has provided any evidence of his entitlement that the Board may reasonably require.

 

121DEDUCTIONS

 

The Board may deduct from any dividend or other amounts payable to any person in respect of a share all such sums as may be due from him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in relation to any shares.

 

122INTEREST

 

No dividend or other money payable in respect of a share shall bear interest against the Company, unless otherwise provided by the rights attached to the share.

 

123UNCLAIMED DIVIDENDS

 

All unclaimed dividends or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a share may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board for the benefit of the Company until claimed. The payment of any unclaimed dividend or other amount payable by the Company in respect of a share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect of it. Any dividend unclaimed after a period of twelve (12) years from the date the dividend became due for payment shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

 

124UNCASHED DIVIDENDS

 

If, in respect of a dividend or other amount payable in respect of a share:

 

(A)cheque, warrant or money order is returned undelivered or left uncashed; or

 

(B)transfer made by or through a bank transfer system and/or other funds transfer system(s) (including, without limitation, the Uncertificated System in relation to any uncertificated shares) fails or is not accepted, on two consecutive occasions, or one occasion and reasonable enquiries have failed to establish another address or account of the person entitled to the payment, the Company shall not be obliged to send or transfer a dividend or other amount payable in respect of such share to such person until he notifies the Company of an address or account to be used for such purpose.

 

125DIVIDENDS IN KIND

 

A general meeting declaring a dividend may, upon the recommendation of the Board, direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets (including, without limitation, paid up shares or securities of any other body corporate). Where any difficulty arises concerning such distribution, the Board may settle it as it thinks fit. In particular (without limitation), the Board may:

 

(A)issue fractional certificates or ignore fractions;

 

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(B)fix the value for distribution of any assets, and may determine that cash shall be paid to any member on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of members; and

 

(C)vest any assets in trustees on trust for the persons entitled to the dividend.

 

126SCRIP DIVIDENDS

 

126.1The Board may, with the prior authority of an ordinary resolution and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may determine, offer any holders of Ordinary Shares the right to elect to receive Ordinary Shares, credited as fully paid, instead of cash in respect of the whole (or some part, to be determined by the Board) of any dividend specified by the ordinary resolution, subject to the Companies Acts and to the provisions of this Article 126.

 

126.2An ordinary resolution under Article 126.1 may specify a particular dividend (whether or not declared), or may specify all or any dividends declared within a specified period, but such period may not end later than the beginning of the fifth annual general meeting next following the date of the meeting at which the ordinary resolution is passed.

 

126.3The entitlement of each holder of Ordinary Shares to new Ordinary Shares shall be such that the relevant value of the entitlement shall be the cash amount, disregarding any tax credit, (or as near to such cash amount as the Board considers appropriate) that such holder would have received by way of dividend. For this purpose, “relevant value” shall be calculated by reference to the average of the middle market quotations for the Ordinary Shares on the London Stock Exchange as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List, or the middle-market quotation of ADS in NASDAQ or any Recognised Investment Exchange on which ADS are traded from time to time (adjusted as the Board shall determine to reflect the number of Ordinary Shares represented by each ADS), for the day on which the Ordinary Shares are first quoted “ex” the relevant dividend and the four subsequent dealing days, or in such other manner as may be determined by or in accordance with the ordinary resolution. A written confirmation or report by the Auditors as to the amount of the relevant value in respect of any dividend shall be conclusive evidence of that amount.

 

126.4The Board may make any provision it considers appropriate in relation to an allotment made or to be made pursuant to this Article 126 (whether before or after the passing or the ordinary resolution referred to in Article 126.1), including (without limitation):

 

(A)the giving of notice to holders of the right of election offered to them;

 

(B)the provision of forms of election and/or a facility and a procedure for making elections through the Uncertificated System (whether in respect of a particular dividend or dividends generally);

 

(C)determination of the procedure for making and revoking elections;

 

(D)the place at which, and the latest time by which, forms of election and other relevant documents must be lodged in order to be effective;

 

(E)the disregarding or rounding up or down or carrying forward of fractional entitlements, in whole or in part, or the accrual of the benefit of fractional entitlements to the Company (rather than to the holders concerned); and

 

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(F)the exclusion from any offer of any holders of Ordinary Shares where the Board considers that the making of the offer to them would or might involve the contravention of the laws of any territory or that for any other reason the offer should not be made to them.

 

126.5The dividend (or that part of the dividend in respect of which a right of election has been offered) shall not be payable on Ordinary Shares in respect of which a valid election has been made (“the elected Ordinary Shares”). Instead additional Ordinary Shares shall be allotted to the holders of the elected Ordinary Shares on the basis of allotment determined under this Article 126. For such purpose, the Board may capitalise out of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund of the Company (including any share premium account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account), whether or not available for distribution, a sum equal to the aggregate nominal amount of the additional Ordinary Shares to be allotted on that basis and apply it in paying up in full the appropriate number of unissued Ordinary Shares for allotment and distribution to the holders of the elected Ordinary Shares on that basis.

 

126.6The additional Ordinary Shares, when allotted, shall rank pari passu in all respects with the fully paid Ordinary Shares in issue on the record date for the dividend in respect of which the right of election has been offered, except that they will not rank for any dividend or other entitlement which has been declared, paid or made by reference to such record date.

 

126.7The Board may:

 

(A)do all acts and things which it considers necessary or expedient to give effect to any such capitalisation, and may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all the members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and incidental matters and any agreement so made shall be binding on all concerned;

 

(B)establish and vary a procedure for election mandates in respect of future rights of election and determine that every duly effected election in respect of any Ordinary Shares shall be binding on every successor in title to the holder of such shares; and

 

(C)terminate, suspend or amend any offer of the right to elect to receive Ordinary Shares in lieu of any cash dividend at any time and generally implement any scheme in relation to any such offer on such terms and conditions as the Board may from time to time determine and take such other action as the Board may deem necessary or desirable from time to time in respect of any such scheme.

 

127RESERVES

 

The Board may set aside out of the profits of the Company and carry to reserve such sums as it thinks fit. Such sums standing to reserve may be applied, at the Board’s discretion, for any purpose to which the profits of the Company may properly be applied and, pending such application, may either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Board thinks fit. The Board may divide the reserve into such special funds as it thinks fit and may consolidate into one fund any special funds or any parts of any special funds into which the reserve may have been divided as it thinks fit. Any sum which the Board may carry to reserve out of the unrealised profits of the Company shall not be mixed with any reserve to which profits available for distribution have been carried. The Board may also carry forward any profits without placing them to reserve.

 

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128CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS AND RESERVES

 

The Board may, with the authority of an ordinary resolution:

 

(A)subject to this Article 128, resolve to capitalise any undivided profits of the Company not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not available for distribution) or any sum standing to the credit of any reserve or fund of the Company (including any share premium account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account), whether or not available for distribution;

 

(B)appropriate the sum resolved to be capitalised to the holders of Ordinary Shares in proportion to the nominal amounts of the shares (whether or not fully paid) held by them respectively which would entitle them to participate in a distribution of that sum if the shares were fully paid and the sum were then distributable and were distributed by way of dividend and apply such sum on their behalf either in or towards paying up the amounts, if any, unpaid on any shares held by them respectively, or in paying up in full unissued shares or debentures of the Company of a nominal amount equal to that sum, and allot the shares or debentures credited as fully paid to those holders of Ordinary Shares or as the Board may direct, in those proportions, or partly in one way and partly in the other, but so that the share premium account, the capital redemption reserve and any profits or reserves which are not available for distribution may, for the purposes of this Article 128, only be applied in paying up unissued shares to be allotted to members credited as fully paid;

 

(C)resolve that any shares so allotted to any member in respect of a holding by him of any partly paid shares shall, so long as such shares remain partly paid, rank for dividend only to the extent that such partly paid shares rank for dividend;

 

(D)make such provision by the issue of fractional certificates (or by ignoring fractions or by accruing the benefit of fractions to the Company rather than to the holders concerned) or by payment in cash or otherwise as the Board may determine in the case of shares or debentures becoming distributable in fractions;

 

(E)authorise any person to enter on behalf of all the members concerned into an agreement with the Company providing for either:

 

(1)the allotment to them respectively, credited as fully paid, of any further shares or debentures to which they are entitled upon such capitalisation; or

 

(2)the payment up by the Company on behalf of such members by the application thereto of their respective proportions of the reserves or profits resolved to be capitalised, of the amounts or any part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing shares,

 

so that any such agreement shall be binding on all such members; and

 

(F)generally do all acts and things required to give effect to such resolution.

 

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RECORD DATES

 

129BOARD TO FIX DATE

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles but without prejudice to the rights attached to any shares and subject to the Companies Acts, the Board may fix any date (“the record date”) as the date at the close of business (or such other time as the Board may decide) on which persons registered as the holders of shares or other securities shall be entitled to receipt of any dividend, distribution, interest, allotment, issue, notice, information, document or circular. A record date may be on or at any time before any date on which such item is paid, made, given or served or (in the case of any dividend, distribution, interest, allotment or issue) after any date on which such item is recommended, resolved, declared or announced.

 

ACCOUNTS

 

130ACCESS TO ACCOUNTING RECORDS

 

No member (other than an officer of the Company) shall have any right of inspecting any accounting record or other document of the Company unless he is authorised to do so by statute, by order of the court, by the Board or by an ordinary resolution.

 

131DISTRIBUTION OF ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

 

131.1In respect of each financial year, a copy of the Company’s annual accounts, Directors’ report and Auditors’ report on those accounts shall be sent by post or delivered or given, in electronic form, to an address for the time being notified to the Company by the member (or, where the member is a company, deemed to have been so notified to the Company by a provision of the Act), to every member, every holder of debentures, and every other person who is entitled to receive notices of general meetings, in each case not less than 21 clear days before the date of the meeting at which copies of those documents are to be laid in accordance with the Companies Acts. This Article 131 does not require copies of such documents to be sent or delivered or given to a person who is not entitled to receive notices of general meetings and of whose address the Company is unaware or to more than one of the joint holders of shares or debentures.

 

131.2Where permitted in accordance with the Companies Acts, the Company may send a summary financial statement to any member instead of or in addition to the documents referred to in Article 131.1.

 

NOTICES

 

132FORMS OF NOTICES

 

Any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles (other than a notice calling a meeting of the Directors) shall be in writing or shall be given in electronic form to an address for the time being notified (or deemed notified by a provision of the Act) for that purpose to the person giving the notice, except that a notice to the holder of any uncertificated shares or given in respect of any such shares may be given electronically through the Uncertificated System (if permitted by, and subject to, the facilities and requirements of the Uncertificated System).

 

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133SERVICE ON MEMBERS

 

133.1A notice or other document may be given by the Company to any member either:

 

(A)personally; or

 

(B)by sending it by post (in a pre-paid envelope) addressed to such member at his registered address (any such notice or document to be given to a member registered on an overseas branch register may be posted either from the United Kingdom or in the territory in which such branch register is maintained); or

 

(C)by giving it in electronic form to a person who has agreed (generally or specifically) that the notice, document or information may be sent or supplied in that form (and has not revoked that agreement); or

 

(D)(in the case of a notice to a member holding uncertificated shares) by transmitting the notice through the Uncertificated System; or

 

(E)subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, by making it available on a website, provided that the requirements in Article 133.2 are satisfied; or

 

(F)by any other means authorised in writing by the member concerned.

 

133.2The requirements referred to in Article 133.1(E) are that:

 

(A)the Company has not received an objection from any shareholder to such shareholder receiving notices by electronic communications in accordance with this Article 133 and the member is therefore taken to have so agreed (and has not revoked that agreement);

 

(B)the member is sent a notification of the presence of the notice, document or information on a website, the address of that website, the place on that website where it may be accessed, and how it may be accessed (“notification of availability”);

 

(C)in the case of a notice of meeting, the notification of availability states that it concerns a notice of a Company meeting, specifies the place, time and date of the meeting, and states whether it will be an annual general meeting; and

 

(D)the notice, document or information continues to be published on that website, in the case of a notice of meeting, throughout the period beginning with the date of the notification of availability and ending with the conclusion of the meeting and in all other cases throughout the period specified by any applicable provision of the Companies Acts, or, if no such period is specified, throughout the period of twenty-eight (28) days beginning with the date on which the notification of availability is sent to the member, save that if the notice, document or information is made available for part only of that period then failure to make it available throughout that period shall be disregarded where such failure is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the Company to prevent or avoid.

 

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133.3In the case of joint holders of a share, all notices and documents shall be given to the person whose name stands first in the Register of Members in respect of that share and the agreement of the first named holder that notices, documents and information may be given, sent or supplied in electronic form or by being made available on a website shall be binding on all the joint holders. Notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders.

 

133.4If a member (or, in the case of joint holders, the person first named in the Register of Members) has a registered address outside the United Kingdom but has given to the Company an address in the United Kingdom at which notices may be given to him or has an address which is registered on an overseas branch register or has an address to which notices may be sent in electronic form, he shall be entitled to have notices or documents given to him at that address. Otherwise no such member (including any such joint holder) shall be entitled to receive any notice or other document from the Company.

 

133.5Any notice or other document to be given to a member may be given by reference to the Register of Members as it stands at any time within the period of twenty-one (21) days before the day that the notice is given or (where and as applicable) within any other period permitted by, or in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Acts and the Uncertificated Securities Regulations. No change in the Register of Members after that time shall invalidate the giving of such notice or document or require the Company to give such item to any other person.

 

133.6If on three (3) consecutive occasions notices or other documents have been sent through the post to any member at his registered address or his address for the service of notices but have been returned undelivered, such member shall not be entitled to receive notices or other documents from the Company until he shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing a new registered address or address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices.

 

133.7If on three (3) consecutive occasions notices or other documents have been sent in electronic form to an address for the time being notified (or deemed notified by a provision of the Act) to the Company by the member and the Company becomes aware that there has been a failure of transmission, the Company shall revert to giving notices and other documents to the member by post or by any other means authorised in writing by the member concerned. Such member shall not be entitled to receive notices or other documents from the Company in electronic form until he shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing a new address to which notices or other documents may be sent in electronic form.

 

133.8Where a document is required under these Articles to be signed by a member or any other person, if the document is in electronic form, then in order to be valid the document must either:

 

(A)incorporate the electronic signature, or personal identification details (which may be details previously allocated by the Company), of that member or other person, in such form as the directors may approve; or

 

(B)be accompanied by such other evidence as the directors may require in order to be satisfied that the document is genuine. The Company may designate mechanisms for validating any such document and a document not validated by the use of any such mechanisms shall be deemed as having not been received by the Company. In the case of any document or information relating to a meeting, an instrument of proxy or invitation to appoint a proxy, any validation requirements shall be specified in the relevant notice of meeting.

 

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134NOTICES BY ADVERTISEMENT

 

134.1If by reason of the suspension or curtailment of postal services in the United Kingdom the Company is unable effectively to convene a general meeting by notices sent through the post, any such meeting may be convened by notice advertised once in at least one national newspaper published in the country in which the Company’s Registered Office is located. The Company shall send a copy of the notice to members by post if at least seven (7) clear days before the meeting the posting of notices to addresses throughout the United Kingdom again becomes practicable.

 

134.2Any notice to be given by the Company to the members or any of them, and not otherwise provided for by these Articles, shall be sufficiently given if given by advertisement in at least one national newspaper published in the country in which the Company’s Registered Office is located.

 

134.3Any notice given by advertisement in accordance with this Article 134 shall be deemed to have been served at noon on the day on which the advertisement first appears.

 

135EVIDENCE OF GIVING NOTICE

 

135.1Any notice, document or information given, sent or supplied by the Company to a member at his registered address or address for giving notice in the United Kingdom shall be, if sent by post, deemed to have been given at the time 24 hours after posting if pre-paid as first class post and at the time 48 hours after posting if pre-paid as second class post. In proving that notice has been given it shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope containing the notice or document was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted.

 

135.2Any notice, document or information given, sent or supplied by the Company to a member at an address to which notices may be sent using electronic communications shall be, if sent by electronic communications, deemed to have been given at the expiration of 48 hours after the time it was sent. Proof that a notice contained in an electronic communication was sent in accordance with guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given.

 

135.3Any notice, document or information given, sent or supplied by the Company to the members or any of them by making it available on a website, shall be deemed to have been received on the date on which notification of availability on the website is deemed to have been received in accordance with this Article 135 or, if later, the date on which it is first made available on the website.

 

135.4A notice, document or information not sent by post but:

 

(A)left at a registered address or address for giving notice in the United Kingdom shall be deemed to be given on the day it is left; and

 

(B)given through the Uncertificated System shall be deemed to be given when the Company or any System-Participant or other relevant person acting on the Company’s behalf sends the relevant Issuer-Instruction or other relevant message in respect of such notice.

 

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135.5A member present, either in person or by proxy, or in the case of a corporate member by a duly authorised representative, at any meeting of the Company or of the holders of any class of shares, shall be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where required, of the purposes for which it was called.

 

136NOTICE BINDING ON TRANSFEREES

 

A person who becomes entitled to a share by transfer, transmission or otherwise shall be bound by any notice in respect of that share (other than a notice given by the Company under section 793 of the Act) which, before his name is entered in the Register of Members, has been given to the person from whom he derives his title.

 

137NOTICE TO PERSONS ENTITLED BY TRANSMISSION

 

A notice or other document may be given by the Company to a person entitled by transmission to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or otherwise by sending or delivering it in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a member, addressed to that person by name, or by the title of representative of the deceased or trustee of the bankrupt or by any similar or equivalent description, at the address, if any, in the United Kingdom or to the address to which notices may be sent in electronic form supplied (or deemed supplied by a provision of the Act) for that purpose by the person claiming to be so entitled. Until such an address has been supplied, a notice or other document may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the event giving rise to the transmission had not occurred. The giving of notice in accordance with this Article 137 shall be sufficient notice to all other persons interested in the share.

 

DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION

 

138DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION

 

138.1The Company may destroy:

 

(A)any share certificate or other evidence of title to shares which has been cancelled at any time after one year from the date of such cancellation;

 

(B)any mandate for the payment of dividends or other amounts or any variation or cancellation of such mandate or any other instruction concerning the payment of monies or any notification of change of name or address at any time after two years from the date such mandate, variation, cancellation or notification was recorded by the Company;

 

(C)any instrument or other evidence of transfer of shares or renunciation of an allotment of shares which has been registered at any time after six (6) years from the date of registration;

 

(D)any proxy appointment which has been used for the purposes of a poll, at any time after a period of one year has elapsed from the date of use;

 

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(E)any proxy appointment which has not been used for the purpose of a poll, at any time after a period of one month has elapsed from the end of the meeting to which the proxy appointment relates; or

 

(F)any share warrant (or coupon or token relating to a share warrant) which has been surrendered to the Company, at any time after a period of seven years has elapsed from the date of surrender; and any other document on the basis of which an entry in the Register of Members is made at any time after six (6) years from the date an entry in the Register of Members was first made in respect of it, and the Company may destroy any such document earlier than the relevant date, provided that a permanent record of the document is made (on microfilm, computer disc or otherwise) which is not destroyed before that date.

 

138.2It shall be conclusively presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the Register of Members purporting to have been made on the basis of a document destroyed in accordance with this Article 138 was duly and properly made, that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was duly registered, that every share certificate so destroyed was valid and was duly cancelled and that every other document so destroyed was valid and effective in accordance with the recorded particulars in the records of the Company, provided that:

 

(A)this Article 138 shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without express notice of any claim (regardless of the parties to it) to which the document might be relevant;

 

(B)nothing in this Article 138 imposes on the Company any liability in respect of the destruction of any such document otherwise than as provided for in this Article 138 which would not attach to the Company in the absence of this Article 138; and

 

(C)references in this Article 138 to the destruction of any document include references to the disposal of it in any manner.

 

INDEMNITY

 

139RIGHT TO INDEMNITY

 

Subject to and to the fullest extent permitted by the Companies Acts and any other provision of English law, but without prejudice to any indemnity to which he may be otherwise entitled:

 

(A)every Director, alternate Director or former Director (and every director, alternate director or former director of any associated company of the Company) shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against all costs and liabilities incurred by him in relation to any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) or any regulatory investigation or action which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by him as a Director or alternate Director save that no Director or alternate Director shall be entitled to be indemnified (whether directly or indirectly):

 

(1)for any liability incurred by him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the Company or any associated company of the Company of which he is a director;

 

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(2)for any fine imposed in criminal proceedings which have become final;

 

(3)for any sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature howsoever arising;

 

(4)for any costs for which he has become liable in defending any criminal proceedings in which he is convicted and such conviction has become final;

 

(5)for any costs for which he has become liable in defending any civil proceedings brought by the Company or an associated company in which a final judgment has been given against him; and

 

(6)for any costs for which he has become liable in connection with any application under sections 661(3) or (4) or 1157 of the Act in which the court refuses to grant him relief and such refusal has become final.

 

(B)every Director, alternate Director or former Director (and every director, alternate director or former Director of any associated company of the Company) shall be entitled (i) to have funds provided to him by the Company to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him in defending himself in any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) or in connection with an application for relief (as defined in section 205(5) of the Act) or in an investigation, or against action proposed to be taken, by a regulatory authority or (ii) to receive such assistance from the Company as will enable any such person to avoid incurring such expenditure, where such proceedings, application, investigation or action are in connection with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him in relation to the Company or any associated company of the Company, provided that he will be obliged to repay any funds provided to him no later than:

 

(1)in the event he is convicted in such proceedings, the date when the conviction becomes final; or

 

(2)in the event of judgment being given against him in such proceedings, the date when the judgment becomes final; or

 

(3)in the event of the court refusing to grant him such relief, the date when the refusal becomes final; or

 

(4)in the event he becomes liable for any sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature howsoever arising, the date on which any appeal relating to such sum becomes final (within the meaning of section 205(3) of the Act); and

 

(C)every Director, alternate Director and former Director shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against all costs and liabilities incurred by him in relation to any of the Company’s activities as trustee of an occupational pension scheme (as defined in section 235(6) of the Act) save that no Director, alternate Director or former Director shall be entitled to be indemnified:

 

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(1)for any fine imposed in criminal proceedings which have become final;

 

(2)for any sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature howsoever arising; and

 

(3)for any costs for which he has become liable in defending any criminal proceedings in which he is convicted and such conviction has become final.

 

140POWER TO INSURE

 

Subject to the Companies Acts, the Board may purchase and maintain insurance at the expense of the Company for the benefit of any person who is or was at any time a Director, alternate Director or secretary or other officer or employee of any body corporate which is a Group Undertaking or in which the Company has or had an interest whether direct or indirect or who is or was at any time a trustee of any pension fund or employee benefits trust in which any employee of any such body corporate is or has been interested indemnifying such person against any liability which may attach to him or loss or expenditure which he may incur in relation to anything done or alleged to have been done or omitted to be done as a Director, officer, employee or trustee.

 

AUDITORS

 

141VALIDITY OF AUDITOR’S ACTS

 

Subject to any statutory provisions, all acts done by any person acting as an Auditor shall, as regards all persons dealing in good faith with the Company, be valid, notwithstanding that there was some defect in his appointment or that he was at the time of his appointment not qualified for appointment or subsequently became disqualified.

 

142AUDITOR’S RIGHT TO ATTEND GENERAL MEETINGS

 

An Auditor shall be entitled to attend any general meeting and to receive all notices of and other communications relating to any general meeting which any member is entitled to receive and to be heard at any general meeting on any part of the business of the meeting which concerns him as Auditor.

 

143A DEFERRED SHARES

 

143.1The following rights and restrictions shall be attached to the A Deferred Shares of £1 each:

 

(A)As regards income

 

The holders of the A Deferred Shares shall not be entitled to receive any dividend or any other distribution out of the profits of the Company including, without limitation, any allotment (whether or not fully paid) as a result of the capitalisation of any sum standing to the credit of any share premium account or of any reserve (whether or not available for distribution) of the Company;

 

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(B)As regards voting

 

The holders of the A Deferred Shares shall not be entitled to receive notice of or to attend or speak (either personally or by proxy) at any general meeting of the Company or to vote (either personally or by proxy) on any resolution to be proposed at any general meeting of the Company and shall be deemed by virtue of the passing of the resolution adopting these Articles to have irrevocably agreed to any purchase, cancellation and extinguishment of the A Deferred Shares pursuant to Articles 143.2 and 143.3 below;

 

(C)As regards capital

 

The holders of A Deferred Shares shall on a return of capital in a liquidation, but not otherwise, be entitled to receive the nominal amount paid up or credited as paid up on such share but only after the holder of each Ordinary Share shall have received (in cash or specie) the amount paid up or credited as paid up on such Ordinary Share together with an additional payment of £100 per Ordinary Share and the holders of A Deferred Shares shall be not entitled to any further or other right of participation in the assets or profits of the Company whatsoever;

 

(D)As regards variation of rights

 

(1)The rights attached to the A Deferred Shares shall not be deemed to be varied or abrogated by the creation or issue of any new shares ranking in priority to or pari passu with or subsequent to such shares; and

 

(2)Neither:

 

(a)the passing by the Company of any resolution for the cancellation of the A Deferred Shares (whether for no consideration or otherwise) by means of a reduction of capital (whether or not requiring the confirmation of the Court) nor the obtaining by the Company nor the making by the Court of any order confirming any such reduction of capital nor any such order becoming effective; nor

 

(b)the purchase by the Company in accordance with the Act of any of its own shares or securities (or the passing of a resolution to permit any such purchase); nor

 

(c)any other reduction of share capital including without limitation the reduction of any share premium account of the Company, shall constitute a variation, modification or abrogation of the rights attaching to the A Deferred Shares and the A Deferred Shares may at any time be cancelled (whether for no consideration or otherwise) by means of a reduction of capital or repurchased in either case in accordance with the Act without the sanction or other consent of the holders of the A Deferred Shares.

 

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(E)Share certificates

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles and unless specifically required by the provisions of the Act, the Company shall not be required to issue any certificate in respect of the A Deferred Shares.

 

143.2At any time after the adoption of these Articles:

 

(A)The Company shall have irrevocable authority to appoint any person on behalf of any holder of A Deferred Shares to enter into an agreement to transfer such A Deferred Shares to such other person (whether or not an officer of the Company) as the Board may determine to act as the custodian thereof; and/or

 

(B)The Board may convene a general meeting of the Company in accordance with Section 694 of the Act, for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing a resolution to authorise the terms of a contract for the purchase by the Company of any or all of the A Deferred Shares. The terms of such contract shall provide for payment in full of the purchase price upon completion and may require the holders of the A Deferred Shares concerned to sell such shares for a price not exceeding 1 penny for all the A Deferred Shares so purchased. If such a resolution is passed and the Company is in all other respects able and willing to purchase the A Deferred Shares to which the contract relates in accordance with Sections 690 to 708 of the Act, the Company shall have irrevocable authority to appoint any person: (i) to execute such contract on behalf of each of the holders of the relevant A Deferred Shares; (ii) to execute a stock transfer form (or forms) sufficient in every respect to transfer to the Company the legal title to the A Deferred Shares that are the subject of such contract, and (iii) to receive at completion the purchase price on behalf of the holders of the A Deferred Shares. From the time that such resolution is passed, the holders of the A Deferred Shares that are the subject of such contract shall hold such shares as bare trustee for the Company.

 

143.3 (A) Subject to the Act, the Company may, at its option, cancel A Deferred Shares by way of a reduction of capital for no consideration; and/or

 

(B)Pending any such transfer and/or purchase and/or cancellation, the Company may retain any share certificate that may be issued in respect of any of the A Deferred Shares.

 

144B DEFERRED SHARES

 

144.1The following rights and restrictions shall be attached to the B Deferred Shares of £0.001 each:

 

(A)As regards income

 

The holders of the B Deferred Shares shall not be entitled to receive any dividend or any other distribution out of the profits of the Company including, without limitation, any allotment (whether or not fully paid) as a result of the capitalisation of any sum standing to the credit of any share premium account or of any reserve (whether or not available for distribution) of the Company;

 

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(B)As regards voting

 

The holders of the B Deferred Shares shall not be entitled to receive notice of or to attend or speak (either personally or by proxy) at any general meeting of the Company or to vote (either personally or by proxy) on any resolution to be proposed at any general meeting of the Company and shall be deemed by virtue of the passing of the resolution adopting these Articles to have irrevocably agreed to any purchase, cancellation and extinguishment of the B Deferred Shares pursuant to Articles 144.2 and 144.3 below;

 

(C)As regards capital

 

The holders of B Deferred Shares shall on a return of capital in a liquidation, but not otherwise, be entitled to receive the nominal amount paid up or credited as paid up on such share but only after the holder of each Ordinary Share shall have received (in cash or specie) the amount paid up or credited as paid up on such Ordinary Share together with an additional payment of £100 per Ordinary Share and the holders of B Deferred Shares shall be not entitled to any further or other right of participation in the assets or profits of the Company whatsoever;

 

(D)As regards variation of rights

 

(1)The rights attached to the B Deferred Shares shall not be deemed to be varied or abrogated by the creation or issue of any new shares ranking in priority to or pari passu with or subsequent to such shares; and

 

(2)Neither:

 

(a)the passing by the Company of any resolution for the cancellation of the B Deferred Shares (whether for no consideration or otherwise) by means of a reduction of capital (whether or not requiring the confirmation of the Court) nor the obtaining by the Company nor the making by the Court of any order confirming any such reduction of capital nor any such order becoming effective; nor

 

(b)the purchase by the Company in accordance with the Act of any of its own shares or securities (or the passing of a resolution to permit any such purchase); nor

 

(c)any other reduction of share capital including without limitation the reduction of any share premium account of the Company, shall constitute a variation, modification or abrogation of the rights attaching to the B Deferred Shares and the B Deferred Shares may at any time be cancelled (whether for no consideration or otherwise) by means of a reduction of capital or repurchased in either case in accordance with the Act without the sanction or other consent of the holders of the B Deferred Shares.

 

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(E)Share certificates

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles and unless specifically required by the provisions of the Act, the Company shall not be required to issue any certificate in respect of the B Deferred Shares.

 

144.2At any time after the adoption of these Articles:

 

(A)The Company shall have irrevocable authority to appoint any person on behalf of any holder of B Deferred Shares to enter into an agreement to transfer such B Deferred Shares to such other person (whether or not an officer of the Company) as the Board may determine to act as the custodian thereof; and/or

 

(B)The Board may convene a general meeting of the Company in accordance with Section 694 of the Act, for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing a resolution to authorise the terms of a contract for the purchase by the Company of any or all of the B Deferred Shares. The terms of such contract shall provide for payment in full of the purchase price upon completion and may require the holders of the B Deferred Shares concerned to sell such shares for a price not exceeding 1 penny for all the B Deferred Shares so purchased. If such a resolution is passed and the Company is in all other respects able and willing to purchase the B Deferred Shares to which the contract relates in accordance with Sections 690 to 708 of the Act, the Company shall have irrevocable authority to appoint any person: (i) to execute such contract on behalf of each of the holders of the relevant B Deferred Shares; (ii) to execute a stock transfer form (or forms) sufficient in every respect to transfer to the Company the legal title to the B Deferred Shares that are the subject of such contract, and (iii) to receive at completion the purchase price on behalf of the holders of the B Deferred Shares. From the time that such resolution is passed, the holders of the B Deferred Shares that are the subject of such contract shall hold such shares as bare trustee for the Company.

 

144.3 (A) Subject to the Act, the Company may, at its option, cancel B Deferred Shares by way of a reduction of capital for no consideration; and/or

 

(B)Pending any such transfer and/or purchase and/or cancellation, the Company may retain any share certificate that may be issued in respect of any of the B Deferred Shares.

 

145FORUM SELECTION

 

145.1Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of England and Wales shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for:

 

(A)any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company;

 

(B)any action including any action commenced by a member of the Company in its own name or on behalf of the Company, asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Company (including but not limited to duties arising under the Act); or

 

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(C)an action arising out of or in connection with these Articles (pursuant to any provision of the laws of England and Wales or the Company’s memorandum of association and Articles (as either may be may be amended from time to time)), or otherwise in any way relating to the constitution or conduct of the Company.

 

145.2Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended or any successor thereto.

 

145.3For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Article 145 shall apply to any action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Act, as amended, or any successor thereto.

 

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

 

The following description of the ordinary shares, nominal value 0.1 pence per share (“ordinary shares”), and American Depositary Shares, each representing five ordinary shares (“ADSs”), of Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC (“us,” “our,” “we”, the “Group” or the “Company”), which are the only securities of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), summarizes certain information regarding the ordinary shares in our articles of association (the “Articles”), the amended and restated deposit agreement among us, The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, ADS holders and all other persons indirectly or beneficially holding ADSs, as amended or supplemented from time to time (the “deposit agreement”), and applicable provisions of corporate law in the United Kingdom, and is qualified by reference to our Articles and the form of deposit agreement, as may be amended and supplemented, which are Exhibits 3.1 and 4.3, respectively, to the Form F-1 Registration Statement of which this Exhibit 4.1 is a part.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

 

General

 

We are a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales under registered number 09216368. Our registered office is 1 Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 4DQ. The principal legislation under which we operate and our shares are issued is the United Kingdom Companies Act of 2006 (the “Companies Act”).

 

Each ordinary share has a nominal value 0.1 pence per share. Each issued ordinary share is fully paid. We currently have 1,000,001 A deferred shares and 3,939,821,418 B deferred shares, and no preference shares in our issued share capital.

 

There is no limit to the number of ordinary shares or preference shares that we are authorized to issue, as the concept of authorized capital is no longer applicable under the provisions of the Companies Act. There are no conversion rights, redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions relating to any ordinary shares.

 

We are not permitted under English law to hold our own ordinary shares unless they are repurchased by us and held in treasury. We do not currently hold any of our own ordinary shares.

 

Articles of Association

 

Shares and Rights Attaching to Them

 

Objects

 

The objects of our Company are unrestricted.

 

Share Rights

 

Subject to any special rights attaching to shares already in issue, our shares may be issued with or have attached to them any preferred, deferred or other special rights or privileges or be subject to such restrictions as we may resolve by ordinary resolution of the shareholders or decision of our board of directors (the “Board”).

 

Voting Rights

 

Without prejudice to any rights or restrictions as to voting rights attached to any shares forming part of our share capital from time to time, the voting rights attaching to shares are as follows:

 

·on a show of hands every shareholder who is present in person and each duly authorized representative present in person of a shareholder that is a corporation shall have one vote;

 

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·on a show of hands, each proxy present in person has one vote for and one vote against a resolution if the proxy has been duly appointed by more than one shareholder and the proxy has been instructed by one or more of those shareholders to vote for the resolution and by one or more other of those shareholders to vote against it;

 

·on a show of hands, each proxy present in person has one vote for and one vote against a resolution if the proxy has been duly appointed by more than one shareholder entitled to vote on the resolution and either: (1) the proxy has been instructed by one or more of those shareholders to vote for the resolution and has been given any discretion by one or more other of those shareholders to vote and the proxy exercises that discretion to vote against it; or (2) the proxy has been instructed by one or more of those shareholders to vote against the resolution and has been given any discretion by one or more other of those shareholders to vote and the proxy exercises that discretion to vote for it; and

 

·on a poll every shareholder who is present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for each share of which he is the holder.

 

At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is demanded. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, as described in “Differences in Corporate Law - Voting Rights” herein, a poll may be demanded by:

 

·the chairman of the meeting;

 

·at least five shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote;

 

·any shareholder(s) present in person or by proxy and representing in the aggregate not less than 10% of the total voting rights of all shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution; or

 

·any shareholder(s) present in person or by proxy and holding shares conferring a right to vote on the resolution on which there have been paid up sums in the aggregate equal to not less than 10% of the total sums paid up on all shares conferring that right.

 

Restrictions on Voting

 

No shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate class meeting in respect of any share held by him unless all calls or other sums payable by him in respect of that share have been paid.

 

The Board may from time to time make calls upon the shareholders in respect of any money unpaid on their shares and each shareholder shall (subject to at least 14 days’ notice specifying the time or times and place of payment) pay at the time or times so specified the amount called on his shares. If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, and the fourteen days’ notice provided by the Board has not been complied with, any share in respect of which such notice was given may be forfeited by a resolution of the Board.

 

A shareholder’s right to attend general or class meetings of the Company or to vote in respect of his or her shares may be suspended by the Board in accordance with our Articles if he or she fails to comply with a proper request for the disclosure of interests regarding the shares. See “Other United Kingdom Law Considerations—Disclosure of Interest in Shares” herein.

 

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Dividends

 

We may, by ordinary resolution, declare a dividend to be paid to the share owners according to their respective rights and interests in profits, and may fix the time for payment of such dividend. No dividend may be declared in excess of the amount recommended by the directors. The Board may from time to time declare and pay to our share owners such interim dividends as appear to the directors to be justified by our profits available for distribution. There are no fixed dates on which entitlement to dividends arises on our ordinary shares.

 

The share owners may pass, on the recommendation of the directors, an ordinary resolution to direct that all or any part of a dividend to be paid by distributing specific assets, in particular paid up shares or debentures of any other body corporate. Our Articles also permit, with the prior authority of an ordinary resolution of shareholders, a scrip dividend scheme under which share owners may be given the opportunity to elect to receive fully paid ordinary shares instead of cash, or a combination of shares and cash, with respect to future dividends.

 

By the way of the exercise of a lien, if a share owner owes us any money relating in any way to shares, the Board may deduct any of this money from any dividend on any shares held by the share owner, or from other money payable by us in respect of the shares. Money deducted in this way may be used to pay the amount owed to us.

 

Unclaimed dividends and other money payable in respect of a share can be invested or otherwise used by directors for our benefit until they are claimed. A dividend or other money remaining unclaimed 12 years after it first became due for payment will be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

 

A shareholder’s right to receive dividends on his shares may, if they represent more than 0.25% of the issued shares of that class, be suspended by the directors if he fails to comply with a proper request for the disclosure of interests regarding the shares. See “Other United Kingdom Law Considerations—Disclosure of Interests in Shares” herein.

 

Change of Control

 

There is no specific provision in our Articles that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control. We are, however, subject to the provisions of the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “City Code”), which contains detailed provisions regulating the timing and manner of any takeover offer for those of the Company’s shares which confer voting rights. See “Other United Kingdom Law Considerations—City Code on Takeovers and Mergers” herein.

 

Variation of Rights

 

Whenever our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class may be varied or abrogated in such manner (if any) as may be provided by those rights or (in the absence of any such provision) either with the consent in writing of the holders of at least 75% of the issued shares of that class or with the authority of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

 

Alteration of Share Capital and Repurchases

 

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, and without prejudice to any relevant special rights attached to any class of shares, we may, from time to time:

 

·increase our share capital by allotting and issuing new shares in accordance with our Articles and any relevant shareholder resolution;

 

·consolidate all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger nominal amount (i.e., par value) than the existing shares;

 

·subdivide any of our shares into shares of a smaller nominal amount (i.e., par value) than our existing shares; or

 

·redenominate our share capital or any class of share capital.

 

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Pre-emptive Rights and New Issuance of Shares

 

Under the Companies Act, the issuance of equity securities (except shares held under an employees’ share scheme) that are to be paid for wholly in cash must be offered first to the existing holders of equity securities in proportion to the respective nominal amounts (i.e., par values) of their holdings on the same or more favorable terms, unless a special resolution to the contrary has been passed or the articles of association otherwise provide an exclusion from this requirement (which exclusion can be for a maximum of five years after which our shareholders’ approval would be required to renew the exclusion). In this context, “equity securities” means ordinary shares (and would exclude shares that, with respect to dividends or capital, carry a right to participate only up to a specified amount in a distribution), and any and all rights to subscribe for or convert securities into such ordinary shares. This differs from U.S. law, under which shareholders generally do not have pre-emptive rights unless specifically granted in the certificate of incorporation or otherwise.

 

The Board seeks general authority to allot shares on a non-pre-emptive basis at each annual general meeting. By way of resolutions passed at our annual general meeting held on June 14, 2023, authorities were given to the directors to generally allot shares in the Company, or to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert or exchange any security into shares in the Company, up to an aggregate nominal amount of £140,000,000, for a period up to the conclusion of our annual general meeting to be held in 2026. Pre-emptive rights under the Companies Act will not apply in respect of allotment of shares for cash made pursuant to such authority.

 

Transfer of Shares

 

Any certificated shareholder may transfer all or any of his shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual common form or in any other manner which is permitted by the Companies Act and approved by the Board. Any written instrument of transfer shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and (in the case of a partly paid share) the transferee.

 

All transfers of uncertificated shares shall be made in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 and the facilities and requirements of its relevant system. The Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 permit shares to be issued and held in uncertificated form and transferred by means of a computer-based system.

 

The Board may decline to register any transfer of any share unless it is:

 

·a fully paid share;

 

·a share on which the Company has no lien;

 

·in respect of only one class of shares;

 

·in favor of a single transferee or not more than four transferees;

 

·duly stamped or duly certificated or otherwise shown the satisfaction of the Board to be exempt from any required stamp duty; or

 

·delivered for registration at our registered office or such other place as the Board may decide, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates (other than uncertificated shares) and any other evidence the Board may reasonably require to provide the title to such share of the transferor.

 

If the Board declines to register a transfer it shall, as soon as practicable and in any event within two months after the date on which the transfer is lodged, send to the transferee notice of the refusal, together with reasons for the refusal.

 

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CREST

 

CREST is a computerized paperless share transfer and settlement system which allows securities to be transferred by electronic means, without the need for a written instrument of transfer. The Articles are consistent with CREST membership and, among other things, allow for the holding and transfer of shares in uncertificated form.

 

Shareholder Meetings

 

Annual General Meetings

 

In accordance with the Companies Act, we are required in each year to hold an annual general meeting in addition to any other general meetings in that year and to specify the meeting as such in the notice convening it. The annual general meeting shall be convened whenever and wherever the board sees fit, subject to the requirements of the Companies Act, as described in “Differences in Corporate Law—Annual General Meeting” and “Differences in Corporate Law—Notice of General Meetings” herein.

 

Notice of General Meetings

 

The arrangements for the calling of general meetings are described in “Differences in Corporate Law—Notice of General Meetings” herein.

 

Subject to certain conditions, holders of ADSs are entitled to receive notices under the terms of the deposit agreement relating to the ADSs. See “Description of American Depositary Shares—Voting Rights” herein.

 

Quorum of General Meetings

 

No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present, but the absence of a quorum shall not preclude the appointment, choice or election of a chairman which shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting. At least two shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum for all purposes.

 

Class Meetings

 

The provisions in the Articles relating to general meetings apply to every separate general meeting of the holders of a class of shares except that:

 

·no member, other than a member of the Board, shall be entitled to notice of it or attend such meeting unless he is a holder of shares of that class;

 

·the quorum for such class meeting shall be two holders in person or by proxy representing not less than one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class;

 

·at the class meeting, a holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll and shall on a poll be entitled to one vote for every shares of the class held by him;

 

·if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum is not present at the meeting, one holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy at an adjourned meeting constitutes a quorum.

 

Directors

 

Number of Directors

 

We may not have less than two directors on our Board. We have no maximum number of directors, though we may fix a maximum number by ordinary resolution of the shareholders. We may, by ordinary resolution of the shareholders, vary the minimum and any maximum number of directors from time to time.

 

 5 
 

 

Appointment of Directors

 

Subject to the provisions of the Articles, we may, by ordinary resolution of the shareholders, elect any person to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing board.

 

Without prejudice to the power to appoint any person to be a director by shareholder resolution, the Board has the power to appoint any person to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board. Any director appointed by the Board will hold office only until the earlier to occur of the close of the next following annual general meeting and someone being appointed in his stead at that meeting. Such a director is eligible for re-election at that meeting but shall not be taken into account in determining the directors or the number of directors who are to retire by rotation at such meeting.

 

Rotation of Directors

 

At every annual general meeting, one-third of the directors or, if their number is not a multiple of three, then the number nearest to and not exceeding one-third, shall retire from office and each director must retire from office at least once every three years. If there are fewer than three directors, one director shall make himself or herself available for re-election.

 

The directors to retire on each occasion shall be those subject to retirement by rotation who have been longest in office since their last election, but as between persons who became or were re-elected directors on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree amongst themselves) be determined by lot.

 

A director who retires at the annual general meeting shall be eligible for re-election.

 

The shareholders may, at the meeting at which a director retires, fill the vacated office by electing a person and in default the retiring director shall, if willing to continue to act, be deemed to have been re-elected, unless at such meeting it is expressly resolved not to fill such vacated office or unless a resolution for the re-election of such director shall have been put to the meeting and lost or such director has given notice in writing to us that he is unwilling to be re-elected or such director has attained the retirement age applicable to him as director pursuant to the Companies Act.

 

Director’s Interests

 

The Board may authorize, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any matter proposed to them which would otherwise result in a director infringing his duty to avoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with our interests and which may reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest. A director shall not, save as otherwise agreed by him, be accountable to us for any benefit which he (or a person connected with him) derives from any matter authorized by the directors and any contract, transaction or arrangement relating thereto shall not be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such benefit.

 

Subject to the requirements under Sections 175, 177 and 182 of the Companies Act (which require a director to avoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly conflicts, with our interests, and to declare any interest that he has, whether directly or indirectly, in a proposed or existing transaction or arrangement with us), and provided that he has disclosed to the Board the nature and extent of any interest of his in accordance with the Companies Act and the Articles, a director notwithstanding his office:

 

·may be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with us or in which we are otherwise interested;

 

 6 
 

 

·may be a director or other officer of, or employed by, or a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate promoted by us or in which we are otherwise interested; and

 

·shall not, by reason of his office, be accountable to us for any benefit which he derives from any such office or employment or from any such transaction or arrangement or from any interest in any such body corporate and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit.

 

In the case of interests arising where a director is in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in (a) a proposed transaction or arrangement with us or (b) a transaction or arrangement that has been entered into by us and save as otherwise provided by the Articles, such director shall not vote at a meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board on any resolution concerning such matter in which he has a material interest (otherwise than by virtue of his interest in shares, debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, us) unless his interest or duty arises only because the case falls within one or more of the following paragraphs:

 

·the resolution relates to the giving to him or a person connected with him of a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of money lent to, or an obligation incurred by him or such a person at the request of or for the benefit of, us or any of our subsidiaries;

 

·the resolution relates to the giving of a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of a debt or obligation of ours or any of our subsidiaries for which the director or a person connected with him has assumed responsibility in whole or part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;

 

·the resolution relates in any way to any other company in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer or shareholder or otherwise howsoever, provided that he and any persons connected with him do not to his knowledge hold an interest in shares representing one per cent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such company or of the voting rights available to shareholder of such company;

 

·the resolution relates in any way to an arrangement for the benefit of our employees or any employees of our subsidiaries which does not award him as such any privilege or benefit not generally awarded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates;

 

·the resolution relates in any way to the purchase or maintenance for the directors of insurance; or

 

·the resolution is in respect of any matter in which the interest of the director cannot reasonably be regarded as conflicting.

 

A director shall not be counted in the quorum present at a meeting in relation to a resolution on which he is not entitled to vote.

 

If a question arises at a meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board as to the right of a director to vote or be counted in the quorum, and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting or not to be counted in the quorum, the question may, before the conclusion of the meeting, be referred to the chairman of the meeting and his ruling in relation to any director other than himself shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of the director concerned has not been fairly disclosed.

 

An interest of a person connected with a director shall be treated as an interest of the director and Section 252 of the Companies Act shall determine whether a person is connected with a director.

 

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Directors’ Fees and Remuneration

 

Each of the directors shall be paid a fee at such rate as may from time to time be determined by the Board (or for the avoidance of doubt any duly authorized committee of the Board) provided that the aggregate of all such fees so paid to directors shall not exceed £600,000 per annum, or such higher amount as may from time to time be determined by ordinary resolution of shareholders.

 

Each director may be paid his reasonable traveling, hotel and other expenses of attending and returning from meetings of the Board or committees thereof of or general meetings or separate meetings of the holders class of shares or of debentures and shall be paid all expenses properly and reasonably incurred by him in the conduct of the Company’s business or in the discharge of his duties as a director. Any director who, by request, goes or resides abroad for any purposes required by us or who performs services which in the opinion of the Board go beyond the ordinary duties of a director may be paid such extra remuneration as the Board may determine.

 

An executive director shall receive such remuneration as the Board may determine, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration as a director as detailed above.

 

Age Limitations and Share Ownership

 

We do not have any age limitations for our directors, nor do we have mandatory retirement as a result of reaching a certain age. Our directors are not required to hold any shares in the Company.

 

Borrowing Power

 

Our directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow or raise money and mortgage or charge all or any part of our undertaking, property and assets (present and future), and uncalled capital. Subject to the Companies Act, the directors may also create and issue debentures, other loan stock and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. Our directors are required to restrict the borrowings of the Company to ensure that the aggregate principal amount of borrowings at any one time outstanding and all of its subsidiary undertakings (other than intra-Group borrowing) shall not at any time, without the previous sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company, exceed two times the gross asset value of the Company and our subsidiaries.

 

Liability of the Company and its Directors and Officers

 

Subject to the provisions on indemnities set out in Companies Act, every director, alternate director or former director (and of any associated company) shall be entitled to be indemnified out of our assets against all costs and liabilities incurred by him or her in relation to any proceedings or any regulatory investigation or action which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by him or her as a director so long as the indemnities do not cover liability for breach of duty to the Company or cover any fine, costs or related expense in connection with any proceedings for default on the part of the director. Lawful indemnities extend to the provision of funds to him or her by the Company to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him in defending himself in any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) or in connection with an application for statutory relief or in an investigation by a regulatory authority which must however be repaid where such proceedings, application, investigation or action are in connection with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him or her in relation to the Company (or any associated company of ours) and he or she is convicted or found in default thereof. Under English law, any provision that purports to exempt a director of a company (to any extent) from any liability that would otherwise attach to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company is void.

 

Under a deed poll declared by us on August 5, 2015 (“Deed of Indemnity”), our Board and our Company Secretary are indemnified against costs and liabilities incurred in connection with their office, other than any liability owed by such person to the Company itself (or any of our associated entities) and other than indemnification for liabilities in certain circumstances, which are prohibited by virtue of the Companies Act. The Deed of Indemnity provides that a director may also be lent sums to finance any relevant defense costs, provided that, in the event such proceedings involve criminal or civil matters in which the person is convicted or has a judgment made against him or her, then such loan must be repaid. Our total aggregate liability under the Deed of Indemnity is £5 million.

 

 8 
 

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to a charter provision, by-law, contract, arrangements, statute or otherwise, we acknowledge that in the opinion of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

Other United Kingdom Law Considerations

 

Mandatory Purchases and Acquisitions

 

Pursuant to Sections 979 to 991 of the Companies Act, where a takeover offer has been made for us and the offeror has acquired or unconditionally contracted to acquire not less than 90% in value of the shares to which the offer relates and not less than 90% of the voting rights carried by those shares, the offeror may give notice to the holder of any shares to which the offer relates which the offeror has not acquired or unconditionally contracted to acquire that he wishes to acquire, and is entitled to so acquire, those shares on the same terms as the general offer. The offeror would do so by sending a notice to the outstanding minority shareholders telling them that it will compulsorily acquire their shares. Such notice must be sent within three months of the last day on which the offer can be accepted in the prescribed manner. The squeeze-out of the minority shareholders can be completed at the end of six weeks from the date the notice has been given, following which the offeror can execute a transfer of the outstanding shares in its favor and pay the consideration to us, and we would hold the consideration on trust for the outstanding minority shareholders. The consideration offered to the outstanding minority shareholders whose shares are compulsorily acquired under the Companies Act must, in general, be the same as the consideration that was available under the takeover offer.

 

Sell Out

 

The Companies Act also gives our minority shareholders a right to be bought out in certain circumstances by an offeror who has made a takeover offer for all of our shares. The holder of shares to which the offer relates, and who has not otherwise accepted the offer, may require the offeror to acquire his shares if, prior to the expiry of the acceptance period for such offer, (i) the offeror has acquired or agreed to acquire not less than 90% in value of the voting shares, and (ii) not less than 90% of the voting rights carried by those shares. The offeror may impose a time limit on the rights of minority shareholders to be bought out that is not less than three months after the end of the acceptance period. If a shareholder exercises his rights to be bought out, the offeror is required to acquire those shares on the terms of this offer or on such other terms as may be agreed.

 

Disclosure of Interest in Shares

 

Pursuant to Part 22 of the Companies Act, we are empowered by notice in writing to any person whom we know or have reasonable cause to believe to be interested in our shares, or at any time during the three years immediately preceding the date on which the notice is issued has been so interested, requiring such person within a reasonable time to disclose to us particulars of that person’s interest and (so far as is within his knowledge) particulars of any other interest that subsists or subsisted in those shares. The Articles specify that a response is required from such person within 14 days after service of any such notice.

 

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Under the Articles, if a person defaults in supplying us with the required particulars in relation to the shares in question (“Default Shares”) the directors may by notice direct that:

 

·in respect of the Default Shares, the relevant member shall not be entitled to attend or vote (either in person or by proxy) at any general meeting or of a general meeting of the holders of a class of shares or upon any poll or to exercise any right conferred by the Default Shares; and/or

 

·where the Default Shares represent at least 0.25% of their class, (a) any dividend (or any part of a dividend) payable in respect of the Default Shares shall be retained by us without liability to pay interest, (b) the shareholder may not be entitled to elect to receive shares instead of a dividend, and (c) no transfers by the relevant member of any Default Shares may be registered (unless the member himself is not in default and the transfer does not relate to Default Shares, the transfer is exempt or that the transfer is permitted under the U.K. Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001).

 

Purchase of Own Shares

 

Under English law, a limited company may only purchase or redeem its own shares out of the distributable profits of the company or the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of financing the purchase, provided that they are not restricted from doing so by their articles. A limited company may not purchase or redeem its own shares if, as a result of the purchase, there would no longer be any issued shares of the company other than redeemable shares or shares held as treasury shares. Shares must be fully paid in order to be repurchased.

 

Subject to the above, we may purchase our own shares in the manner prescribed below. We may make a market purchase of our own fully paid shares pursuant to an ordinary resolution of shareholders. The resolution authorizing the purchase must:

 

·specify the maximum number of shares authorized to be acquired;

 

·determine the maximum and minimum prices that may be paid for the shares; and

 

·specify a date, not being later than five years after the passing of the resolution, on which the authority to purchase is to expire.

 

We may purchase our own fully paid shares otherwise than on a recognized investment exchange pursuant to a purchase contract authorized by resolution of shareholders before the purchase takes place. Any authority will not be effective if any shareholder from whom we propose to purchase shares votes on the resolution and the resolution would not have been passed if he had not done so. The resolution authorizing the purchase must specify a date, not being later than five years after the passing of the resolution, on which the authority to purchase is to expire.

 

Distributions and Dividends

 

Under the Companies Act, before a company can lawfully make a distribution or dividend, it must ensure that it has sufficient distributable reserves (on a non-consolidated basis). The basic rule is that a company’s profits available for the purpose of making a distribution are its accumulated, realized profits, so far as not previously utilized by distribution or capitalization, less its accumulated, realized losses, so far as not previously written off in a reduction or reorganization of capital duly made. The requirement to have sufficient distributable reserves before a distribution or dividend can be paid applies to us and to each of our subsidiaries that has been incorporated under English law.

 

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It is not sufficient that we, as a public company, have made a distributable profit for the purpose of making a distribution. An additional capital maintenance requirement is imposed on us to ensure that the net worth of the company is at least equal to the amount of its capital. A public company can only make a distribution:

 

·if, at the time that the distribution is made, the amount of its net assets (that is, the total excess of assets over liabilities) is not less than the total of its called up share capital and undistributable reserves; and

 

·if, and to the extent that, the distribution itself, at the time that it is made, does not reduce the amount of the net assets to less than that total.

 

City Code on Takeovers and Mergers

 

The Company is a public limited company incorporated in, and with its registered office in, the United Kingdom but its securities are not admitted to trading on a regulated market or multilateral trading facility in the United Kingdom (or a stock exchange in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man). The City Code shall only apply to the Company if it is considered by the United Kingdom Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Panel”), to have its place of central management and control in the United Kingdom (or the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man). This is known as the “residency test”. The way in which the test for central management and control is applied for the purposes of the City Code may be different from the way in which it is applied by the United Kingdom tax authorities, HMRC. Under the City Code, the Panel typically considers where the majority of the directors of the Company are resident, amongst other factors, for the purposes of determining where the Company has its place of central management and control. Three of the four directors of the Company are currently resident in the United Kingdom and the place of central management and control of the Company is intended, for the time being, to remain in the United Kingdom meaning that the Company and its shareholders will have the benefit of the protections that the City Code affords, including, but not limited to, under Rule 9 of the City Code as set out below.

 

The City Code is issued and administered by the Panel. The City Code provides a framework within which takeovers of companies subject to it are conducted. In particular, the City Code contains certain rules in respect of mandatory offers. Under Rule 9 of the City Code, if a person:

 

·acquires an interest in our shares which, when taken together with shares in which he or persons acting in concert with him are interested, carries 30% or more of the voting rights of our shares; or

 

·who, together with persons acting in concert with him, is interested in shares that in the aggregate carry not less than 30% and not more than 50% of the voting rights in us, acquires additional interests in shares that increase the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which that person is interested,

 

the acquirer, and depending on the circumstances, its concert parties would be required (except with the consent of the Panel) to make a cash offer for our outstanding shares at a price not less than the highest price paid for any interests in the shares by the acquirer or its concert parties during the previous 12 months.

 

Notwithstanding the above, the Company may cease to be subject to the City Code in the future if there are any changes that lead to the Company being deemed to no longer have its place of central management and control in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

 

Exchange Controls

 

There are no governmental laws, decrees, regulations or other legislation in the United Kingdom that may affect the import or export of capital, including the availability of cash and cash equivalents for use by us, or that may affect the remittance of dividends, interest, or other payments by us to non-resident holders of our ordinary shares or ADSs, other than withholding tax requirements. There is no limitation imposed by English law or in the Articles on the right of non-residents to hold or vote shares. 

 

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Differences in Corporate Law

 

The applicable provisions of the Companies Act 2006 differ from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to shareholders’ rights and protections. This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of the respective rights and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to English law and Delaware Law.

 

    England and Wales   Delaware
         
Number of Directors   Under the Companies Act, a public limited company must have at least two directors and the number of directors may be fixed by or in the manner provided in a company’s articles of association.   Under Delaware law, a corporation must have at least one director and the number of directors shall be fixed by or in the manner provided in the bylaws.
         
Removal of Directors   Under the Companies Act, shareholders may remove a director without cause by an ordinary resolution (which is passed by a simple majority of those voting in person or by proxy at a general meeting) irrespective of any provisions of any service contract the director has with the company, provided 28 clear days’ notice of the resolution has been given to the company and its shareholders. On receipt of notice of an intended resolution to remove a director, the company must forthwith send a copy of the notice to the director concerned. Certain other procedural requirements under the Companies Act must also be followed such as allowing the director to make representations against his or her removal either at the meeting or in writing.   Under Delaware law, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, except (a) unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, in the case of a corporation whose board of directors is classified, shareholders may effect such removal only for cause, or (b) in the case of a corporation having cumulative voting, if less than the entire board of directors is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors, or, if there are classes of directors, at an election of the class of directors of which he is a part.
         
Vacancies on Board of
Directors
  Under English law, the procedure by which directors, other than a company’s initial directors, are appointed is generally set out in a company’s articles of association, provided that where two or more persons are appointed as directors of a public limited company by resolution of the shareholders, resolutions appointing each director must be voted on individually.   Under Delaware law, vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) or by a sole remaining director unless (a) otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the corporation or (b) the certificate of incorporation directs that a particular class of stock is to elect such director, in which case a majority of the other directors elected by such class, or a sole remaining director elected by such class, will fill such vacancy.

 

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Pre-emptive Rights   Under the Companies Act, “equity securities”, being (i) shares in the company other than shares that, with respect to dividends and capital, carry a right to participate only up to a specified amount in a distribution (“ordinary shares”) or (ii) rights to subscribe for, or to convert securities into, ordinary shares, proposed to be allotted for cash must be offered first to the existing equity shareholders in the company in proportion to the respective nominal value of their holdings, unless an exception applies or a special resolution to the contrary has been passed by shareholders in a general meeting or the articles of association provide otherwise in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act.   Under Delaware law, shareholders have no pre-emptive rights to subscribe to additional issues of stock or to any security convertible into such stock unless, and except to the extent that, such rights are expressly provided for in the certificate of incorporation.
         
Authority to Allot   Under the Companies Act, the directors of a company must not allot shares or grant of rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares unless an exception applies or an ordinary resolution to the contrary has been passed by shareholders in a general meeting or the articles of association provide otherwise in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act.   Under Delaware law, if the corporation’s charter or certificate of incorporation so provides, the board of directors has the power to authorize the issuance of stock. It may authorize capital stock to be issued for consideration consisting of cash, any tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the corporation or any combination thereof. It may determine the amount of such consideration by approving a formula. In the absence of actual fraud in the transaction, the judgment of the directors as to the value of such consideration is conclusive.

 

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Voting Rights  

Under English law, unless a poll is demanded by the shareholders of a company or is required by the chairman of the meeting or the company’s articles of association, shareholders shall vote on all resolutions on a show of hands. Under the Companies Act, a poll may be demanded by (a) not fewer than five shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution; (b) any shareholder(s) representing not less than 10% of the total voting rights of all the shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution; or (c) any shareholder(s) holding shares in the company conferring a right to vote on the resolution being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than 10% of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right. A company’s articles of association may provide more extensive rights for shareholders to call a poll, and in our case the number in clause (a) above is reduced from five to three.

 

Under English law, an ordinary resolution is passed on a show of hands if it is approved by a simple majority (more than 50%) of the votes cast by shareholders present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote. If a poll is demanded, an ordinary resolution is passed if it is approved by holders representing a simple majority of the total voting rights of shareholders present, in person or by proxy, who, being entitled to vote, vote on the resolution. Special resolutions require the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the votes cast by shareholders present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting.

  Delaware law provides that, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.

 

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Shareholder Vote on Certain
Transactions
 

The Companies Act provides for schemes of arrangement, which are arrangements or compromises between a company and any class of shareholders or creditors and used in certain types of reconstructions, amalgamations, capital reorganizations or takeovers. These arrangements require:

 

·     the approval at a shareholders’ or creditors’ meeting convened by order of the court, of a majority in number of shareholders or creditors representing 75% in value of the capital held by, or debt owed to, the class of shareholders or creditors, or class thereof present and voting, either in person or by proxy; and

 

·     the approval of the court.

 

Generally, under Delaware law, unless the certificate of incorporation provides for the vote of a larger portion of the stock, completion of a merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets or dissolution requires:

 

·     the approval of the board of directors; and 

 

·     approval by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock or, if the certificate of incorporation provides for more or less than one vote per share, a majority of the votes of the outstanding stock of a corporation entitled to vote on the matter.

         
 Stockholder Suits   Under English law, generally, the company, rather than its shareholders, is the proper claimant in an action in respect of a wrong done to the company or where there is an irregularity in the company’s internal management. Notwithstanding this general position, the Companies Act provides that (i) a court may allow a shareholder to bring a derivative claim (that is, an action in respect of and on behalf of the company) in respect of a cause of action arising from a director’s negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust and (ii) a shareholder may bring a claim for a court order where the company’s affairs have been or are being conducted in a manner that is unfairly prejudicial to some of its shareholders.  

Under Delaware law, a stockholder may initiate a derivative action to enforce a right of a corporation if the corporation fails to enforce the right itself. The complaint must:

 

·     state that the plaintiff was a stockholder at the time of the transaction of which the plaintiff complains or that the plaintiffs shares thereafter devolved on the plaintiff by operation of law; and

 

·     allege with particularity the efforts made by the plaintiff to obtain the action the plaintiff desires from the directors and the reasons for the plaintiff’s failure to obtain the action; or

 

·     state the reasons for not making the effort.

 

Additionally, the plaintiff must remain a stockholder through the duration of the derivative suit. The action will not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the Delaware Court of Chancery.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

General

 

Our ADSs are deposited pursuant to the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated February 8, 2021, among the Company, The Bank of New York Mellon as depositary (the “depositary”), and owners and holders of ADSs. The depositary registers and delivers the ADSs. Each ADS represents five ordinary shares (or a right to receive five ordinary shares) deposited with The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, or any successor, as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS also represents any other securities, cash or other property that may be held by the depositary. The deposited ordinary shares together with any other securities, cash or other property held by the depositary are referred to as the “deposited securities.” The depositary’s office at which the ADSs are administered and its principal executive office are located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.

 

You may hold ADSs either (1) directly (a) by having an American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”), which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (b) by having ADSs registered in your name in the Direct Registration System, or (2) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in ADSs through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are a registered ADS holder, also referred to as an ADS holder. This description assumes you are an ADS holder. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

 

The Direct Registration System (“DRS”) is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership is confirmed by periodic statements sent by the depositary to the registered holders of uncertificated ADSs.

 

ADS holders are not treated as shareholders and do not have shareholder rights. English law governs shareholder rights. The depositary is the holder of the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs. As a holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary and you, as an ADS holder, and all other persons directly and indirectly holding ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. A copy of the deposit agreement is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs.

 

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADS. For directions on how to obtain copies of those documents, see the section titled “Item 19—Exhibits” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the ordinary shares?

 

The depositary has agreed to pay you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on ordinary shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses. As an ADS holder, you will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of ordinary shares your ADSs represent.

 

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Cash. We do not expect to declare or pay any cash dividends or cash distributions on our ordinary shares for the foreseeable future. The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the ordinary shares or any net proceeds from the sale of any ordinary shares, rights, securities or other entitlements into U.S. dollars if it can do so on a reasonable basis and at the then prevailing market rate, and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not possible and lawful or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest. Before making a distribution, any taxes or other governmental charges, together with fees and expenses of the depositary that must be paid, will be deducted. See the section titled “Item 10 E. Additional Information—Taxation” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for a summary of certain tax consequences in respect of dividends or distributions to holders of ADSs. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.

 

Ordinary Shares. The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any ordinary shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution to the extent reasonably practicable and permissible under law. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new ordinary shares. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed ordinary shares sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.

 

Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares. If we offer holders of our ordinary shares the option to receive dividends in either cash or shares, the depositary, after consultation with us, may make such elective distribution available to you as a holder of the ADSs. We must first instruct the depositary to make such elective distribution available to you. As a condition of making a distribution election available to ADS holders, the depositary may require satisfactory assurances from us that doing so would not require registration of any securities under the Securities Act. There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of ordinary shares, or at all.

 

Rights to Purchase Additional Ordinary Shares. If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional ordinary shares or any other rights, the depositary may make these rights available to ADS holders. If the depositary decides it is not legal and practical to make the rights available but that it is practical to sell the rights, the depositary will use reasonable efforts to sell the rights and distribute the proceeds in the same way as it does with cash distributions. The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them.

 

If the depositary makes rights available to you, it will exercise the rights and purchase the ordinary shares on your behalf and in accordance with your instructions. The depositary will then deposit the ordinary shares and deliver ADSs to you. It will only exercise rights if you pay it the exercise price and any other charges the rights require you to pay and comply with other applicable instructions.

 

U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs representing ordinary shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADSs described in this section except for changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.

 

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Other Distributions. The depositary will send to you anything else we distribute to holders of deposited securities by any means it determines is equitable and practicable. If it cannot make the distribution proportionally among the owners, the depositary may adopt another equitable and practical method. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property.

 

However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to ADS holders unless it receives satisfactory evidence from us that it is legal to make that distribution. In addition, the depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.

 

Neither we nor the depositary are responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you.

 

Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation

 

How are ADSs issued?

 

The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposit ordinary shares or evidence of rights to receive ordinary shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or share transfer taxes or fees, and delivery of any required endorsements, certifications or other instruments of transfer required by the depositary, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons that made the deposit.

 

How can ADS holders withdraw the deposited securities?

 

You may surrender your ADSs at the depositary’s corporate trust office. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or share transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will transfer and deliver the ordinary shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to you or a person designated by you at the office of the custodian or through a book-entry delivery. Alternatively, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will transfer and deliver the deposited securities at its corporate trust office, if feasible.

 

How do ADS holders interchange between certificated ADSs and uncertificated ADSs?

 

You may surrender your ADRs to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADRs for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel the ADRs and will send you a statement confirming that you are the owner of uncertificated ADSs. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to you an ADR evidencing those ADSs.

 

Voting Rights

 

How do you vote?

 

You may instruct the depositary to vote the number of whole deposited ordinary shares your ADSs represent. The depositary will notify you of shareholders’ meetings or other solicitations of consents and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you if we ask it to. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how you may instruct the depositary how to vote. For instructions to be valid, they must reach the depositary by a date set by the depositary.

 

The depositary will try, as far as practical, and subject to the laws of England and Wales and our Articles, to vote or to have its agents vote the ordinary shares or other deposited securities as instructed by ADS holders.

 

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The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct or as described above. If we ask the depositary to solicit the ADS holders’ instructions to vote and an ADS holder fails to instruct the depositary as to the manner in which to vote by the specified date, such ADS holder will be deemed to have given a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote the number of deposited securities represented by its ADSs, unless we notify the depositary that we do not wish to receive a discretionary proxy, there is substantial shareholder opposition to the particular question, or the particular question would have an adverse impact on our shareholders.

 

We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your ordinary shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions provided that any such failure is in good faith. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and there may be nothing you can do if your ordinary shares are not voted as you requested.

 

In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we will try to give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon sufficiently in advance of the meeting date.

 

Except as described above, you will not be able to exercise your right to vote unless you withdraw the ordinary shares. However, you may not know about the shareholder meeting far enough in advance to withdraw the ordinary shares.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

What fees and expenses will you be responsible for paying?

 

Pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, the holders of ADSs will be required to pay the following fees:

 

Persons depositing or withdrawing our ordinary
shares or depositary share holders must pay:
  For:
     
5.00 USD (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)   Issue of ADSs, including issues resulting from a distribution of our ordinary shares or rights or other property
    Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates
0.05 USD (or less) per ADS   Any cash distribution to ADS holders
A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to ADS holders had been our ordinary shares and the ordinary shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs   Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities (including rights) that are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders
0.05 USD (or less) per ADS per calendar year   Depositary services
Registration or transfer fees   Transfer and registration of shares of our ordinary shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when persons deposit or withdraw our ordinary shares
Expenses of the Depositary   Cable and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)
    Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars
Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian has to pay on any ADS or our ordinary shares underlying ADSs, such as stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes   As necessary
Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities.   As necessary

 

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The depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing our ordinary shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions or by directly billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable (or by selling a portion of securities or other property distributable) to ADS holders that are obligated to pay those fees. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.

 

In performing its duties under the deposit agreement, the depositary may use brokers, dealers, foreign currency dealers or other service providers that are owned by or affiliated with the depositary and that may earn or share fees, spreads or commissions.

 

The depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its affiliates and, in those cases, acts as principal for its own account and not as agent, advisor, broker or fiduciary on behalf of any other person and earns revenue, including, without limitation, transaction spreads, that it will retain for its own account. The revenue is based on, among other things, the difference between the exchange rate assigned to the currency conversion made under the deposit agreement and the rate that the depositary or its affiliate receives when buying or selling foreign currency for its own account. The depositary makes no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained in any currency conversion under the deposit agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to ADS holders, subject to the depositary’s obligations under the deposit agreement. The methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency conversions is available upon request. 

 

The depositary has agreed to reimburse us for a portion of certain expenses it incurs that are related to establishment and maintenance of the ADR program. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the depositary will reimburse us, but the amount of reimbursement available to us is not related to the amounts of fees the depositary collects from investors. Further, the depositary has agreed to reimburse us certain fees payable to the depositary by holders of ADSs. Neither we nor the depositary can determine the exact amount to be made available to us because (i) the number of ADSs that will be issued and outstanding, (ii) the level of service fees to be charged to holders of ADSs and (iii) its reimbursable expenses related to the program are not known at this time.

 

Payment of Taxes

 

ADS holders will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable on their ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of their ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register any transfer of ADSs or allow an ADS holder to withdraw the deposited securities represented by his or her ADSs until those taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to such ADS holder or sell deposited securities represented by such ADS holder’s ADSs to pay any taxes owed and such ADS holder will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to ADS holders any proceeds, or send to ADS holders any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.

 

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Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers

 

If we:   Then:
·    Change the nominal or par value of our ordinary shares   The cash, ordinary shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities.  
·     Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities   Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of new deposited securities.
·     Distribute securities on the ordinary shares that are not distributed to you   The depositary may also deliver new ADSs or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities. The depositary may also sell the new deposited securities and distribute the net proceeds if we are unable to assure the depositary that the distribution (a) does not require registration under the Securities Act or (b) is exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
·     Recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action   Any replacement securities received by the depositary shall be treated as newly deposited securities and either the existing ADSs or, if necessary, replacement ADSs distributed by the depositary will represent the replacement securities. The depositary may also sell the replacement securities and distribute the net proceeds if the replacement securities may not be lawfully distributed to all ADS holders.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

How may the deposit agreement be amended?

 

We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADRs without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended.

 

How may the deposit agreement be terminated?

 

The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement at our direction by mailing notice of termination to the ADS holders then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to us and the ADS holders if 60 days have passed since the depositary told us it wants to resign but a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment.

 

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After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property, and deliver ordinary shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation of ADSs. Four months after termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. The depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination our only obligations under the deposit agreement will be to indemnify the depositary and to pay fees and expenses of the depositary that we agreed to pay and we will not have any obligations thereunder to current or former ADS holders.

 

Limitations on Obligations and Liability

 

Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs

 

The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:

 

·are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith;

 

·are not liable if we are or it is prevented or delayed by law or by events or circumstances beyond our or its ability to prevent or counteract with reasonable care or effort from performing our or its obligations under the deposit agreement;

 

·are not liable if we or it exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement;

 

·are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement, or for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement;

 

·have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADSs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other person;

 

·may rely upon any documents we believe or it believes in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person;

 

·are not liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system; and

 

·the depositary has no duty to make any determination or provide any information as to our tax status, or any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by ADS holders as a result of owning or holding ADSs or be liable for the inability or failure of an ADS holder to obtain the benefit of a foreign tax credit, reduced rate of withholding or refund of amounts withheld in respect of tax or any other tax benefit.

 

In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances. Additionally, we, the depositary and each owner and holder, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, waive the right to a jury trial in an action against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to the deposit agreement.

 

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Requirements for Depositary Actions

 

Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of ADSs, make a distribution on ADSs, or permit withdrawal of ordinary shares, the depositary may require: 

 

·payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any ordinary shares or other deposited securities;

 

·satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and

 

·compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents.

 

 The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.

 

Your Right to Receive the Ordinary Shares Underlying your ADSs

 

ADS holders have the right to cancel their ADSs and withdraw the underlying ordinary shares at any time except:

 

·when temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of ordinary shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our ordinary shares;

 

·when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; or

 

·when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of ordinary shares or other deposited securities.

 

This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.

 

Pre-release of ADSs

 

The deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver ADSs before deposit of the underlying ordinary shares. This is called a pre-release of the ADSs. The depositary may also deliver ordinary shares upon cancellation of pre-released ADSs (even if the ADSs are cancelled before the pre-release transaction has been closed out). A pre-release is closed out as soon as the underlying ordinary shares are delivered to the depositary.

 

The depositary may receive ADSs instead of ordinary shares to close out a pre-release. The depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following conditions: (1) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that it or its customer owns the ordinary shares or ADSs to be deposited; (2) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash or other collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; and (3) the depositary must be able to close out the pre-release on not more than five business days’ notice. In addition, the depositary will limit the number of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as a result of prerelease to 30% of the number of deposited shares, although the depositary may disregard this limit from time to time if it determines it is appropriate to do so.

 

Direct Registration System

 

In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the DRS and Profile Modification System (“Profile”) will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC under which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs and such ownership will be evidenced by periodic statements sent by the depositary to the registered holders of uncertificated ADSs. Profile is a required feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of ADSs, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register that transfer.

 

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In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreement understand that the depositary will not determine whether the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an ADS holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in the paragraph above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the ADS holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with the deposit agreement will not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the depositary.

 

Shareholder Communications; Inspection of Register of Holders of ADSs

 

The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that it receives from us as a holder of deposited securities that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. The depositary will send you copies of those communications or otherwise make those communications available to you if we ask it to. You have a right to inspect the register of holders of ADSs, but not for the purpose of contacting those holders about a matter unrelated to our business or the ADSs.

 

 

24

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

Certificate No. Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC Number of Shares** ( a company incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006 with company number 09216368) ORDINARY SHARE CERTIFICATE Hundred Ten Millions Hundred Ten Thousands Hundreds Tens Units Millions Millions Thousands Thousands THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT is/are the registered holder(s) of the above number of Ordinary Shares of £0.001 each fully paid in Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC subject to the Articles of Association of the Company. Given under the Securities Seal of the Company on this the No transfer of the whole or any portion of the above shares can be registered without the production of this certificate Registrars: Neville Registrars Limited, Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8HD

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

16 June 2023

 

Biodexa Pharmaceuticals plc
1 Caspian Point

Caspian Way

Cardiff, Wales

CF10 4DQ

 

Re: Biodexa Pharmaceuticals plc – Registration Statement on Form F-1

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as English legal advisers to Biodexa Pharmaceuticals plc, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales (the “Company”), in connection with the offering for resale by the selling shareholders listed in the Registration Statement (as defined below) of up to an aggregate of 281,126,205 ordinary shares of £0.001 each in the capital of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) represented by 56,225,241 American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”), with each ADS representing five (5) Ordinary Shares of the Company, consisting of: (i) Series C warrants to purchase 166,019,415 new Ordinary Shares represented by 33,203,883 ADSs (the “Series C Warrant ADSs”), (ii) Series D warrants to purchase 110,679,610 new Ordinary Shares represented by 22,135,922 ADSs (the “Series D Warrant ADSs”) and (iii) placement agent warrants to purchase 4,427,180 new Ordinary Shares represented by 885,436 ADSs (the “Placement Agent Warrant ADSs”) in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) in connection with a private placement undertaken by the Company on 26 May 2023.

 

1.INTRODUCTION

 

1.1Purpose

 

This opinion is being furnished in connection with the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on the date hereof under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. We have taken instruction in this regard solely from the Company.

 

1.2Defined terms and headings

 

In this letter:

 

(a)the Series C Warrant ADSs, the Series D Warrant ADSs and the Placement Agent Warrant ADSs are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction ADSs”;

 

(b)the underlying Ordinary Shares to be allotted and issued in connection with the Transaction ADSs are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Shares”;

 

(c)capitalised terms used without definition in this letter or the schedules hereto have the meanings assigned to them in the Registration Statement unless a contrary indication appears; and

 

(d)headings are for ease of reference only and shall not affect interpretation.

 

 1 
 

 

1.3Legal review

 

For the purpose of issuing this letter, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate and have reviewed the following:

 

(a)a copy of the Registration Statement;

 

(b)a copy of the securities purchase agreement dated 23 May 2023, as amended and restated on 25 May 2023, between the Company and the purchasers named therein (the “Purchase Agreement”);

 

(c)a copy of the Series C warrant instrument to purchase Series C Warrant ADSs as exhibited to a Report on Form 6-K filed on behalf of the Company with the SEC on 23 May 2023 (the “Series C Warrant Instrument”);

 

(d)a copy of the Series D warrant instrument to purchase Series D Warrant ADSs as exhibited to a Report on Form 6-K filed on behalf of the Company with the SEC on 23 May 2023 (the “Series D Warrant Instrument”);

 

(e)a copy of the placement agent warrant instrument to purchase Placement Agent Warrant ADSs as exhibited to a Report on Form 6-K filed on behalf of the Company with the SEC on 23 May 2023 (together with the Series C Warrant Instrument and the Series D Warrant Instrument, the “Warrant Instruments”);

 

(f)a copy of the resolutions passed at the annual general meeting of the Company, which was held on 14 June 2023 (the “AGM Resolutions”);

 

(g)a copy of the resolutions passed at the general meeting of the Company, which was held on 14 June 2023 (the “GM Resolutions”);

 

(h)a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) held on 23 May 2023 regarding, inter alia, the authorisation and approval of the allotment and issuance of the Transaction Shares (the “Board Resolutions” and together with the AGM Resolutions and the GM Resolutions, the “Corporate Approvals”);

 

(i)a copy of the certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 12 September 2014, a copy of the certificate of incorporation on re-registration of the Company as a public company dated 27 November 2014, and a copy of the certificate of incorporation on change of name of the Company dated 27 March 2023;

 

(j)a copy of the current articles of association of the Company that were adopted on 14 June 2023 (the “Articles”);

 

(k)an online search of the information available on file at Companies House in respect of the Company conducted on 16 June 2023 at 10:24 (London time); and

 

(l)an online search of the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions (the “Central Registry”), a computerised register of winding-up petitions and administration applications which is maintained for all petitions or applications presented to either the Insolvency and Companies List (formerly known as the Companies Court) in respect of the Company on 16 June 2023 at 10:17 (London time).

 

 2 
 

 

In respect of the searches noted in paragraphs 1.3(k) and 1.3(l) above (together the “Searches”), we have reviewed only the results of these searches carried out by Company Registrations Online Limited (trading as CRO Info), a corporate information service provider, which did not necessarily reveal the up-to-date, complete or accurate position.

 

We hereby confirm that, for the purposes of rendering this letter we have not, other than as expressly set forth in this letter, undertaken any searches or obtained any information whatsoever in relation to the Company. In particular, other than the Searches, we have not reviewed or investigated the following:

 

(i)the Company’s solvency or otherwise;

 

(ii)whether any steps have been taken by any person in respect of any receivership, administration, reorganisation, winding-up or liquidation, including for these purposes the taking by any person of any action relating to or affecting the rights of creditors (or any analogous actions thereto) or the commencement of any moratorium in respect thereof;

 

(iii)whether any security interests, liens or encumbrances exist or have been registered over any of the Company’s property or assets; or

 

(iv)otherwise investigated the Company’s activities in any way whatsoever.

 

1.4Applicable law

 

This letter, the opinions given in it, and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with this letter and/or the opinions given in it, are governed by, and to be construed in accordance with, English law and relate only to English law as applied by the English courts as at today’s date. In particular:

 

(a)we have not investigated the laws of any country other than England and we assume that no foreign law affects any of the opinions stated below;

 

(b)this letter does not relate to English conflict of laws rules;

 

(c)we do not undertake or accept any obligation to update this letter and/or the opinions given in it to reflect subsequent changes in English law or factual matters;

 

(d)we express no opinion on the impact of any rules, regulations or requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC or the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC; and

 

(e)we express no opinion in this letter on the laws of any jurisdiction other than England. It is assumed that no foreign law which may apply to the matters contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Company, any document or any other matter contemplated by any document would or might affect this letter and/or the opinions given in it.

 

 3 
 

 

1.5Assumptions and reservations

 

The opinions given in this letter are given on the basis of each of the assumptions set out in Schedule 1 (Assumptions) and are subject to each of the reservations set out in Schedule 2 (Reservations) to this letter. The opinions given in this letter are strictly limited to the matters stated in paragraph 2 (Opinion) below and do not extend, and should not be read as extending, by implication or otherwise, to any other matters.

 

2.OPINION

 

Subject to paragraph 1 (Introduction) and the other matters set out in this letter and its schedules, and subject further to the following:

 

(a)the Registration Statement, as amended and supplemented, becoming effective under the Securities Act and continuing to be effective;

 

(b)the number of Transaction Shares to be allotted and issued in the transaction contemplated by the Registration Statement not being greater than the aggregate nominal value specified in the AGM Resolutions;

 

(c)that the Corporate Approvals and any additional board and shareholder resolutions required pursuant to the terms of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) and the Articles were or will be (as appropriate) each passed at a meeting which was or will be duly convened and held in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations; that in particular, but without limitation, a duly qualified quorum of directors or, as the case may be, shareholders was or will be present in each case throughout the meeting and voted in favour of the resolutions; and that in relation to each meeting of the Board, each provision contained in the Act or the Articles relating to the declaration of the directors’ interests or the power of the interested directors to vote and to count in the quorum was or will be duly observed;

 

(d)the receipt in full of payment for the Transaction Shares in an amount of “cash consideration” (as defined in section 583(3) of the Act) of not less than the aggregate nominal value for such Transaction Shares; and

 

(e)valid entries having been made in relation to the allotment and issue of the Transaction Shares in the books and registers of the Company,

 

it is our opinion that, as at today’s date, the Transaction Shares will, when registered in the name of the recipient in the register of members of the Company and when paid for and issued pursuant to the terms of the applicable warrant, be duly and validly authorised and issued, fully paid or credited as fully paid and will not be subject to any call for payment of further capital.

 

3.EXTENT OF OPINIONS

 

We express no opinion as to any agreement, instrument or other document other than as specified in this letter or as to any liability to tax or duty which may arise or be suffered as a result of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement.

 

 4 
 

 

This letter only applies to those facts and circumstances which exist as at today’s date and we assume no obligation or responsibility to update or supplement this letter to reflect any facts or circumstances which may subsequently come to our attention, any changes in laws which may occur after today, or to inform the addressee of any change in circumstances happening after the date of this letter which would alter our opinion.

 

4.DISCLOSURE AND RELIANCE

 

This letter is rendered to you for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement. We consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter and consent into any registration statement filed under the Securities Act with respect to the Transaction Shares. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Other than for the purpose set out in the prior paragraph, this letter may not be relied upon, or assigned, for any purpose, without our prior written consent, which may be granted or withheld in our discretion.

 

 5 
 

 

Yours faithfully

 

BROWN RUDNICK LLP

 

 

/s/ Brown Rudnick LLP

 

 6 
 

 

Schedule 1
ASSUMPTIONS

 

The opinions in this letter have been given on the basis of the following assumptions:

 

(a)the genuineness of all signatures, stamps and seals on all documents, the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies and, where applicable, the dates of such documents specified therein are correct;

 

(b)where a document has been examined by us in draft or specimen form, it will be or has been duly executed in the form of that draft or specimen;

 

(c)each of the signed documents examined by us has been duly executed and, where applicable, delivered on behalf of the Company and each natural person executing such documents has sufficient legal capacity to enter into such documents and perform the transactions contemplated herein;

 

(d)the Articles remain in full force and effect, and no alteration has been made or will be made to such articles of association, in each case prior to each date of allotment and issue of the Transaction Shares (each an “Allotment Date”);

 

(e)on each Allotment Date, the Company will comply with all applicable laws to allot and issue the Transaction Shares and the Company will receive such amounts as are necessary to fully pay the nominal value of the Transaction Shares and any applicable share premium;

 

(f)all facts which are stated in any official public record, including the Searches, or other document or information supplied by a public official are correct; in particular that all documents, forms and notices which should have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies in respect of the Company have been so delivered, that information revealed by the Searches was complete and accurate in all respects and has not, since the time of the Searches, been altered and that the results of the Searches will remain complete and accurate as at each Allotment Date;

 

(g)as at each Allotment Date, the Company has not taken any corporate or other action nor have any steps been taken or legal proceedings been started against the Company for the liquidation, winding up, dissolution, reorganisation or bankruptcy of, or for the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, trustee, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer of, the Company or all or any of its assets (or any analogous proceedings in any jurisdiction) and the Company is not unable to pay its debts as they fall due within the meaning of section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986, as amended (the “Insolvency Act”), and will not become unable to pay its debts within the meaning of that section as a result of any of the transactions contemplated herein, is not insolvent and has not been dissolved or declared bankrupt (although the Searches gave no indication that any winding-up, dissolution or administration order or appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer has been made with respect to the Company);

 

 7 
 

 

(h)the Board Resolutions provided to us in connection with the giving of the opinions in this letter reflect a true record of the proceedings described in them in duly convened, constituted and quorate meetings in which all constitutional, statutory and other formalities were duly observed, and the resolutions set out in the minutes were validly passed and have not been and will not be revoked or varied and remain in full force and effect and will remain so as at each Allotment Date;

 

(i)in respect of the Board Resolutions (i) in passing such resolutions the directors of the Company were acting in good faith, (ii) the transactions and other matters referred to in the Board Resolutions were or are to be entered into and effected by the Company for the purpose of carrying on its business, (iii) at the time such transactions or matters were or (as the case may be) are to be entered into or effected the Board had or (as the case may be) will have reasonable grounds for believing that the transactions or matters would or (as the case may be) will promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole, and (iv) the Board exercised their powers in connection with the transactions or matters in accordance with all applicable laws;

 

(j)the resolutions set out in the Corporate Approvals and/or such other board or shareholder resolutions that are otherwise obtained and/or required by the Company at a later date to, inter alia, validly authorise the issuance of all Transaction Shares were or will be validly passed and have not been and will not be revoked or varied and remain in full force and effect and will remain so as at each Allotment Date;

 

(k)as at each Allotment Date, the directors of the Company shall have sufficient powers conferred on them to allot the Transaction Shares and to grant rights to subscribe for Transaction Shares (as applicable) under section 551 (Power of directors to allot shares etc: authorisation by company) of the Act and under section 570 (Disapplication of pre-emption rights: directors acting under general authorisation) of the Act as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to such allotment or grant and the Company shall not issue (or purport to issue) Transaction Shares and shall not grant rights (or purport to grant rights) in excess of such powers or in breach of any other limitation on their powers to issue shares or grant rights;

 

(l)in relation to the allotment and issue of the Transaction Shares, the directors of the Company have acted and will act in the manner required by section 172 of the Act (Duty to promote the success of the Company), and there has not been and will not be any bad faith, breach of trust, fraud, coercion, duress or undue influence on the part of any of the directors of the Company and such directors exercised their powers in accordance with all other statutory duties under the Act and English common law;

 

(m)no Transaction Shares or rights to subscribe for Transaction Shares have been or shall be offered to the public in the United Kingdom in breach of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”) or of any other United Kingdom laws or regulations concerning offers of securities to the public, and no communication has been or shall be made in relation to the Transaction Shares in breach of section 21 of FSMA or any other United Kingdom laws or regulations relating to offers or invitations to subscribe for, or to acquire rights to subscribe for or otherwise acquire, shares or other securities;

 

 8 
 

 

(n)as at each Allotment Date, any authority granted pursuant to the Articles or the GM Resolution or otherwise by the Company’s shareholders will remain unutilised to the extent necessary to permit the allotment and issue of the Transaction Shares;

 

(o)the name of the relevant allottee and the number of Transaction Shares allotted has been or will be duly entered in the register of members of the Company promptly in accordance with English law;

 

(p)each party to any of the Purchase Agreement or Warrant Instruments other than the Company has complied with all legal requirements pertaining to its status as such status relates to its rights to enforce such agreement or instrument (as applicable);

 

(q)each person other than the Company has all requisite power and authority and has taken all necessary corporate or other action to enter into any of the Purchase Agreement or Warrant Instruments to which it is a party or by which it is bound, to the extent necessary to make such agreement or instrument (as applicable) enforceable by it;

 

(r)each of the signed documents examined by us is accurate, complete and authentic, each original is authentic, each copy conforms to an authentic original and all signatures are genuine;

 

(s)all official public records are accurate, complete and properly indexed and filed and all statutes, judicial and administrative decisions and agency regulations are available in a format that makes legal research reasonably feasible;

 

(t)there has not been any mutual mistake of fact or misunderstanding fraud, duress, or undue influence by or among any of the parties to each of the signed documents examined by us;

 

(u)the conduct of the parties to the transactions contemplated herein has complied in the past and will comply in the future with any requirement of good faith, fair dealing and conscionability;

 

(v)there are no agreements or understandings among the parties to or bound by any of the Purchase Agreement or Warrant Instruments, written or oral, and there is no usage of trade or course of prior dealing among such parties, that would define, modify, waive, or qualify the terms of any of the Purchase Agreement or Warrant Instruments;

 

(w)all parties to or bound by any of the Purchase Agreement or Warrant Instruments will refrain from taking any action that is forbidden by the terms and conditions of such agreement or instrument (as applicable);

 

(x)the parties will obtain all permits and governmental approvals required in the future, and take all actions similarly required, relevant to subsequent performance of any of the Purchase Agreement or Warrant Instruments;

 

 9 
 

 

(y)the results of the Searches would be the same if carried out on the date of this letter;

 

(z)the Company only undertakes and carries out business in accordance with its constitution and powers and is not and will not breach the law or regulations of any territory in which it operates, including the United Kingdom;

 

(aa)no director of the Company has, or at any time has had, any interest in the transactions contemplated herein except to the extent permitted by the Articles and by applicable law;

 

(bb)the directors of the Company are not, and have not at any time been, connected in with any relevant party in relation to the allotment of the Transaction Shares and none of the directors of the Company are disqualified or are subject to disqualification proceedings pursuant to the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, or otherwise;

 

(cc)none of the parties to the documents set out in paragraph 1.3 of this letter (nor any director or officer of such parties) is or will be seeking to achieve any purpose not apparent from such documents which may render such arrangements illegal or void;

 

(dd)the Transaction ADSs, and not the Transaction Shares, shall be and continue to be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market; and

 

(ee)the Transaction Shares shall not be listed on any market.

 

 10 
 

 

Schedule 2
RESERVATIONS

 

The opinions in this letter are subject to the following reservations:

 

(a)the Searches are not capable of revealing conclusively whether or not a winding-up or administration petition or order has been presented or made, a receiver appointed, a company voluntary arrangement proposed or approved or any other insolvency proceeding commenced, and the available records may not be complete or up-to-date. In particular, the Central Registry may not contain details of administration applications filed, or appointments recorded in or orders made by, district registries and county courts outside London. Searches at Companies House and at the Central Registry are not capable of revealing whether or not a winding up petition or a petition for the making of an administration order has been presented and, further, notice of a winding up order or resolution, notice of an administration order and notice of the appointment of a receiver may not be filed at Companies House immediately and there may be a delay in the relevant notice appearing on the file of the company concerned. Further, not all security interests are registrable, such security interests have not in fact been registered or such security interests have been created by an individual or an entity which is not registered in England. We have not made enquiries of any District Registry or County Court in England;

 

(b)the opinions set out in this letter are subject to: (i) any limitations arising from applicable laws relating to insolvency, bankruptcy, administration, reorganisation, liquidation, moratoria, schemes or analogous circumstances; and (ii) an English court exercising its discretion under section 426 of the Insolvency Act (co-operation between courts exercising jurisdiction in relation to insolvency) to assist the courts having the corresponding jurisdiction in any part of the United Kingdom or any relevant country or territory;

 

(c)we express no opinion as to matters of fact;

 

(d)we express no opinion in respect of any of the contents, validity or the enforceability of any of the Purchase Agreement or the Warrant Instruments and we have not investigated (and express no opinion on) whether the Company, by reason of the transactions and matters contemplated by the Purchase Agreement or the Warrant Instruments, is or will be in breach of any of its obligations under any agreement, document, deed or instrument, or any law, order, judgment, decree or any ruling of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on any of them;

 

(e)this letter is subject to any matters of fact not disclosed to us;

 

(f)we have only reviewed the documents listed in paragraph 1.3 above;

 

(g)we have made no enquiries of any individual connected with the Company;

 

(h)a certificate, documentation, notification, opinion or the like might be held by the English courts not to be conclusive if it can be shown to have an unreasonable or arbitrary basis or in the event of a manifest error;

 

 11 
 

 

(i)it should be understood that we have not been responsible for investigating or verifying the accuracy of the facts, including statements of foreign law, or the reasonableness of any statements of opinion, contained in the Registration Statement, or that no material facts have been omitted from it;

 

(j)if a person is (or is controlled by or otherwise connected with another person which is) resident in, incorporated in or constituted under the laws of a country which is the subject of United Nations, European Community or United Kingdom sanctions implemented or effective in the United Kingdom, or is otherwise the target of any such sanctions, then obligations owed to or by that person may be unenforceable or void;

 

(k)this letter is limited to the original issuance of the Transaction Shares by the Company and does not cover shares delivered by the Company out of the Transaction Shares reacquired by it; and

 

(l)this letter is based upon currently existing statutes, rules, regulations, and judicial decisions and is rendered as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change in any of the foregoing sources of law or subsequent developments in law or changes in the facts or circumstances which might affect any matters or opinions set forth herein.

 

 

12

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

30 Old Bailey

London

EC4M 7AU

United Kingdom

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7063 4000

 

www.mazars.co.uk

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

The Board of Directors

Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC

1 Caspian Point

Caspian Way

Cardiff

CF10 4DQ

United Kingdom

 

 

The Board of Directors of Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC

 

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-1 to be filed on or about June 16, 2023 of our audit report dated May 5, 2023 which appears in the Amendment to the Annual Report on Form 20-F/A for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed May 5, 2023 on the consolidated statement of financial position of Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC (formerly Midatech Pharma Plc) (“Biodexa”) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, and on the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, cash flow, and changes in equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes, which appear in the Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed April 28, 2023. Our report contains a material uncertainty paragraph regarding the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

 

We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement.

 

 

/s/ Mazars LLP

 

 

Mazars LLP

 

London, United Kingdom

 

16 June 2023

 

 

Mazars LLP

Mazars LLP is the UK firm of Mazars, an integrated international advisory and accountancy organisation. Mazars LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC308299 and with its registered office at 30 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AU. Registered to carry on audit work in the UK by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Details about our audit registration can be viewed at www.auditregister.org.uk under reference number C001139861. VAT number: GB 839 8356 73

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

F-1

Biodexa Pharmaceuticals PLC

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

    Security
Type
  Security
Class Title(1)
  Fee
Calculation or
Carry
Forward
Rule
  Amount
Registered(2)
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit(3)
    Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
    Fee
Rate
    Amount of
Registration Fee
 
Fees to Be Paid   Equity   Ordinary Shares     Other (2)     281,126,205(4)   $0.0153       $4,301,230.93       0.0001102     $ 474.00  
Total Offering
Amounts
                                              $ 474.00  
Total Fees
Previously Paid
                                                -  
Total Fee Offsets                                                 -  
Net Fee due                                               $ 474.00  

 

  (1) American Depositary Shares, or Depositary Shares, issuable upon the deposit of the ordinary shares, nominal value £0.001 per share, or Ordinary Shares.

 

  (2) This registration statement also includes an indeterminate number of shares underlying the Depositary Shares that may become offered, issuable or sold to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions, which are included pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  (3) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the average of the high and low sales price of the Depositary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 14, 2023, divided by five (to give effect to the 1:5 ratio of Depositary Shares to Ordinary Shares).

 

  (4) Consists of (i) 166,019,415 Ordinary Shares represented by 33,203,883 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Series C Warrants (ii) 110,679,610 Ordinary Shares represented by 22,135,922 Depositary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Series D Warrants and, (iii) 4,427,180 Ordinary Shares represented by 885,436 Depositary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants. The Series C Warrants, the Series D Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants were all issued in connection with a Registered Direct Offering in May 2023.